Phase 1: - Assess your current communication skills.
After reviewing my video and feedback given by the professor and TA, I was able to
observe my area of improvement and my strength. I would rate myself a 5/10 for my overall
performance. I was surprised for the marks I got for this presentation, as I thought I could have
done it better. I noticed that both professor and TA likes how enthusiasm I was during the
presentation and eye contact with the audience, which I think are my strengths.
I was marked a 4/5 on my pace from both the professor and TA. Although, I didn’t spoke
too quickly, but some words were not clear and loud enough to be heard by the entire class. I
used different tone level to emphasize on the key words, however used it way often which may
lose the audience’s attention.
In addition to my area of improvement, I need to work on articulation and appropriate use
of pauses. I was marked a 3/5 for both the skills. I noticed that during my presentation, I didn’t
enunciate each word slowly and, in the ending, I was frustrated so my word of choice was not
very appropriate to the content. Moreover, I need to be more emotional to connect with the
audience. I didn’t build good energy such as excitement and sadness while speaking, which I
think I can work on.
From this experience, I learnt that I should not be overconfident and frustrated while
delivering my speech. I need to remain calm and use different voice to engage and connect with
the audience. I must enunciate each word and speak clearly to ensure that the audience can
understand what I’m talking about. At the end of the course, I want to be a confident speaker
who attract the audience’s attention and able to make them listen to my speech from beginning
till end.
Phase 2: - Set 3-4 improvement goals.
My goal as a speaker by the end of the semester is to become a confident speaker by
delivering an interesting speech that elate audience’s attention. To achieve this goal, I need to
work on certain criteria.
- Firstly, I need to be more enunciated and speak each word clearly so that every
word can be understood and heard by the audience. I need to lower my pace and
empathize on the key words by speaking louder and/or change my tone. Now, I
scored a 3/5, in the future I would like to achieve a 5/5. To improve this skill, I
will listen to a recording of myself and try to fix the errors and repeat the word
until it gets enunciated. So, my goal is to connect with the audience better.
- Second, I need to be more emotional by expressing my feeling and thoughts
through my movement and facial expression. I want to score a 5/5 in the future,
but now a 3/5. I will try to use stories and examples to illustrate my points so that
the audience can feel the sense of connection and I will practice speaking in front
of the mirror to assess my facial expression.
- Third, I need to work on my conclusion. My last sentence should have a strong
connection with my introduction and the overall point should be emphasized
briefly and clearly. I scored a 2/5 and would like to achieve a 5/5 in the future. To
improve this, I must work on my conclusion by creating a closure, a sense of
finality and restate my topic.
- Lastly, I must work on my body movement and gestures. I need to use my hands
in the correct timing and move in a certain place while delivering my speech to
ensure that I can reach out to every audience. I achieved a 3/5 and want to
achieve 5/5 in the future. To improve this, I must practice speaking in front of the
class and record myself to asses my movement.