Global Communication and International Relations and Cooperation
Senior 6 · General and Religious Studies
Global Communication and International Relations and Cooperation
Lesson 2 of 3
22 min
In the itorero of pre-colonial Rwanda, eloquence was a skill to be trained, like courage. Young intore learned to step forward before the assembly and recite ibyivugo, poems of their own deeds, with a strong voice, an upright stance and perfect rhythm. A trainee who mumbled, hesitated or lost the thread was corrected in front of everyone. The lesson was clear: what you say matters, but so does how you stand and how you sound when you say it.
The same is true in a debate at school, a speech at a wedding, a presentation to investors, or an address to the United Nations. This lesson describes the characteristics of a good speaker, and how each can be learned.
Definition
Delivery: the way a speech is presented through voice and body, as opposed to its content.
Pace (rate): how fast a speaker talks, often measured in words per minute.
Pitch: how high or low the voice is; varying it (intonation) keeps listeners attentive and signals questions, emphasis and endings.
Articulation: pronouncing each sound and word clearly.
Body language: messages sent by posture, gestures, facial expression, eye contact and movement.
Credibility: the audience's belief that the speaker is competent and honest (Aristotle's ethos).
Glossophobia: fear of public speaking, a very common form of anxiety that practice can reduce.
| Characteristic | What it looks like | How to build it |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge and preparation | Knows the subject well beyond the speech; has facts and sources ready | Research, write an outline, rehearse aloud at least three times |
| Audience awareness | Chooses examples, words and length for these listeners | Ask: who are they, what do they know, what do they need? |
| Clarity and organisation | One main idea, a clear order, signposts ("first", "finally") | Plan introduction, body and conclusion before writing sentences |
| Command of the voice | Audible at the back, varied pitch, steady pace, purposeful pauses | Record yourself; practise in the actual room |
| Effective body language | Eye contact, upright posture, open gestures, a fitting facial expression | Practise in front of a friend; watch for nervous habits |
| Confidence and composure | Calm, even when nervous; recovers from mistakes | Prepare well, breathe slowly, focus on the message not on yourself |
| Honesty and credibility | Accurate facts, sources named, admits what he or she does not know | Check every fact; never invent a figure |
| Respect and cultural sensitivity | Inclusive, polite language; respects the occasion and the time limit | Learn the customs of the audience; time the speech |
| Listening and responding | Reads feedback; answers questions directly and courteously | Prepare for likely questions; repeat a question before answering it |
Source A of the previous lesson, the Gettysburg Address, has about 270 words and was delivered in about two minutes, a pace of roughly words per minute. Suppose you are given 4 minutes in a school assembly and you speak at a similar, unhurried pace of about 130 words per minute (an illustrative figure). Your speech should be about words. If your draft has 800 words, you must cut about words, or you will rush and lose your audience.
Warning
Reading is not speaking. A speaker who reads every word from paper loses eye contact, speaks in a flat voice and cannot respond to the audience. Use short notes with key words, and look up at the audience at the end of every sentence.
Tip
Rehearse three ways. First alone, aloud, to fix the words and the timing; then in front of a mirror or camera, to see your body language; then in front of a friend, who tells you one strength and one thing to improve.
Important
Discuss. "Good speakers are born, not made." The itorero trained eloquence, and many schools today run debate clubs. Using the table, decide which characteristics of a good speaker can be learned and which, if any, cannot.
TED: "TED's secret to great public speaking", Chris Anderson (2016). The head of TED argues that a good talk builds one idea in the listeners' minds, step by step. Compare his advice with the table above.
Practice
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa: Figure 2, the table, the worked example and the exercises.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
