Building confidence in public speaking
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use body language and posture to manage my nerves and speak confidently in public.
Key learning points
- Feeling scared and nervous about public speaking is a shared concern.
- Using open body language and an effective posture can help to manage nerves.
- Setting your posture before you speak is a good way to prepare and can help you to control your voice and your body.
- Nervousness and excitement share similar traits.
- Breathing exercises can help alleviate the physical side of nerves.
Keywords
Testimonial - a statement or personal account where someone shares their experience or opinion
Posture - the way you hold your body when standing, sitting, or moving
Oriented - being positioned or directed toward a particular point or goal
Eradicate - to completely eliminate or remove something
Common misconception
Some pupils believe that they are the only person to feel nervous or scared about public speaking.
Most people feel nervous before speaking, even the most experienced public speakers. It's all about understanding what nerves are and how you can manage them.
Teacher tip
This is a practical spoken language lesson and can require students to stand up and move around. You may wish to consider how to manage this with your pupils.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Is the answer true or false? When choosing a topic for a presentation, picking a topic you care, or feel strongly, about can be a good place to start.
Q2.Which word beginning with 'p' can be described as: 'the way someone holds themselves when they’re seated or standing.'?
Q3.Which of the following would not be an example of non-verbal communication in spoken language?
Q4.Which of the following best describes the term 'gesture'?
Q5.Which word beginning with 'a' could be used to complete this sentence: 'an voice is a voice that expresses your true thoughts and feelings honestly and genuinely.'?
Q6.Is the answer true or false? Research from any source is valid.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is an example of open body language?
Q2.What is the main purpose of box breathing in public speaking?
Q3.How many phases are there in box or square breathing?
Q4.Which sensation is commonly shared between nervousness and excitement?
Q5.Is the answer true or false? You should aim to have your body oriented away from your audience when public speaking?
Q6.How can reframing nervousness as excitement help in public speaking?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Building confidence in public speaking, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Building confidence in public speaking, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Spoken language masters: refining public speaking skills unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.