Speak up for success: Voice coaching for everyone

Audience: PG research, PG taught

Date: Thursday 27 February 2025

Times: 09.30 to 12.30

Programme: GRADskills
Programme: MSkills

Key details: This workshop will run in-person Especially relevant for nervous or shy speakers. No talking in front of others required, group work is optional. Please have headphones/ear buds and a phone, laptop or ipad to record your own voice on.

Target audience

Postgraduate students in all disciplines and at any year of study.

Course pre-work

Please try record yourself reading some of your work and listen back and critique your voice for things you would like to improve. Bring these suggestions for improvement to the workshop if you can. Please bring headphones/ear buds and a phone, laptop or ipad to the workshop to record your voice. Mics will be provided.

Course mapped to

Vitae's Researcher Development Framework domain: B1 (Personal qualities), D2 (Communication and dissemination)

Course information

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will run on campus.  If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your place at least two working days before so that we can allow others onto the course.

Since listeners pay attention to how things are said as well as what is said, this course coaches you to achieve that professional broadcast and public speaking standard that gets your brilliant ideas across and allows you to feel so comfortable speaking that you can focus on your talk or conversation. No talking in front of others needed and group work is optional. Nervous or shy speakers especially welcome.

If the thought of talking in public or speaking without notes makes you shiver, then this is the course for you. Or perhaps you are already a confident speaker but would like to learn some techniques to improve your range or pace? The course will cover speaking smoothly, tone, breathing, developing a resonant voice and also how to make nerves disappear. The coaching will cover speaking to large groups and also speaking assuredly and formally to smaller audiences, such as conference break out groups or networking.

Microphone techniques are also covered to enable confident speaking on radio/TV/podcasts including TED talks. The unique blend of tips and techniques are drawn from broadcast journalism, public speaking, singing exercises and stand-up comedy.

Please bring headphones/ear buds and a phone, laptop or ipad to record your own voice on. Mics will be provided.

What previous participants have said about (the in-person version of) this course:

• "Excellent event.  Must attend for all those who have to do public speaking."
• "Every topic was useful as it touched on areas that were the source of my weaknesses from which I have benefited a lot."
• "It's certainly worth attending, particularly if you're a nervous speaker.  Focus is on practical tips to help you sound better."

Aims and objectives

By the end of this workshop you should be able to:

• Control the pace, tone and volume of your voice to communicate clearly.
• Control nerves and prevent nerves from affecting your voice.
• Use professional techniques for speaking in public.
• Use professional techniques for recording voice for broadcast.
• Use professional techniques for speaking formally with a small group.

Tutors

Dr Kate Smith

Venue

TBC

Course provider

IELLI
Email: ielli@st-andrews.ac.uk