(Download)
2. Feel Your Feelings
Disasters happened in Japan. When you saw those scenes and pictures in the news, how did you feel?
Read out the following news on this catastrophe.
To get the most out of it, record your reading and listen back.
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“Houses burn amid flood waters on Friday after a massive magnitude 8.9 earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a powerful tsunami. Hundreds are dead, thousands are stranded, and a handful of ships and trains remain missing along the country’s northeastern coast.”
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(Record yourself and listen back)
How was your reading? Full of varieties in your voice or fell flat? More importantly, can your listeners feel your feelings? Will they be affected emotionally by what you said?
Yes, even in news, you can hear varieties and emotions in a voice. News is not supposed to be reported in a monotone anyway. Same to your presentations, even if it’s a technical one.
If your reading fell flat and sounded monotone, look at the picture above, terrible right? Now imagine you are going to describe this picture to someone who hasn’t heard the disaster therefore couldn’t see the picture. Now you tell the above news to this person. Remember to record your reading.
(Record yourself and listen back)
Compare your two readings, did you hear some differences? Could your listeners see what you see? As a presenter, your job is not only passing the message, but painting a picture to your listeners of what you say with your voice.
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Now think back for a moment. What were your reactions when you saw and heard the news of the disaster happened in Japan? Shocked? Sighed? Sympathized? Bring these feelings into your reading. Again, record yourself and listen back.
(Record yourself and listen back)
Did you hear another difference?
I’ll give it a read. Listen and see what you feel.
(Read)
When doing presentation, you also need to bring your feelings and emotions into your topic. It could be a sense of urgency, a mindset of fun, or a style of relaxation. Feel your feelings yourself and your listeners will feel you.
(photo credit: National Geographic)
