Learn by Listening Level 2

[00:00.20]Giving a Speech|[00:02.17] I had to give a speech last week.|[00:04.29] I gave a speech to three hundred people.|[00:06.59] I had to speak in front of a group of students.|[00:08.52] I had to tell them about a campaign|[00:10.51] that we were having to raise money for cancer research.|[00:13.43] Giving a speech can be a difficult thing.|[00:16.17] When you stand in front of a big crowd,|[00:17.85] you can get very nervous.|[00:19.65] Some people feel like they have weak knees.|[00:21.83] Their legs feel as if they are made of rubber.|[00:24.19] Their heart beats very hard inside of their chest.|[00:26.68] Their palms get sweaty.|[00:28.24] Some people even become short of breath.|[00:30.47] For some people, giving a speech is their worst fear.|[00:33.58] When you give a speech, everyone is looking at you.|[00:36.57] They are waiting to hear what you have to say.|[00:39.62] When you have three hundred people looking at you;|[00:42.54] you have six hundred eyes that are on you.|[00:44.91] It is a little frightening when you think of it that way.|[00:47.52] Before I give a speech, I take three big breaths.|[00:51.25] I calm myself, and I remind myself|[00:53.62] that what I have to say is important.|[00:56.48] I like to be sure of what I am going to say,|[00:58.72] so I practice my speech in front of a mirror at home.|[01:01.64] I like to look like I am relaxed and friendly.|[01:04.63] They say that practice makes perfect;|[01:06.62] so the more speeches that you give,|[01:08.67] the better you will become at it.|[01:10.78] Whenever I have to give a speech,|[01:12.59] I imagine that the audience is just one big person.|[01:15.95] I look out into the audience|[01:17.81] until I find a friendly, smiling face.|[01:19.99] I focus on that person,|[01:21.49] and I pretend that I am just talking to them.|[01:24.34] I have become used to giving speeches.|[01:27.27] I am more relaxed now than I used to be.|[01:29.70] People tell me that I do not look nervous at all.|[01:32.31] I like to hear that.|[01:33.93] Sometimes I do feel a little flutter of nervousness,|[01:36.48] but I just ignore it and do the best that I can.|[01:39.65] Giving a speech is not as scary as it appears to be.|[01:42.26] Anyone can do it with a little practice.