Public Speaking- Gestures

When doing a presentation, gestures are a wonderful way to get people’s attention and to emphasize information.

Watching for gestures of  professional presenters or debaters is a great way to alert you to gestures you can use. Study and engrain in your memory what you see.

Here are observations from the most recent Republican Party debate.  During the broadcast this week, candidates took the stage to present their ideas and win votes for the USA Republican Party presidential nomination.  Debate moderators and guest commentators also used gestures whenever they were talking.

My favorite observations about gesturing:

1. When the standing presenters were not deliberately using gestures, they had their arms and hands extended down along the sides of their bodies and relaxed. The sitting moderators and guest commentators  placed their arms in a relaxed position on the table.
2. Gestures were used only when emphasizing points of their narrative.  There were not random movements.
3. The gesture matched the verbal content.
4. Most pleasing was when first one hand was extended forward, then the other, then both hands extended to emphasize points.
5. Sometimes fingers and hands were formed to represent or picture an idea, such as “large” or “small” in size.
6. Because the broadcast would be viewed on a television or computer screen by millions of people, the gestures were kept relatively close to the body. This is in contrast to large and broad gestures often used for one- person- only presentation to  a large group. In this case, the large gestures can be easily seen by people in the back of the room.

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.

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Acceptances: Excellent Phrases

Here are some useful and well constructed phrases you can use for your acceptances:

able to say yes

accept with pleasure

agree to

glad to be able to vote yes

happy to let you know

I am pleased/happy/honored to accept

It is with great pleasure that

It was so thoughtful of you to

It will be a pleasure to

pleased to have been invited

thank you for asking me to

thank you for nominating me for

we are delighted to accept

we are sincerely happy to join you

we look forward with pleasure

English Speech Communication- More for Ending a Conversation

Here are some more phrases for ending a conversation.  Always use kind phrases.

We Should Mingle

• May I introduce you to (innocent bystander).
• Let’s go around and meet some people.
• I’m going to circulate around the crowd.
• I don’t know anyone here. Can you introduce me to anybody?  (Or if he or she doesn’t know anyone either, “Let’s introduce ourselves to some new people.”)

Let’s Save It for Later

• That must have been so hard (interesting, exciting, challenging) for you. I’d love to hear about it when we have another chance to talk.
• Do you have a card? I’d like to get in touch with you another time.

Gracious Escapes

• It has been interesting talking to you.
• I mustn’t take up any more of your time.
• I’m going to stop before I start to bore you.

This is Good-bye

• See you later. Thanks for telling me about (specifics).
• I’ll let you go now/I have to go now.

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.

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Acceptances: Choice and Helpful Words

Here are some choice words you are likely to find helpful when you are communicating acceptances:

accept

approve

certainly

delighted

gratifying

pleased

pleasure

satisfying

thoughtful

thrilled

touched

welcome

willing

English Speech Communication- Ending a Conversation

To wrap up a conversation, start winding it down with your body language.  Change your posture and break eye contact for a few seconds, perhaps clear your throat, look at your watch, or change your tone of voice.  Use kind phrases:

• “It has been nice talking to you.” Or “It’s been good to see you.”
• “It’s good to catch up.”
• “I have to go now.”
• “I’m so glad we met.” “It was nice meeting you.”

Shake hands, hug, or air-kiss.

If the other person keeps talking, say, “I really have to go now” and give your head a regretful little shake.  Don’t start a new subject.

Here are some other exit lines:

Nature Calls

• I need to stretch my legs.
• I’m having trouble hearing in this crowd.
• Let’s go and get some more food (or drink).
• I have to excuse myself for a moment.

Duty Calls

• I have to go help with (something); I’m going to help in the kitchen.
• I need to look after some of my other guests.
• I have to talk to someone else here for a while; I need to meet someone here.
• I promised my daughter I’d be home by ten.

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercise.

Check out our new advanced weekly speech tip program, our new subscription called ClearTalk Weekly, www.subscription.cleartalkmastery.com