小学生阅读集训：Speaking is easy

Speaking in public is most peoples least favorite thing. The reason is that were all afraid of making fools of ourselves. The more important the speech is, the more frightened we become.

But stop biting your finger nails. Public speaking is easy. Its just plain talking, and you talk all the time. Although Im basically shy, Ive been making speeches and talking on radio and television for more than 30 years, and I can tell you that public speaking is not a gift like musical talent or being able to draw. Anybody who can talk can speak in public. Here are some of the lessons I have learned:

Keep it simple.

Your audience is going to come away with one or two of your main ideas. One or two. Not ten or 20. If you cant express in a sentence or two what you intend to get across, then your speech will not be focused well enough. And if you dont have a clear idea of what you want to say, theres no way your audience will.

Get it organized.

No matter how long or short your speech is, youve got to get your ducks in a row (把事情安排得井井有条) how youre going to open, what major points you want to make and how youre going to close.

When I do a radio or TV piece, I often write the last sentence first. When you know where youre headed, you can choose any route to get there. A strong close is critical: the last thing you say is what your audience will most likely remember.

Keep it short.

The standard length of a vaudeville (综艺节目) act is 12 minutes. If all those troupers (有经验的演员) singing and dancing their hearts out couldnt go on longer without boring the audience, what makes you think you can?

Help:

make a fool of yourself to do something stupid which makes other people think that you are fool出丑

come away with to leave a place with a particular feeling or impression (带着某种感觉或印象)离开