Public Speaking Tips

Hi everyone!

I hope life is treating you all well! We are quickly approaching BMUN weekend and, to help support, here's a couple of public speaking tips:

Content

Hopefully, you should be well-informed before even entering BMUN weekend! If not, re-read our topic synopsis (on the BMUN website) to get a fantastic overview on our topic, procedure, and legacy of TWLF. The first step of good public speaking is having the information to back it up. Whether that means statistics, historical context, and/or analysis, the content of your speeches should be meaningful and comfortable to you. That then allows you to develop the next step of a public speaking: form!

Form

This is the style in which your speech or any speaking engagement takes. This means good syntax, proper grammar, accessible language, and a clear narrative line. Essentially, how you write it down. Bullet points or full sentences, form often combines with presentation to create enticing public speeches. If this is your first time in a MUN space, you might want to write down a minute long speech to develop your voice and be prepared for conference. If this isn't your first time, consider developing your form from basic content you've developed from the synopsis and practicing without actually writing it down. You'll become more familiar with from as time goes on.

Presentation

This is the culmination of all of these sections! Presentation is when you're up in front of us and publicly speaking, combining your content and form into a fully formed speech. Whether that means body language, projection, dynamic volume, and/or props, presentation sets the mood for what your speech is and what your intentions are as a delegate. Here are a few specific tips!:

Be Confident!

There is no one else that knows your character like you do! Keep that in mind while speaking. That could mean good posture, a powerful voice, or a tone that has some conviction to it. It also means cutting out "umms," pacing yourself, and knowing where to stop. Your body manifests how you feel and vice versa so don't be afraid!

Be Excited!

Student organizing! Collective liberation! Self-determination! These are all exciting topics that I hope you're all happy to be engaging! Therefore, be excited! Earnestness and passion are vital things to engaging in coalitions, mobilizing, and more. So, while you speak, don't be afraid to make some eye contact, use personal language, and work within your own ideology to get your audience as hyped as you are.

Be Direct!

A good speech is a concise speech. Just because we have a speech limit doesn't always mean you need to meet it. Be sure to cut out filler words, use active language, and be accessible. Long winding sentences and expansive anecdotes might translate well in writing but when spoken, it can be convoluted and confusing. Instead, state the facts and present solutions in a way that is easily consumed through speech.

Have Fun!

At the very least, please remember that one speech won't ever define your time at BMUN or the rest of your MUN career. Slip ups happen! Everyone stutters, accidentally names the wrong statistic, and forgets a line (or more!) Making mistakes are a vital part to growing and improving so please don't hold yourself to the impossible standard of perfection. Practice makes progress.

That's it from me! Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Until next time,
Amber

me cheering all of you on




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