I recently received a request about posting something regarding being well spoken.
Something you need to realise is that youāre not going to become well-spoken overnight. You need to practice on people. You need to SPEAK.
I used to stutter so badly that I could barely speak a whole sentence.
Flash forward a few years. I pitched my start up in front of a crowd, I joined Model United Nations in high school and college, Iāve been invited to speak on my entrepreneurial experience by some top universities in my country. Itās taken a lot to get here. And Iām still not where I want to be.
1. Apps to track progress and help you get better at public speaking
An app that you can use: āSpeeko.ā
I used to use this, it is beginner friendly and you can improve your public speaking skills as well.
Go online and look up a topic generator. Generate a random topic, video yourself speaking on that topic. Donāt give yourself time to prepare anything - read the topic and start speaking. Set a time limit - youāll realise that speaking for even 2 minutes can be quite difficult at times.
Not only does this make you realise that you may have limited language skills, but it will also make you realise exactly where youāre falling behind. Note down things in a journal.
- Too many filler sounds?
This is also a great idea if youāre at an intermediate level of learning a language/ polishing a language. Do this everyday and maintain a diary on your improvement.
Select a news article or any article. Read out loud, slowly and steadily. Pronounce every syllable calmly.
A two minute read should take 5 minutes to read out loud. Thatās how slow you should go. Not more than 4-5 words per breath.
Your tongue needs to get used to different syllables and sounds. Practice will help.
Talk to anyone and everyone whenever you can.
Ask your barista how their day is going.
Ask your work or university security if theyāve had a good day and if they ate today.
Chat with your taxi driver about their life. I always start with asking them if they are from the city weāre travelling in. Even if youāre from that city, act like a tourist. Where are the best eateries? The conversation eventually goes to personal questions. How many children do they have, and what do they do? What do they like about the city?
Youāll learn the art of small talk only through practice. No book or guide can actually prepare you. You have to practice, practice and practice.
Diaphragm breathing is very important. Look up some YouTube videos for reference. You essentially breathe from your tummy (stomach goes in and out; not chest going up and down). This is a great calming exercise too.
6. Stuttering tongue/ jaw exercise videos
These are great because they really do prep your jaw and tongue well. The videos could include tongue stretches, placing your tongue on your palette correctly, etc. Search on YouTube.
You really need to work on your posture too. Sit up straight. Back, STRAIGHT. Chin up, shoulders relaxed. Something as simple as posture can change your level of confidence.
A yoga exercise for breathing. You can find a guided video on YouTube for sure.
Invest your time in expanding your vocabulary. Thereās enough apps and games that can help you with that, if you arenāt fond of reading. A sign of being well spoken is having great vocabulary.
Start by looking up the synonyms of everyday words.
- how many different words can you find for upset?
āI had a crazy day todayā
- one can easily use āhecticā, āchaoticā ālivelyā instead
Idioms, phrases, sayings - look up common idioms in your language of choice. Aim to use at least 3 new idioms on 3 separate occasions in a week while you speak. You need to understand when and where you can use the idioms in your vocabulary.
11. Knowing when to switch
You canāt talk like a 50 year old heiress to a 10 year old child; you need to get down to their level.
If someone is clearly not a native speaker and is struggling to put words together, donāt use difficult words around them.
If youāre meeting with someone high profile, refrain from using slang.
The best speakers know when to switch their level of language.
You canāt use one singular type of speaking with everyone. You need to understand that there is a time and place for everything - and youāll be able to switch like a pro only when you actually speak and start gaining experience.
