Public speaking is when you speak in front of an audience. Some examples of when you might need to do public speaking include; talking in front of the class, in a debate, presenting a project or participating in a public speaking competition at school.

It's more formal than everyday conversations. For example, the speaker usually talks to an audience (without being interrupted) in a structured way.

Some people love to talk and some people can't think of anything worse than public speaking! Even though it can sometimes be scary, public speaking is a great opportunity because it gives you a chance to communicate your ideas, knowledge or opinions to a large group of people.

When we discuss a speech (and when adjudicators judge a speech) we look at something called the 3 Ms:

Matter is what you say
Manner is how you say it
Method is the structure of a speech.

Introduction to impromptu speeches

1. Determine your goals

Write down what you identify as your strengths and goals when it comes to impromptu public speaking.

2. Brainstorm

As a class or with members of your household, list some different ways you can approach an impromptu speech.

What are some effective strategies for both preparing and presenting?

3. Watch the hints and guidelines video

Watch the video 'Impromptu speeches' and answer the following questions:

In a competition, how much of the final result is determined by the impromptu speech?
Make a list of the things that should NOT be included in an impromptu speech.
Write down anything else you learned from this video.

Impromptu speeches

Duration: 01:49

Video full screen - Impromptu speeches

Video transcript – Impromptu speeches

Reflecting on strengths and goals

Watch and reflect on an example

Watch Charlee Sutherland's winning impromptu speech from the the 2015 Legacy Junior Public Speaking Awards.

Consider:

What do you think Charlee did well?
How do you think she came up with her idea for the stimulus topic 'paying the price'?

Impromptu speech – Paying the Price by Charlee Sutherland

Duration: 2:33

Video full screen – Impromptu speech – Paying the Price by Charlee Sutherland
Video transcript – Impromptu speech – Paying the Price by Charlee Sutherland

Task - Recording a speech

Prepare an impromptu speech on the topic 'Burning bridges' (you should have 5 minutes prep time).

Record yourself presenting the speech.

Reflecting

Watch the recording and write down your observations. Think about:

What did I do well?
How long did I speak for before running out of things to say?
Was I listing things to do with the topic or was I going into more detail?
Did I go off track and speak about something irrelevant?
Did I use filler words ('um', 'ah' and 'like') too much?
Did I repeat myself?
Did I leave long pauses?
Was there anything else I noticed?
What should I work on improving?

Analysing example impromptu speeches

Watch the following 2 impromptu speeches on the topic 'Desperate measures', from the 2018 Plain English Speaking Award.

Impromptu speech – Desperate measures by Justin Lai

Duration: 03:38

Video full screen – Impromptu speech – Desperate measures by Justin Lai

Video transcript – Impromptu speech – Desperate measures by Justin Lai

Impromptu speech – Desperate measures by Ashna Hegde

Duration: 02:59

Video full screen – Impromptu speech – Desperate measures by Ashna Hegde

Video transcript – Impromptu speech – Desperate measures by Ashna Hegde

2. Discuss:

What did each do well? Consider the 3 Ms (manner, matter and method).
What made each speech effective and engaging?
How did each speaker approach the topic, what was similar and what was different?

Preparing an impromptu speech

Watch this video about preparing for an impromptu speech.

Steps and structure for impromptu speeches

Duration: 05:53

Video full screen – Steps and structure for impromptu speeches
Video transcript – Steps and structure for impromptu speeches

Answer the following questions:

What are the 4 steps Tony suggests you should follow when preparing?
What are some structures you can use in your speech (for example: past/present/future)?

Check your answers by selecting this drop-down box.

Steps to planning your speech

Narrow your focus
Plan a beginning
Pick a middle structure
Plan an ending

Structure examples

Past/present/future: The topic in the past, what it's like today, how it will be in the future.
Discussions: Good stuff, bad stuff, good or bad overall?
Changing perspectives: The topic and me, the topic and the community, the topic and the world

Narrow your focus

In impromptu speeches, you will be given a broad topic. You need to start by narrowing your focus.

Consider the topic and think about what you could talk about specifically. Consider the environment, laws, world events, education, politics, society, history, a cultural (or pop cultural) phenomenon, personal experiences and anything else that comes to mind.

You must always give a more specific perspective on the topic. If the topic is 'Failure', don't spend your speech explaining what the word or phrase means. Find a perspective or angle; talk about a specific event, experience, idea or phenomenon. For example, the failure of a NASA space mission and what was learnt from that.

For example, if the topic was 'The right thing', you could talk about:

How you think equal representation in parliament is the 'right thing'.
Trying to do the 'right thing' during a pandemic.
How different diets confuse consumers, and it's not clear what 'the right thing' is anymore.
A current human rights issue.
Is a (specific policy) by the right wing politicians the 'right thing'?
A play on words – Should we be teaching handwriting or teaching typing, what's the right (write) thing?

Task – Narrow your focus

List 5 specific topics for the broad topic 'The grass is always greener'.

Remember not to be literal and to find a specific angle or perspective to narrow your focus.

Remember, impromptu speaking is not about learning speeches off by heart or trying to force a topic into your speech. It is about being well-informed and interested in the world around you so that you can make the most of your speaking time and share something worthwhile with your audience.

Structuring an impromptu speech

An impromptu speech should follow the same structure as a prepared speech – it's just a bit shorter!

You should still have:

an introduction, a body and a conclusion
a purpose or main message
a clear structure

Structures

View some of the different ways you can structure a speech in the 'method' section of this website. Some common strategies are:

past, present, future
self perspective, world perspective (zoom in or out)
discussion: good, bad, final view/opinion.
positive, interesting, negative.

Task – Pick a structure

The impromptu topic is 'The best things in life are free'.

Consider each the following speeches on this topic and decide which structure would be best for each. Justify your answer.

Focusing on free health care, and how certain medications and procedures are/aren't free.
Are 'fat free' foods really the best?
Supporting freedom for asylum seekers.

Finding a message

In addition to narrowing your focus and deciding on a structure, it's very important that your impromptu speech has a clear message.

1. Watch the video to learn more about deciding on and conveying your message to the audience.

2. Explain why it's important for your speech to have a clear message.

Advanced impromptu tips

Duration: 03:33

Video full screen – Advanced impromptu tips
Video transcript – Advanced impromptu tips

Task – Find a message

Consider each the following speeches and decide what your main message could be for each:

a speech on increased social media usage
a speech about charities
a speech that examines 'Brexit'
a speech focusing on the idolisation of athletes.

Elaborate on your ideas

Once you've narrowed your focus and found a message, what should you actually talk about in your impromptu speech?

You can:

discuss your main concern and explain the problem/issue
use real world examples and stories to support your ideas and/or
draw on your own personal experiences and stories to add further emphasis.

You should avoid:

listing everything that comes to mind about the topic or issue. We refer to these as 'shopping lists'.
using the topic as a 'jumping off point' and start talking about something completely unrelated. If someone was listening to your speech, the topic should ideally be the title they would give it (if they had to guess).
making the topic fit a 'pre-prepared' impromptu that you planned for earlier.

Real world stories and examples

Watch the video to hear how Micaela prepares for impromptu speeches.

Discuss why this is a good strategy.
List 3 strategies for learning more about current or world events.

Preparing for an impromptu speech

Duration: 00:52

Video full screen - Preparing for an impromptu speech
Video transcript – Preparing for an impromptu speech

Use personal experiences and examples

Watch the video to hear Tony's top 3 tips for impromptu speeches.

Describe the benefits of drawing on your own stories and experiences.
Explain how you can avoid 'shopping list' impromptus and instead present a speech that's interesting and focused.

Impromptu speeches – dos and don'ts

Duration: 06:52

Video full screen – Impromptu speeches – dos and don'ts
Video transcript – Impromptu speeches – dos and don'ts

Preparing for an impromptu speech

Task

Prepare and present

Spend 5 minutes preparing an impromptu speech on the topic 'off the scale'.
Present your speech to a peer, friend or small group.

2. Watch and listen

After you have each presented your speech on the topic, watch as Justin Lai and Emily Kim prepare and perform an impromptu speech to the same topic ('Off the scale'). Keep in mind that Justin and Emily are both very experienced public speakers and adjudicators.

Justin Lai – 2018 Plain English Speaking Award State Champion

Duration: 11:15