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importance of a consideration of the listener in teaching public speaking

  • February 14, 2012 11:39 AM
    Message # 825288

    www.wca-refracted.com now has 9 chapters from the forthcoming text, Public Speaking:  An Idea Perspective.  It is hoped that these chapters can be a resource to teachers of public speaking. 

          Like other public-speaking text, it has little specifically on listening skills.  It is a book on public speaking.  However, it differs from the other texts on the subject by placing its discussion in the context of an oral activity in which listening is essential to the success of the speaker; so, often, suggestions are based on how to develop and deliver the speech for listeners.

          Many areas of criticism are clearly present and those are welcome.  They become topics for discussion, I trust.  The central issue is the extent to which public speaking needs to be better treated in the context where a listener essential.

     

  • May 04, 2012 4:50 PM
    Reply # 912043 on 825288

    Indeed, the important part to me is to teach individuals to speak from a listener's perspective. After all, the goal is not to teach them to speak to themselves. When I taught public speaking, I first taught about listening. Our first activity was for two people to listen to each other as they asked each other questions to get to know each other. Then, the one person would introduce his/her partner to the class. I didn't call this introduction a speech, as is typically done, so the students didn't seem to be as nervous. I had great success with this approach, especially working with students who suffered from high speech anxiety as the focus was on their listening to each other. We talked about what might make a speech more interesting to those who were listening. We focused on the three problems that are inherent in the listening process: Attention, Understanding, and Retention. And then, we'd start discussing ways to get and keep the attention of our listeners, to help the listeners to understand, and to enhance the listeners' memories of what was said. The speeches that were given were more opportunities for us to practice our listening than for someone to practice their speaking, although both goals were accomplished. Most likely, many other communications faculty who love listening do the same type of thing.

    Oh, and thanks for the link! :)

    Last modified: May 04, 2012 4:53 PM | Susan Timm
 
Dr. Nanette Johnson-Curiskis 

Executive Director, International Listening Association 
Box 164, Belle Plaine MN 56011 USA
Phone and TEXT: 1.952.594.5697 

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