TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NÔNG LÂM
THÀNH PHỐ HỒ CHÍ MINH
PRESENTATIONAL SKILLS
By
Vo Van Viet

LECTURE 2
REMEMBERING
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY?

Techniques for Remembering
Speech Material

The four most common
methods of remembering
speech and presentation
material are the following:
1. Memorizing
2. Reading from complete text
3. Using notes
4. Using visual aids

1. Memorizing
•
Perhaps the most difficult method
of the four methods, memorizing is
the technique many novice
speakers start off with, because
they are under the impression that
this is how all speeches are

entirely possible that you will forget
portions of your speech.

1. Memorizing (cont.)
•
With memorizing, mental blocks
are inevitable, and it is not a
question of "Will you forget?" but
"when you will forget?" Can you
memorize a speech? Yes. Should
you memorize a speech? I don't
recommend it. Speakers who rely
strictly on memorization are
setting themselves up for failure.

2. Reading from Complete Text
•
Most people dislike listening
to someone read a speech or
presentation, even if the
speaker makes a concerted
effort to maintain eye contact
with the audience.

2. Reading from Complete Text
(cont.)
•
Your audience is just likely to
end up saying,"If all he is
going to do was read his

yourself losing your place every time
you look up to speak to the audience.

2. Reading from Complete Text
(cont.)

If reading is absolutely
necessary, here are some
suggestions to make your
reading sound more
professional:

2. Reading from Complete Text
(cont.)
•
Pay attention to your voice inflection.
To sound natural you need to rehearse
often, checking yourself for pauses. Ask
yourself if your written words sound the
way you would speak them. Tape
yourself and listen to your own voice.
Note where changes need to be made
with your voice inflection. Try not to
over inflect your voice or it will become
distracting to your audience.

2. Reading from Complete Text
(cont.)
•
Say the words out loud. As

communicate effectively with their
body. One strategy is to double space
your typed text. This leaves room for
you to jot down notes and cues about
which words to emphasize and
gestures to accompany certain
sentences, points, or key messages

2. Reading from Complete Text
(cont.)
•
Videotape yourself I still videotape
my speeches and presentations,
especially those I deliver for the first
time. I recommend you sit down with
pen and paper in your hand and take
notes as you watch your video.
Watch the video several times, each
time taking notes on different things
you see. Here is the process I use to
review my videotapes:

2. Reading from Complete Text
(cont.)
•
Review 1. - Watch the entire tape
(alone) without being too critical.
Watch the tape as an audience might
for the first time.
•

cards.
•
This is the most common way to
remember speech material.
•
Using notes has more advantages
than reading because you use your
normal voice inflection and make
more effective eye contact with your
audience.

Using Notes (cont.)
Here are suggestions to consider if
you decide to use notes:
* Keep it brief. - Don't write out
whole paragraphs of text. Put only
a few key words or phrases on
each card, just enough to jog your
memory. Also put only one or two
ideas on each card, and print large
and neatly so your notes are easy
to read.

Using Notes (cont.)
•
Remember to number your
note cards! - Just in case you
drop them.
•
Include quotes, statistics,

your note cards. Sometimes
a simple drawing is all you
need to jog your memory.