Sikh Symposium Speakers' Workshop

SGNC Speakers’ Workshop 1/19/14

Copyright © 2014 Jasleen Kaur 1

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The Sikh Gurudwara of North Carolina

SGNC Speakers’ Workshop

January 18, 2014

Jasleen Kaur & Darshan Singh

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Today’s Agenda

q  Discussion of ideas for good speech delivery

q  Mixed with an inter-group speech competition Ø  Everyone divided into groups Ø  Will compete in several rounds – in every round

§  We’ll first introduce the delivery ideas that you must use §  Then we’ll give you speech samples §  One kid from each group will practice and deliver sample

–  Everyone in the group will help prepare §  After completion of each round, judges will provide

feedback and scores Ø  After several rounds

§  We’ll add up and announce all the scores

q  We’ll eat pizza!



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WHAT IS A GOOD SPEECH? What does it look like? Why is it important?

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A Good Speech …

q  Convinces the listener that what you are saying is important and interesting

q  Persuades the listener to do what you are asking them to do

q  Why do we need it? Ø  To convince your parents to buy you something

§  Whining doesn’t always work ! Ø  To convince friends to play the game you want to play

§  Sulking doesn’t work ! Ø  To win awards Ø  When you grow up, it helps you become good leaders,

get great jobs, etc.

Everyone listens to you ! Everyone listens to you (and thinks you’re cool) !



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What Does a Good Speech Have?

q  Content: what are you saying? Ø  What words are you speaking? Ø  Are they true? Ø  Are they important?

q  Delivery: how are you saying it? Ø  Does it sound important? Ø  Does it appear convincing?

q  Both content and delivery are important Ø  Can’t do with just one of them Ø  Symposium breakup – 60% for content, 40% for delivery

q  Our focus today – good speech “delivery”

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How To Do Good Delivery?

q  Lots of great ideas – can be roughly divided into:

Ø  Attitude

Ø  Verbal Expression

Ø  Non-verbal Expression



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ATTITUDE FOR GOOD DELIVERY Its not about you ! Honest !

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Fear of the Audience / of Your Image

q  How many of you are scared (of what) before a speech? Ø  What if I forget? Ø  What if I mess up?! Ø  Everyone’s looking at me!!

§  I mean, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E is looking at me !! Ø  What if they get to know I’m no good?! Ø  Will I look silly if I’m too expressive? Ø  Will I look “un”cool? Ø  What will my friends think?

q  So how do I not become scared?!

Remember: Its NOT about you !



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Its not about you!

q  Its about the topic / message: Ø  Your job is simply to persuade/convince the listener

§  When you beg your parents to let you play some more, do you care about how (pathetic) you’re looking?!

q  People are not really thinking about how you look Ø  Unless you’re thinking that way and distracting them

away from the topic Ø  If speech is delivered effectively, they will focus ONLY on

the message §  Additional bonus: at the end of the speech, they will think

you are SO awesome!

q  Catch: only way to convince them is if you also focus only on the message Ø  Not: “How do I look?” “Do I look silly?” “What if I forget?”

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Confidence

q  Will I forget something? Ø  Not if you:

§  Practice §  Practice §  Practice

q  So if you: 1.  Will focus on only the topic 2.  And will practice enough Then how do you make sure that your speed delivery is effective?



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VERBAL EXPRESSION Volume, Clarity, Tone

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Volume

q  Goldilock’s rule: Ø  Not too low Ø  Not too loud

q  Running example: “The Honest Work of Bhai Lalo” Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to travel all over India with his companion Bhai Mardana. Wherever they went, they made beautiful music to help people understand God and spread truth. This story takes place when they visited a remote village in Northern India.

q  Make sure that the audience: Ø  Can hear you easily Ø  Is not distracted by your volume

§  Remember: its about the “topic”



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Clarity (Speed)

q  Goldirock’s rule: Ø  Not too fast Ø  Not too sllllllllloooooowwww

q  Running example: “The Honest Work of Bhai Lalo”

As Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana walked towards this village, the people heard the news and were excited that he was coming. Bhai Lalo, a simple and hard-working carpenter, ran out to meet him. He wanted to serve Baba Nanak.

q  Make sure that the audience: Ø  Can understand your words clearly Ø  Does not go to sleep (is not distracted away from “topic”)

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BREAK Yaaaaaaayyyyyy!



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Intonations

q  Use pitch variation, loudness, speed, and pauses to: Ø  Indicate your attitude and emotions Ø  Focus attention on important elements of your sentence

q  Example: “I really want to go and play! I really need to!” Ø  Goldilocks says – don’t do it at the wrong places J


Bhai Lalo fell at Guru Nanak’s feet, saying, “O Baba Ji, my soul is honored to see your divine presence. Please come to my house so I can serve you.” Guru Nanak Dev Ji agreed to his pure request and went to the carpenter’s small home. Even though the food was simple, it was made with love and Guruji enjoyed eating it very much.

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Practice Round 1

q  Volume q  Clarity q  Intonation



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NON-VERBAL EXPRESSION Eye Contact, Movement, Posture, Gestures

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Eye Contact (and talking TO them)

q  Audience interacts when you converse with them Ø  Use eye contact (w/ intonations) at the right places

§  Chote Sahibjade line example Ø  Don’t do it to only 1 person (will distract you)

q  Running example: “The Honest Work of Bhai Lalo” In the same village, there was also a very rich man, named Malik Bhago. He did not treat people very nicely, but every year he organized a huge feast to please God. When he heard Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in the area, Malik Bhago sent a messenger to Guruji, asking him to join the feast at his home. But when Guruji got to his house, he did not eat anything. Malik Bhago was offended! He knew that Guruji had eaten at Lalo’s house just the day before.



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Practice Round 2

q  Volume q  Clarity q  Intonation q  Eye Contact

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Facial Expressions & Gestures

q  Use your face and hands to “speak” for you Ø  Gesture naturally, as you would when you talk to friends

§  Don’t overdo it Ø  Free your hands as much as possible to allow that

§  Use the podium for notes §  Print notes in large fonts, double spacing, … §  Keep your hands out of your pockets


Malik Bhago approached Guruji angrily, asking him, “Baba, why haven’t you eaten any of this food? You can eat at the house of a low caste carpenter but not my food?! It is the most exotic, expensive, rich food you can get, why won’t you eat it?”



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Practice Round 3

q  Volume q  Clarity q  Intonation q  Eye Contact q  Facial Expressions & Gestures

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BREAK Yaaaaaaayyyyyy!



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Movement / Posture q  “The non-verbal frames the verbal”

Ø  Whichever behavior interrupts the other, is the one that takes audience focus

Ø  If I move to draw their attention (gesture or take a step) and then speak, they’ll hear me.

Ø  If I start to speak, then move aimlessly, they’ll watch but not hear.

q  Useful tips: Ø  Do not be stiff Ø  Stand still for a moment and make eye contact with them.

Then start. (Speak only once you’ve made contact.) Ø  Literally, “move into” your next argument Ø  Stay in one place for a while – don’t keep pacing around

§  Choose 2-3 places where you’ll take a step or two.

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Movement / Posture q  Useful tips:

Ø  Do not be stiff Ø  Stand still for a moment and make eye contact with them.

Then start. (Speak only once you’ve made contact.) Ø  Literally, “move into” your next argument Ø  Stay in one place for a while – don’t keep pacing around

§  Choose 2-3 places where you’ll take a step or two.


Guruji said, “I will show you why.” He then asked someone to go to Lalo’s house and bring a roti, which he held in one hand. He also tool a roti from Malik Bhago’s feast in the other hand. He began squeezing both hands and something amazing happened. They say, out of Lalo’s roti, milk came out, but out of Malik Bhago’s roti came blood.



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Conviction and Enthusiasm

q  A speech isn’t something you do to someone. Its something you do with them.

q  Be convinced and enthusiastic yourself: Ø  Understand the topic

§  Research extra sources if need be Ø  Make sure you believe what you are saying

§  Talk it out with parents and friends

q  Then make a sincere effort to convince the audience Ø  Share your enthusiasm for the topic Ø  Use all techniques seen so far to convince them of its

significance §  MOVE the audience out of its inertia

Ø  But do know when to stop

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Conviction and Enthusiasm

q  Then make a sincere effort to convince the audience Ø  Share your enthusiasm for the topic Ø  Use all techniques seen so far to convince them of its

significance §  MOVE the audience out of its inertia

Ø  But do know when to stop

q  Running example: “The Honest Work of Bhai Lalo” Guruji patiently replied, “Lalo works and earns honestly, and serves with kindness and devotion. His food is like milk to a saint. Your servants made the food with fear. So it feels like blood.” Malik Bhago learned a great lesson that day and became a disciple of Guru Nanak. He realized being mean to people all year and making a feast just once does not make God happy.



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Practice Round 4

q  Volume q  Clarity q  Intonation q  Eye Contact q  Facial Expressions & Gestures q  Movement, posture q  Conviction and Enthusiasm

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Things to remember

q  Notes vs Memorization Ø  Do whichever you are most comfortable with:

§  Memorize the speech §  Use note cards

q  Practice goes a long way Ø  More you practice, more confident and comfortable you

will be Ø  But be wary of too much practice (don’t lose spontaneity

of gestures, expressions)

q  Video-record yourself and see what you can do better Ø  You’ll see yourself from the audience’s eyes Ø  Don’t overdo it, though…



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Summary

q  Attitude

q  Verbal Expression

q  Non-verbal Expression

q  Practice

q  Remember, delivery does not replace content !

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Project (for 2 weeks later)

q  Use the speech sent by email to your parents

q  Prepare a 2 minute (only) speech Ø  Take your parents’ help if you are young

q  Practice delivering it using the ideas discussed today

q  Present (about) 2 weeks from now Ø  Every kid who successfully completes the project

§  Will be awarded a “Workshop Certificate” §  Will get a goody bag

q  Questions? Ø  Contact us at: [email protected]

Sikh Symposium Speakers' Workshop

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