242 Communication Skjlls
2
Extempore
Extempore is a form of speech that is given on the spot without any prior preparation.
For example:
xplaining to your professor why you came late for class.
-Conversing with someone you meet on a train.
When you watch a beauty pageant, the contestants draw a question and answer it for the judges.
time you speak
That's also an example of extempore speaking or speaking on the spot. In fact, every
don't realize it but you are always preparing
you are preparing for extempore speaking. You probably
When you do
for it. For this type of speaking you need to learm and read new things constantly.
to speak
extempore speaking, the knowledge that you acquire by consistent reading helps you
fluently.
for an interview, for explaining
Everyone gives an impromptu speech someday or the other. may be
It
for a casual debate, for giving some explanation, for
your subordinates how to do a particular task,
and they flow back and forth,
making your point, etc. The words we speak are chosen the spot
on
with communication being one-to-one or multidimensional. All this is done without any preparation.
The key parameter here is that words we speak are chosen on the spot, and what is delivered is a
stream ofconsciousness that is fluent, concrete and articulate, while remaining unscripted. Effective
That's why the purpose should
extempore has a clear purpose and lasting impact the
a on
audience.
always be clear in the mind of the speaker and the words should adhere to it. The notion that it is
casy to choose the right words at the point ofdelivery without any prior preparation can be disastrous.
Even those who are good at it will agree to a signiticant preparation, especially when the stakes are
high as in a job interview or a meeting.
Effective speakers consider how long to speak for and also the kind of audience they address. They
talk to audience in front ofthem rather than the audience they would like to have in front of them.
Extempore in academics
Group Discussion (GD) after a written exam has become too predictable. This has made it difficult
for admission panel to select the right candidate with adequate knowledge and appropriate personality.
this
o break offt
monotonous wheel, 243
in their admissior
sion a
number ang uage La6|
diflicul.
process. A of good colleges
few haveDer of good collegs have introduced extempore speaking
combined extempo
Combined extempore with GD and PI to make it more
The basics of
extenmpore:
Topic: TThe
extempore
hobbies, strength topics are very
and CVCTy easy. They range
weakness, ra from something very personal ike
general
general like
ike a
common academic
background,
saying, current affairs, ground, aa recent incident to some
recent in very
are:
etc. Some very common
e c s of
common topics of
extempore
extempore
Are scores a
good measure of
Social media is intelligence?
making us un-social
Zero vs. Shunya
Color red
Goods and Services
Ignorance is bliss
Tax (GST)
e AppC Dont rush to start even if you think
are well versed with
timetogather and arrange your thoughts. Then you
start with the
the topic. Take some
fluently from there. Generally, the duration opening statement and
carry on
able allotted for extempore is very less, so
speakto all the
points you have in your mind. That's you wll not be
points. You don't want a situation where why it is essential prioritize your
to
you are stopped just after the
There is also a possibility that introduction of topic.
you will not find enough
to speak more about the points to speak and the panel will ask you
topic after you are done. Don't repeat what you already said; instead
find some points that are relevant in try to
general.
Structure: There should always be a
it is. The structure to whatever you speak no matter how impromptu
extempore should always have an introduction, a main
should be crisp and to the body and a conclusion. It
point. you
If don't have enough matter on the
topic, the introduction
becomes all the more
important. Start your
thinking of more points in the meantime. If youspeech citing some creative example and keep
recollect some points during
you can use them in your introduction
main the body.
Confidence goes a long way
during extempore. Avoid nervousness and don't be anxious.
in academic circuits GD
comes before Generally,
initial nervousness will be extempore. So by the time you appear for
extempore your
gone. In extempore you face the
so that
they believe in whatever you have to panel you
and need to appear confident
say.
There is no substitute for
practice. Although extempore
topractice. The best way to practice is to make a habittopics vary significantly for which you need
of speaking on varied topics in front of a
mirror for a minute or two
every day. Start with simple topics and then move towards the
ones. For
example, initially try and speak about your favorite color, tougher
destination, etc. and then later move to harder ones like sport, team, country, vacation
You can also
GST, 1aw and crime situations in India, etc.
try and speak in front of your friends. Look them in the
Torget to take the feedback. Keep a check on eye while speaking and dont
your body language, diction and speaking. Time is
rucial, so keep that into perspective as well. Don't
get conscious while speaking
and don't rush to
244 Commumication Skjls
and let the words flow naturally.
say things. Stay calnm
How to deliver a winning extempore
how you want to deliver your speech you actually
before speak.
Approach: You should know
innovative route; serious, awe-inspiring way or the
traditional way or some
You want to go the the kind of audience you are
decision generally depends upon
hysterical, comie way. The What they want? What will suit them? What
with. What kind of audience your have?
dealing
You should access this before you start your speech.
direction they will accept comfortably?
was in your mind. It happens
to the best of
It is not uncommon to forget what
Backup:
from a bad one is how well you catch up. For
speakers. But what separates a good extempore
all the time. Even if you are caught without
this reason, it is essential to have a backup plan
can maneuver yourself out
of the situation with some dignity instead of
something to say, you
breakdown.
gibbering and shaking in a nervous
mind about what you want to say. The
Outline: It is always better to have an outline in your
disaster generally happens when people don't
take a moment to organize their thoughts before
outline. All you need is a pathwaythat you will
they start speaking. You don't need an in-depth
follow during the speech.
In fact, the more concrete and
Short and sweet: Extempore aren't expected to be long.
more words to show that they know a
concise they are the better. People generally try to use
messed up and you miss
lot. The problem with such an approach is that, that everything gets
confidence and makes you a better
the essence. Speaking clearly with optimum words shows
speaker than those who rely on heavy vocabularies.
Filter: Listen to yourself. You don't want to say something that you will eventually regret
hurt their Even which
upon. Keep the audience in mind. Your words may feelings. the tone in
you speak affects the reception of your speech. Filter your speech in your mind before you
deliver it. Make sure that whatever comes out of your mouth is acceptable to audience.
Flowchart of an extempore
Grab a pen and a paper
Take the topic and start working on it
Note down the significant points
Acknowledge that you haven't prepared for the topic
Begin with an introductory sentence and if need elaborate
Start working on the main points
Plan your conclusion; it should not be abrupt
Concentrate on diction and tone Language Lab 245
make eye contact throughout the speech;
reparing for the worst
and
appear confident always
What if you draw a blank? What
What you should do then? if you get stuck in the middi- of a
If you have time to
speech with no thought at al!?
prepare before
them using some trickk like an your speech then make an outline of main
Just remember the acronym. It is hard to memorize the
main points or entire
points and memorize
If you lose the the idea and use
so speech don't even try.
your flow of words to connect
in
way between or the dots.
Pretend that you are completely forget the points try and use the
If still you can't
pausing on purpose as if you are following tricks.
think of letting your last point to sink in.
anything
"My throat is dry. Can I have a to say then make
up a reason for your
If these tricks are glass of water?" pause. You can say,
too obvious for
always have something ready for you, think of something on
such your own. The point is that
situations. you should
The start
Ten seconds rule: The
with your audience. Takebeginning of any speech is crucial since it is when
at least ten seconds you establish a connection
Any kind of beginning can be before you start your
used but you should speech to decide the approach.
call. analyze your audience before making the final
Types of start
The questioning one: To be or not to
be? That's one way
with a question and then either of beginningyour specch. You start
This is a good way to start if
provide the answer or some facts that
helps in the making of it.
you want to engage with your audience. Be
sure that
enough points for audience so that they can get to the answer of you have
The factual one: This
whatever you asked.
opening is straight as an arrow. You give facts in the
advance what you will be covering in the rest of beginning telling in
your speech.
Mahatma Gandhi, on February 24, 1916 in Banaras, used a
factual
independence of the country. A few facts, established within a minute orbeginning that called for
two and an
concluding sentence summarized his view that there was no salvation for India underequally fim
the British
rule.
This type of beginning is needed when you want to
get to the point quickly. You want the
audience to know where you are heading and there is no other around
way it.
The surprising one : In this kind of beginning, you shock or surprise the audience at the
beginning to gain their attention before you move to the main points. You can surprise audience
by showing a picture, by doing some gesture or simple by speaking something. It has the effect
of juxtaposing what the audience expects to what they get.
246 Communication Skjlls understand only two things
by saying, "I can't
For example, you can begin your presentation extra attention to yout
surprise and they will pay
lite: Java and Woman." This will take audience by to keep your audience
woman
the Java and
speech. You can also make comparisons between
engaged throughout the speech. be about
backfires. So sure your
there is way to turn back if it
Surprise opening is risky and
no
generally have no direct connection with
audience before you decide to go with it. Surprise openings
want to know how you
for the s a m e reason. They
interested
the main topic and the audience gets
to do so.
will connect the dots. So you should be smart enough
don't give all the facts
in the beginning rather you
T h e revealing one In this opening, you
: for later. This will
some information
and saving the rest
play with the audience by revealing
Slowly and slowly throughout the presentation
keep them guessing and engaged to your speech.
interested.
your keep revealing some details and keep the audience
he gradually peeled
Baldwin on May 6, 1924 in London
used a revealing approach in which
Stanley
"We still have among us the gifts ofthat great
back from beginning to end. His concluding line was,
lead to this conclusion.
English race."His sentimental talks throughoutthe speech
a seductive way. The
can draw them into your talk in
Starting the speech with clues for audience
pace of delivery is critical in this
kind of opening.If you use it correctly you can make audience think
in the same way about a situation as you do.
where
The oblique one : In this opening, you set a false trail and have the audience guessing
you might be heading or what you might be going to say. This keeps the audience engaged till
the very end. This type of beginning helps a lot when the audience is expecting something
mundane.
Salman Rushdie used th.s approach once when he was speaking about the value of his life. The
qpening takes everyone up in a hot air balloon thae's careering towards the ground. He then uses a
balloon debate-a form of entertainment that has individuals engrossed in defending the merits of
famous people in a balloon to save them from being jettisoned. At the end he concludes by saying
"he balloon is sinking into the abyss", a metaphor for his own situation and that of the democratic
world.
Rushdie's speech is a classic example of oblique opening where the audience gets a vey
serious speech on life and death but is treated to an entirely different journey at the outset.
Extempore in real world situations
1. Why you should be selected?
You need to focus on your strengths, on whatyou bring to the table. Your strengths should align with
the four basic qualities ali panels look for: competence,
adaptability, enthusiasm, and die-hard attitude
Always be prepared to tell in a crisp concise manner why you deserve the
intent that you really want to be with them and that it will be a place. Also show your
situation of mutual benefit.
2. Now that you've had a chance to know more about
us, what would von ike to chang
about our institute/organization?
emember that no organization wants you to come and Language Lab| 247,
hear you say, "Nothing. change everything. Also, they don't wapt to
Everything is fine here." Look for a middle
ground where you can
one or two changes that are not drastic. For example, you can tell them that the suggest
process of interview
could be made more
interesting by incorporating some practical exercises in it.
This will indicate that you are open to
changes and that such changes are not threatening for
organization well. Your response should always be sound, sensible and
as
genuine.
3. What's your dream job?
You already know the job profile you have applied for. Take some leaf out of it and showcase your
talent accordingly. Make them understand how the skills you have will fit the job they have and how
this job indeed is your dream job.
the theoretical and practical knowledge I have to a good use.
"My dream job will allow me to put all
vould like to have responsibilities and duties that will challenge me. I also crave for a fast-changing
I with clients and working
business growth. Your job profile includes dealing
environment where there's
one of myultimate goals of being a part ofa global
and this would satisty
in a global environment,
team."
