Public Speaking Classes

The Art of Public Speaking
Our Public Speaking training classes are designed for both the inexperienced presenter or as a refresher for more experienced members of your company or organization. Our public speaking classes are offered in most major US cities and across Canada. Our public speaking skills training classes are small which will give the Public Speaking Class Participants up to 10 Video Taped practice exercises as well as hours of instructor face to face interaction.

Our public speaking training classes (and our one day public speaking class) will eliminate any fear which is caused by lack of experience or nervousness due to inexperience in public speaking and will dramatically improve each participants speaking skills whether they are persuading, educating, or informing their audience. Our highly interactive classes focus on professional business communication including proper preparation, structure, delivery, and strategy, the correct use of visual aids, and handling questions & answers. Contact us today by phone at 713-627-7700 or via email: service@publicspeakingtraining.net

Public Speaking Training Class: What To Do Right Before Public Speaking

There is a lot of information out there about long-term preparing for public speaking. And there is a lot that can be said. But what I'd like to do is focus on those few minutes right before going up there behind the podium. If you have the opportunity and the privacy, there are some good mouth and vocal warm-ups you can use. As a theatre actor, I've found some of the same things that help actors are quite helpful in helping prepare for a smooth speech.

Your Face and Tongue

Start by warming up your jaw and face muscles, as well as your tongue. There are more than eighty muscles in your face. Get them moving. This will enable you to speak in a much more relaxed manner and will make your words and consonants more distinct. Open your jaw as wide as you can and holding it for a good six to seven seconds. Do this several times. The stretching will feel good and will cause the blood to rush to your muscles. After a couple times, combine this with sticking your tongue out all the way to one side of your mouth, holding it for a few seconds, then moving to the other side. This is why you may want a little privacy! But it feels good afterwards and, again, gets the blood flowing which will help you relax.

Now grin-make the biggest smile you've ever made by lifting your cheeks to the point where your eyes squint. Again, hold this expression for a good six to seven seconds, then relax and repeat. Do this several times. You want a smile to both come and feel natural on stage.

Your Voice

Now that we've warmed up our mouth, tongue, and face, let's warm up our vocal chords. Vocal chord strengthening exercises, according to some research, will include tongue exercises, too, if you perform them correctly. In fact, one study suggests that the action of curling the two sides of your tongue inward, like how some "roll" their tongue, causes a muscle movement that may influence the strength of the vocal chords.

Gargling is also an excellent vocal warm-up. It also helps to hydrate the voice. Take a small amount of water in your mouth, then tilt your head back and gargle on any pitch. It's best to use room temperature or even warm water. Hold the note for a few seconds, then slide down to the bottom of your range. It takes consistent breath support to prevent swallowing water while vocalizing. Repeat this exercise several times. For your last gargle, especially if you're using warm water, you may want to put a teaspoon of salt into the water. It doesn't taste wonderful, but salt is excellent for your voice.

Another good vocal warm-up exercise is to make a sound with your lips that's sort of like the sound of a motorboat engine. It's a bit similar to the sound a horse makes while snorting. To do this, purse your lips together, then force air between them. To vibrate your lips steadily, a consistent flow of air is needed. Concentrate on the feeling of tone hitting and passing through your lips. This is a good exercise for relieving voice strain. Start on any pitch, then slide to the bottom of your range. Repeat this exercise several times, each time starting on a different note.

Finally, you can hum. Hum until you feel a buzz in your teeth and even your whole head. Hum at a pitch that's comfortable for you, then work your way up and down, each time going a little further in the highs and lows. As you get more warmed up, go as low as you can, then go as high. On the high pitch, take care that you don't stress your voice too much before it's been properly warmed up.

Hydration

Above all else, make sure you have plenty of water. A person who depends on his or her voice in any capacity must stay well hydrated. Drink before and during your warm ups. If you're able, have a bottle with you during the presentation and take sips, but only if and when the situation is appropriate. Keep your voice good and wet! But never drink anything dairy or anything with a lot of sugar. Sugar and dairy have quite the opposite effect and can cause you to have to clear your throat or cough during your talk. Don't drink caffeine either as that will dehydrate.

Finally, when the moment comes, take a big breath and walk up to that mic with confidence and poise. March up there like you're about to give the best talk of your life, and chances are you will.

Kelly Libatique: link

Subject: Public Speaking Class