 The fear of public speaking  The word come from the Greek root “glossa” (which means ‘tongue’) and the root “phobia” (which means ‘fear’)

 This is the Top Ten List of Global Fears:  1. Fear of public speaking (Glossophobia) 2. Fear of death (Necrophobia) 3. Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia) 4. Fear of darkness (Achluophobia, Scotophobia or Myctophobia) 5. Fear of heights (Acrophobia) 6. Fear of people or social situations (Sociophobia) 7. Fear of flying (Aerophobia) 8. Fear of open spaces (Agoraphobia) 9. Fear of thunder and lightning (Brontophobia) 10. Fear of confined spaces (Claustrophobia) 

 The Art of Public Speaking.doc The Art of Public Speaking.doc

 Low Your fear of public speaking is Low if your score is up to 15 points. You actually have no phobia. Your feelings and emotions in front of an audience are normal tensions every public speaker has in the beginning. They can be overcome with a good night rest and breathing exercises. Nothing to worry about.  Moderate If your score is up to 45 points, Welcome to the club! Like the majority you are feeling very uncomfortable. Nerves and tensions influence your behavior seriously. But there is a way out.  Severe If your score is more than 45 points, You suffer from the phobia fear of public speaking. You avoid any situation that might include public speaking. You hate making and giving presentation speeches. It's extremely difficult for you to speak in front of a group. But, you are aware of the necessity ánd the possibilities to cure your phobia.

Making Public Speaking Easier

EFFECTIVE SPEECH HOOKS

Start with a quote from a famous person, inspirational source, or lyrics from a song. Keep it short but powerful. Pause briefly for effect when you are done.

Offer a proverb. Folk sayings, old wives' tales, or words of wisdom about your topic or that relate to your experience with the project that people can relate to provide a meaningful bridge to your speech.

Ask a question. Give the audience a moment to discuss possible answers with those around them, then ask for volunteers to share a response. This is a great ice breaker and helps to promote communication between speaker and participants.

Issue a challenge. Riddles, puzzles, case studies, and other problem solving activities grab hold of listeners' minds. Promise to deliver suggested options by the end of your presentation.

Create a word picture. Using sensory imagery, describe a heart-tugging or mind- teasing scenario that immediately engages the audience. Bringing real or imaginary characters or a scene to life in a verbal sketch that takes just a minute or so can have a powerful effect on drawing in your listeners.

` Quote STARTLING statistics and facts - hard evidence that cannot be debated because it is proven by logic and science. Audiences are apt to believe a speaker who uses credible facts as evidence. They tend to listen to a speaker who opens with this type of information, especially if it is unusual information.

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of closing.” –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Your speech should be like the smooth flight of an airplane. The conclusion is the landing. The passengers—your audience—don’t want the landing to be sudden or bumpy. They don’t want to land in the wrong place. And most importantly, they DO want you to land!” –Malcolm Kushner

Your conclusion should…  Summarize your speech.  Provide closure.  Make a great final impression, using emotional appeal.

Creating the Perfect Conclusion  Cue the audience in advance by telling them when you are getting close: “Turning now to my final point.”  Make it sound like a conclusion: “In conclusion…” “In closing…”  Make the last words memorable: Make them laugh. Make them think. Make them stand up and applaud.

Wrapping it up in style…  Refer back to the opening.  Use a quotation.  Ask a question with an implied answer.  Recite a short poem  Ask for help  Tell the audience what to do  Tell a story

Closing Examples At the close of the constitutional convention the oldest delegate, Benjamin Franklin, was asked to be the first to sign. At the front of the chamber was the chair from which President Washington had presided. The chair had the design of the sun low on the horizon. Franklin said, “There were days when I thought this picture of a sun low on the horizon was a setting sun, but now I know it’s a rising sun—a new day for America, a new dawn for freedom.”

Closing Examples Churchill, in a radio talk appealing for aid from the United States, once concluded his speech like this: “The other day I received a letter from President Roosevelt in which was enclosed a poem by Longfellow that was written in his own hand. Sail on, O Ship of State! Sail on, Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its doubts and fears, And all its hopes for future years, Is hanging breathless on thy fate!” When Churchill finished reciting the verse, he looked up and said, “What is the answer that I shall give America and President Roosevelt? Here it is: ‘Give us the tools and we will finish the job!’”