A word from our Chair

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January 20, 2013 by voicescompetition

While working on the VOICES 2013 speech competition, I keep thinking about the movie The King’s Speech. If you haven’t watched it yet, you absolutely should. At the beginning of the film, Bertie is walking up to a podium to deliver his first speech. Most people who have ever stood in front of a silenced crowd, felt every eye focused on them and worried about being judged can empathize with him. Everyone reacts differently to this situation: Some get nervous, some clam up and some see it as a thrill. How did Bertie react? He stuttered. But it’s important to learn how to cope, adapt and realize that these worries are just figments of imagination.

The journey to becoming a better public speaker is not an easy one. There are a number of breathing exercises and speaking techniques that work wonders. And just as Bertie tries out countless ways to conquer his stutter, others should also take the time to find out what works best for them. The key is to be patient and to experiment.

My classmates and I haven’t had much experience with public speaking yet. Most have spoken in front of small groups of peers, and only a few have spoken in front of crowds of strangers. I hope that through this competition, students discover helpful speaking techniques and tricks, and improve their public speaking skills.

Bertie says, “I have a voice!” And so do you. You just have to learn how to use it.

By Anne Stevenson, Chair