LETs Stand Public Speaking

We can learn a lot from how rhetorical devices such as contrasts, groups of 3 and figurative speech are used by Barack Obama. His skill as an orator has helped him to win over many voters and followers. As a speaker, he makes exceptional use of his powerful voice with its powerful emphasis, pace and pause as well as other persuasive and connecting techniques. This speech is well worth studying. Breaking it down into 8 parts, this episode is an analysis of its content and delivery, what is said and how it is said.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I just love hearing young people’s voices. In this episode, you’re in for a treat. Transition Year student, Ella May, 16 years old talks to me about her experience and the benefits of private Speech and Drama classes since she was 4 years old.

Famous speeches and great orators have changed the course of history. They have demonstrated the power and potential of a powerful speech to unite and mobilize the masses. Martin Luther King’s speech, ‘I have a Dream’ has been referred to as one of the most iconic speeches of the 20th Century. In this episode, we will analyze the speech itself and its delivery touching also on its historical context and impact. If you can, close your eyes and listen to the segments in which Martin Luther King speaks and notice the feelings stirred up for you. Feel the impact of powerful words well spoken!

What a pleasure to talk to psychotherapist, life and public speaking coach and keynote speaker, Eileen Hopkins about some of the important features of preparing a speech and preparing to present it. Eileen set up her own company to pursue her passion in the areas of emotional health, self-care, resilience, personal development, pain management, education and empowering change. Eileen believes that everyone has the potential to live a happy and fulfilled life despite the many obstacles life can throw their way. In recognition of her work in setting up a self-management Coaching Programme for persistent pain, Eileen was a finalist for both the ‘Rising Star Award’ by the International Coach Federation (2017) & ‘Health & Wellness Coach of the Year’ (2018). In 2020, Eileen was awarded ‘Coach of the Year’ ( highly commended). Having experienced the powerful changes possible through psychotherapy and Coaching, Eileen is passionate about sharing this with her clients. In this episode we discuss how to get ourselves into an optimal positive state before we speak in public, the benefits of affirmations, power-posing and of course preparation. In addition, Eileen shares some tips and insights regarding preparing to speak on screen, new terrain that many people are trying to navigate now due to Covid 19. If you’d like to contact Eileen, you can email her on [email protected] or find out more at www.eileenhopkins.ie.

This episode is an analysis of the speech Greta Thunberg, environmental activist, delivered at the UN on December 4th 2018 which made her a household name at age 15. This analysis will support teachers when reviewing this speech with their students as part of a public speaking lesson or as part of a lesson about the environment and Greta Thunberg. It can also be enjoyed by those interested in the content and delivery of speeches that impact the world. Here is a link to Greta’s speech: https://youtu.be/VFkQSGyeCWg

Sandra Zimmer’s journey from being terrified to speak up in groups to loving to speak to large audiences makes her the perfect guide for people with stage fright and fear of public speaking. Her degrees in psychology, acting, voice, esoteric philosophy and meditation gave her the perfect background to discover how to transform the #1 fear. Sandra translated her struggles with her own fears into the Sandra Zimmer Method which is a holistic mind/body/emotion system to overcome stage fright and fear of public speaking. In the past 30 years, she has helped thousands of business professionals learn how to be calm, comfortable, connected and confident to share their ideas and expertise in front of groups. Her clients develop a style of speaking that is based on being who they are rather than who they think they should be as a speaker. She coaches individuals and groups live at her company Self-Expression Center in Houston, Texas and virtually via video conferencing. Her work is also available through an online video course at www.SandraZimmerMethod.com and through her book ‘It’s Your Time to Shine’: How to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking, Develop Authentic Presence and Speak from Your Heart. You can purchase her book through www.amazon.com and Kindle. In this episode, Sandra shares the famous ‘Sandra Zimmer Method’ for enabling people to transform fear of public speaking into ‘flow’ as well as her unique, empowering perspective on this fear. You can connect with Sandra at her websites www.self-expression.com and www.sandrazimmer.com. Find her on social media at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrazimmer/ https://www.facebook.com/sandra.zimmer2 https://www.facebook.com/selfexpressioncenter/ https://twitter.com/sandrazimmer #sandrazimmermethod #publcspeaking #stagefright #LET’sStand #flow #empowerment #mindfulness #fearofpublicspeaking #SandraZimmer #SiobhanFitzgerald

This episode is an analysis of the speech on ‘Gender Equality’ delivered by actress Emma Watson at the UN in September 2014 in her role as UN Global Women’s Goodwill Ambassador. This analysis is a commentary on some of the important elements of the speech’s content and Emma Watson’s delivery that added impact and enabled Watson achieve the purpose of her speech. Watson was very open about how nervous she was before delivering this speech. This is a further message to speakers that nerves need not prevent you from speaking up and delivering an important message with clarity, empathy and powerful impact. Link to speech: https://youtu.be/gkjW9PZBRfk

What a pleasure to talk with Jigyasa Labroo from India connecting with me all the way from Dharamshala in India via Zoom. Jigyasa is co-founder and CEO of ‘Slam Out Loud’ a for-mission, non-profit that uses the transformative power of performance and visual arts to build Creative Confidence in disadvantaged children. Slam Out Loud currently reaches 50000 children across 4 states in India and through their response to COVID-19 has been able to create a footprint in 19 countries, reaching 4.7 million children. Jigyasa has also been an Arts for Good fellow at the Singapore International Foundation and is in the 2020 cohort of Emerging Leaders in Education by WISE, Qatar. She's also an International Literacy Association Global 30U30 nominee. Jigyasa deeply believes in the power of finding a voice and engages with music, travel and coaching to constantly evolve her own. Our conversation in this episode will introduce you to ‘Slam out Loud’ and how it aims to develop skills of creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, self-esteem and empathy in all children but especially children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. https://youtu.be/GhIQYAILBA8 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gkmNgWGJ6fo https://slamoutloud.com/resources/. https://slamoutloud.com/why-we-exist/

In this episode, I react to a speech delivered by 9-year-old Dalton Sherman to over 20,000 school staff in Dallas, Texas in 2008. The speech itself is very inspiring. In addition, there are many aspects of the speech content and delivery that could be referred to when training other children in public speaking skills. Here is the link to Dalton’s speech on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hMe8Nil2i20. #publicspeaking #studentvoice #empowerment #orallanguage #oracy

“Where do I start?” It’s very understandable that teachers may be nervous and uncertain as to how to begin public speaking training with children. Few will have received training in public speaking themselves and few also will have received training in how to train children in the skills of public speaking. You don’t have to be a fantastic public speaker yourself to train your students in theses skills. In this episode, Siobhán offers some advise on how you might begin the process. As promised , here is the link to my YouTube channel where you will find playlists of speeches. https://youtube.com/channel/UC3Db-XDKu7cPktNM8x9XS3Q. #orallanguage #newprimarylanguagecurriculum #publicspeaking