Speeches
Speeches is an optional 4-h activity, but is highly beneficial to the members developement in teaching them speaking skills. Juniors must present a 3-5 minute speech on any topic they chose. Senior members are required to present a 5-7 minute speech with an additional 1-2 minute impromptu speech. An impromptu speech is where the member is given a topic chosen by others and have 1 minute to prepare a speech on it. Cloverbuds may also do a speech but only has to be 1-2 minutes. If they wish, a parent or senior 4-h member can go and stand with them while they present their speech.
Tips for speeches-
- Start writing as soon as possible to give yourself plenty of time.
- Pick a topic that interests you and you know about. You will speak much stronger and confidently if you are passionate about the subject.
- Have a short introduction at the start. Make it catchy and sum up what your speech will be about.
- After the intro. welcome the judges and audience. Something like " Thankyou madame chairperson, welcome honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and fellow 4-h members." You thank the chairperson for introducing you. DO NOT thank the audience. They are privileged to hear what you have to say.
- Make the body of your speech interesting. Do not just list off facts or statistics. While a few of these are interesting, do not have too many. Make some jokes throughout the speech to lighten things up.
-Wrap the speech up with something that sums up your whole speech and what you have to say.
- Have your speech nearly memorized so as to not stare down at your cards the whole time.
- While practicing at home keep in mind that when we are nervous we tend to speak faster than normal, so make your speech slightly longer than the given time. Speak as if in slow motion; it will sound normal to your audience.
- Give eye contact to the judges and different people in the audience. Parents, friends, and people who look interested in what you are saying are easy to make eye contact with. You could also look just above the audience behind them. This looks like you are giving eye contact without actually having to do it.
- Try and just focus on what you are saying and not the fact that you are in front of everyone.
- Smile and have fun! Remember; it is not about if you can deliver an amazing speech or not, most of us can't (I know I sure can't!). This is about improving yourself as a confident, mature contributing member of society, which is what the 4-h program is all about. So don't worry if you are not good at presenting a speech or not. Just try your best and have fun!
You can expect to recieve a written set of comments from the judges on your speech. View these comments as constructuve criticism that can help you improve your speech for next time. Judges comments are designed to help make even the best better.
- Pick a topic that interests you and you know about. You will speak much stronger and confidently if you are passionate about the subject.
- Have a short introduction at the start. Make it catchy and sum up what your speech will be about.
- After the intro. welcome the judges and audience. Something like " Thankyou madame chairperson, welcome honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and fellow 4-h members." You thank the chairperson for introducing you. DO NOT thank the audience. They are privileged to hear what you have to say.
- Make the body of your speech interesting. Do not just list off facts or statistics. While a few of these are interesting, do not have too many. Make some jokes throughout the speech to lighten things up.
-Wrap the speech up with something that sums up your whole speech and what you have to say.
- Have your speech nearly memorized so as to not stare down at your cards the whole time.
- While practicing at home keep in mind that when we are nervous we tend to speak faster than normal, so make your speech slightly longer than the given time. Speak as if in slow motion; it will sound normal to your audience.
- Give eye contact to the judges and different people in the audience. Parents, friends, and people who look interested in what you are saying are easy to make eye contact with. You could also look just above the audience behind them. This looks like you are giving eye contact without actually having to do it.
- Try and just focus on what you are saying and not the fact that you are in front of everyone.
- Smile and have fun! Remember; it is not about if you can deliver an amazing speech or not, most of us can't (I know I sure can't!). This is about improving yourself as a confident, mature contributing member of society, which is what the 4-h program is all about. So don't worry if you are not good at presenting a speech or not. Just try your best and have fun!
You can expect to recieve a written set of comments from the judges on your speech. View these comments as constructuve criticism that can help you improve your speech for next time. Judges comments are designed to help make even the best better.