Next Monday, Year 12 students will take their SAC (Schol Assessment Coursework), and each of them will give a speech on a topic like banning plastic bags and banning shooting ducks in Victoria. Maybe, to be a public speaker is a difficulty for some of our Chinese students because we have little learning and practice.
Actually, what is happening in Australian classrooms, from primary schools to universities, oral presentation does happen so often that it has become necessaryskill for communication. So it is important to command such a skill at an earlier stage, eg. English language center. You are expected to give speeches asked by any subject teachers including PE teachers.
So, how do you prepare your speech?
follow the structure: background information, for-and-against opinions, your contention or stance, last, conclusion;
Start with an interesting introduction sentence, use short but powerful sentences;
Keep your audience interested by using suitable pitch, gesture or posture, tone and emotion;
Use persuasive language techniques, like data, expeters' opinions and personal experience (anectdote);
Put images video, and even graphs into your PPTs;
Practice makes perfect.
Yr 12 students are normally asked to choose an argumentary topic in Australia to discuss. These topics have been debated among the people since every September, such as gay marriage, tougher law to young offenders, refugees, change of Australia Day etc. As you may realise, Australia is a country with much more freedom than in other countries. Think as an Aussie, and do as Aussies do.
