An impromptu speech is one of the most natural and potentially most powerful and effective ways to deliver ideas – a person is speaking in public as if he/she is exploring the idea at the moment of speaking. But if you watch the video of the extemporaneous speaking championship, it comes at a cost of requiring a considerable level of skills and, oxymoronic as it may sound, the preparation that is limited, unfortunately. Most extemporaneous speech presentations show that their authors don’t actually deliver them spontaneously – but extemporaneous speeches aren’t learned by heart as well. Look!
The secret of the successful extemporaneous delivery is in maintaining a careful balance between the two points. There are some tips that can help you learn how an extemporaneous speech should be done. Read this article to the end and make your impromptu speeches perfect.
5 Ways to Get Prepared for an Extemporaneous Speech
Even if it sounds strange ‘get prepared for an extemporaneous speech’, it is still better to get prepared for it in advance. In what way?
- Firstly, read about current affairs in the world and in your country/city, social or scientific issues. As a rule, all the speech questions are based on these topics. Find as much information as possible – it can be retrieved from news sites, blog articles, research studies, official reports, etc. What is more important about reading is that you should remember and retain information. It is determined by the way you read. Think the faster you read, the more you will remember? Not always working! The full comprehension of the text still matters – know all the truth about speed reading and apply the most effective ways of reading.
- Secondly, you should remember all the read materials. The best way to remember what you read is by taking notes. It means that a pen or pencil should be at hand, and it doesn’t mean at all that you will write down sentence by sentence, word by word all while reading. It will take simply a lot of time and give almost no good result. Learn how to build diagrams, mindmaps with the key ideas, points, and subpoints. There is one more effective note-taking method – the Cornell method, which is also helpful for you.
- Thirdly, don’t neglect the opportunity to interact with other people. Be it your friends, relatives or professors, speak to them about an interesting issue you are considering or going to consider. For any speech, it is vital to include different points of view – no matter how it correlates with yours. Your speech will look vivid if some real-life examples are mentioned and described in detail. Where can you pick them up? Only experiencing them on your own or asking someone.
All the previous points are related to the preparation for an extemporaneous speech that takes a long time before the day X when you are asked to deliver it in public. How to get prepared when no more than 30 minutes are given to you? Keep your head! In fact, this is the simplest advice that can be provided to a speaker who has to present in front of a large audience. Maybe, not so large, but still, the speech presentation must be made successfully. Let’s find out what tips are useful in this situation besides being calm and confident (it is always easier to say, but try to be so with the help of these ways).
- Prepare an outline of your speech. Don’t skip this step as you risk beating about the bush. It isn’t what most listeners expect from your extemporaneous speech. Think of what you will say in the introduction, main part and conclusion. Don’t rely on a bit of luck that you’ll know what to say on the stage. Yes, it is possible but with a lot of long practice. Only practice makes perfect!
- Stick to the main idea of your speech. Most speakers are eager to talk about what they know. And it will look like in an anecdote when a student needs to answer the exam question about the organization of a dog’s body, but he knows more about fleas. As you see, this student wasn’t so successful in the exam on Biology as wished to be. Don’t make the same mistake. Focus on the subject of matter. It won’t be a huge problem if you say less on the speech topic but speak to the point. Additionally, you can always interact with the audience in the case if you don’t know what to say next. Ask direct questions, organize voting, etc. Do all that will make you listen to yourself. Liking humor? Don’t be afraid of using it in your spontaneous speeches. All like laugh and it will help you ‘break the iсe’ in an audience if any.
3 Ways to Speak Spontaneously like a Genius
After the preparation time is over, the moment of spontaneous speaking is coming. You should already know the approximate organization of your speech (as you have prepared a speech outline beforehand, right?), then you know more or less what you are going say on the topic. You still have to know how to speak spontaneously as most geniuses do.
1. Use the ‘Statement-Evidence-Emotion’ Structure
What does it mean for your spontaneous speech? Everything is simple – you provide the statement, back it up with strong evidence and cause an emotion from listeners, no matter which one. Just tell a serious story or anecdote – everything counts. If you work this way, there are more chances to be a memorable extemporaneous speaker. And we are sure you deserve them! Just follow our speech preparation tips and expect success in speaking itself. You will know what to say that is crucial for spontaneous speeches! Just look at the example that follows this structure:
- Statement – “Human beings are making progress on technology – 3D metal printing, artificial embryos, and dueling neural networks.”
- Evidence – “Yesterday, a new skyscraper was built in China with the help of 3D printing.”
- Emotion) – “We all should be happy with the progress we make (it is not so important that nobody from us built that skyscraper, it is more important that it is built and more new buildings will be created in this easy way). I believe that if we stay at this pace, we will be ready to improve our world in the near future. Be proud of the civilization you live in!”
2. Use Extemporaneous Speech Methods
Get used to speaking too officially adhering to the formal style of speaking? Your speech presentation style can be adjusted according to the conditions you work under. For example, you aren’t on an elevated stage, but at the same level as your audience is. Open a conversation with each of your listeners walking around and making eye contact with them. There are some tips on how to make eye connection. Additionally, squeeze in an hour before a speech itself to get the grasp of intentional strategic pauses the power of which is proven here by a regular Guest Speaker at conferences and networking events, Kay White.
3. Get Rid of Perfectionism
Before you were said that practice makes perfect. It is true. But when speakers are beginners, most of them tend to all very well so that their speeches will be completely perfect. Besides that they aren’t satisfied with their speeches unless being completely perfect, they start getting nervous during the speech itself – fumbling fingers, faltering voice, losing the train of thought, misusing words or even mispronouncing them. All that influences the speaker performance negatively. Don’t try to be 100% perfect, especially when it is your first or even second time of being on the stage and speaking publicly. Instead of being perfect, be natural and open to your listeners. Don’t be afraid of confessing that it is the first time when you need to speak spontaneously, “Before this day I spoke only to my sister spontaneously when she took my things without permission. Even for my mom, I prepare a good speech so that she believes me. Sorry, mom!” Straight speaking will work well for you – be sure!
3 Cases to Make Extemporaneous Speeches
Well, after you are equipped with extemporaneous speech tips, it is logical to know where you can apply them besides an obligatory task at college. So there are 3 cases when your knowledge and spontaneous speaking skills will come in handy. Look!
- Disputation of any kind you are involved in. You can have a serious argument or disagreement with either your instructor or friend. So yous extemporaneous speaking skills will help you win any debate.
- The workplace. Namely, in the workplace, you can face a lot of cases when you’re required to solve a problem or explain it to colleagues or principals. There is no chance to get prepared for dealing with issues at work. And if you can write a report for several days or even hours to present at a conference, a spontaneous speech with others can’t be well-prepared in advance. You should know how to do it effectively. All your efforts at college will be justified when your message is delivered clearly and essentially.
- Championships in extemporaneous speaking that are held most organizations among which there are famous – Extemp Central, the Institute for Speech and Debate, and SpeechRanks. Why not participate in them and become a top extemporaneous speaker?
An impromptu speech doesn’t have to be a frightening or embarrassing prospect – if you know what you are doing and how you should do it, it can be pleasant both for you and your listeners. Speak spontaneously as you know now!