SPEECH and PRESENTATION

What is the difference between SPEECH and PRESENTATION?

A speech is more of a formal communication usually given at formal meetings and dinners.

A presentation is less formal.

Its purpose is to teach something to the audience.

It is used in classes, business meetings, committees or groups.

Good and powerful presentation ability helps you compete and win over others.

We shall be looking into the techniques that one has to learn to do impressive presentation.

Let us look into the stages of developing this skill.

To make a powerful presentation, firstly, you should be able to

ü  SPEAK, then

ü  SPEAK FLUENTLY, especially

ü  SPEAK FLUENTLY IN ENGLISH, and, finally

ü  SPEAK FLUENTLY IN GOOD ENGLISH (i.e., like an Englishman)

There are many people who targeted, worked for that and made it possible.

Why can’t you!?

Table Manners

While eating is an instinct, doing so with proper table manners comes only by practice.

Table manners are more than about proper eating; it's about being kind and considerate of others. Other people will judge us on how we appear.

Learning good table manners involves breaking bad habits and introducing ourselves to acceptable ones.

It may look crazy, when you read the long list given below; but, familiarizing ourselves with these may save us from embarrassing moments.

ü  Wash your hands before sitting down.

ü  No books at the table.

ü  Wait until everyone is seated.

ü   Sit up and do not hunch over your plate; wrists or forearms can rest on the table, or hands on lap. Keep your elbows off table.

ü  To use a knife and fork in England, use the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right.

ü  Do not be greedy. Eat slowly and don't gobble up the food. Someone took a long time to prepare the food, enjoy it slowly. 

ü  Look after other people; do not help yourself only.

ü  Don't reach over someone's plate for something. Ask politely for dishes to be passed. Show consideration.

ü  Use kind words; "Yes, please" or "No Thank You" are quite adequate to accept or reject offers of food.

ü  Never chew with your mouth open. Chew with your mouth closed. No one wants to be grossed out seeing food being chewed up or hearing it being chomped on.

ü  Never talk with a mouth full of food. 

ü  Use utensils quietly without banging them on the table or plate.

ü  Do not eat off your knife.

ü  Only engage in 'polite table talk.'

ü  Don't interrupt conversations; wait your turn to talk.

ü  Turn your head away from table and cover your mouth to sneeze or cough.

ü  Wipe your hands on your napkin, not your shirt or tablecloth.

ü  Always use a napkin to dab your mouth, which should be on your lap when not in use. Remember, dab your mouth only. Do not wipe your face or blow your nose with a napkin, both is gross. Excuse yourself from the table and go the restroom to do those things.

ü  Don't make any rude comments about any food being served. It will hurt someone's feelings.

ü  Do not pick anything out of your teeth, it's gross. If it bothers you that bad, excuse yourself and go to the restroom to pick.

ü  Ask to be excused from the table before you leave.

When eating at someone's home or a guest of someone at a restaurant, always thank the host and tell them how much you enjoyed it. At least say that you liked the dinner or mention a specific item that was particularly tasty, i.e. the dessert was great. Again, someone took time, energy, and expense to prepare the food, so show your appreciation.

ORDER OF LEARNING: LSRW

To acquire communication skills and express yourself effectively, you should be aware of the learning process:

L: Listening S: Speaking	Basic Skills
R: Reading W: Writing	Advanced Skills

This does not apply only to language learning. This is relevant in the learning process of any subject.

Even if it is a Chemistry or Economics class,

First, LISTEN intently to the teacher explaining,

Then SPEAK about that topic to others,

READ more and more,

And, naturally, you will be able to WRITE well.

Be aware that the learning process starts with LISTENING. 

                                      To put it simply, LISTENING is LEARNING.

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR LISTENING SKILL

The difference between ‘HEARING’ and ‘Listening’:

 v    HEARING is an involuntary action. There are no doors for your ears, like the eyes have eyelids. So, all the noises made around you enter your ear and you hear.


v  LISTENING is a voluntary action. You pay attention to someone, speaking or singing or playing music, absorb it in your heart or mind; you make a conscious effort to register in your brain what you heard

• TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE YOUR LISTENING SKILL:

1. Don’t hear; Listen.
2. Don’t interrupt when the other person speaks; do only when you need clarification.
3. Show interest; Don’t let your eyes or attention to wander elsewhere.
4. Don’t say or think, “I already knew”.
5. Don’t use the words, ‘no’, ‘but’, and ‘however’.
6. Stay focused on the other person; let him feel that he is important.
7. Pay attention to non-verbal messages; watch the body language of the speaker.