WHAT WE DID
In class today, everyone told an embarrassing story while trying to project confidence. We discussed each students’ presentation in turn, covering issues like formality, pauses when speaking, apologizing, and more.
I recommended several of you to listen to Miles Davis’ album Kind of Blue. I wasn’t kidding. Here’s a link to the album on Youtube:
Listen to how the trumpet player (Miles Davis) leaves so much space in his (improvised) solos (like from 1’30”), and think about how helpful it is for someone trying to follow what he’s playing. Compare to the saxophone solo (by John Coltrane) right after it, which uses pauses and spaces a lot less (especially later on), and is much more challenging to follow.
MORE TO DO
Next time (in Week 4) I expect everyone will be presenting an “inspiring story” (see below). Below are details on that, plus some other things you can do to help yourself.
1. NONVERBAL DISCUSSION FORUM ASSIGNMENT
I would like for you to watch the videos and try answer the questions for yourself. Focus on nonverbal communication first: that means, what are people communicating physically—by their posture, facial expression, the tone of their voice. What are they saying without words? (If you turn off the audio while watching the video, what message do you see?) You can also talk about what the people say in their presentations, if you want, but the main focus is what they are communicating to the audience aside from the things they’re literally saying: how does their tone of voice, facial expression, posture, and so on communicate something to you, and what can you use from what you’re seeing to improve your own presentation skills?
Also, pay close attention to each speaker and think about what makes them seem confident. What techniques or skills can you borrow from them to help you present yourself more confidently to your audience?
Reflect on the skills and techniques used in the video, and choose one of them to work on this week.
Deadline: There is no deadline, as this exercise is optional (but highly recommended).
2. PREPARE YOUR INSPIRING STORY
For your next presentation, in Week 4, you’re going to tell the class an inspiring story. By inspiring, I mean a story that you find uplifting and inspiring, one that reaffirms something positive or good about humanity, or which listeners might take inspiration from in their lives. It should be a personal story—not necessarily your own story, but a story about someone you know personally. Examples:
- A story about how a friend overcame poverty and became financially stable while doing something they love.
- A story about a parent or loved one who did something very moral or good, even at great risk or cost to themselves.
- A story about someone you know who dealt with a major problem (racism, depression, family problems, major illness) and not just survived but ended up overcoming the problem in some way.
- A story about an experience that inspired you personally.
Your job is to try use your facial expressions and your voice to amplify the emotional effect of the story on the audience. Inspire us!
Deadline: Your presentation should be ready to go by Week 4.