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Effective use of simple contrast: do this, don't do that

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Hello again! I have a thing for "classic" TED talks, because they always show us how much can go into constructing a persuasive and engaging presentation: a mixture of strategies and details whose end result, however, looks deceptively simple. And the thing is, maybe it looks so simple because it is simple? Granted, there are many ingredients to a successful mix, but each one of those ingredients is simple enough that it can be grasped and understood by the audience--who wants a complex, muddled idea? We want to be inspired, and inspiration usually comes in a flash. A flash of simplicity. What is not simple, I will admit, is the cooking. It takes a lot of ingredients with a very clear purpose to produce a really good talk. But each one of the ingredients, taken one by one, are usually simple enough that we can replicate them. The ingredient I want to tell you about today is contrast . Maybe the word simple is sometimes not the most accurate one to describe what's
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What is a flaw? What is a virtue?

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Hi again! When we establish a goal like "I want to become a better public speaker", it is inevitable to set a certain standard, usually with the help of models. This is exactly what we are attempting to do here in this blog. But this begs the question of who we consider to be a good speaker, and what are a speaker's strengths and weaknesses. And that is an issue where we may encounter some surprises and some food for thought. There are innumerable ways of engaging an audience, and sometimes, what we might have deemed a flaw may become a vehicle for the audience to empathise and engage with the most human (and humane) part of ourselves. Being vulnerable on stage can be a great strategy if our vulnerability is something the audience can relate to. In this talk, singer Megan Washington exposes herself with an unexpected confession: while she's used to being on stage singing, standing in front of others and uttering just a few words is utterly terrifying to her.
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Choosing the best words

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This TED talk by Elora Hardy can teach us the importance of great word choice in order to be persuasive. Calling forth mental images, activating the senses, asking your audience to think thanks to rhetorical questions, all of these maintain your listeners engaged and, dare I say, entranced during your talk. Magical houses, made of bamboo  communicates the idea that we can create durable and shockingly different houses from a very sustainable material. But our point here is that the way the speaker takes you on a trip full of imagery and sensation is quite remarkable. It helps that the images in her presentation are impressive, of course. But notice the following: 1) The incredible precision in description: how does she describe the bamboo? The houses? The building process? Which leads us to... 2) The adjectives in particular. How often does she use vague adjectives like "good" or "interesting"? What adjectives does she use instead?  3) The use of questions t
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Welcome!

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What makes a good speaker? Can I be an outstanding public speaker? I'm supposed to be a great public speaker at a C2 level, right? But, how ? As you know, my approach at the EOI is to model your end-of-year talk after good speakers, at TED talks, at Pechakucha presentations, at quality Youtube channels. In this blog, I will share with you the details that make up a great speaker, so that you can identify, grasp and apply their techniques and integrate them into your own speaking skills.  Comments are open! And needless to say, the more you contribute, the better. Are you ready?
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