Do Now: Prepare to speak for thirty seconds about the poem you chose using one of the organizational patterns (e.g., PREP). Prepare to speak for thirty seconds about the poem you chose using one of the organizational patterns (e.g., PREP).

Pair-Share: What gestures or body stances do they habitually use? What gestures or body stances do they habitually use? Now imagine them in front of a crowd giving a speech. If you didn’t know them, how would you interpret their body language? Now imagine them in front of a crowd giving a speech. If you didn’t know them, how would you interpret their body language? And NOW think of YOURSELF. What do YOU DO? And NOW think of YOURSELF. What do YOU DO?

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? Stance Stance Gesture Gesture Eyes Eyes Smiling Smiling Face Face Open vs. Closed Open vs. Closed

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? 1.Practice standing on two feet! It might seem basic but often people stand on one foot with the other tucked in behind the upright leg and then they swop over and the other foot has a turn. Soon it's the first foot's turn again and so on... The interpretation of wobbling on their feet is not: 'here is someone in control'. It's the opposite.

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? Practice standing 'at ease'. Place your feet about a comfortable shoulder width apart. Make sure you are standing on the whole of your foot so your feet are fully connected to the floor. This position supports all of your body while distributing your weight evenly through your hips and legs without undue stress. 2. Practice standing 'at ease'. Place your feet about a comfortable shoulder width apart. Make sure you are standing on the whole of your foot so your feet are fully connected to the floor. This position supports all of your body while distributing your weight evenly through your hips and legs without undue stress. The body language of someone standing comfortably like this says: confidence, capable, control and balanced. The body language of someone standing comfortably like this says: confidence, capable, control and balanced.

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? Practice standing tall. Pull yourself up to full height. Imagine a string running through you from the crown of your head to your feet. Now imagine that string being gently pulled toward the sky. Your back will straighten. Your neck will hold your head high. 3. Practice standing tall. Pull yourself up to full height. Imagine a string running through you from the crown of your head to your feet. Now imagine that string being gently pulled toward the sky. Your back will straighten. Your neck will hold your head high. Notice the feel and look of standing straight. When you see other people standing similarly, you recognize them as being someone who feels good about themselves. They appear to have energy, presence and power. Notice the feel and look of standing straight. When you see other people standing similarly, you recognize them as being someone who feels good about themselves. They appear to have energy, presence and power.

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? 4. Let your shoulders relax. Practice by rolling them backwards and forwards. Pretend they are a coat hanger from which your chest and arms hang. In order for them to hang well your shoulders need to straight and relaxed. Raised shoulders can signal heightened tension, defensiveness as if you are waiting to fend off negativity or anxiety. Shoulders habitually slumped forward say 'depressed', 'defeated' or 'closed'. Raised shoulders can signal heightened tension, defensiveness as if you are waiting to fend off negativity or anxiety. Shoulders habitually slumped forward say 'depressed', 'defeated' or 'closed'.

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? 5. Practice breathing deeply and evenly using your diaphragm while maintaining a fully upright relaxed stance. Notice how open your chest is. Notice how your hips carry the weight of your upper body. Notice how your shoulders carry your arms but most of all… NOTICE how connected, strong and balanced you are. NOTICE how connected, strong and balanced you are.

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? 1.Practice standing on two feet. 2.Practice standing at ease. 3.Practice standing tall. 4.Let your shoulders relax. 5.Practice breathing deeply.

Aim: How do you improve your stance when you speak? Work in front of a full length dress mirror. Work in front of a full length dress mirror. If you can video yourself do so. Playing it back will give you important feedback. If you can video yourself do so. Playing it back will give you important feedback. Go for mastery over one habit you want to modify or get rid of at a time rather than trying to banish the lot at once. Go for mastery over one habit you want to modify or get rid of at a time rather than trying to banish the lot at once. Remember regular smaller practices are more effective than one or two intense longer workouts. Remember regular smaller practices are more effective than one or two intense longer workouts. Practice what you can throughout the day. You do not need to wait until you are at home to practice standing well, or relaxing your shoulders. Do it in the lunch line, in the supermarket. You can teach yourself body language anywhere. Practice what you can throughout the day. You do not need to wait until you are at home to practice standing well, or relaxing your shoulders. Do it in the lunch line, in the supermarket. You can teach yourself body language anywhere.