Analyzing Speech and Presentation Techniques

Analyzing Speech and Presentation Techniques

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you will be able to evaluate the pleasantness of a speaker's voice and its suitability for the target audience. At the end of the lesson you will be able to analyze how a speaker's voice contributes to their image and reputation. At the end of the lesson you will be able to discuss the elements of voice such as loudness, pitch, tone, and intonation. At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify and describe the features of the speaker's accent. At the end of the lesson you will be able to distinguish between Received Pronunciation and Standard English. At the end of the lesson you will be able to assess the fluency and flow of the presenter's speech. At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify the use of connectives and language that facilitate the transition between ideas or scenes. At the end of the lesson you will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of repetition and the presence of hesitation or fillers in speech. At the end of the lesson you will be able to recognize word choices that establish rapport with the audience or contribute to the mood and subject matter expertise. At the end of the lesson you will be able to analyze the use of non-verbal communication techniques by the presenter.

What do you already know about analyzing speech and presentation techniques?

Voice pleasantness and audience relation

Voice pleasantness: The subjective quality that makes a voice enjoyable to listen to. Target audience: The specific group of people that the content is intended to reach.

Voice in image and reputation building

Image/reputation: The public perception of a person or brand formed through various signals, including speech.

Loudness, pitch, tone, and intonation

Loudness: The volume level of the voice. Pitch: The highness or lowness of a voice. Tone: The quality or character of the voice. Intonation: The variation of pitch used to convey meaning.

Accent identification and features

Accent: A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class.

Received Pronunciation vs. Standard English

Received Pronunciation (RP): An accent of Standard English in the United Kingdom regarded as 'typically British'. Standard English: A form of the English language that is considered the norm for speakers and writers.

Fluency and flow in speech

Fluency: The smoothness and flow with which sounds, syllables, words, and phrases are joined together when speaking.

Transitional language and connectives

Connectives: Words or phrases that link sentences and paragraphs together.

Repetition and speech disfluencies

Repetition: The act of repeating something that has already been said or written. Fillers: Sounds or words that are spoken to fill gaps in speech, often indicating hesitation.

Word choice for viewer engagement and subject matter

Word choice: The selection of words used in speech or writing.

Non-verbal communication in presentations

Non-verbal communication: The process of conveying a message without the use of words, through gestures, facial expressions, and body movements.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.