On Being Well Spoken
I recently received a request about posting something regarding being well spoken.
Something you need to realise is that you’re not going to become well-spoken overnight. You need to practice on people. You need to SPEAK.
I used to stutter so badly that I could barely speak a whole sentence.
Flash forward a few years. I pitched my start up in front of a crowd, I joined Model United Nations in high school and college, I’ve been invited to speak on my entrepreneurial experience by some top universities in my country. It’s taken a lot to get here. And I’m still not where I want to be.
1. Apps to track progress and help you get better at public speaking
An app that you can use: “Speeko.”
I used to use this, it is beginner friendly and you can improve your public speaking skills as well.
2. Use topic generators
Go online and look up a topic generator. Generate a random topic, video yourself speaking on that topic. Don’t give yourself time to prepare anything - read the topic and start speaking. Set a time limit - you’ll realise that speaking for even 2 minutes can be quite difficult at times.
Not only does this make you realise that you may have limited language skills, but it will also make you realise exactly where you’re falling behind. Note down things in a journal.
- is grammar the issue?
- Lack of vocabulary?
- Too many filler sounds?
- Knowledge gap?
This is also a great idea if you’re at an intermediate level of learning a language/ polishing a language. Do this everyday and maintain a diary on your improvement.
3. Reading out loud
Select a news article or any article. Read out loud, slowly and steadily. Pronounce every syllable calmly.
A two minute read should take 5 minutes to read out loud. That’s how slow you should go. Not more than 4-5 words per breath.
Your tongue needs to get used to different syllables and sounds. Practice will help.
4. Talk in real life
Talk to anyone and everyone whenever you can.
Ask your barista how their day is going.
Ask your work or university security if they’ve had a good day and if they ate today.
Chat with your taxi driver about their life. I always start with asking them if they are from the city we’re travelling in. Even if you’re from that city, act like a tourist. Where are the best eateries? The conversation eventually goes to personal questions. How many children do they have, and what do they do? What do they like about the city?
You’ll learn the art of small talk only through practice. No book or guide can actually prepare you. You have to practice, practice and practice.
5. Diaphragm breathing
Diaphragm breathing is very important. Look up some YouTube videos for reference. You essentially breathe from your tummy (stomach goes in and out; not chest going up and down). This is a great calming exercise too.
6. Stuttering tongue/ jaw exercise videos
These are great because they really do prep your jaw and tongue well. The videos could include tongue stretches, placing your tongue on your palette correctly, etc. Search on YouTube.
7. Body posture
You really need to work on your posture too. Sit up straight. Back, STRAIGHT. Chin up, shoulders relaxed. Something as simple as posture can change your level of confidence.
8. Pranayama
A yoga exercise for breathing. You can find a guided video on YouTube for sure.
9. Vocabulary
Invest your time in expanding your vocabulary. There’s enough apps and games that can help you with that, if you aren’t fond of reading. A sign of being well spoken is having great vocabulary.
Start by looking up the synonyms of everyday words.
“I’m upset”
- how many different words can you find for upset?
“I had a crazy day today”
- one can easily use “hectic”, “chaotic” “lively” instead
10. Idioms
Idioms, phrases, sayings - look up common idioms in your language of choice. Aim to use at least 3 new idioms on 3 separate occasions in a week while you speak. You need to understand when and where you can use the idioms in your vocabulary.
11. Knowing when to switch
You can’t talk like a 50 year old heiress to a 10 year old child; you need to get down to their level.
If someone is clearly not a native speaker and is struggling to put words together, don’t use difficult words around them.
If you’re meeting with someone high profile, refrain from using slang.
The best speakers know when to switch their level of language.
You can’t use one singular type of speaking with everyone. You need to understand that there is a time and place for everything - and you’ll be able to switch like a pro only when you actually speak and start gaining experience.
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LMK SEASON 5
Now that Lego Monkie Kid Season 5 Trailer is out, here is my thoughts on it.
Some of you LMK fans are the worse I've seen on here.
Due to the amount of negativity the trailer got from the fans. It was bad to the point someone send a DM to the LEGO company and I heard someone try to do a petition to get Flying Bark back on the show.
As an Animator it is very disheartening to see your comments on it. I actually cried seeing the comments. Please give the new studio a chance. Wait until the episodes drop this summer, and then see if you guys will love it.
The new studio knows that LMK is a highly anticipated animation, hence the expectations were HIGH. Can you imagine the pressure being put on to them?
Just please enjoy the show. Despite it being a different Studio, it is STILL them. It is still MK, the Monkie Kid. It is still based on the Journey To The West.
Do not go and harassed, ESPECIALLY the Animators about how bad the trailer was. Please be kind to them. They have worked so hard on this for YOU. Be happy that there's even a GLIMPSE of S5.
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//I know that I never post on here anymore and this is supposed to be an RP blog but my blog my rules, so I'm gonna get unhinged about Link Click for a minute
I've seen people have theories about "Liu Xiao, Xia Fei, and Vein are part of a time organization trying to clean up Lu Guang's mess," I've seen comments like "Cheng Xiaoshi's powers are arguably the most powerful/dangerous of the time-related powers," etc., I've seen people make these connections in coexistence with all the other theories out there about what Lu Guang is hiding, but they all connect Lu Guang and whatever his past is to the Three Scary Bois (TM)
So am I gonna have to be the first one to throw out there the possibility that if the time organization is true and connected to Lu Guang, then it's very possible that Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi's first meeting back in high school was orchestrated by them so that Lu Guang could take Cheng Xiaoshi out and get rid of the danger of a power like his, but then it backfired because Lu Guang got too attached?
I'm not saying necessarily that I hardcore think that this is the case, I'm just pointing out that it could be a strong possibility if this "Time Organization" theory turns out to be correct and connected to Lu Guang
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Excited to announce that I have made an Official Art Account on CARA!
I’ve been having a problem with vanishing into the void for many of my accounts because of my habit of making multiple accs for separate fandoms (abandoning some for others depending on the day)
So I decided to just start compiling my recent works onto a singular acc
Nothing is posted yet but if you like:
Journey to the west
Dungeons and Dragons
Wizard101
Legend of Zelda
Oc/Au Content
Then give my Cara acc a follow!
I will also be posting WIPs for the Spared!Au and be taking requests there once I reach 300 follows ^^
You receive: art
I receive: Validation ✨
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