How To Speak Good English In Public?

The English language is most widely spoken with billions of native and non-native speakers around the world. Speaking in public is a big problem, and addressing a crowd in a foreign language is no more than a task. So the big question arises, how to speak good English in public? If you wonder how I can speak good English in public, we have some useful ways to improve your English speaking skills that can help you get an edge over others. But before that, let’s discuss some of the most important elements of public speaking.

Elements of a successful conversation in English

Sometimes, a conversation is not just affected because of language barriers, but there are many other factors and elements that decide if the conversation has been successful or not. The most important factor that decides a meaningful conversation is our communication skills. As we enhance our communication skills, we learn how to speak good English in public.

The general definition of communication suggests that it is a process of sending and receiving information. But there is more to it. Sometimes we mistake communication skills with just the verbal elements, but communication includes both verbal and non-verbal elements that decide the kind of impact created on the listeners. Let’s look at elements of a successful conversation to understand how to speak good English in public.

1. Body language

While communicating with people, our body language directly impacts how the message is conveyed. Body language covers a range of non-verbal signs of communication, such as the tone and pace of the voice, body posture, and hand gestures, which are equally important in successfully sending and receiving a message.

To put it in simple words, people can read the signs in our body language, and improving our body language is one of the answers to the question of how to speak good English in public. For instance, if someone is tapping their feet repeatedly, it shows agitation or nervousness. Similarly, relaxed expressions and a smile are welcoming expressions. We also give directions to people on the road with hand gestures pointing them to go right, left, or head straight on the road.

If the speaker is talking in a low voice, it will become difficult for the listeners to understand the message. At first, they might try to listen intently, but soon they will get disengaged. Similarly, speaking at a fast pace will confuse the audience. Besides the tone and pace of the voice, body posture also plays an important role. Improving your body language will help you a lot in learning how to speak good English in public.

What are the examples of negative body language?

Sitting in a slumped position.
Drooping shoulders while standing.
Expressionless or tense face.
Fidgeting and shaking legs.
Nail-biting.
Staring blankly at someone or in the void.

Pro Tip: Observe yourself when you talk or listen to someone. If you see these signs in yourself, try to replace them with positive body language. It will require conscious efforts, so be patient and kind to yourself.

Positive Body Language for Public Speaking

Stand Upright: Firstly, it is important to acquire a positive posture. Don’t pressure. Relax your body. If your muscles are tense, your fear of speaking will increase even more. So, make sure that you are comfortable first. Stand straight while giving the presentation. If you are sitting, keep your back upright. Don’t give in to the temptation of slouching. Keep your arms by your side.
Keep your head up and make eye contact: Keeping your head upright at a perfect level will show confidence and interest. If you are elsewhere and trying to avoid contact, it shows you are nervous, and if you are leaning far too backwards or forward will show that you are being arrogant.
Stand in a relaxed position: When we are nervous, balancing our bodies seems like a task. Keep one foot ahead to distribute the weight and balance yourself perfectly equally.
Use Hand Gestures: Practice incorporating hand gestures while speaking in front of a mirror. Using open gestures effectively adds up to what you have to say.

2. Eye contact

Eye contact is essential in making a positive connection with people. Making eye contact with the listeners shows that you are confident, and it is the first step in engaging them with your speech. If you look down in your shoes or avoid making eye contact with people, they will soon get disengaged and lose interest in your topic. When you retain eye contact, it creates a bond between the speaker and the listener. If you are looking at the people while giving a speech, they are more likely to look at you and listen to you.

3. Confidence in speaking

Confidence is crucial in public speaking. With confidence, speakers are mindful of the tone and pace of their voice and deal with unexpected situations quite effectively. When your mind is focused, it is more likely that you can organise your thoughts effectively and coherently present them. When you are in a relaxed state of mind, you are less likely to stutter and fumble. When we are not confident, our brain gets filled with filler words like 'umms' and 'ahs' that break our flow of speech, and the listeners get disengaged. This is why the foremost priority of courses that teach how to speak good English in public is developing confidence in the students.

4. Story/content

Another important thing in public speaking is the storytelling and the content of your presentation. Firstly, your content should be powerful and informative to keep the audience interested and engaged. The next thing you need to focus on is the introduction of your speech. Starting a speech with a powerful quote is always better to fetch all the attention. If the beginning of your speech is strong, then there is a high chance that the listeners will stay engaged throughout your speech.

Storytelling is another crucial thing that any speaker must include in their speech. The art of storytelling can teach you a lot about how to speak good English in public. If your presentation is all about facts and information, it might get boring for the audience, and they might soon lose interest. This is why it is essential to add an emotional touch to your speech. Something that personally affects the audience. Storytelling is a powerful medium to fetch the audience's attention and bring them closer to your speech. Let’s see in what ways can you improve the content of your speech:

Entertain your audience: A speech doesn’t have to be all about serious facts and huge pieces of information that stuff the brains of people. Public speaking should be a perfect mix of entertainment, persuasion, and information. So, don’t forget to spice up your speech with wit and humour.
State powerful facts: If you have chosen a serious topic, you might face difficulties in being funny in the middle of a serious issue. If that is the case, use your problem as your strength. Incorporate bold facts and statements in your topic.
Make it relevant: People don’t care if what you have to say doesn’t relate to their emotions or experiences. So, try to make your topic relatable. After all, public speaking is not about the speaker but the listener. There should be an important message in your speech concerning the audience.

Why is speaking in English important?

Learning the English language is becoming a life skill. The ability to speak fluent English broadens the scope and opportunities in today’s world. Excellent English reading and writing skills give you an edge over others, and you have the advantage of accessing better job opportunities.

English serves the purpose of a common and global language to maintain a relationship between people of different cultures and nationalities and provide them access to science, education, travel, and jobs. So before we get to the question of how to speak good English in public, let’s look at the advantages of English speaking in today’s times: