Toolkit for teachers

Lesson one
Speech Overview (10 minutes)
Explain to students that they are going to learn how to write a speech. As a class, brainstorm what
is key to great speech writing and write their ideas on the board.
Now write the following headings on the board and ask students to think about how they relate to
speeches: WHO, WHAT, HOW.
Discuss and elicit the following answers:
WHO: Identify your audienceWho will be listening to your speech?
WHAT: Identify your topic and main pointsWhat is your speech going to be about? What are the main
points going to be?
HOW: Identify its lengthHow long does the speech need to be? (Explain that this is important because it
will determine what information is presented and how much of it.)

Explain that having this basic outline will make the speech easier to write. To make sure students
understand this information, put students into groups. Write the following topic on the board: How
does language open the world for you?
Explain that this is their topic, and they should write a speech outline for it using the headings WHO,
WHAT, HOW. Tell them to list their main speech points in order of importance.
Give groups a couple of minutes to do this, and then have them share their outlines with the class.

Speech Structure (5 minutes)

Write the following on the board:
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Ask students what the above refers to. Elicit the answer, Speech Structure. Ask them what kind of content
should be in each section. Elicit the following answers:
IntroductionTell the audience what the speech is about.
BodyThe main points expressed in detail, with evidence to back them up.
ConclusionA summary of the speech.
Targeting Your Audience (10 minutes)
Tell students that the first thing they need to consider in detail when beginning to write their speech
is their audience. Not only WHO they are, but HOW they are likely to think. The speech should be
written from the target audiences point of view in order for them to be captivated by it.
Tell students to look at their most important point from the outline they wrote in the Speech
Overview of this lesson, and to think about how to best explain it, so their audience understands it.

Point out that in order to write from their audiences point of view, they might like to consider the
following:
think of a real person, or a type of person, who would most likely be listening to the speech.
think of someone who represents the majority of that type of person
imagine they are a friend who is sitting by your side, eagerly awaiting to hear your wise ideas
give this person a name, for example, Tom, to make them more real
Give groups a minute to identify their audience, and then brainstorm how they would best explain
their first main point to Tom. Go through the following tips:
write down exactly what you intend to say is if talking directly to your audience. (Note: Even
though professionally, its not customary to read from anything more than cue cards with bullet
pointed notes, sometimes having everything written down, rather than just an outline, can act as a
safety net, especially if its your first ever speech. It will also make it easier to recover from nerves
with a full set of notes to fall back on.)
illustrate your point with proof to back it up
If any students need extra assistance, tell them to ask themselves the following questions: How
should I shape my information to meet Toms needs? Should I provide anecdotes to illustrate my
main points? What level of language would suit my topic that Tom will relate to most?
When groups are finished, have them share their ideas with the class.

Language (5 minutes)
Tell students that after preparing the rest of their main points, they need to check the following:
Tone of language (Is it right for the occasion?)
Sentence length (Are your sentences too long and complicated? Shorten them and dont use
unnecessarily difficult vocabulary)
Vocabulary (Are there any words used that your audience may not understand? Remove them.)
Voice (Does it sound right? Say everything aloud after writing it down. You could also record
yourself speaking on your mobile phone so you can listen back to it.
Remind students that when writing a speech, they have to keep in mind that sentence flow will be
fairly different than, for example, writing in an essay. You use whole sentences and part sentences,
and you insert asides like you do in casual conversation. The only difference is, you are the only one
speaking.
Linking Points (10 minutes)
Tell students that once they have perfected how to express all their main points, they need to start
thinking about how to join them together so that they transition from one to the other in a natural
flow.
Tell students to imagine a puzzle. Each piece of a puzzle should slot together smoothly to create a
complete picture. If the pieces arent joined together correctly, the resulting picture isnt going to be
clear. The same idea applies to speeches. Listeners need to be given clear links between ideas. If a
speech contains more than three main points, each point needs to add to the last.
Offer the following examples:
We've talked about one benefit of getting enough sleep, but let's consider another. I believe
... What follows is the second main point.
We've talked about two benefits of getting enough sleep at night. One: While were asleep, the
brain stores new memories, which makes it easier to learn new things. Two: Sleep helps our immune
system to fight off diseases. So what might be a third? How about metabolism and weight gain?

This third advantage ... What follows are details and proof supporting the third main point.

Write the following on the board, put students into new groups, and have them work together to
create links to transition from one point to the other:
Topic: What are the benefits of home schooling?
Point 1: You can strengthen your bond with your children.
Point 2: You can tailor lessons to fit your children's learning styles.
Point 3: You can protect your children from outside negative influences.
Point 4: You can take breaks during traditional school terms and make them educational.

Have groups share their transitions with the class.

Before closing the lesson, tell students in the next lesson they will focus on writing a conclusion, an
introduction, a final checklist, and how to present their speeches.

Lesson two
The Conclusion (8 minutes)
Ask the class what things they think should be in the conclusion of a speech. Brainstorm ideas as a
class and write them on the board in a mind map.
Regardless of what has been written on the board, stress that the ideal conclusion should be highly
memorable for the audience. A great conclusion will linger in their minds long after the speech is
over, and will include a call-to-action accompanied by a summary of the main points made during
the speech. If students dont know what call-to-action means, offer the following examples: If you
were a politician, a call-to-action might be to vote for you in the next election. If you were selling a
product, a call-to-action might be to invite the audience to take advantage of a limited-time discount.
Put students into groups, and tell them to look over the notes theyve made on various topics from
the previous lesson and to choose one to write a conclusion for. Tell them to think back to their
original motives for giving the speech, to ask themselves what they want people to do after listening
to it: Was it to motivate the audience? Was it to persuade the audience to have a specific opinion
about something? Was it to offer interesting information?
Have students brainstorm and write their conclusions in their groups and then have a representative
from each group present their conclusion to the class.
The Introduction (8 minutes)
If students are wondering why you are focusing on the introduction last, explain that in order to write
a great introduction, they must know the content of their speech back to front.
Explain that a great introduction will make every single Tom in the audience want to listen to their
speech. It will make Tom forget about his hectic morning, or the chores that need to be done when
he gets home. In short, it will get Toms attention and keep it until the very end.
Ask students how they think they can do this, and elicit the response, with a hook. Explain that a
hook can come in many forms, and it all depends on the content of the speech. The idea is to work
out what that one thing is that is going to hook Toms attention, and hone in on that immediately.
Explain that to figure out what the hook is, they need to ask themselves, once again, Why am I
giving this speech? Tell them that when they have their answer, to again consider their call-to-action.
What do I want the audience to do after listening to my speech? Finally, they need to think about
Tom, and ask themselves the following: If I were Tom, what would appeal to me? Humor? Shock

attack? Academic tone? A quick outline of what you are going to cover so Tom knows its worth
staying? A special deal that Tom is going to get at the end of the speech? The promise of something
free?
When students have finished writing their hooks, have them share them with the class.
Tell students to watch the entire speech, The simple power of hand washing, at home, and identify
how the introduction, main points, and conclusion, are presented.

Reviewing Your Speech (4 minutes)

Tell students that completing their speech doesnt mean they are finished. They need to thoroughly check
that everything is in order, and to do this they need to read it through several times, each time focusing on
different aspects. Have students the following checklist aloud:
1. Check that the main points are in the correct order, that each point has supporting examples
2. Check that the introduction and conclusion are as effective as possible.
3. Check that the transitions are clear and can be followed easily.
4. Check tone and language.
5. Read it aloud, slowly, and time it.
6. If its too long, make amendments. Start by cutting supporting information, rather than main
points, especially if more than one supporting example is used. Make sure nothing has been
repeated. If there has, then cut it out.
Presenting Your Speech (20 minutes)

Say the following: Posture, Eye Contact, Hand Gestures, Voice, and ask students how they are
relevant to the lesson (they are things to consider when delivering a speech). Tell students that
honing these four skills will ensure a sound presentation.
Write Posture on the board, and ask students what it means and why it is important when giving a
speech. Elicit an answer along the lines of the following: Posture is the way in which we hold our
bodies. If someone is slouching and/or looking at the ground, it shows they are not confident. If they
are standing straight, head facing forward, feet slightly parted, it shows that they are confident and
ready to speak.
Do the same for Eye Contact, Hand Gestures, and Voice:

Eye Contact: It is important to look at the audience when giving a speech. It shows confidence, enthusiasm
and a belief in the topic. If we are looking away from the audience, it shows nerves and/or boredom.

Hand Gestures: This is the way in which we move our hands to show what we mean to say. Hand gestures
can emphasize the message of a speech. They can highlight key words, and various other details. Gestures
should not be overused, however, as it can become confusing and draw the focus
away from what we are trying to say.
Voice: This is the way in which we use our voice and it is important for emphasizing specific information, and
also for showing emotion. Practising intonation, articulation, pitch, speed, effective pauses, and volume, will
ensure great delivery. It will make the speech more interesting and help the audience to understand exactly
what is being said.

Do the following activities with students to help them understand each point more clearly:
Posture Activity: Have students to go to the front of the classroom in turn. For each student, call out a
different type of posture, for example, Look at the ceiling. The other students need to say what the student
is doing, and explain why it is inappropriate posture. Close the activity with a student showing an example of
good posture.
Eye Contact Activity: Have students go to the front of the classroom in turn. Write two lines of speech onto
a piece of paper (it can say anything) and have them memorize it, and recite it (repeatedly) with confidence,
maintaining eye contact with the rest of the class. Tell students in the audience to raise their hand when they
think the speaker looked them directly in the eye. The student can stop speaking once three students in the
audience have raised their hands. Continue with the rest of the students.
Hand Gesture Activity: As a class, brainstorm some phrases and gestures which would match them. For
example, Lets see... would match with rubbing/scratching ones chin, and frowning in thought. Have
individual students demonstrate them in front of the class.
Voice Activity: Have students recite a tongue twister with different intentions in mind. For example, have
students say the following, I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. Where she sits she shines, and where
she shines she sits, with a different purpose each time: to impart important information, to reveal a sad
anecdote, to promote serious thought, to express excitement, etc. Remind students to focus on intonation,
articulation, pitch, speed, pauses, and volume.
Final Words
Tell students to practise delivering their speech in the mirror, or record themselves on their
phones.
Tell them to watch it back and make sure their posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and voice
are all professional and appealing.
To close the lesson, tell students to watch a few speeches on TED.com to help them with their own. If time
permits, watch one in class.

Speech Criteria Score Sheet

This document will help you evaluate the speeches of the participants of the EF Challenge for High Schools.
As you can see, there are five categories and the students can reach a total of 180 points. When judging the
speeches, go through each category to see how well the speakers covered the criteria.
Delivery: 30 points total

Volume (5)

Pauses (5)

Pronunciation (5)

Articulation (5)

Voice (5)

Breathing (5)
Body Language: 30 points total

Eye contact (5)

Facial expression (5)

Smiles (5)

Hand gestures (5)

Posture (5)

Likeableness (5)
Organization: 30 points total

Intro (5)

Hook (5)

Main Points (5)

Summary (5)

Conclusion (5)

Overall structure (5)
Persuasion: 30 points total

Persuasive (5)

Effective (5)

Captivating (5)

Interesting (5)

Entertaining (5)

Creative (5)
General: 30 points total

Time (5)

Preparedness (5)

Enthusiasm (5)

Style (5)

Appearance (5)

Distractions (5)

Your Perfect Speech A Checklist for Students

Before you go on stage and give your speech, make sure you can check off everything on our list. That way,
winning over the hearts and ears of the jury will almost be like a walk in the park:

Answer the question How do languages open the world for you?
Write a speech with a clear structure
Write like you talk
Practice. A lot.
Practice in a big space with a microphone
Memorize the speech
Breathe
Speak for at least three but no longer than five minutes
Have cue cards as a backup - they will be your safety net
Be creative, inspiring and entertaining
Avoid jargon and unpronounceable words
Speak loudly and proudly
Make eye contact. Smile. Relax.

Good luck!

Farewell to Baseball Address

It seemed as if the luminous career of Lou Gehrig would go on forever. The Yankees first baseman and
prodigious slugger was nicknamed the Iron Horse for his durability and commitment to the game. Sadly, his
record for suiting up for 2,130 consecutive games came to an end when at age 36, Gehrig was stricken with
the crippling disease that now bears his name. On July 4, 1939, the Yankees held a ceremony to honor their
teammate and friend. They retired Gehrigs number, spoke of his greatness, and presented him with various
gifts, plaques, and trophies. When Gehrig finally addressed the crowd, he did not use the opportunity to
wallow in pity. Instead, he spoke of the things he was grateful for and what a lucky guy he was.
The Speech by Lou Gehrig
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the
luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received
anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldnt consider it the highlight of his career to associate with them
for even one day?
Sure, Im lucky. Who wouldnt consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert also the builder of
baseballs greatest empire, Ed Barrow to have spent the next nine years with that wonderful little fellow
Miller Huggins then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of
psychology the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy!
Sure, Im lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa,
sends you a gift, thats something! When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white
coats remember you with trophies, thats something.
When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles against her own daughter,
thats something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so that you can have an
education and build your body, its a blessing! When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and
shown more courage than you dreamed existed, thats the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I might have had a tough break but I have an awful lot to live for!

Graduation Speech at Maharishi University

Jim Carrey, 2014

You could spend your whole life imagining ghost worrying about the pathway to the future, but all there will
ever be is whats happening here and the decisions we make in this moment which are based in either love
or fear. So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems
impossibly out of reachridiculous to expect. So we never dare to ask the Universe for it. Im saying Im the
proof that you can ask the Universe for it.
My father could have been a great comedian but he didnt believe that was possible for him. So he made
conservative choice. Instead he got a safe job as an accountant. When I was 12 years old, he was let go
from that safe job and our family had to do whatever we could to survive.
I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you dont
want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.

You've got to find what you love

This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer
and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.
The speech
.Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma which is
living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own
inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow
already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of
the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo
Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal
computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It
was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and
overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its
course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their
final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking
on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their
farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself.
And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.