A public speaker may become his own best critic. Indeed, in this matter of public speaking the teacher has probably not fulfilled his highest responsibility to the student until he has taught him to be self-critical. Here are a few questions to ask yourself, friend preacher, as you strive to polish the gift of speech for the Master's service. First a few questions on Delivery, and then some on Content.
- Is your breathing smooth and inaudible, or does it come in loud gusts of audible wind?
- Is your articulation clear or "mushy"?
- Are you overly precise and pedantic?
- Is your prevailing pitch too high or too low ? Is it monotonous, or is the inflection pleasingly varied according to thought and emotion?
- Do you speak too fast for clarity or too slowly for interest? Does your tempo coincide with the movement of your thought?
- Is your expression forceful, or colorless and apologetic ?
- Does the quality of your voice please the ear ? Is it hoarse, strident, shrill, thin, raucous, mumbled, throaty, or otherwise displeasing?
- Do you phrase in thoughtful word groups, or do you break phrasing with "uh," or Do you pause thoughtfully or hesitate thoughtlessly?
- Do mispronunciations occur in your vocabulary?
- Does your message sound sincere, conversationally direct and communicative? Do you talk above, below, at, to, or with your audience? Does the timber of your voice show responsiveness to audience attitudes ? Is your voice genial ?
- Is your delivery a transparent medium conveying thought and feeling?
Self-Analysis on Content
- Does your introduction gain attention immediately? Is it consistent with the tone and subject of your message?
- Is your message related to the experience of your hearers? Do you employ illustrations which hold the attention of your audience and reinforce the principles that you present?
- Is your vocabulary careful, your grammar accurate, and your sentence structure sound?
- Does your message move steadily toward the accomplishment of your purpose, gaining momentum as it proceeds, or is it static?
- Does your conclusion make a fit application to the lives of your hearers, and do you stop when you have finished?
And finally, do you pray without ceasing before, during, and after giving your message ? Remember these words from the Spirit of prophecy;
"We may have knowledge, but unless the habit is acquired of using the voice correctly, our work will be a failure. Unless we can clothe our ideas in appropriate language, of what avail is our education? Knowledge will be of little value to us unless we cultivate the talent of speech ; but it is a wonderful power when combined with the ability to speak wise, helpful words, and to speak them in a way that will command attention.
"Let all guard against becoming annoyed in spirit because they have to be drilled in these common branches. It should be impressed upon students that they will themselves be educators of others, and for this reason they should strive earnestly to improve.
"To learn to tell convincingly and impressively that which one knows, is of especial value to those who desire to be workers in the cause of God. The more expression we can put into the words of truth, the more effective these words will be on those who hear. A proper presentation of the Lord's truth is worthy of our highest effort.
"Unless students who are preparing for work in the cause of God are trained to speak in a clear, straightforward manner, they will be shorn of half their influence for good. Whatever his calling is to be, the student should learn to control the voice. The ability to speak plainly and distinctly, in full, round tones, is invaluable in any line of work, and it is indispensable to those who desire to become ministers, evangelists, Bible workers, or canvassers." —"Counsels to Teachers," p. 217.
