Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

03-13-2023

Help Your Teen Improve Public Speaking Skills

Many people are nervous about speaking in front of a group. But learning effective presentation skills will help your teen in school and in life. When an oral report is assigned, encourage your teen to:

Get organized. An oral report is much like a written report. It should have an interesting introduction to “hook” the audience. The body should include three or four points that support the main idea. The conclusion should help the audience remember the main idea.
Rehearse. At first, your teen should practice giving the report alone. But then it helps to present it to friends or family. As you listen, let your teen know if you can follow the presentation. Also give feedback about whether your teen is speaking too fast or too slow, or too loud or too soft.
Practice using visual aids. Your teen should rehearse how to incorporate them into the presentation. If technology is involved, your teen should be sure to understand how it works.
Time the report. Most presentations have a time limit. By timing a practice report, your teen can see if it’s too long and needs to be cut.
Make eye contact. Speakers who look at the audience seem more confident. Be sure your teen practices this.
Use hand gestures. Your teen doesn’t have to gesture every second. But a few well-chosen hand motions can draw attention to the important points.
Relax. Nearly everyone gets nervous. Remind your teen that taking a few deep breaths before starting can help calm nerves.

Brought to you by:

Gwinnett County Public Schools