Comments on: Presentation Challenge: How To Successfully Talk To Teens – And Survive! http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/connecting-with-your-audience/presentation-challenge-how-to-successfully-talk-to-teens-and-survive The Premier Blog For Quickly Improving Your Public Speaking, Presentation & Communication Skills Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:56:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Tough Tasks: How To Present To Children (public speaking tips to boost presentation skills and business presentation) | The Accidental Communicator http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/connecting-with-your-audience/presentation-challenge-how-to-successfully-talk-to-teens-and-survive/comment-page-1#comment-2085 Tough Tasks: How To Present To Children (public speaking tips to boost presentation skills and business presentation) | The Accidental Communicator Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:01:44 +0000 http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/?p=216#comment-2085 [...] If most of the members of that audience are under the age of 10, it can be downright terrifying. There’s no reason to fear the younger set, you just need to adjust both your speech and how yo.... I’m going to tell you how to do [...] [...] If most of the members of that audience are under the age of 10, it can be downright terrifying. There’s no reason to fear the younger set, you just need to adjust both your speech and how yo…. I’m going to tell you how to do [...]

]]> By: Dr. Jim Anderson http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/connecting-with-your-audience/presentation-challenge-how-to-successfully-talk-to-teens-and-survive/comment-page-1#comment-1956 Dr. Jim Anderson Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:54:02 +0000 http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/?p=216#comment-1956 Jane: Wow! It sure sounds like you have mastered talking to one of the most difficult audiences out there! I was struck by the simple fact that you made -- in order to talk to teens, a speaker has to be "tuned in" to them. You need to be able to monitor their level of interest in what you are saying and adjust if you feel that you are losing them. Talk about a challenge! Good luck! Jane: Wow! It sure sounds like you have mastered talking to one of the most difficult audiences out there! I was struck by the simple fact that you made — in order to talk to teens, a speaker has to be “tuned in” to them. You need to be able to monitor their level of interest in what you are saying and adjust if you feel that you are losing them. Talk about a challenge! Good luck!

]]> By: Jane Genovese http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/connecting-with-your-audience/presentation-challenge-how-to-successfully-talk-to-teens-and-survive/comment-page-1#comment-1948 Jane Genovese Sun, 16 Jan 2011 03:29:10 +0000 http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/?p=216#comment-1948 Really good advice. I've been working as a public speaker to teenagers for the past 5 years in Australia. It's not so scary anymore (I actually love it) but some groups can be really difficult to engage. I think you need to change the energy and pace every 10 minutes or so (lecturing for extended periods of time does not work!), otherwise you can easily loose a teenage audience. If you can get teenagers to experience what you're talking about (e.g. how multitasking doesn't work) through an engaging activity that can be very powerful (you should see their faces light up as they really get what you've been talking about!). It also helps to really get into their world. I njow include characters from their favourite shows (e.g. Family guy) on some of my slides. I resisted doing this for a long time but it seems to make a difference and some students feel more comfortable with you when they see a funny character they like on the screen. Really good advice. I’ve been working as a public speaker to teenagers for the past 5 years in Australia. It’s not so scary anymore (I actually love it) but some groups can be really difficult to engage.

I think you need to change the energy and pace every 10 minutes or so (lecturing for extended periods of time does not work!), otherwise you can easily loose a teenage audience. If you can get teenagers to experience what you’re talking about (e.g. how multitasking doesn’t work) through an engaging activity that can be very powerful (you should see their faces light up as they really get what you’ve been talking about!).

It also helps to really get into their world. I njow include characters from their favourite shows (e.g. Family guy) on some of my slides. I resisted doing this for a long time but it seems to make a difference and some students feel more comfortable with you when they see a funny character they like on the screen.

]]> By: Dr. Jim Anderson http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/connecting-with-your-audience/presentation-challenge-how-to-successfully-talk-to-teens-and-survive/comment-page-1#comment-559 Dr. Jim Anderson Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:09:42 +0000 http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/?p=216#comment-559 Maven: Good for you! Yeah, I know how you feel -- you sorta wonder if your words are going to have any impact on your audience when you are dealing with teens. Take heart! The folks who study this stuff tell us that despite how tough or disinterested they look on the outside, they are really still little kids on the inside and they do want to hear what we have to say. It's worth the effort even if you can't tell right off the bat. Farmers don't plant a seed and then step back and say "where's my plant?" -- these things take time! Keep at it! Maven: Good for you! Yeah, I know how you feel — you sorta wonder if your words are going to have any impact on your audience when you are dealing with teens. Take heart! The folks who study this stuff tell us that despite how tough or disinterested they look on the outside, they are really still little kids on the inside and they do want to hear what we have to say. It’s worth the effort even if you can’t tell right off the bat. Farmers don’t plant a seed and then step back and say “where’s my plant?” — these things take time! Keep at it!

]]> By: Maven http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/connecting-with-your-audience/presentation-challenge-how-to-successfully-talk-to-teens-and-survive/comment-page-1#comment-556 Maven Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:17:05 +0000 http://www.theaccidentalcommunicator.com/?p=216#comment-556 I fall into the category of experienced presenter terrified of talking to teens! Yesterday I did a presentation for a grade 10 class in an incredibly rough inner sity school and all I could think about was "Kill me now!" I love this list of tips and have bookmarked your site. Thankyou! I fall into the category of experienced presenter terrified of talking to teens! Yesterday I did a presentation for a grade 10 class in an incredibly rough inner sity school and all I could think about was “Kill me now!”

I love this list of tips and have bookmarked your site.

Thankyou!

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