Adrian Herandnez Blog #1

Public speaking is both terrifying and exhilarating, and I can relate very well to all the presentations and their applications in the future. Working on the group project with my group showed me how a group works makes the task less overwhelming, as all of us had an important role to play that connected us like one big story. For my Group, Ashley presented why Public speaking remains important in a digital age, Aquliah presented how to manage stage fright, Aurora bridged the gaps between the chapters, I presented the need for listening, Calixto presented audience analysis, and Carlos concluded the chapters. In my opinion, everyone's group had good communication, put a lot of effort, and presented a well-presented presentation with good flow. Overall, I enjoyed learning from each of the presentations, finding out something new, and observing how public speaking is an issue of growth, connecting, and getting over nerves. 

I realize that I gained so much not just in public speaking, but also about myself and the importance of teamwork. My group, Group 1, had chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5, and I must say that we did a good job. At first, I was apprehensive about speaking in front of the class because public speaking is always sort of intimidating to me, but preparing and doing it in groups really made it more manageable and even enjoyable. It made me see that public speaking doesn't have to be done alone. Public speaking can become less fearful if you have people behind you.

Ashley started us off with why it’s important to be a good speaker and how to engage your audience. She laid the foundation that helped everyone in the class understand why communication matters so much in everyday life, not just when giving speeches. Then Aurora did a great job of breaking down the first two chapters and making things really clear. She contributed effectively and offered clear explanations that ensured a smoother content flow. Aquilah discussed speech anxiety, which directly applied to me because I also get nervous. Her advice of playing with nerves as something beneficial to utilize continued ringing in my mind, and I can be sure that I'll implement those tips into future presentations. My subject was listening, and I did not think that I would like it so much, but I grew to like how central a role it holds in communication. Informing the class boosted my confidence. Calixto spoke of audience analysis, and his discussion of examples based on culture and connection made us realize how much your audience dictates how you should present. Finally, Carlos tied it all together in chapters 3 and 5, and wrapped up the big ideas in a circle. I was amazed that we were a team, and towards the end, I wasn't as nervous and capable. It made me realize that public speaking isn't so bad when you've got each other's backs.

Group 2 gave us chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8, and I liked how they broke it down step by step. They started with brainstorming and choosing a topic, something which I sometimes struggle with. Isabelle showed us how to develop good ideas, and I liked her tips for when I next need to generate topics. Daniel explained thesis statements and simplified them, making me understand how to write them concisely and effectively. I enjoyed the research tips they provided, including the use of databases, events, and even social media as sources. Another important part of their presentation was the reminder about plagiarism. It was easy for most people to forget to properly cite, but they emphasized the importance. Their group taught me in practical ways, steps that I could do in my own work.

Group 3 received chapters 9 through  12, and theirs was primarily about delivery. I think they squarely nailed the importance of how you deliver. Venshell gave examples of effective beginnings and endings, and it showed how much difference a good start and ending can make. Kevin talked about language and culture and added some new words like jargon and euphemisms, which interested me since they explained the use of word selection in communication. Matthew made it engaging by talking about how to present language interestingly so that the audience does not get bored. Melany's presentation on visuals helped me see how visuals that complement a presentation differ from visuals that distract from it. Lillian showed us software like PowerPoint and Google Slides, which were helpful since those are what we utilize in class daily. Julien ended their team's presentation with a demo on how breathing, posture, and body language count. Those are little things that people will sometimes overlook, but they make one's speaker sound much more confident and competent.

Group 4 discussed chapters 13 through 17, focusing on the different kinds of speeches. Victoria explained informative speeches and highlighted the importance of keeping them concise and accurate. That was something that hit me because sometimes it is all too easy to overdo it, and her reminder caused me to remember staying in line with clarity. Fun was Adriel's role because he used persuasion creatively by trying to sell us headphones. It made the lesson sink in and showed us how persuasion works in real life. Meli presented on arguments and fallacies, and this was well appreciated since one falls prey to poor arguments unknowingly. Her examples gave me ways of not being misled and constructing stronger arguments myself. Yamil presented on distance speaking, which was especially relevant since technology and online presentations are so common today. His arguments on how one can remain professional and competent even when not in person made me ponder how communication has evolved. Grace concluded by discussing digital media and how it can be utilized to address more individuals, which served to summarize the points of the group quite well.

Listening to all four speeches provided me with a much larger picture of what public speaking entails. I gained an idea of how confident and how stress free the process can be from my own team. From the other teams, I picked up practical skills like brainstorming and research skills, speech organization, and how to utilize visuals and delivery. I also learned about persuasive speaking, digital media, and how important it is to adapt according to your audience.

Overall, these speeches helped me understand that public speaking is not as simple as standing in front of people and talking. It's about preparation, teamwork, and becoming confident. It's about listening as much as learning to speak. And above all else, it's about connecting with people in a meaningful way.