This is a great spoken word poetry for anyone who is interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Il70mlj38o
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
The Lone Wolf on the Stage
Everything is dark. The light and the attention of everyone in the room are now on you. The atmosphere is so tense that you can feel the slightest movement, such as each drop of sweat running along your spine when the light is heating up your body...
That is probably how most people feel when they have their first act on the stage, especially if it is a monologue scene. Remembering a script and the emotions that go with it is challenging enough, yet when you step onto that stage, things just go on a whole new level of difficulty. This week, my public speaking class has nailed the intimidating mission of delivering a monologue in front of the class.
The first brave "tribute" was Drew, with his funny monologue about how to fake out parents. Drew clearly remembered his speech well and had very engaging emotions and illustrative gestures that draw the audience in. However, sometimes his hand gestures were a bit irrelevant and unnecessary. He could add a little more emphasis on some part of the monologue to achieve better effect for his monologue.
The second person stepped up was Caroline. She played Bella in Twilight when Edward left her. Caroline did a good job in portraying a wondering, deep-in-thought, emotional and lonely girl. She may want to add a bit of emotion there and then, but generally, she was amazing with that monologue.
Next is me. My speech was not very long, so memorization was not a big challenge and I did well on it. What was really difficult for me at first was to get into the character and then to convey the unusual personalities of the woman I was pretending to be. I found the speech to be quite funny, considering the context. However, the character was furious and crazy; therefore, I had to be mad and acted mad. Through the weeks and with the help from my peers and teacher, I was able to express the madness better. Another challenge for me was not make unnecessary movements unconsciously due to anxiety. This, along with the issues of clear pronunciation, is something that I need to work more on.
One of the most sentimental monologues was that of Sophia. She portrayed a very emotional speech that was quite hard for her since it was originally spoken by a man. However, Sophia managed to defeat the obstacle and deliver a great monologue. She could work more on pronunciation and memorization.
Brandon's monologue was a funny one. His tone was engaging and he did a good job in playing the role of a cool guy. However, he could slow down a little bit and perhaps add more actions to make the monologue more compelling.
Christina, despite her concussion, has done well in memorizing the speech. She also tried hard to pronounce the words clearly and get into the character. The one thing she may want to add to her speech is some hand gestures and body language.
The next person was Nadya with her critical speech from a famous cartoon: "Ratatouille". She did indulge herself into the picky, hard-to-pleased critic that was suddenly enlightened by a spectacular meal. She looked confident and delivered the speech at a low yet appropriate tone. However, Nadya could work more on emphasis.
Donavan chose a very strong and moving monologue to present on the stage. His tone, emotions, emphasis and some hand gestures draws the audience in . However, the hand gestures could be stronger and be used more effectively. In addition, his style could be a bit less casual by, for example, not putting the hand in his pocket.
Just saying, you guys all rocked the mission!!!!
That is probably how most people feel when they have their first act on the stage, especially if it is a monologue scene. Remembering a script and the emotions that go with it is challenging enough, yet when you step onto that stage, things just go on a whole new level of difficulty. This week, my public speaking class has nailed the intimidating mission of delivering a monologue in front of the class.
The first brave "tribute" was Drew, with his funny monologue about how to fake out parents. Drew clearly remembered his speech well and had very engaging emotions and illustrative gestures that draw the audience in. However, sometimes his hand gestures were a bit irrelevant and unnecessary. He could add a little more emphasis on some part of the monologue to achieve better effect for his monologue.
The second person stepped up was Caroline. She played Bella in Twilight when Edward left her. Caroline did a good job in portraying a wondering, deep-in-thought, emotional and lonely girl. She may want to add a bit of emotion there and then, but generally, she was amazing with that monologue.
Next is me. My speech was not very long, so memorization was not a big challenge and I did well on it. What was really difficult for me at first was to get into the character and then to convey the unusual personalities of the woman I was pretending to be. I found the speech to be quite funny, considering the context. However, the character was furious and crazy; therefore, I had to be mad and acted mad. Through the weeks and with the help from my peers and teacher, I was able to express the madness better. Another challenge for me was not make unnecessary movements unconsciously due to anxiety. This, along with the issues of clear pronunciation, is something that I need to work more on.
One of the most sentimental monologues was that of Sophia. She portrayed a very emotional speech that was quite hard for her since it was originally spoken by a man. However, Sophia managed to defeat the obstacle and deliver a great monologue. She could work more on pronunciation and memorization.
Brandon's monologue was a funny one. His tone was engaging and he did a good job in playing the role of a cool guy. However, he could slow down a little bit and perhaps add more actions to make the monologue more compelling.
Christina, despite her concussion, has done well in memorizing the speech. She also tried hard to pronounce the words clearly and get into the character. The one thing she may want to add to her speech is some hand gestures and body language.
The next person was Nadya with her critical speech from a famous cartoon: "Ratatouille". She did indulge herself into the picky, hard-to-pleased critic that was suddenly enlightened by a spectacular meal. She looked confident and delivered the speech at a low yet appropriate tone. However, Nadya could work more on emphasis.
Donavan chose a very strong and moving monologue to present on the stage. His tone, emotions, emphasis and some hand gestures draws the audience in . However, the hand gestures could be stronger and be used more effectively. In addition, his style could be a bit less casual by, for example, not putting the hand in his pocket.
Just saying, you guys all rocked the mission!!!!
Thursday, September 25, 2014
The Devil on stage
Saturday, September 13, 2014
To speak or not to speak
Everyone wants to speak and be heard, especially by a lot of people. The problem is how to speak correctly.
Before delivering a public speech, let's take a look at some of the key term for speaking:
1. Articulation:
In order to make it easier for the audience to understand the speech, as well as making it more memorable, the speaker needs to articulate, that is, to pronounce each word clearly. A good speech begins with good articulation. Bad articulation would only lead to confused, perplexed audience after the speech.
I tend to quickly and unclearly pronounce hard words so that it wouldn’t create a gap in my speech but it seems to backfire. My goal is to get away from this habit and articulate every word I say so my audience would understand better what I want to convey.
2. Projection:
What is projection? In speaking, projection is how loud you speak and it varies depend on the situation.
Now, you don't want to shout into everyone's ears your speech nor do you want to speak so quietly that people find it impossible to figure out what you are saying. Projection is important because proper voice projection would help audience to keep up and stay with the speech as well as having a good impression of the speaker, thus creating a more favorable feeling.
My public speaking class is a good place to practice my projection because I have received my peers and my teacher opinion about it. Hence, I could control my projection better and I hope to enhance that skill in the future. Speaking with the right projection helps me feel more confident in front of the crowd.
Before delivering a public speech, let's take a look at some of the key term for speaking:
1. Articulation:
In order to make it easier for the audience to understand the speech, as well as making it more memorable, the speaker needs to articulate, that is, to pronounce each word clearly. A good speech begins with good articulation. Bad articulation would only lead to confused, perplexed audience after the speech.
I tend to quickly and unclearly pronounce hard words so that it wouldn’t create a gap in my speech but it seems to backfire. My goal is to get away from this habit and articulate every word I say so my audience would understand better what I want to convey.
2. Projection:
What is projection? In speaking, projection is how loud you speak and it varies depend on the situation.
Now, you don't want to shout into everyone's ears your speech nor do you want to speak so quietly that people find it impossible to figure out what you are saying. Projection is important because proper voice projection would help audience to keep up and stay with the speech as well as having a good impression of the speaker, thus creating a more favorable feeling.
My public speaking class is a good place to practice my projection because I have received my peers and my teacher opinion about it. Hence, I could control my projection better and I hope to enhance that skill in the future. Speaking with the right projection helps me feel more confident in front of the crowd.
1 3. Diction:
Diction is the choice of words and is vital in public speaking. In the worst case scenario, a wrong word can ruin the
whole good speech. On the other hand, a normal speech can be more memorable if
its author throws in some suitable and highlighted words. Therefore, when
giving a speech, people need to pick their words aptly and carefully.
At the class, I have
received some feedbacks about my use of words during my speech or my writing
and I found those feedbacks very helpful. It would help me to develop my ability
to express myself further.
2.
4. Pacing:
A public speech is neither a rap song nor a
slow motion movie. If you go too fast, the audience would not have a slightest
sense of what you are talking about. If you go too slowly, the
audience would get bored. Public speaking is about conveying what you want to
say and keep the audience interest. Therefore, a good pace is indispensable.
In my Public Speaking class, having seen
people giving speech and also have spoken myself, I have learned how to pace each part of my speech suitably. A reasonable pace allows me
to express more efficiently and be more confident.
3
5. Purpose and Audience:
Who are you speaking to? Why are you
speaking? To deliver a good speech, speakers must answer these
questions. The answers would shape the style, the tone and the language of the
speech. After all, you can’t speak to an old man the way you talk to your friend.
Always remember your
purpose and your audience. Otherwise, the speech would fail to reach to them.
Through in-class activities, I have learned
to adjust my speech accordingly to the audience and the goal. This is one of
the steps on my road to improve my oral and written expression.
So, are you ready to speak your mind?
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Song, Personality and Goal
I accept the Song Bucket Challenge from my teacher!!! (or at least the modified version)
Rules: pick 3 of your favorite songs and explains how they represent you.
So without further due:
1. Happy by Pharrell Williams
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM
This song is unique, from the catchy tune to the lyrics. It was used in the movie "Despicable Me 2", when a villain, felt happy and danced on the street. This touches me, because if I heard this song from somewhere on the street, I would dance. To me, this song has the ability to bring my mood up and to make me feel energetic, and so it is perfect to set as a morning song. In addition, I feel related to the song because after all, I like to be happy, to smile and to make everyone happy.
So, are you feeling happy today?
2. Remember the Name - Fort Minor
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDvr08sCPOc
If "Happy" is a light-hearted, fun, amusing song, this song is like a strong serious declaration. The word for this song is determination. The main theme of the song is about working hard in order to achieve what you want, to prove yourself to everyone else and to make yourself stand out. This song and I really has a close and strong connection. I believe that to succeed, work hard is indispensable. If I bring my best effort into everything, in the end, I would achieve at least something. That is my motto of life, and that is why I put forward all I have. Listening to this song helps to strengthen my mentality and enforce my determination for the tasks I have.
By the way, this is also a good workout song.
3. Here's To Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXd2WxoOP5g
The song suggests its main theme and meaning from the long name. For adults, the song reminds them of their good old time at school, the time when they have less responsibilities and less problems to deal with. For the students, it is a song that fits the spirit of the youth. To me, the song is special because no matter how old I am, I always want to keep a part of me that a bit of childish, naive, carefree, crazy and wild. I believe that keeping that part would help me to be more optimistic and enjoy life.
So, my suggestions for high school students: Listen to this song and enjoy your young life!
...
...
...
Wait, this post doesn't end here, I am sorry. I have a few more things to say, so please stay a bit longer.
Lately, I have been taking Public Speaking class and I have three goals in this class.
First, I want to be more confident after this class. Even though I can go up and speak in front of people, my insecurity makes me scared of doing so and I only do so if I really need to. Hopefully, through this class, I would be able to conquer the fear and be more confident in front of the crowd.
Second, I hope I could improve my writing skills. With frequent blogging assignments (like this one), I looking forward to being able to express clearly what I want to say and what I think in words.
Speaking of expressing, I also want to improve my speaking skill. I want to be able to articulate my speech and express exactly my opinion and all the ideas I have without confusing my classmates or other people.
THIS IS THE END!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Rules: pick 3 of your favorite songs and explains how they represent you.
So without further due:
1. Happy by Pharrell Williams
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM
This song is unique, from the catchy tune to the lyrics. It was used in the movie "Despicable Me 2", when a villain, felt happy and danced on the street. This touches me, because if I heard this song from somewhere on the street, I would dance. To me, this song has the ability to bring my mood up and to make me feel energetic, and so it is perfect to set as a morning song. In addition, I feel related to the song because after all, I like to be happy, to smile and to make everyone happy.
So, are you feeling happy today?
2. Remember the Name - Fort Minor
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDvr08sCPOc
If "Happy" is a light-hearted, fun, amusing song, this song is like a strong serious declaration. The word for this song is determination. The main theme of the song is about working hard in order to achieve what you want, to prove yourself to everyone else and to make yourself stand out. This song and I really has a close and strong connection. I believe that to succeed, work hard is indispensable. If I bring my best effort into everything, in the end, I would achieve at least something. That is my motto of life, and that is why I put forward all I have. Listening to this song helps to strengthen my mentality and enforce my determination for the tasks I have.
By the way, this is also a good workout song.
3. Here's To Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXd2WxoOP5g
The song suggests its main theme and meaning from the long name. For adults, the song reminds them of their good old time at school, the time when they have less responsibilities and less problems to deal with. For the students, it is a song that fits the spirit of the youth. To me, the song is special because no matter how old I am, I always want to keep a part of me that a bit of childish, naive, carefree, crazy and wild. I believe that keeping that part would help me to be more optimistic and enjoy life.
So, my suggestions for high school students: Listen to this song and enjoy your young life!
...
...
...
Wait, this post doesn't end here, I am sorry. I have a few more things to say, so please stay a bit longer.
Lately, I have been taking Public Speaking class and I have three goals in this class.
First, I want to be more confident after this class. Even though I can go up and speak in front of people, my insecurity makes me scared of doing so and I only do so if I really need to. Hopefully, through this class, I would be able to conquer the fear and be more confident in front of the crowd.
Second, I hope I could improve my writing skills. With frequent blogging assignments (like this one), I looking forward to being able to express clearly what I want to say and what I think in words.
Speaking of expressing, I also want to improve my speaking skill. I want to be able to articulate my speech and express exactly my opinion and all the ideas I have without confusing my classmates or other people.
THIS IS THE END!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Thursday, September 4, 2014
A word of wisdom from Michael Jordan
"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."
- Michael Jordan -
- Michael Jordan -
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