Manner: how you say it.
Remember all those assemblies you've had to sit through, how every single speech was seemed to blur into the next so you could barely keep your eyes open?
​
Now we know this might be shocking, but it wasn't the topic that was boring. It was the speaker. Well actually, it was their voices. It's hard to believe, but the way you say something is actually just as important (if not more important) then what your actually saying.
​
Why?
Check out this video on how our brains tune in to different voices to find out
What do you think was the most important point in that video?
Write a quick summary in your book. Bonus points go to the person with the most creative note taking (mind maps and illustrations welcome).
Challenge 1: channel your inner boring person
*for this activity you should work in pairs
Write a one minute long speech on the most boring thing you can think of with your group. Make sure that nothing in the speech is even remotely interesting. Your task is to deliver this speech to another group two times: the first time, a member in your pair should deliver the speech in the most monotone voice they can manage. No hand actions, expressions or enthusiasm allowed. The second time, the other member should deliver the speech with so much enthusiasm it should be nauseating to watch. Excessive hand gestures, eye contact, varying voices and projection are required.
​
Note: you should work on the speech with a friend and then you can deliver your different versions to another pair and they can deliver theirs to you.
Ideas:
-copy everything of the back of packet of food
-read an ikea furniture manual
-describe in great detail how to tie your shoe laces
Ok, but how can you speak if you're afraid to?
It's all fine and dandy to know how manner works, and how people can manipulate you with their tone but what if you don't want to speak? What if speaking is the worst thing you could think of doing?
Let's be clear, it's not bad to be afraid of public speaking. It's completely normal, putting yourself out there can be stressful. Luckily for you, at no point in this course will you have to speak in front of more than 10 people at once.
You also don't have to be good. You don't have to look your audience in the eyes and if you're feeling shaky, nervous or the sudden need to run screaming out of the room, that's ok.
​
The only thing you have to do in this course it try.
​
​
​
There are no marks here, except for attendance and that's all that really counts. As long as you get up there, and try your best you get an immediate A+.
​
So, give it a shot: and if you not sure how, watch this video:
* even if you're a super confident speaker who never gets nervous, watch the video so you can be prepared (just in case)
Challenge 2: just talk for one minute
Talk in front of a group about anything you want, it can be a funny story, how you get to school, your passions or something you really hate for one minute. While you're speaking try to stay in your realm of expertise so you're more comfortable (e.g if you don’t know anything about Disney don’t launch into an analysis of Mickey Mouse) stick to the stuff you know. However, you can’t use the words “um”,"like"or "then" if you do your eliminated. Whoever is left after the first round will have to speak for two minutes and they can’t use the word “um” or the word “then”. This will go on with more words being eliminated until there is a winner.
​
Note: the groups can be any size and the speaker is allowed to choose how many people can listen. Try to use some of the tips from the video above. This competition should be a knockout, the winner from one group will then go against a winner from another group and so on.
So, what's so special about manner?
You did it! You've made it through your first communication lesson with grow your voice! Just before you go, pick a page in your workbook and write down everything you want to remember from this lesson
​
It doesn't matter if its a mindmap, a list, a comic strip or url to one of the videos make sure you've got some solid proof that you now know all about manner.
​
​
If you're feeling especially confident get your teacher or parent to submit your work to growyourvoiceyouth@gmail.com so we can put it up here as an example!