PUBLIC SPEAKING

My relatives often tell me : "You're such an actress". And I always wondered do they really think I could be an actress? Could I play something in front of the audience? I can "play" somthing what is on MY mind, usually something funny. But can I play the role other people tell me to play? Something dramatic. This weekend I was hanging out with my friends, we were chatting and I suggested to play something as if we are in the theatre. We made up the stories and scenery for each other, dimmed the lights and started. My role was a girl with asthma who couldn't find the inhaler and sturted to suffocate. Sorry for peaking  such tragic situations. But before the performing I couldn't pull myself together,I've never been in such situation, I don't know what it is, it's difficult. I was always nervous and hesitated to perfom in front of the friends. Then I just started, I really lived in this situation, for 2 minutes I inhaled sharply and felt ...

My result : 154 points My result improved! Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to prepare much more different topics, where we could be more and more creative with each presentation. However, I've realized in this course what things are must in the speeches ( theis, clear structure, using words-organisators). Some things I still need to practice, but I really like that I don't create the speeches according one pattern, I can play with different introductions, link everything variously. 

Lisa Nichols is a motivational speaker, on her YouTube channel she shares tips for prepearing great public speaches. This very video is dedicated to connecting the audience. In my opinion, attention-getters and the speech itself relate to getting way with the audience.  Lisa gives the tips according to our phsycological perception of a successful speaker. These tips can help to boost up your performance, to make you stand out. The advice shows you how you should feel and treat the audience to make them admire you.

For this week I had a challange to text a friend I don't communicate with any more. I chose my ex-best friend with whom we were super close in a childhood. And this is how, I hope, she saw it. I was at home and all of a sudden Nastya sent me an old picture of us from school when we were so small and adorable, I was touched. After we just started a basic conversation about current life, studying, plans. I was really nice to hear from her since so long, because I had no idea where she is now and what she does. We were chatting for about 20 minutes. This conversation gave me some really good vibes, so I was glad that sometimes "ghosts from the past" can bring some elation.

I’m not an aggressive person at all and I’ve never looked for conflict for a thrill. The only thing that can make me act is Injustice. This week I faced it. This week I was on the beach with my friends (talking of quarantine, I live with my friends and we keep the distance). We had a picnic and we noticed the family in 20 meters away from us. The mother and the father were sitting in chairs, and their child, a boy about the age of 5, was playing with the sand. I remember my friend said: “Is it...is it a hamster there?”, unfortunately, it WAS a hamster the boy was playing with in the sand. The boy, obviously, was not sensible enough, neither were his parents... He treated hamster violently, buried him in the sand, threw(don’t really want to remember it again). Sadly or not, my reaction in repressing situation is freezing, I don’t do anything, the mind turns off. However, in that moment I thought I NEED TO DO SOMETHING, TO SAY SOMETHING AT LEAST. I sat thinking for 10 minutes about...

Here are some comments on the speeches.

I liked the topic, I think it‘s a general information in a nutshell for all of us about informative speeches. The structure was clear enough, but in introduction Nastya said “...tell me why...” and gives no time to answer. In my opinion, if it was rhetorical question, it wasn’t necessary to appeal to the audience; but if it was an attempt of interaction and we were supposed to answer the question, it’s be better to give us some time to reply. In the conclusion I’d love the speaker to leave us with short phrase, like wish, like final point. I liked there were some examples, which illustrated the rules. Talking about vocal performance, the tempo was perfect for me, so was the volume. Unfortunately, some words were mispronounced ( I hate to correct anyone, but here are some mispronounced words “concrete”, “familiar”, “great”). The pitch and leaping intonation somewhere made speech hard to comprehend for me. There was use of gestures, facial expression, the physical side of presentati...

Me cosplaying “choosing wine” moment of Rowan Atkinson performance:

I definetely love the topic Irina spoke about. Talking about structure, I must say for me there wasn't enough linkings, sometimes I felt totally lost, didn't notice when and how we moved to the next sub-topic. I liked the tempo, the volume of the speech, but I think that the pitch should be improved, to avoid monotone and keep the audience's attention for every second (but I noted the moments when Ira changed the intonations and I loved it! Don't be afraid to play with your voice!).  I paid a lot of attention on  physical representation of the speech, as that was the topic itself. I noticed how it differed greatly from privious speakers' ( even in the small window on my computer I saw Ira was using gestures and tried to be active. Before she said the phrase the speakers are to avoid fiddling with the hair, she had done it herself for 3 times. I'd reccomend to be more emotional in voice and facial expressions :) The timing was perfect, the main points w...

Sometimes making phone calls makes you put aside small, but important things. Does it sound familiar to you? Well, it does for me... This week I needed to make a call to computer services and ask if they can fix my computer. I swear, I was sitting for 15 minutes in front of the mobile phone and thinking "how should I start?", "should I tell everything at once?" or "should I ask questions?" Then I realised - I need just do, that's it. Well, now I can't even remember how I started the comversation.  Finally, I told what was wrong with the computer and my printer. We discussed how long it will take and all of the details. During the conversation I caught myself thinking I have no stress or worry, this is just service and I need it. Unfortunately, I refused to fix it here as there is a mismatch of timing (I need to leave the city in 2 weeks and it won't be done by that time). It's funny, how we feel confused and insecure before some tasks,...

To see the situation with my speech, I've created the chart, where you can see the average on each aspect. 1. Organisation 19,5 . This criterion was estimated very high. Most of the topics were presented, when I made corrections to my text, so I could work with attention-getter, linking, the body better. 2. Support 13,25 . The topic was mostly practical, so I presentet tasks and to dilute the descriptions of them, I tried to show them myself. 3. Cohention 9,5 . I tried to summarise everything in the end, but there was a comment, that I'd better say something different as conclusion. 4.Vocal Presentation 19,25 . I'm defenetely glad most people noted I took advantage of all rules I spoke about in my presentation. There was an opinion that my tempo was fast to comprehend the information, though in my opinion I did long enough pauses between the words and ideas.  I believe that this happens because of my quite fast tempo of speech in both Russian and English in colloqui...

★ - pause CAPITALS - emphasis yellow - rising tone blue - falling tone GM, everyone! I want to show you some pictures and ask★: what associations do you have with them? Excitement   ★, happiness ★? Maybe prestige and luxury   ★ ? Unfortunately, these pictures display the lie   ★ , the illusion of happiness the companies want to sell us together with the clothes . Getting back to photos, I'm sure none of you associated fashion industry campaigns with damage   ★ , violence ★  and deaths   ★ . However, this industry now is more about destruction rather than wealth and aesthetic . Things weren't like this all the time   ★  that happened when the phenomenon of Fast Fashion appeared. Fast Fashion is cheap, trendy clothing that samples the ideas from catwalk or celebrity culture.★ 95% of the shops in the malls are FF brands - Zara, Adidas, H&M, Mango, Bershka, etc. While preparing the presentation I created a poll, wh...

Only dead fish goes with the flow. People say this phrase when people don’t want to change anything in their lives and just content themselves with what they have (even if what they have is of bad quality, uncomfortable or not-what-you-like). You can start with petty things in your life such as I did. it with perfect cup of coffee. I‘m not obsessed with coffee, but I can easily recognise if the coffee is burnt, there is way too much milk or wise versa. And betweentimes I was in situation when I take sip and  make the “ugh” sound.  Some people just take the cup and drink and feel discontenct. This week I took better for myself.  When I got my cup of coffee,took a sip and and feeling this bitter flavour. I have lots of friend who are baristas and I know how busy they actually are, but that time I said: "Could you redo, please? It is way too bitter". The boy made a wry face, but anyway, he left to da a new cup of coffee. I felt bothersome, confused and annoying. Long after...

You know those moments when you want something, maybe even try to map out or just have the slightest idea of it, and it suddenly happens. I’m sure you know this feeling! And you can’t even realise it in that very moment, the time passes and you think- oh, wow, I did it! The same happened to me last week. As fourth challenge I had “to talk with neighbours”. I thought about that for a long time and it really made me nervous. I wondered if I should start the conversation or not, what we can discuss etc.  Anyway, one day I was sitting at my balcony listening to the music and drinking tea. Through the music I heard loud screams and laughter. I’ve realised these were my upstairs  neighbours aaaaand.... I just started to answer them, so the conversation was struck up. Nothing fearful, I thought! Another evidence that something’s are not that scary as we think of them! Now when I see them outside I always greet them. This situation proved me how it’s important to think about thin...

The speech was on a great topic, I liked the structure of the body, but I think the beginning and the conclusion could be more precise. Unfortunately, I can hardly estimate the physical presentation, but I loved that the speaker used gestures sometimes and eye contact. As for vocal presentation I believe the speech could be more emotional and in a high pitch (because I know Julia can do it!) I loved that the presentation wasn’t too long, there were the main and most necessary points. By the way the visualisation was pleasant, nothing disturbed eyes.

1.        Concrete and Specific Language. Task. Study the examples below. Which is more concrete and specific? What effect is created? He is a bad roommate He is lazy and discourteous He is untidy and unclean He doesn't clean up his own messes He leaves his dirty dishes on the kitchen counter Your relationship with John is unacceptable You do not get along well with John You and John have a lot of arguments You and John insult each other too much You and John call each other derogatory names Those sentences give the specific information, concrete fact. In comparicon with the first sentences in each group we see that there are lots of resons to be called bad rommate or to call the relationship unacceptable, looking below, by the way, we understand the exact reson in this very case. 2. Concise Language Task. Shorten the sentences above to avoid wordiness.   (1) It is widely discussed by employees that many of them will be force...

Purpose: to make people think about the damage they do to the environment by buying clothes. Introduction 1. What assosiacions do you have with those pictures? Excitement? Maybe prestige, luxury? A: Those pictures are broadcasting the things and values tha shops want to sell us. B: I'm sure none of us realises that the fashion industry is assosiated with damage, violance and deaths rather than with wealth and aestethic. 2. That happend as soon as the phenomenon of fast fashion appeared. C: the defenition of FF D: the brands E: the results of the poll. Body: 1. Benefits of fast fashion: A: for consumers cheap prices feeling luxurious, rich and in fashion the retailers suggest you perfect match with the items B: advantages for the companies the annual proceeds  colloborations with high fashion brands 2.Damage: A: workers poor working conditions salary the accidents happend  B: environment chemical farming producing the syntetic fabrics ...

I’ve watched all of the videos with speeches and their different attention getters. For now I’ve realised that the stories in the beginning draw my attention immediately, I start to feel as if I’m getting acquainted with a new friend. The person from an average speaker gains the personality. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of making references sometimes they are too general, sometimes too individual. The quotations aren’t working for me either, especially if those are the quotes of people lived long time ago. BUT! The quotes of close people- friends, relatives, etc.- can be truly touching and significant. I like starting by the questions, but the question itself should be interesting for audience to find out more. I’ll definitely try to wove one of the attention getters into my coming speech, but takes looooong time figure out how to create it greatly!

Hello, would like to order pizza... saying this is not a big deal, by the way. I always do my best to avoid these conversations. However, last week my friends decided to order pizza, and I said I can ring up. - Hello! Pizza delivery. What would you like to order? - One margarita and one with chicken and mushrooms. - ok, well... your delivery address? - Lenin street, 9... - are you paying by card or by cash? ... Going on and on and on..., well, I’ve finally made an order, but I realised that talking to the operator isn’t the thing that bothers me , but the time I spend on it. I didn’t feel nervous talking to her, just bored I’d say. It really takes much time and energy to talk to somebody, follow the questions, etc. I’m not a passionate about technologies and devices, but ordering on the websites really makes this process faster and easier.

I really like how the speeches are getting better and better every time. For me it was difficult to estimate physical presentation, there were little movement and I understand as it is merely possible to be expressive in front of the computer. Have studied the information on this unit, I’ve realised there weren’t enough highlighted points on the topic. So the speech could be longer. By the way, I liked including the quotes and interaction with audience.

Phenomenon of fast fashion. 1. The young generation is interested in saving the nature, they are consious, but sometimes they aren't acknowledged of the thinks they like which do harm to the environment. 2. The problem of fast fashion became global, but we still continue buying the clothes for a season without thinking of the consequenses. 3."You don't need new clothes" 4. Realising there are more significant things around us than money, clothes, brands, fashion. 5. I'd like people to feel courage and stregth to resist their desires to by petty things to cheer themselves up and also a guilt for being blind in front of the agressive marketing and forcing to buy. Purpose:  To make people aware of problems in fashion industry and their participation in those problems. Objectives: 1.To explain what fast fashion is nowadays. 2.To highlight how the world and the industry came to that state. 3.To expose the companies, which are fast fashion retailers. 4. To s...

Challenge 2. Words are, of course, most powerful drug known to mankind. I’m not the type who tells complements all the time or,  at least, often. But this week I decided to watch my friends and understand what these exact things I love about them are. (I don’t like complements based on appearance or some innate features. What I really appreciate is personal characteristics, style of clothes, which inspires me. So I made complements to my friends about many things (new hairstyle, sweatshirts, outfit, music playlist) and what I adore this sincere and unexpected smile on their faces. This is the thing which gives me energy and, I believe, even more positive emotions as a feedback! Though the situation I love the most is when my friend and I were sitting at the balcony and were talking. We remembered the moment we became friends and spoke about each other. I decided to share my thoughts on this friend, first impression and things our friendship taught me. After that I felt ...

Some comments on the speech: I really loved refined version of the book’s text. The structure was the same, but some valuable features were added. The interaction was useful both as checking audience’s attention and as helping to understand the core of the method. However, I’d love to hear at least one  personal example/story to build an attachment with the audience ( and make this oh-I-faced-that-problem-too effect). Speech delivery is fine, though sometimes the articulation wasn’t clear enough, most points were absolutely good. I watched the eye contact and must say the physical presentation worked successfully. What is important the visual presentation was truly inviting to the eye, minimalistic design, nothing what would distract the attention 👍🏻

The speech was structured, but I also think there would be more bridges between some ideas. I love thinking out of the box and adding something new, indeed, I understand that the shell of our speeches is our book, but it’s necessary to add more information, I would say to customise the speech. And I want to say thank you for giving some newspaper article, giving examples (even in few words) about our group listening skills. I gave 11 points for speech delivery, the volume and intonation could be better ( and I know they can be perfect!), the same is with articulation. Unfortunately, I had no chance to see the speaker, that’s why I couldn’t give any points. The timing is fine, but I always want this time to be used more effectively ( more vividness, examples, personal experience. I’m not sure the speech was extremely creative, the presentation was pleasant enough, but nothing outstanding, I’d say:) 

This week I tried to complete one of my challenges. It sounds "to ask for change in the shop", I don't really ask any extra questions and take too much of someone's time, so I pay by card. As I was in the shop several times during the week, I modified the task each time, but the aim was to talk to the cashier. The first time: I took a note of 5000 rub, but took some petty things. I wasn't nervous, but uncomfortable, because it seemed so long and troublesome. However, everything went fine, the woman was friendly enough. The second time: I went to the grosery and asked for a change, I brought 2000 rub and asked to change into small bills. I felt the woman was bothered by this request, what made me feel confused a little bit, but she helped me and I was okay, one way or another I did it. The third time: this time I went to the stall with vegatables ( I knew they didn't have cashless payment in advance), anyway I grabbed some tomatoes, bunch of green and lots of ...

Talking about the first block, the structure was quite clear. However, I’d love to hear more personal facts, stories, experience about overcoming the stage fright. Perhaps sharing self-worked out tips beside ones from the book would be super useful. Block two: it wasn’t easy to estimate this block via computer. I liked the vocal presentation, though I think the articulation could be better (I know for sure!). I noticed lack of movements and gestures during the speech. Last block: The speaker performed as long as he said it would take, perfect timing! Talking about creativity, I didn’t notice anything special and unique in speech or in manner of performing, BUT I’m impressed by the visualisation. It was simple, comprehensive, nothing extra to distract attention. It wonderfully went with the voice accompaniment.

Recognize the stress as excitement ( Even when I feel sad or miserable, I realize how wonderful it is to feel the emotions, so the stress is the same thing; I’m always nervous before being in front of the audience and after the performance, I understand that this waiting was the most precious moment, full of the manner of the emotions) Dress up ( Choosing the right outfit is 80% of success for me, it should be suitable for the event and comfortable for me, I do really feel confident in this case. By the way, it puts away about 30% of my stress) Take deep breaths ( Sometimes I simply forget to breathe normally, the lungs contract and the breaths are short, it can affect general state and quality of speech. That’s why I really need time to feel I immerse into the state of stress, then stop and try to relax, make a deep breath)

My challenges for this quarantine time: To ask for a change in a shop Make a compliment to a friend Make a food order To have a talk with neighbours  Ask to remake a coffee To make a call about fixing the computer  Talk with strangers (any occasion) Text to a mate I haven't spoken with for a long time Performing acting activities in front of the friends To start texting a stranger in Instagram

One way or another many of the symptoms appear in my body before and during public speaking. However, once I've noticed a curious feature: my brain works differently when I perform the speech. Firstly, it finds the solutions faster than ever, when the audience asks the questions, I remember literally everything connected with the topic to prove I’m right. I can remember some words from my passive vocabulary, which I heard once (at this very moment they shift to the active), I remember some facts and even dates (which is absolutely impossible in daily life!). A few times I noticed when I speak, I pronounce words unconsciously, but think about different things. I think it happens because I got used to be on stage (I've  been a dancer for 11 years) and I'm not that scared of this feeling. Also I always try to control my speech, the audience's attention, the surrounding situation, due to these I need to defocus my attention. When the speech is greatly prepared,  I don...

There are two variants of the social interaction: cooperation and competition. Many scientists, though, are interested in term “conflict”, especially in the ways to solve it, the strategies in behaviour of the participants etc. The stages of the conflict were also discussed. An interesting and new thing for me was the concept of social dilemmas and how people prone to share money, rewards etc. That made me think over how I act and how I would act now in such situations .

To give the evaluation in detail, I want to comment on each criterion and point the things I liked or not. Organization: 15 pnt The logic of the speech was pretty clear, though in some parts I thought I lost the train of thought.  Support: I am definitely amazed by speaker‘s using of examples. They were personal, touching, true and sincere. The speech, by the way, was full of flashbacks, stories, examples of people etc. Cohesion: As I mentioned above, bunch of examples filled the speech, but finally all of them led us to the one idea and conclusion, we literally saw the development of person’s life, attitude, feelings. Speech delivery: I have 17 points in both criteria. That means I wasn’t satisfied with one of the elements of the criterion. To be precise articulation and facial expression sometimes. All 7 minutes were used to the maximum, no long pause, much information!  I am a big fan of speakers who use acting, they portray all of the participants...

Emotions. This block of lectures explains emotions and gives various classifications of emotions and emotional states. An interesting way is how our emotions to other people  depend on how we estimate their actions, the causes and circumstances. The same happens with estimating yourself. Moreover, our emotions affect our perception and analysis of information, e.g. when we experience positive emotions, we are likely to estimate others higher, but feeling good and joyful makes us careless when we study the information. Our emotions affect our behaviour towards surrounding people, though this behaviour can change due to empathy. The information about how the attraction appears was given. How do we transfer the information? Social communication. The structure of communicative situation and its each element were discussed. There were 4 classifications of communicative style. While the communication the participants are in communicative field ( surrounding factors, the norm of ...

This diagram illutrates some characteristics the perfect public speaker has and the ones I have. In circle with my description I have both strong and weak points. At the intersection  I pointed the things I consider to be well-performed by me and which the first I think about whin prepearing any speech.

 This week the topic was self-concept and our self-esteem. The additional video was dedicated to the core of the motivation, how we excuse our ups and downs (what usually defines optimists and pessimists). Analysing my presentations during the course, I can say that when my speech is poor, I always blame myself: lazed, prepared in a slipshod manner etc. Every comment and  criticism I take personnaly, because I know I'm able to peform brilliantly, but sometimes I just don't care about perfect result, average is fine.  If  language was kind of broken, I mark what particular moments I didn't like and try to correct and enhance it. After the fail I try to perform better, but sometimes I don't succeed in it😕

Josephine Lee I do concider the Josephine's speech to be the best. The first thing I noticed is the how theatrical and emotional she started, but not way too much. This kind of activeness seemed to be natural for her particularly. The topic itself, by the way, was significant and deep itself and it resonated in me (maybe this is why I was more attentive). The way of speaking, the voice were pleasant and clear, so she's the only who got all 40 points in the second parameter. Darren Tay The methods he uses to attract the audience are perfect, visualasing and the really do work! He has a great sense of humor. To understand the speech from the first watching was difficult for me, because of pronunciation and some pecularities of articulation, so I watched twice, though, he used his voice greatly. I am not sure the body position at some moments was suitable. Aaron Beverly The Aaron's speech was successful and you see he conceded one point. Everything was comprehens...

This unit is dedicated to our evaluation of other people. These are our personal values and beliefs and attitudes which affect our thinking and comprehension. There are many types of values different people have and everyone draws the conclusion according to his/her personal beliefs and values he/she has. Another curious thing is how we make (or sometimes make up) the excuses trying to tailor them to our actions. Sometimes we blame the outside world, not ourselves or we just change our mind and say «I don’t want to do something I used to want to » The test result:

Things I liked: Confidence and liveliness of the whole speech and presentation. Eye contact all the time. I run through the audience lest they get bored or off a subject. The logic of the speech, there wasn't jumps to and fro. The speech is comprehensible enough. Things I want to improve: To get rid of the sounds of hesitation. While thinking or remembering I'm always saying "eeem". I suppose I am afraid of pauses, but I shouldn't because pauses are not that bad, or it's also possible to learn to say "well","you know" etc. Oh, body language. It seems I flip my hair back all the time, what, I believe, can become peevish during the whole speech. The manner of speaking. I want my spantenious speech and especially prepared to sound vividly and emotively.

Being a good public speaker is a hard work, here I want to describe a perfect one and the characteristics which matter for me. The appearance and clothes ( This is the point, which almost doesn't matter for me. I don't think about the clothes a person wears, after all we came to listen to his\her ideas and thoughts. I respect everyone's personality, not outfits. Although, it seldom influences me: if the person resembles my friends, I'm likely to have the same attitude to him/her (though it's not proper at all). Anyway, if speakers want to focus the audience on the speech, not themselves, the best option is to wear simple clothes in basic, restrained colours.) Speech   (From my point of view, this point is vital. The perfect speakers are neither too loud nor too quiet, they play with their voices: make pauses to draw your attention, articulate properly, use just right tempo, chose appropriate for the situation words) Non-verbal communication (Gestures, body l...

The second lecture was devoted to "Our perception of others". It's curious that no matter how hard we resist categorizing and estimating a person, this procces is already on in your mind. There was a term "self-fulfiled prophecy", that means that after putting a person into a particular category, we try to predict their behaviour (according to patterns or examples of people of this category). As a result, they really DO act like we predicted, but it happens only because we have been treating  them the way this exact characteristics of them could show up. (below I'll give an example) This phenomenon can be connected not only with everyday communication, but with public speaking as well. Stage fright is a common thing for everyone, I'm sure everybody have faced it at least once. Let's recall what thoughs are in our head before we present something in public. "Oh gosh, what if they think I'm dull and ridiculous!"  What happens then, yo...