tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319786799012800176.post4796795493185031290..comments2023-10-13T03:51:03.655-04:00Comments on Magma Cum Laude: Speaking wellJessica Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117925212295349320noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319786799012800176.post-22227157472266282882009-09-16T04:21:02.855-04:002009-09-16T04:21:02.855-04:00I agree with most of your advice, other than your ...I agree with most of your advice, other than your comment:<br /><br /><i>"Stalling words ("um", "ah", etc.) are sometimes necessary"</i><br /><br />However, you promptly follow it up with the much better advice:<br /><br /><i>"If you must pause or stall, think of other ways to do it, and work on getting comfortable enough that you don't do it"</i><br /><br />This second part is fablous advice. Phrases like "I'm glad you asked me that question" can give one time to think of how to reply to the question. Using meaningless verbal pasues such as "um" or "er" should be avoided, even in casual conversation. Such sounds can not only be annoying to listen to, especially when used repeatedly, they also create the impression that the speaker doesn't know what they are talking about.A Life Long Scholarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13930670217574191380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319786799012800176.post-47244298734950667002009-09-12T15:20:20.214-04:002009-09-12T15:20:20.214-04:00One thing I'd advise you: don't tell peopl...One thing I'd advise you: don't tell people that filler "like" is "grammatically incorrect". It's not, any more than "er" is. Annoying it may well be, but it's an interjection, and the issue of "correctness" doesn't come into it. <br /><br />Otherwise, great post. Good tips.The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319786799012800176.post-11385535037082024232009-09-11T16:17:48.744-04:002009-09-11T16:17:48.744-04:00A couple of other bits for classroom situations: ...A couple of other bits for classroom situations: Keep an eye out for signs of confusion or drifting attention. If you see such signs, pause and say "I'm getting some signals that this isn't making sense. Are there questions I need to answer?" In other words, watch for opportunities to prompt students to ask questions.<br /><br />When and if there are questions, make and keep eye contact with the questioner. Let them know that your attention is on them, and that the question isn't an unwelcome distraction or delay. If it's a point you thought you'd made clear, try to think of a different approach or analogy for your answer.Lockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960762797349483760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319786799012800176.post-33679678211229745732009-09-11T13:08:15.964-04:002009-09-11T13:08:15.964-04:00great advice ... another way to increase practicin...great advice ... another way to increase practicing is to sign up for opportunities to give more talks, whether it's informal 'brown bag' talks or whatever.<br /><br />I took a class during my master's degree that included giving about 5 presentations throughout the semester.<br /><br />Now I try to have some kind of presentation on my calendar at all times ... even if it's months away.BrianRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930245080333999989noreply@blogger.com