The Five Best Public Speaking Tips For Students: Mastering Presentations and Team Reports

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but don't let it hold you back. Here are some tips to help you give your best performance during university presentations or speeches.

Master the 3Ps of Public Speaking:

The 3Ps of public speaking consist of prepare, practice, and perform. To prepare, tailor your presentation or speech to your audience. Make sure it's relevant to them. To practice, try presenting in front of a trusted friend or recording yourself to watch back later. This helps you work on areas such as eye contact, fluency, tone, and hand gestures. Finally, when it's time to perform, trust in the process and enjoy the moment.

Join a Club at University:

Joining a club or society that interests you not only helps you get involved in university life and meet new people, but it's also a great way to develop your public speaking and English language skills. Consider taking on a leadership role in the club, such as president, vice president, treasurer, or marketing director. This will allow you to interact with different people, including peers and university staff, and become a more confident and fluent communicator. You may also be required to speak publicly as part of your role, providing additional opportunities for skill development.

Join a public speaking group or course

If you’re wondering how to train in public speaking, there are plenty more opportunities outside your studies to improve your skills. Organisations like Rostrum and Toastmasters International run workshops on public speaking and leadership skills, and also let you interact with lots of different people – this builds your confidence as well as your network, and teaches you how to improve speaking in front of an audience.

You can also find smaller businesses offering training on public speaking for students, as well as plenty of groups and networking events on Meetup. Your education provider might also have some kind of public speaking or presentation training – ask the international student support unit to find out.