Jaden Jones Blog post

 Public speaking is a skill we all know is valuable, but let’s be honest – for most of us, it’s intimidating. Whether it's presenting in front of classmates or speaking to a large group, that feeling of nervousness can be hard to shake. Recently, my classmates and I gave presentations on the topic of public speaking, and I found myself learning a lot, not just from my own group but from the others as well. From organizing ideas to delivering a message clearly, these presentations taught me lessons that are definitely going to help me in both my academic and professional future.

In this post, I’ll break down the key points I picked up from each group’s presentation and explain how they’ve already started improving my confidence when it comes to public speaking. Whether you’re an experienced speaker or someone who, like me, is working on finding their voice, these tips can make all the difference.

One of the first things I learned was how important it is to structure your speech. I’ve always been the type to write down random ideas and hope that it all somehow comes together. But from watching my classmates present, I realized that organizing your thoughts in a clear, logical way is the foundation of a good presentation. Group 1 emphasized that every speech should have a strong opening, a detailed body, and a solid conclusion. They showed us how a well-structured speech helps your audience follow along and understand your message better.

For example, having a catchy introduction is key to grabbing attention from the start. You want something that’ll make people want to listen to what you’re saying, whether it’s a thought-provoking question, an interesting fact, or a personal story. The body of your speech should then deliver on that promise by offering clear, valuable information. Finally, wrapping up with a strong conclusion ties everything together and leaves a lasting impression. Without this structure, your audience is likely to lose track of your message.

I realized that my group had also touched on this during our presentation. We talked about how structuring a speech helps you stay focused and avoid rambling. It was a relief to know we were on the right track, but the way Group 1 explained it helped me see just how crucial this step is.

Another important takeaway from the presentations was the idea of tailoring your speech to your audience. Group 1 really drove this point home by explaining how different audiences require different approaches. For example, if you’re speaking to a group of high school students, your language, tone, and examples will be completely different than if you were addressing industry professionals.

This is something I hadn’t really thought about before. When I’ve prepared speeches in the past, I’ve mostly just focused on what I wanted to say without thinking much about who was listening. But my classmates made it clear that understanding your audience is essential if you want to engage them. Group 1 provided examples of how to do this, like researching your audience ahead of time or even asking questions during your speech to gauge their level of interest and understanding.

In my group’s presentation, we also discussed how to find your “purpose” for speaking, which ties in nicely with understanding the audience. By figuring out your general purpose—whether you’re trying to inform, persuade, or entertain—you can better tailor your speech to meet the audience's expectations.

One of the things that stood out the most to me was the emphasis on preparation. Every group mentioned it in some way, but Group 2, my group, really focused on it. We highlighted how preparation is the key to feeling confident and delivering a strong speech. It’s not enough to know your topic; you have to rehearse it over and over until you feel comfortable with the material.

Our group talked about creating outlines to organize your thoughts, researching your topic thoroughly, and practicing in front of friends or a mirror to get a feel for how the speech will flow. We even discussed how you should prepare for possible questions or interruptions, so you’re not caught off guard when things don’t go exactly as planned.

One of the presenters in my group also gave a great example of how knowing your material inside and out can make a huge difference. She explained how, in a previous class, she had practiced her speech so much that when the projector broke mid-presentation, she didn’t miss a beat. She knew her topic so well that she could continue without relying on her slides.

After you’ve got your content and preparation down, it’s time to think about delivery. This was one of the most interesting parts of the presentations because it’s something you can only learn by watching others. Group 3 really excelled in this area. They discussed how to use voice, body language, and pacing to engage the audience and keep them interested.

One of the things I found most useful was their advice on making eye contact. It’s a simple thing, but making eye contact can really help you connect with your audience. They also mentioned how important it is to vary your tone of voice to keep people from tuning out. If you speak in a monotone, it doesn’t matter how good your content is—people will zone out. But by changing the pitch and volume of your voice, you can emphasize key points and maintain interest.

Group 3 also gave tips on how to use gestures and movement to keep the audience engaged. Moving around the stage a little, rather than standing stiffly in one spot, can help make your speech more dynamic. These tips were not only useful, but the presenters demonstrated them during their talk, making it easy to see how they work in action.

Finally, I learned how important it is to seek and apply feedback. Whether it’s from a teacher, a peer, or even yourself after watching a recording of your speech, feedback is essential for improvement. In our presentation, we discussed how feedback helps you grow as a speaker by showing you areas where you can improve. We talked about how important it is to be open to constructive criticism and not take it personally—feedback is meant to help, not hurt.

One of the groups mentioned that regular feedback and practice can help overcome the fear of public speaking. The more you speak in front of others, the more comfortable you become. Over time, speaking in public starts to feel less like a nerve-wracking event and more like a skill you’ve mastered.

 

Overall, these presentations taught me a lot about the art of public speaking. The main takeaways for me were the importance of preparation, understanding your audience, and delivering your message in a way that engages and informs. My classmates’ presentations not only gave me valuable tips but also boosted my confidence in my own public speaking abilities.

I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in future presentations and, hopefully, get better at speaking in front of people without breaking into a cold sweat. With continued practice and focus on these key points, public speaking is becoming less of a fear and more of a skill I can improve on.