Public speaking and confidence

Key points

• Nervousness before speaking is normal and can be turned into energy.
• Preparation and practising aloud reduce fear the most.
• Slow breathing, warm-ups and a well-learned opening line settle the nerves.
• Start with small audiences and build up gradually.
• After speaking, note one good thing and one improvement instead of criticising yourself.

Key points

• A comfortable speaking pace is about 120 to 150 words per minute.
• Speak loudly enough for the back of the room, using breath from the stomach.
• Pauses give listeners time to think and replace filler words.
• Clear pronunciation matters more than a perfect accent.
• Recording yourself helps you notice and improve.

Key points

• Posture, gestures and facial expressions should support your words.
• Stand balanced and upright, avoid swaying, and keep gestures natural.
• Eye contact builds trust: hold each person for a thought, then move around the room.
• If eye contact is hard, look at a friendly face or just above the heads of the audience.
• Start and end calmly and confidently.

Key points

• Every speech has an opening, a body and a close.
• Decide your purpose, audience and time before writing.
• A strong opening uses a question, fact, story or quote, not an apology.
• Use two or three main points, each explained and supported with an example.
• At about 130 words per minute, speech length can be estimated in words.

Key points

• Stories are remembered far better than lists of facts.
• A simple story has setting, problem, action and result with a lesson.
• Personal and family stories are easiest because you already know them.
• Be specific, use the senses, keep it short and link it to your point.
• Never embarrass real people or present invented stories as true.

Key points

• Use key words on small numbered cards instead of reading a full script.
• Practise with your notes until you only need a glance.
• Slides should have one idea each, few words, large text and pictures.
• Do not read slides aloud, and face the audience.
• Test the equipment early and carry a backup copy.

Key points

• Listen fully, pause, rephrase the question briefly, then answer simply.
• If you do not know, say so honestly and offer to find out.
• Stay calm and polite with difficult or unkind questions.
• Keep answers short so that more people can ask.
• Prepare likely questions and practise with a friend.

Key points

• A debate has a motion, two sides, and arguments built from claim, reason, evidence and link.
• Rebuttal answers what the other side actually said; attack the argument, not the person.
• Extempore means speaking with little preparation on a given topic.
• The PREP formula (point, reason, example, point) gives a quick structure.
• Reading and regular practice build fluency and ideas.

Key points

• Good listening means full attention, no interruptions, and checking you understood.
• In a group discussion, listen first, speak briefly, respect others and build on their points.
• Interview preparation includes learning about the place and practising common questions.
• The STAR method (situation, task, action, result) structures examples.
• Honesty and politeness matter most in interviews and discussions.

Key points

• Feedback shows how you look and sound to others and is the fastest way to improve.
• When taking feedback, listen, thank, find patterns, and choose one or two things to work on.
• When giving feedback, start with a strength, give one specific improvement and encourage.
• A 3-minute speech project follows topic, outline, story, notes, practice, delivery and feedback.
• Regular small steps build lasting confidence.