TED Talks
Watch once with subtitles → note 5 phrases → watch again without → answer the question aloud → do the speaking task.
How to speak so that people want to listen
Julian Treasure
Useful words: register, tone, pace, prime, honesty, authenticity
Useful expressions: “Let me give you an example.” · “Here’s the thing.” · “What I learned was…”
Discuss: Which of the seven ‘speaking sins’ do you do most?
Speak: Give a 1-minute talk using two of Julian’s vocal tools.
Speaking challenge
Give a 1-minute talk using two of Julian’s vocal tools.
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.
Grit: the power of passion and perseverance
Angela Lee Duckworth
Useful words: grit, perseverance, stamina, resilient, mindset
Useful expressions: “Let me give you an example.” · “Here’s the thing.” · “What I learned was…”
Discuss: Do you agree that talent is less important than effort?
Speak: Describe something you kept doing even when it was hard.
Speaking challenge
Describe something you kept doing even when it was hard.
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.
The danger of a single story
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Useful words: stereotype, perspective, narrative, dignity, assumption
Useful expressions: “Let me give you an example.” · “Here’s the thing.” · “What I learned was…”
Discuss: What single story do people have about Kerala?
Speak: Tell a story about your hometown that outsiders don’t know.
Speaking challenge
Tell a story about your hometown that outsiders don’t know.
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.
Do schools kill creativity?
Sir Ken Robinson
Useful words: creativity, hierarchy, extraordinary, stigmatise, capacity
Useful expressions: “Let me give you an example.” · “Here’s the thing.” · “What I learned was…”
Discuss: Was your school creative? What would you change?
Speak: Argue for or against exams for two minutes.
Speaking challenge
Argue for or against exams for two minutes.
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.
Your body language may shape who you are
Amy Cuddy
Useful words: posture, dominance, confidence, fake it, presence
Useful expressions: “Let me give you an example.” · “Here’s the thing.” · “What I learned was…”
Discuss: How do you stand before an interview?
Speak: Practise your self-introduction standing in a ‘power pose’.
Speaking challenge
Practise your self-introduction standing in a ‘power pose’.
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.
Inside the mind of a master procrastinator
Tim Urban
Useful words: procrastinate, deadline, panic, rational, monkey
Useful expressions: “Let me give you an example.” · “Here’s the thing.” · “What I learned was…”
Discuss: Are you a procrastinator? What is your ‘panic monster’?
Speak: Explain how you finished something at the last minute.
Speaking challenge
Explain how you finished something at the last minute.
Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.