ESL podcast 896 preparing a speech

English as a Second Language Podcast
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

GLOSSARY
speech – a spoken presentation; a period of time when one person speaks to
share information with an audience
* The groom’s best friend usually makes a speech at the wedding reception.
to plan out – to plan all the details of something and fully prepare for it; to
develop a detailed idea for how something will be
* The military officers are planning out the next battle.
attention getter – something that is humorous, interesting, shocking, or
unexpected, and makes people focus on the speaker and not pay attention to
other things
* The man said, “I’ll pay you $200 if you can answer my next question correctly.”
That was a great attention getter!
humor – the use of stories or actions that are funny and make other people
laugh or at least smile
* Patients who have a good sense of humor often have a faster recovery than
patients who take everything too seriously.
introduction – the beginning part of a report or presentation, designed to get the
audience’s attention and let the audience know what to expect in the next part of
the speech
* If the introduction is boring, nobody will want to hear the rest of your speech.
thesis statement – a short statement (usually one sentence) that summarizes
the main idea of a report, article, or presentation
* Everything in the report should support your thesis statement.
along the way – as one does something else; as one travels from one place to
another
* We’ll arrive in Yosemite in about an hour, but along the way, you can enjoy

views of tall trees, impressive mountains, and waterfalls.
to establish (one’s) credibility – to demonstrate that one is knowledgeable and
qualified to speak about a particular topic so that the audience will listen to and
believe what one is saying
* You won’t be able to persuade anyone of anything until you have established
your credibility as an expert on the subject.

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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

body – the main substance of a report or presentation; the section that contains
details and examples, not including the introduction or conclusion
* Shane’s presentation had a strong introduction, but the body was disorganized
and difficult to understand.
main point – the main idea; the most important part of what one is saying, not an
example or detail
* Julia’s main point was that we need a different system of retirement savings.
supporting – contributing to what one has already said, usually by providing an
example or a statement from an expert
* If you make a statement like “sales are falling,” make sure you have some
supporting data, too.
visual – visual aid; an object or graphic that illustrates what one is saying or
describing and allows the audience to understand it more easily

* That graph was a great visual. It really helped everyone understand how use of
our services has changed over time.
conclusion – the final, ending part of a presentation or report where the main
idea is restated clearly
* The board has agreed to hear everyone’s ideas before reaching a conclusion.
to restate – to reiterate; to say something again
* In closing, let me restate our main goals for the new year.
closing remarks – a few statements or paragraphs at the end of a presentation
* Don’t forget to thank your team members in your closing remarks.
shoot – a phrase used to ask someone to continue, often used in response
when another person has said that he or she wants to ask a question or make a
request
* A: Can I ask you for a favor?
B: Shoot.
to stand in for – to take the place of another person when he or she is not
available; to fill someone else’s role or responsibility
* Could you please stand in for me during the meeting on Tuesday?
deathly ill – very sick and in danger of dying
* Jun was deathly ill last year, but then he made a miraculous recovery.
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.
a)
b)
c)

Where would you expect to hear supporting ideas in a speech?
In the introduction.
In the body.
In the conclusion.

2.
a)
b)
c)

What does Lourdes want Valery to do?
She wants him to give the speech for her.
She wants him to make her sick.
She wants him to know the speech in case she gets sick.

______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
to plan out
The phrase “to plan out,” in this podcast, means to plan all the details of
something and fully prepare for it, or to develop a detailed idea for how
something will be: “They’re planning out emergency escape routes in case of a
fire.” The phrase “to plan ahead” means to be prepared by making plans before
they are needed, not waiting until the last minute: “People need to plan ahead for
retirement and start saving when they are young.” The phrase “to stick to the
plan” means to do what one has planned, without changing things if the situation

changes: “Whatever happens, just stick to the plan!” Finally, “Plan B” describes a
second option, or the plan for what one will do if one’s first plan fails: “Well, that
was a disaster, so what’s our Plan B?”
to stand in for
In this podcast, the phrase “to stand in for” means to take the place of another
person when he or she is not available, or to take someone else’s role or
responsibility: “Who stood in for you at work last week when you were sick?” The
phrase “to stand for (something)” means to have a strong belief and publicly
support a cause or movement: “Do any of the candidates truly stand for justice
for children?” The phrase “from where I stand” means that one is presenting
one’s opinion, perspective, or viewpoint: “From where I stand, this seems like a
really bad idea.” Finally, the phrase “to know where (one) stands” means to
understand one’s position and/or how one is perceived by another person: “I’d
like to know where I stand in the promotion process.”
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

CULTURE NOTE
Types of Speeches
People are expected to make many different kinds of speeches, both
“professionally” (at work) and “personally” (in daily life). One of the most common
types of speeches, especially at work, is an “informative” speech, which is
designed to share information. Informative speeches are often used to report on

a project or study. “Academics” (people who work in universities) make
informative speeches at conferences when they present the results of their
research.
Other speeches are “persuasive” and are intended to convince other people to
do certain things, “adopt certain beliefs” (take certain beliefs as their own), or
perform certain actions. Politicians often make persuasive speeches to try to get
their “constituents” (the people who are represented by a politician) to support
them in some effort, or to try to get their colleagues to “enact” (make into law) a
particular law.
“Entertaining” speeches are designed to “entertain” (interest and amuse) the
listeners. Entertaining speeches are made for the audience’s enjoyment. An
“after-dinner speech” (a speech made at a formal event after everyone has
eaten) might be an entertaining speech that helps people relax after a long
conference.
Some speeches are expected on “special occasions” (holidays or other days
filled with special meaning). For example, before a wedding, close friends and
family members of the “bride and groom” (the woman and man getting married)
are expected to speak at the “rehearsal dinner” (a meal for everyone who will
play an official role in the wedding). The “best man” (the groom’s best friend) and
the father of the bride typically give a speech during the “wedding reception” (a
party held after the wedding ceremony). And at a funeral, people may be asked
to give a “eulogy” (a speech that remembers and praises someone who has
died).
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – a

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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 896: Preparing a
Speech.
This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 896. I'm your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Go to our website at ESLPod.com and support this podcast by becoming a
member. When you do, you'll be able to download the Learning Guide for each
episode.
Our dialogue today is between Lourdes and Valerie, about giving a speech –
talking to a large group of people. Let’s get started.
[start of dialog]
Lourdes: I need help.
Valery: Sure, what’s up?
Lourdes: I’m supposed to give a speech at the start of the conference next month
and I don’t know what to do.
Valery: It’s not that hard to plan out a speech. You start with an attention getter
using humor or telling a personal story.
Lourdes: Okay, I guess I can do that.
Valery: After that, in your introduction, you should tell the audience what your
speech is about in a thesis statement. Along the way, you should establish your
credibility by mentioning why you’re qualified to talk about this topic.
Lourdes: All right.
Valery: Then, in the body of your speech, you want to state your main points,

using supporting ideas, giving examples, and maybe using visuals.
Lourdes: Okay.

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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

Valery: And finally, in the conclusion, you restate your main points and make
some closing remarks. Simple, right?
Lourdes: Yeah, simple. One last question.
Valery: Shoot.
Lourdes: What are you doing the morning of June 20th, and how do you feel
about standing in for a coworker who plans to be deathly ill?
[end of dialog]
Lourdes begins by saying to Valerie, “I need help.” Valerie says, “Sure, what's
up?” What’s going on? What's happening? Lourdes says, “I'm supposed to give a
speech at the start of the conference next month, and I don't know what to do.” A
“speech” is a formal presentation, a spoken presentation in front of a group of
people. Valerie says, “It's not that hard to plan out a speech.” “To plan out” is a
two-word phrasal verb meaning to plan all of the details of something, to prepare
for it completely, to have a very good idea about everything you're going to do.
Valerie says, “It's not hard” – it's not difficult – “to plan out a speech.” “You start
with an attention getter using humor or telling a personal story.” “To get
someone's attention” means to get them to listen to you, to get them to listen to

the things you are saying. An “attention getter” would be something at the
beginning of your speech that will make everyone stop and listen to you.
Sometimes you can tell a story, sometimes you can use humor. “Humor” (humor)
just means a joke, something funny, something that will make people laugh.
Lourdes says, “Okay. I guess I can do that.” She's not too sure. Valerie says,
“After that” – after the attention getter – “in your introduction, you should tell the
audience what your speech is about in a thesis statement.” Your “introduction” is
the opening of your speech, the first part of your speech. There's an old rule that
when you give a speech, when you give a formal talk, first, you tell people what
you're going to tell them. Say, “I’m going to talk about this and this and this.”
Then you tell them those things in the same order – this and this and this – and
then at the end, you tell them what you just told them, you summarize.
That's what Valerie is suggesting here. Lourdes should tell the audience – the
people listening to her – what the speech is going to be about in a “thesis
statement.” A “thesis (thesis) statement” is usually associated with formal writing,
an essay. Valerie is using this idea to help Lourdes understand what she's
supposed to do. Your thesis statement in an essay, in a written essay, is a short
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

statement, usually one sentence, that gives the main idea of what you are going
to talk about.
Valerie says, “Along the way, you should establish your credibility by mentioning

why you are qualified to talk about this topic.” “Along the way” is an expression
we use to mean “as you are doing something.” This expression is often used
when we are talking about traveling. “I'm going to drive from Los Angeles to San
Francisco, and along the way I'm going to stop at Fresno to visit my friend.”
“Along the way” – as I am traveling from one place to another.
Valerie, when using this expression, is telling Lourdes that as she is giving her
speech, she needs to establish her credibility. “To establish your credibility”
(credibility) means to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable, that you are
qualified, that you know something about this topic that gives you the authority,
gives you the right, if you will, to talk about it. You know what you're talking
about. If you're going to talk about the weather, you would want to know your
audience will want to know why you are qualified to talk about the weather. Do
you have a degree in the science of studying the weather, what’s called
“meteorology”? That would help.
Valerie says that Lourdes should establish her credibility by mentioning why
she's qualified to talk about this topic. “To be qualified” means to have the
knowledge or experience to do something. Lourdes says, “Alright,” meaning
okay.
Valerie says, “Then in the body of your speech, you want to state your main
points using supporting ideas, giving examples, and maybe using visuals.” The
“body (body)” of your speech is the main section, the main part, where you tell
people with details, the things that you told them you were going to tell them
about in your introduction. We call these your “main points.” Your main points are
your most important points, the most important messages that you want to give
to your audience about your topic.
Valerie suggests using supporting ideas when talking about your main points.
“Supporting” means helping. “Supporting ideas” would be ideas that help people
understand what your main point is. It could be evidence. It could be proof of
what you are saying. You could also give them examples of what you are talking
about to help them understand. “Maybe,” Valerie says, “you could use visuals.”

“Visual” (visual) is something you can see. Visuals are things that you use, often
in a presentation or a speech, that shows people what it is you are trying to tell
them about. It gives them something to look at. If you're talking about geography,
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

about where things are, a visual would be a map that would show people what
you're talking about.
Lourdes says, “Okay.” Valerie then says, “And finally, in the conclusion, you
restate your main points and make some closing remarks.” Your “conclusion” is
at the end of your speech. “At the end of your speech,” Valerie says, “you should
restate your main points.” “To restate” (restate) means to say again. The prefix
“re-“ in English, is typically used to mean “again,” to do something again. A
“replay” is to play something one more time. Valerie says, “You should restate,”
or say again, “your main points and make some closing remarks.” “Closing
remarks” are things you say at the very end of your presentation – the “close” of
your presentation.
Valerie says, “Simple, right?” Lourdes says, “Yeah, simple. One last question.”
Valerie says, “Shoot.” “Shoot” (shoot) is a phrase we use informally to tell the
other person to continue asking the question. Usually, it's in response to another
person who has said that he wants to ask you a question. You may have
someone come up to you and say, “Can I ask you a favor?” Can I ask you to do
something for me? And you say, “Shoot.” You mean, “Okay, ask me your favor.

Tell me what you want me to do.” Lourdes wants to ask Valerie a question, so
Valerie says, “Shoot.” “Go ahead.”
Lourdes says, “What are you doing the morning of June 20th, and how do you
feel about standing in for a coworker who plans to be deathly ill?” Lourdes is
asking Valerie what he's going to do on a certain day – June 20th – and how he
feels about, what is his opinion, about “standing in for a coworker.” “To stand in
for someone” is to take the place of another person when that person isn't
available, to do what they're supposed to do, especially in a work environment.
Lourdes is joking, of course. She's asking Valerie if he would like to give this
speech, if he would like to “stand in” for his coworker. His coworker is the person
he works with, in this case, Lourdes.
Lourdes plans to be “deathly ill” that day. “To be ill” means to be sick. “To be
deathly ill” means to be so sick, you could die. Once again Lourdes is making a
joke here. She's hoping that Valerie will agree to do this speech since he seems
to know everything about giving speeches.
Being a teacher and former professor, I've given lots of speeches. I like giving
speeches. I don't think I’m very good at giving speeches, but I like to give
speeches. So, if your organization wants me to give a speech, send me an email.
I might not know what I'm talking about, but I'm happy to give a speech!
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed

[start of dialog]
Lourdes: I need help.
Valery: Sure, what’s up?
Lourdes: I’m supposed to give a speech at the start of the conference next month
and I don’t know what to do.
Valery: It’s not that hard to plan out a speech. You start with an attention getter
using humor or telling a personal story.
Lourdes: Okay, I guess I can do that.
Valery: After that, in your introduction, you should tell the audience what your
speech is about in a thesis statement. Along the way, you should establish your
credibility by mentioning why you’re qualified to talk about this topic.
Lourdes: All right.
Valery: Then, in the body of your speech, you want to state your main points,
using supporting ideas, giving examples, and maybe using visuals.
Lourdes: Okay.
Valery: And finally, in the conclusion, you restate your main points and make
some closing remarks. Simple, right?
Lourdes: Yeah, simple. One last question.
Valery: Shoot.
Lourdes: What are you doing the morning of June 20th, and how do you feel
about standing in for a coworker who plans to be deathly ill?
[end of dialog]
Our scriptwriter has established her credibility over the years as being very
qualified for this job. I speak of course, of our own Dr. Lucy Tse. Thank you,
Lucy.
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ESL Podcast 896 – Preparing a Speech

From Los Angeles, California, I'm Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come
back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.
English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,
hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2013 by the Center for Educational
Development.

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These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.