3 Amazing Games You Can Use To Promote Public Speaking Skills

When it comes to surveys that identify what our biggest fears are, public speaking often tops these lists. According to an article published by The Washington Post, more than 25% of Americans surveyed fear public speaking, making it the #1 fear of all Americans (see article titled America’s Top Fears: Public Speaking, Heights, and Bugs, published by the Washington Post on October 30, 2014). Giving a speech in public is scarier than heights, bugs, snakes and drowning!

One way to mitigate this fear of public speaking is to play public speaking games! These games encourage people to stand up and speak up, without fear of embarrassment or judgment.

Here are 3 classic public speaking games that you can play with your family and friends.

Game #1: The story behind the article

Prepare an initial list of events or things.

For example: a postage stamp, a birthday cake, books, the stripes of a zebra, a fireplace, the tooth fairy, common sayings such as ‘a penny for your thoughts’, ‘a red rag for a bull’, ‘a pinch and a punch for the first of the month’,

April Fools Day, a wheel, a Christmas tree, an ice cream, a ladder, Santa Claus, May Day, a mermaid, a handshake when meeting someone…

Each speaker must give an account of the history or story behind the thing or event. It doesn’t have to be real! The goal of this public speaking game is to cultivate credible fluency and impromptu speaking skills.

Game #2: Talk about this sentence

Prepare a list of phrases.

For example: ‘Just do it’, ‘Diamonds are forever’, ‘It fell in the water’, ‘Some like it hot’, ‘Her bark is worse than her bite’, ‘Love makes the world go round’ ‘, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, ‘First, best dressed’, ‘King for a day’, ‘Fun money’, ‘Laughter is the best medicine’…

Each speaker must speak on the phrase given to them. Set a time limit, for example, 2 minutes per speech attempt. The purpose of this game is to cultivate creativity and impromptu speaking skills.

Game #3: Find the lie

This game encourages imagination, fluency and fun. By playing it, your group will also learn about body language! How do you know when someone is lying? How can you know?

Each speaker must share 3 things about themselves on a topic that you set.

Topic examples: vacations, the future, my favorite extracurricular activities, when I was young, my beliefs, the best books I’ve ever read, the best adventures I’ve had… , my family…

Two of the things they say about themselves are true. the third is No.

When they have finished talking, ask the class to identify the lie.

P.S. This is a great icebreaker for groups meeting for the first time.

conclusion

There you have it, three amazing games that you can use right away during your next get together with friends or family. If you’re a teacher, you can use these games to promote new opportunities for your students to talk in class or share a story. The bottom line is to create as many opportunities to talk, in the most fun way possible. Public speaking doesn’t have to be scary and intimidating!

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