Computers in Libraries 07 presentations

Most of the presentations from Computers in Libraries 2007 are now linked from http://www.infotoday.com/cil2007/presentations/default.shtml !

Vocal techniques in teaching

James M. Lang, "Perfecting Your Vocal Technique," Chronicle of Higher Education, 4 May 2007: C2-3.

Lang presents very good reasons on why and how teachers should use vocal technique in their presentations. Since our voices naturally trail off as we exhale, and since the important part of a sentence or paragraph comes at the end, we need to work at emphasizing all the important parts of the sentence. Lang gives two tips to improve ones vocal technique:

• Use your voice to emphasize the nouns, verbs, and key concepts of a sentence.
• "Build the sentence to an emphatic conclusion, rather than letting it trail away."

To help you be successful in implementing vocal technique, Lang recommends being aware and improving the vocal variations of your first five sentences, then, as you get comfortable with it, your first five minutes, and eventually you'll grow into using it throughout your presentation.

So start vocally emphasizing your key words and help your audience learn.