STUDENTS’ HANDOUT THE ART OF ENGAGING AN AUDIENCE GOAL OF THE SESSION The goal of this session is to help you become aware of various skills to improve your communication. To eliminate the smaller technical errors that make us look dull and boring EXERCISE 1: RECORD A VIDEO TIP 1: REHEARSE YOUR SCRIPT ‘Most important, as you begin write down your script. Know your subject... Don’t look in the mirror... Record yourself How many times should you rehearse? As many times as it takes. Remember it is perfectly normal to be nervous even after you have rehearsed. TIP 2: SPEAKING Remove non words. Ex: hmm, ahh, ete Remove repetitive words. Ex: and, ok, yes, just etc. Add emotions Use a variety of tones, pitches, and volumes to keep your audience engaged. © Increase volume: When making a strong point or emphasizing an important idea © Decrease volume: When conveying a more sensitive or emotional point. Also create a sense of intimacy. ° Also, you can use volume changes to create a sense of contrast. © Add facial expressions to your emotions and tones. Practice this in the mirror. TIP 3: LEARN TO TELL STORIES Speakers are simply gloried story-tellers. Live a life that is worth telling stories. Try new things. Be brave. Be courageous. Choose a relatable story Use descriptive language Use charactersVary the pace Use your body Have a clear point Choose where you want to start the story PRESENTING Dress for the occasion Use the stage Add drama (when needed) Avoid repetitive actions EXERCISE 2: REVIEW Take notes as you review. This is not a session to judge yourself, itis to evaluate, to become self — aware. Being self-aware is half the battle won. 1, AUDITORY REVIEW: Put off the video and listen only to yourself speaking, What are some of the auditory habits that you have. Do you have a default volume? Are you too soft of too loud? Is there emotion in your voice — happiness, sad, excitement, frustration, nervousness. Pause ~ too long, too short, or no pauses. Looks for the Hmms and the Ahhs 2, VISUAL REVIEW Put the video on mute and just look at yourself. How do you look ~ Happy, sad, excited or no emotion? Do you move your face? Do you use body language? Too many or too few hand gestures — is it distracting from the message. Visual ticks? EXCERSICE 3: PRESENT BEFORE THE AUDIENCE.