Power Language: Public Speaking

Activity 2: Meet Our Guest

Set the Stage

Have you seen someone introduce a person who is going to speak, sing, or receive an award? What was said about the person being introduced? Imagine that you must introduce someone to a group, instead of just one person. How would you decide what to say?

Speak Out

Pair off with another person. If possible, pick someone you don't know well. Interview that person for 5 minutes or less.

Now allow the same person to interview you. Give a 2- to 3-minute talk describing your partner to a group. Be creative. You can pretend you are nominating the person for an award or introducing him or her as an upcoming speaker. When you finish speaking, allow your partner to introduce you to the group.

Stretch the Message

In a week, keep track of all the times you see someone introduce another person. How many situations did you count? What did you learn about communication by observing these interactions?

Open Mike

Share

• What questions did you ask in your interview?
• Which questions got the most interesting responses?
• What was different about introducing someone else to a group rather than introducing yourself, as in the previous activity?
• What did you learn about communication by listening to your partner?
• What did you notice about other speakers' facial expressions that you liked or disliked?

Process

• What do you think the expression “strength in numbers” means? How does that saying apply to this activity?
• How did you decide what to say first about your partner?
• How did you remember what you were going to say?

Generalize

• At what other times or occasions would you need to be able to introduce someone?

Apply

• What things did you learn from your partner's introduction that you would use the next time you need to introduce somebody? What things would you not do?