Notes

TEACHER: Welcome to Introduction to Communication and Speech. In this lesson, we'll discuss the importance of public speaking. We'll learn why we should study the art of public speaking. As we begin the lesson, take a look at these questions. What is public speaking? Am I a good public speaker? In this lesson we'll address both questions.
And by the end of the lesson, you should understand the benefits of studying public speaking. And you should also be able to identify the essential characteristics of public speaking. These are your vocabulary terms for the lesson. Take note of them, they will be bold and blue on the slides. Understanding these terms will help you to reach the lesson's objectives.
We'll begin our look at public speaking by examining the benefits of studying public speaking. Well, first of all by studying public speaking you'll be able to improve your intrapersonal and social skills. Intrapersonal communication skills are those skills that allow you to communicate effectively with yourself, so that you can develop
self awareness and healthy self esteem. Social skills are the communication skills that enable you to develop healthy relationships and have healthy social interactions. The skills you learn by studying public speaking will translate and be usable as part of your overall set of communication skills. It will also help you to develop essential academic and career
skills. One of the most important skills that employers list as being wanted in new employees is the ability to present oneself accurately and effectively. So learning about public speaking gives you the skills you need in order to be an effective member of a workplace team.
Likewise, think about how many times in your academic career you've been asked to speak in front of a class. Think about the preparation that goes into building a speech. It involves research, organization, writing, rehearsal. All of these skills translate into making you a better student and a better employee. It also enables you to practice general communication skills.
We've addressed how it can help you better communicate with yourself and in social settings. Learning about public speaking can also develop your listening skills, your ability to interpret nonverbal messages, as well as your ability to use language effectively. These general communication skills are widely applicable in all areas of your life.
And finally, studying public speaking is going to improve your ability in public speaking. You'll likely encounter a variety of opportunities in your school life, as well as your work life, maybe even in your personal life, to present speeches in public. If you haven't taken the time to study what makes someone a good public speaker and what is an effective speech,
you're likely to not perform as well in those situations. By studying public speaking, you improve your performance as a public speaker. Public speaking is a unique form of communication. And because it is unique, it has some unique characteristics. Also, the general characteristics of communication have unique applications when applied to public speaking.
In public speaking, there is a speaker. Generally in communication, we refer to a source and a receiver. However, because public speaking is not a conversation, we refer to the person sharing the message as the speaker. There is a message, however the message is generally continuous in public speaking. Whereas, messages are exchanged in general communication,
the message in public speaking comes specifically from the speaker, and is continuous, usually without interruption. The channel for public speaking typically is an auditory and visual channel. We listen to a public speaker, and we watch their presentational aids and their gestures. It's unlikely that any of the other channels are used in public speaking, because of the unique speaker-audience characteristic of public speaking. In public speaking, there is noise just like there is in general communication. In fact, this characteristic has probably the most direct relationship between general communication and public speaking.
Noise in public speaking includes physical noise, such as a noisy room where the audience struggles to hear the public speaker. Or perhaps another example of physical noise would be malfunctioning audio equipment, so the audience can't hear what the speaker is saying. Other noise can include physiological noise, if somebody perhaps is not able to hear the speaker because of a physiological disability. Or psychological noise, perhaps a member of the audience is simply not interested. Again, noise is common across general communication, as well as public speaking as a unique form of communication. In public speaking, rather than having a receiver we refer to an audience. An audience is a group of people who
has gathered to hear a speaker. This can be a small group of people, say two or three people, to a very large group of people, even thousands or tens of thousands. Again, rather than being the receiver, we refer to the audience in public speaking as those who have come together to listen to the speaker. There is a context to public speaking.
Context is the information that we are choosing to share within our public speech. This is also sometimes referred to as the content, and is closely related to the message. And finally, there is delivery. Delivery is a unique form or characteristic unique to public speaking. Think about all of the different delivery styles
you may have encountered while listening to people give speeches. There is an animated style of delivery. There is a more reserved style of delivery. We refer to delivery as the method or chosen way of presenting the message. Again, public speaking is a unique form of communication. And these characteristics help us
to understand what makes public speaking unique. Take a look, again, at our objectives and let's see what we've learned today. First you should understand the benefits of studying public speaking, that it will help you in your academic as well as your career life. It can help build your intrapersonal as well as social communication skills.
And also of course, studying public speaking will help you to be a better public speaker. You should also be able to identify the essential characteristics of public speaking, those characteristics that make public speaking a unique form of communication. As we conclude the lesson, take a look at these questions. How do you feel about public speaking?
Is it something you enjoy? Is it something you fear? And what do you hope to gain from your study of public speaking? Which benefit is the most important to you? What do you hope to learn as we move forward in our discussion of public speaking? Think about those questions until we come back
for our next lesson.