For some, memorizing speeches is as difficult an activity as moving mountains. Do you feel that way too? So what if you only have one night to memorize the speech that must be delivered the next day? Although not easy, it is not impossible to do. There are thousands of memory techniques that you can apply, but the article below has summarized some simple methods that have been tested for their effectiveness
Step
Method 1 of 3: Memorizing by Repeating Method
Step 1. Write the entire speech on a piece of paper
If your speech isn't very long, try repeating the process a few times. For most people, information that is 'recorded' regularly is easier for their brain to remember and absorb; That's why writing down the contents of your speech on a piece of paper can help your brain remember every piece of information that needs to be conveyed.
Step 2. Type the body of your speech
Like writing, typing speech is also able to make your brain absorb information by utilizing visual learning methods. Generally, typing information takes less time than writing it down. As a result, you will have the opportunity to memorize more material overnight.
- There's no need to print your entire type.
- Generally, the human brain will be easier to remember information written by hand than typed.
Step 3. Practice your speech in front of other people
No matter how well you practice, sometimes your tongue will still feel frozen when you have to do it in front of many people. Therefore, make sure you practice your prepared speech in front of other people to see how much you understand about the topic being presented. After your speech, ask your audience for constructive criticism and suggestions; trust me, they will notice if you speak too fast, too slowly, or not clearly enough to make it difficult to understand.
Step 4. Record yourself practicing
If you don't have a practice partner, try recording your speech on video; especially since video recordings are able to bring out the tone of your voice and show your facial expressions and body language. Moreover, the recording can be listened to at any time even if you are doing something else.
Step 5. It is better not to memorize speech by word for word method
Generally, you don't need to memorize every single word in your speech; most importantly, make sure you remember all the topics that need to be conveyed to the audience. Take as much time as possible to memorize every fact, important statistical data, and outline of the speech thoroughly to make sure you are conveying all the information your audience needs to know.
Method 2 of 3: Memorizing with the Memory Palace Method
Step 1. Divide your speech into small groups; each group must contain a different topic
After that, write down the entire topic group on a piece of paper.
Step 2. Determine the location of the 'mind palace' for each topic group
Let's just say you're doing the memorization process at home. First of all, you need to first count the number of topic groups that have been prepared. After that, select a number of pieces of furniture (the number must be equal to the number of topic groups) in your home to serve as a 'storage location'.
Step 3. Define objects to represent each topic group
Once you've decided on the furniture you will use as a mind palace, try to imagine objects relevant to each topic group.
- If the topic group is related to financial issues, try imagining rupiah bills.
- If the topic group has to do with fashion, try imagining a t-shirt.
Step 4. Match each topic group with one piece of furniture and one object
In other words, when you want to memorize a topic, you only need to remember the objects and furniture related to that topic.
- If you want to memorize a group of fashion topics, try imagining a pile of T-shirts stored in a closet.
- If you want to memorize a group of financial topics, try imagining a bill coming out of the oven.
Method 3 of 3: Prepare Yourself
Step 1. Make sure you get enough sleep
Although it is generally tempting to stay up all night to prepare speech material, believe me, this habit will not have a positive impact on you. In fact, lack of sleep will actually increase stress levels while reducing a person's ability to focus. Therefore, make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep the night before you have to give your speech.
Step 2. Rest
No matter how busy you are, always prioritize physical health! Take time to rest and relax on a regular basis (for example, take time for an afternoon walk in the middle of preparing speech materials); make sure you don't forget to eat and drink lots of water. Believe me, getting enough rest is one of the important keys to memorizing speech well.
Step 3. Train yourself to be calm when speaking
Write down the things that make you afraid or anxious, then try to fight those fears. If looking into your audience's eyes can make you lose focus, try focusing your gaze directly above the audience's head. It's best to give a speech behind a podium or while holding a microphone to keep your hands busy. Also, learn deep breathing techniques to calm yourself down before starting your speech.
Tips
- If you feel you're better able to memorize speech on a word-for-word system, feel free to do so!
- While memorizing speech, make sure you also practice the appropriate body language to use.
- Practice your speech in front of the mirror.
