INTRO TO PUBLIC SPEAKING-COLLEGE STRATEGIES-ELEMENT OF ARITHMETIC
The Art of Public Speaking
The Speech class held in a large theatre stadium with a full-size stage at the front. I entered to see sitting students spread out among the comfortable theater chairs. Barely looking over the top of the microphone on stage our teacher introduced herself as Mrs. Mortimore. She read from the Curriculum (with an actress’ voice) that was handed to us as we entered the room.
When asked a question she would put her palms together with fingers of both hands spread and fingertips touching, stare at you with purse lips untill finally she would answer.
In Speech there were so many students that Mrs. Mortimor divided us up into groups. Our first day we formed a circle on stage as we all held hands—one by one introducing ourselves with just our first name that we were to shout out! Then back to are seats to hear her lecture.
“Trust is established through congruence-that perfect alignment between what is being said and the body language that accompanies it. If a speaker’s gestures are not in full agreement with the spoken words, the audience consciously or subconsciously perceives duplicity, uncertainty, or (at the very least) internal conflict.”
Later we sat back in our circle on the stage. We were to tell a small story about ourselves. I told the story of my crazy dog – a Jack Russel Terrier who loved to run. We called him Biscuit who liked to trek through our field. One day the Dog Catcher showed up. We were outside the house and watched as the Dog Catcher chased and yelled and ole Biscuit started barking and running faster.
Finally, the out of breath dog catcher hollered up to us at the house. ”Do you own this dog?” We said, “No.” Everyone laughed and it felt good. The last thing I wanted to talk about was the fact my life was falling apart.”
Mrs. Mortimor then told us our first assignment. Teach the class something you know.