Notes on Public Speaking, Audience, and Cross-Cultural Communication
Core goals of communication
The basic goal of communication: deliver a message that is understood and can be acted upon.
Barriers to good communication
Technical or abstract terminology can obscure meaning.
Example: In healthcare, terms like myocardial infarction are common to doctors but may be unclear to patients. Myocardial infarction is a medical term for a heart attack.
Audience misalignment due to jargon, not tailoring language to the listener.
Language and translation barriers
Dialects and accents can affect how a message is received; translation issues can cause messages to be lost.
The course may include clips showing how dialects and translation alter understanding.
Nonverbal communication varies across cultures
Gestures and body language carry different meanings in different cultures.
Audience-focused messaging
Know your audience: identify who they are and tailor your speech to their needs, expectations, and context.
Example: High school seniors are not concerned with retirement in the near term; adapt the message to be relevant.
Use relatable motivators (e.g., future vacations or lifestyle imagery) to illustrate abstract concepts.
Strategy for making topics relevant
Instead of starting with a technical percentage, paint a vivid scenario or outcome that feels tangible to the audience.
Use concrete imagery: vacations (beach, lake), dream destinations (Dubai, Tokyo, Bahamas) to anchor long-term planning concepts like saving early for compound growth.
Concrete illustration of long-term planning
Paint a picture to show future benefits instead of abstract numbers.
Example: annual vacation possibilities as a metaphor for savings and planning.
Compound growth concept (relevance to savings):
Conceptual idea: money saved now grows over time and can compound.
Practical expression: a dollar today in the future can be worth much more due to compounding.
Mathematical intuition (compound growth):
General formula for future value with compounding:
Where:
$PV$ = present value (initial amount)
$r$ = annual growth rate (as a decimal)
$t$ = number of years
Visual cue from the lecture: a dollar today might be worth a much larger amount in the future, illustrating why starting early matters.
Use of relatable scenarios helps the audience grasp long-term financial concepts
Cross-cultural communication and etiquette
Cultural awareness and competence are essential for effective communication.
Example: Japanese business card etiquette
Receiving a business card should be done with both hands and held respectfully.
Do not immediately place the card in a wallet or back pocket; that action can be interpreted as disrespect.
The card is a representation of the person, not just a piece of paper.
The goal: craft messages that are culturally appropriate and respectful to the audience’s norms.
What is communication competence?
Definition: effectiveness in delivering the message so it is received as intended.
Criteria for competence:
Clarity: the message is clear and easily understood.
Appropriateness: timing, setting, and audience context are suitable.
Exchange quality: the message is received, interpreted, and can be acted upon.
Practical implication: ensure your message is not only accurate but also timely and suitable for the audience and setting.
Audience orientation and topic choice
Understand the audience’s orientation: their needs, views, and expectations.
When selecting topics, consider whether the topic makes sense for the audience.
Example: a financial planner’s talk about retirement might not be suitable for high school students who don’t foresee retirement yet.
Balance between informing and persuading based on audience and objective.
Structure and delivery of speeches
Types of speeches to practice: informative and persuasive.
Use a clear outline: intro, main points, transitions, and conclusion.
Do not rely solely on slides or posters early in the course; focus on delivering a strong podium performance first.
Delivery quality matters: a well-prepared speaker who is engaging is more effective than a technical expert with poor stage presence.
The importance of rehearsal: practice to ensure smooth delivery and timing.
Planning and evaluating topics
Before speaking, assess your knowledge of the topic and identify gaps that require research.
Expect some research to enrich your points and credibility.
Ethical considerations and appropriateness:
Communication should adhere to norms and rules; avoid harmful or inappropriate content.
If an approach would be inappropriate or violate norms, choose an alternative communication path.
Winging it vs. preparation
Winging a speech is generally inappropriate and can lead to failure or poor evaluation.
Time management example: a student with a 5–7 minute target delivered only ~2 minutes, then waited in silence for 3 minutes, resulting in a failed attempt.
Consistent takeaway: thorough preparation, structure, and practice yield better outcomes than improvisation.
Assignment overview: My Life in Three Objects
Each student will prepare a 2–3 minute presentation consisting of three objects or images.
One object/item represents your past
One object/item represents your present
One object/item represents your future
Presentation requirements:
Create an introduction with a hook (start with a quote, statistic, current event, or question; tell a story).
Use an outline provided on Brightspace; fill in all blanks to ensure completeness.
Bring the three items to class, or provide a visual representation (photos are acceptable).
If items cannot be brought, provide a description or photo reference (e.g., a photo of the object or a description of a future interpretation).
Expect a 2–3 minute presentation; the outline will include prompts for each section.
Potential item ideas:
Past: a photograph, a keepsake, or a symbolic item from your history
Present: an item that represents your current situation or interests
Future: an item that represents your goals or aspirations (e.g., a car key, a photo of a future home, etc.)
Structure tips: start with a strong introduction, clearly present the three items, connect each item to a concise point, and finish with a resonant conclusion.
Additional notes: the outline and instructions will be posted on Brightspace; students should be prepared to present next week.
Practical classroom expectations and examples shared
The instructor’s experiences: communicating across cultures in conferences, using concrete examples, and tailoring messages to audiences.
Real-world examples of effective rhetoric and the risk of over-reliance on language or delivery alone.
Emphasis on building communication skills that combine content mastery, audience awareness, and ethical delivery.
Summary of key practices for exam preparation
Always tailor your message to the audience and context.
Use relatable, concrete imagery to explain abstract concepts.
Be mindful of language barriers, dialect differences, and cultural norms.
Prioritize clarity, timeliness, and appropriateness in every speech.
Plan, outline, and rehearse: do not rely on improvisation for graded presentations.
Use the assignment as a scaffold to demonstrate organization, delivery, and personal storytelling through the three-object framework.
References to formulas and time frames mentioned
Compound growth intuition:
Time frames referenced in class:
First speech:
Targeted longer speech:
Comparisons and examples used to illustrate relevance and long-term planning, including the idea that a dollar today can grow significantly over time: