Tips To Improve Public Speaking Skills For Students

Introduction

It can be a nightmare to speak in front of a large audience especially when you have a fear of public speaking. However, the only way forward is to face your fears! 

This is because mastering the skill of public speaking is essential for becoming successful in life. It not only boosts your self-confidence but also compels people to respect you and enhances the way you communicate with them. 

Instead of battling with the fear of public speaking as an adult, here are 15 tips to improve public speaking skills for students!

JBM Smart Start is a Top School in Greater Noida that understands the importance of public speaking and the development of other interpersonal skills. This is why the institution occasionally organizes events like elocution and debate competitions for the students to showcase and develop different skills.

Importance Of Developing Public Speaking Skills

School activities like elocution competitions, presentations, and debates judge students based on their public speaking skills. 

Improving public speaking skills in children is necessary because the importance of being an excellent public speaker is immense in the workplace. 

It not only helps you come across as a confident and able leader but also allows you to get your point across in an effective manner. Being able to speak confidently no matter the size of your audience also guarantees immense success. 

Do you want to know how to improve your public speaking skills? Read on to find out!

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15 Tips To Improve Public Speaking Skills In Children

1: Keep Practising

If you want to perfect something, doing it over and over again is the only way to go! Similarly one of the most important tips to improve public speaking skills for students is to keep practicing. 

They can not only practice their speeches in front of a mirror but can also arrange for a small gathering of their close friends and family to speak in front of.

2: Maintain Eye Contact With Your Audience

Why should the audience be interested in you? If you have a faraway look on your face, they are more likely to tune out and not pay attention to what you are saying. Instead, the mark of a good public speaker is one who maintains eye contact with their audience. 

It not only gives an impression that you are directly speaking to them but also gives you an idea of what impact you’re making. You can change the content or the wording of your speech based on their expressions. 

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3: Maintain A Positive Body Language

Nobody likes a public speaker whose body language is not confident. If the narrative in your head is self-deprecating and you think you’re not good enough, it is likely to reflect on your face, your body language as well as your speech. 

Instead, try maintaining an upright posture by keeping your back straight and having a confident smile on your face. Even while speaking, ensure that your body language remains consistent, positive, and confident.

4: Keep Your Nerves Under Control

Despite maintaining a confident exterior, feeling extremely nervous inside is normal. However, it is important to keep your nerves under control and not let them overwhelm the way you speak. 

You can try using words of affirmation to boost your confidence or you can have a friend nearby for moral support.

5: Listen To Your Own Recordings

Self-criticism is one of the best ways to improve public speaking skills for students. This can be done if they record themselves while practising their speeches. 

Listening to the recordings later will help them figure out where they are lacking or how they can improve their overall performance.

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6: Take Deep Breaths

Feeling anxious before facing a large audience is quite common. However, the problem arises when it reflects on your face and speech. 

Instead, spare a few minutes to meditate and take deep breaths before going up on stage. It will help you calm down and create a cool head space. 

7: Control Your Hand Gestures

Some public speakers use unnecessary hand gestures to enunciate their opinions during a speech. This is not only distracting but is also viewed as unprofessional. 

Thus, public speaking skills for students can be improved if they use minimal hand gestures only when necessary when they are speaking.

8: Refer To Your Notes

Another cause of worry is forgetting what one has decided to talk about. Public speaking includes talking for a couple of minutes at least. Many students fear that they will be unable to remember the content of their speech. 

However, public speaking forums allow students to carry cards or notes during their presentations or speeches. 

Refrain from writing long sentences or elaborate points. Instead, write the main points so you can maintain your train of thought by referring to your notes.

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9: Pause Whenever Necessary

It may so happen that you forget what you were talking about. Most of the time, students make audible sounds that give away the fact that they are trying to recollect their thoughts. 

This can be avoided if you speak in a slow, steady, and consistent manner. Most importantly, it is extremely important to pause when you think is necessary. 

It will give you the time to formulate your thoughts and continue speaking without forgetting. Avoid making audible sounds when you’re pausing and, instead, let there be complete silence for a few seconds.

10: Get To Know Your Audience

The key to impressing your audience with your speech is knowing about them. This indicates that you must have enough information about the audience you will be speaking to before your presentation. 

It will help you understand what kind of content, approach, and words will appeal to them more.

11: Master The Art Of Listening

Another very important way of improving public speaking skills for students is to master the art of listening. 

This includes paying attention to your fellow students during their presentations and also attending the speeches of popular public speakers. Listening to them speak will help you learn more about public speaking.

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12: Finding Comfort In Silence

When you walk up to a platform for your presentation or speech, it is obvious that the crowd will be waiting for you. Thus, they will mostly be silent. Even when you are speaking, there will be silence in the room because people will be paying attention to your words. 

Do not let the silence intimidate you. Instead, accept it as a compliment that you have managed to capture the attention of your audience.

13: Don’t Digress From The Main Topic

Students often fumble and digress from the main topic while attempting to convey their opinions in a speech or presentation. 

However, it is important to note that the crowd is more interested in the topic than your personal opinions. Thus, it is highly recommended to stick to the main topic at hand.

14: Interact With The Audience

The most important skill that a student should master if they want to become a good public speaker is interacting with their audience. 

This includes asking them questions, giving them an opportunity to voice their opinions, and allowing them to ask you questions. Engaging and interacting with them will increase their interest and attention to what you have to say.

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15: Pay Attention To Any Feedback

Finally, the most important way to improve public speaking skills for students is to be open to any feedback. 

It will help them focus on areas they may not be strong in and make necessary changes in the way they speak.

Conclusion

Thus, public speaking skills for students can be cultivated by encouraging them to keep practicing, hearing records of them speaking, and implementing the feedback they receive. 

Moreover, it is extremely important to maintain positive body language, establish eye contact and interact with the audience, avoid making unnecessary hand gestures, and stick to the topic at hand. 

However, sometimes the nerves are unavoidable which is why you can carry tiny notes with the main points written on them.

JBM Smart Start, a top School in Greater Noida, ensures that every child receives the attention they require to flourish and achieve success in life. The teachers are always ready to clear their doubts, answer questions, and guide them toward a bright future.