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Beyond the Pink ribbons: Living and fighting breast cancer in Cameroon - Camer Today According to the Public Health Ministry, in 2022 alone, breast cancer claimed 2,285 Cameroonian women - more than five every day.

At the begining of the public speaking training we carried out on July 16, 2024, with participants at the Orator's Odyssey public speaking online tournament, our single-item survey revealed that 65.22% of them rated their public speaking confidence below 5 (on 10).

This is the same story for most, especially if public speaking is not something they practice often.

However, the good news is that there are numerous opportunities to build your public skills. You could do so by joining a debate club in your school, participating in tournaments like the ongoing one being organised by Cameroon Debate Society and other institutions in your community.

Another way is to follow this page Words Bridge for frequent tips on public speaking. 😌

However, the best way, of course, is to DO IT.
Public speaking is not a course you read and write exams for to earn a grade. It's something you practice and get better at with time.

You could equally practice it through little ways like raising your hand to answer questions in class, agreeing to take up that presentation at work, or walk up to someone you admire to have a conversation with them (Yeah, that's not public, but that helps in building your confidence). 😉

Being a distinguished public speaker doesn't start with standing on the stage.
No, it doesn't start when the mic is in your hands...
Neither does it start when you got the information that you need to give a presentation.

It was an honour to be invited to offer a public speaking training to young Cameroonians participating at the Orator's Odyssey tournament organised Cameroon Debate Society

The session was another productive one and we are excited about sharing the content of the training with you. Stay tuned as would bring this to your screens soon.

Greetings Everyone... ❤️
For our today's training session we have with us a Public Speaking Guru .... Give it up for 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁...

Miss. Tibi Chelsea Mah

Captivating the Global Stage: Chelsea's Odyssey as a Public Speaking Luminary

Enthusiastic about global communication, Chelsea leverages her educational background in journalism and international relations to contribute as a public speaking trainer. She currently cultivates her skills in self-expression through poetry performances, storytelling, and, of course, national and international public speaking tournaments.

In her creative presentations, she addresses diverse topics, including peace advocacy, decolonisation, and migration. Chelsea's impact extends globally, as she has trained over 500 youths in public speaking and earned awards for her engagements.

Fun fact: When Chelsea has a presentation, be warned: She'll hunt those around her just to practice her speech on them!

Chelsea's journey as a public speaking luminary is nothing short of a captivating odyssey, seamlessly blending her academic pedigree, her creative flair, and her relentless pursuit of excellence. As she continues to inspire and empower communities worldwide, one can only eagerly await the next chapter of her global impact.

Hello, fearless speakers!

Welcome to Episode 5, where we’ll talk about engaging with the audience during Q&A sessions.

Why engagement matters:
Engaging with your audience makes your presentation more dynamic and shows that you value their input.

How to Engage:
1. Make eye contact: Look at the person asking the question and then at other audience members. Ignoring the other members may make them feel left out of the discussion.
2. Acknowledge the questioner: Use their name if you know it, and thank them for their question.
3. Encourage participation: Invite others to add their thoughts or experiences.

Engagement exercise:

During your next Q&A, consciously make eye contact with various audience members and note how it affects their engagement.

What are your favourite ways to engage with your audience? Let’s share our strategies below!

Hey fearless speakers, 😃

Welcome to Episode 3 of our Q&A series. Today, we’re focusing on the 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 when faced with 'difficult' questions during your public speaking session.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Admitting when you don’t know an answer builds trust with your audience. It’s better to be genuine than to risk giving incorrect information.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬

1. 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬: It’s okay to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out and get back to you.”
2. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: Encourage audience members to share their insights or experiences about the question.
3. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐩: If you promise to find an answer, make sure you do and get back to the questioner.

𝒫𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐻♡𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉: 🎀

Next time you face an unknown question, do not panic. Rather, embrace it as a chance to learn and connect more deeply with your audience.

Have you ever admitted you didn’t know something during a presentation? How did it go? We would love to hear your stories.

Hey fearless speakers,

In our second episode on handling Q&A sessions, we’re discussing the importance of '𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.'

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭:
A well-thought-out response is always better than a hurried one. Taking a moment to gather your thoughts shows confidence and ensures you give a clear and concise answer.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬:

1.𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐲: Take a deep breath or a sip of water if needed. Hey, not the kind of breath that can be pegged to fear. It should be a quiet deep breath.
2. 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: This buys you a few extra seconds and confirms you understood correctly. (Of course you should not repeat every question you are asked else that may come off as being flippant. Repeat only questions which you find complicated or the ones that need careful and 'selective' responses).
3. 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Quickly outline your main points in your head before speaking.

🎀 𝒯𝓇𝓎 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈: 🎀

Next time you’re asked a question, consciously pause before responding. Notice how it affects the quality of your answer.

Have you ever rushed an answer and wished you’d taken more time?

𝐌𝐚𝐡: Alright, we have time for a few questions. Yes, you in the front row, please go ahead.

𝐍𝐣𝐢𝐞: Hi Mah, thanks for your talk. I wanted to ask, how do you handle situations where the audience seems disinterested and d...

𝐌𝐚𝐡: Oh yeah! That sometimes happens. To keep the audience interested throughout your presentation, start with a strong opening to grab their attention. Use a personal story or a surprising fact, and keep your energy high.

𝐍𝐣𝐢𝐞: Actually, I wasn't finished. What I meant to ask was, how do you handle last-minute changes to your presentation content? Sometimes I have to adjust things right before I go on stage.

𝐌𝐚𝐡: Oh, I apologize for cutting you off, Njie. Last-minute changes can definitely be challenging. In those situations, I try to...




Hey fearless speakers:

Welcome to the first episode of our series on handling Q&A sessions during public speaking.

Today’s focus is on the foundation of a great response: 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Listening attentively to the question is crucial. It shows respect for the person asking and gives you time to formulate a thoughtful response. It also avoids embarrassing situations like misinterpreting questions as seen in the conversation between Mah and Njie.

𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠:

1. 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭:
This shows the questioner you’re fully engaged.
2. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Jotting down key points helps you stay focused and remember the question.
3. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Let the questioner finish before you start your response.

**𝓟𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓼 𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓮𝓬𝓽:**

Next time you’re in a conversation, practice these listening skills. They’re just as useful in everyday life as they are on stage.

Hey fearless speakers! 😃🎙️

We’ve talked a lot about conquering stage fright, 🥶 and now we want to dive into something equally important: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐&𝐀 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 💬 This can be one of the most dreadful parts of public speaking, but with the right strategies, you can tackle it confidently. 😉
Stay tuned to our page as we reveal the episodes addressing the dreaded Q&A session. The sessions would be sandwiched with personal experiences and success stories. ⌚

While still remains a huge challenge for many people, there are tips to get around it. One of those is to consider yourself as a messenger.

Taking the focus away from yourself and what people might think of your appearance and mistakes, and instead focusing on the relevance of the message you're about to deliver, is a great way to push away stage fright.

When you're in front of a mic, you aren't just yourself. You are your message, and your message is powerful and valuable. Remind yourself that your audience is there because they truly want to hear the message you have to deliver.

Concentrate on delivering your message, and you'll find it easier to manage stage fright.



Photo credit: Kim Louise Wilhelmine

What a lovely speech! 😂😍😂

Laughter is the Best Medicine😂😁 #laugh #funny #reels #reelsinstagram

Despite being on the stage countless times, I still get the jitters EVERY single time. My heart races, and my hands turn into ice cubes.

I mean, come on, what if I forget my lines and end up babbling the poems I learned in kindergarten? Or worse, if I trip over my own feet and become a viral meme for all the most ridiculous reasons?

And let's not even get started on the 'what ifs' - what if I commit a historical and political fallacy? What if I spark a revolution with a misinterpreted metaphor? What if one of the audience members winks at me or raises the brows or looks away while I'm giving a punchline or yawns or gives me an evil smile... and I suddenly forget my lines and end up babbling like a confused squirrel?

Hush!

In the grand scheme of things, even a tomato to the face isn't the end of the world, right?

I always remind myself, 'Relax, you're not alone up there.' I mean, I even give God a heads-up like, 'Hey coachie, we're in this together, so please, no epic falls.'

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Author? We'll talk about that later. 😅
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For the secrets to conquering stage fright? Well, you'll have to keep an eye on our posts. But see, it involves a lot of deep breaths, positive thinking, and maybe a lucky pair of socks. Haha!

Again, stay tuned for tips and tales from the frontline of public speaking!