Author: Ella Tennant
School/Directorate/Research Institute: Language Centre
Abstract: Whether learning, teaching, or in the world of work, we often find ourselves in situations which require us to speak in public.
In the past, a proliferation of books and training workshops were available to help in this (Ellis and O'Driscoll, 1992, for example), and it could be argued that technology might now have superseded the need to develop the art of speaking. This talk will provide an overview of how digital technology and resources can be blended with traditional ‘old school’ methods to practise public speaking/voice performance in a learning environment, in order to develop public speaking and presentation skills.
For many, the idea of standing up in front of a room of people - friends or strangers, can be the source of anxiety (Idzikowski & Baddeley 2007), or what is termed ‘communication apprehension’ (Robinson ll, 2009). However, by ‘blending’ the old and the new, learners can develop confidence and overcome anxiety, as well as improve other factors, which are often overlooked in the age of PowerPoint, but are still important in the success of a presentation. These factors form part of ‘elocution’, originally the art of delivering speeches (see Thomas Sheridon’s 1762 Lectures on Elocution) and include, voice: its level and projection, posture, body language and gesture, as well as the ability to communicate with and actively engage the audience.
The incorporation of technology in teaching and learning does not mean that traditional methods are no longer valid. This presentation will show that the combination of both traditional and technological approaches in an active, anxiety-free learning environment can have a positive impact on helping students to practise and develop confidence in speaking in public, and enable them to effectively Stand and Deliver.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
