Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

My name's Mrs. Riley and I'll be teaching you today.

In our lesson today, we're going to be working on speeches.

And in particular, we are going to be looking at how humour and anecdotes can help to make a really successful speech.

Let's get started.

The outcome of today's lesson is to understand how the use of humour and anecdotes can help connect to an audience.

These are our keywords for today's lesson.

The first keyword is, anecdotes.

My turn, your turn.

Anecdotes.

Anecdotes are short stories from a person's real life.

The next key word is, advocate.

An advocate is someone who speaks up for or supports a cause, idea or person.

The next keyword is, activist.

An activist is a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.

And finally, humour.

Humour is the quality of being funny or amusing.

In today's lesson, we are going to be looking at how Malala Yousafzai uses humour and anecdotes in a speech.

So, we've got two learning cycles.

First, we're going to analyse a very famous speech that Malala gave.

And then in learning cycle two, we'll be looking at delivering a speech ourselves using some of those techniques that Malala uses.

So, before we look at a specific speech, let's first of all think more generally, what is a speech and what is the purpose of a speech? Why do people give speeches? Pause the video and discuss this now.

Okay, let's come back together.

A speech is the formal communication of someone's thoughts through words to an audience.

The purpose of a speech is always to have an impact on the audience in some way.

Very commonly, the purpose of a speech is to persuade the audience.

Speeches are made every day, all around the world by lots of different people.

I'd like you to discuss what kinds of jobs do you think might require someone to make a speech? Pause the video now.

Okay, lovely.

I heard so many different examples.

So, there are many different jobs that might require someone to make a speech, and here are some examples.

A politician, a teacher, an activist, there is our key word for today, and a business leader.

Now of course, these are just a few examples.

There are so many jobs in the world that would require you to make speeches.

So, let's think about what makes a successful speech.

If someone was going to come into your classroom now and deliver a speech, what do you think would make it successful? I'd like you to pause the video and discuss this with your partner now.

Okay, well done, let's come back together.

Well done, I heard some really nice ideas there.

So, let's look at some features together.

So, first of all, we've got knowledge of a topic, that's really essential.

If someone was going to come into the classroom now and deliver a speech on road safety, it's really important that they have a good knowledge and understanding of that topic.

Otherwise, the speech won't be very successful.

It's important to use facts and statistics, that way, people know you are not just making things up, but you are using real facts and statistics, that you've done your research, you know what you're talking about.

You might use emotive language.

Language which is going to really stir up some feelings in the audience.

You might ask rhetorical questions so that the audience have a chance to reflect on what you are asking them.

You might use anecdotes, which are those short stories from a real life example.

You might use quotations, you might quote what somebody else has said.

You might use repetition to really emphasise a key point or make something really powerful.

And finally, you should have a clear purpose.

What are you trying to achieve in this speech? So, we thought about what features make a successful speech if you were going to sit down and write it.

Now, let's think about actually delivering the speech.

How can you deliver a speech successfully? How should you start? How should you speak? Pause the video and discuss this now with your partner.

Okay, well done.

Let's share some examples together.

So, you could start by addressing the audience.

That way, you are immediately making a connection with them.

You should try to speak confidently.

We all sometimes feel nervous when delivering a speech, but we must try our best to speak confidently.

We should try and show our personality and charisma.

No one wants to watch a speech if someone just reads it like a robot, it really helps to show your personality.

Speaking in an emotive manner.

Show your feelings.

If you speak feeling angry about something, and that's part of your speech, show your anger.

Make eye contact with the audience.

Don't just look down at your notes, but look up and make eye contact with the audience to connect with them.

And finally, rehearsal.

Practise makes perfect.

So, if you rehearse your speech as much as possible, you are going to give a much more successful delivery.

All of this helps to achieve the purpose of engaging the audience and having the impact you want.

So, what do you think is more important? Preparing a speech, doing your research, writing it down, or actually giving a speech how you deliver it? Pause the video and discuss this with your partner.

Okay, let's come back together.

It was really nice to hear that you all had different opinions there.

And of course, there isn't a right or a wrong answer.

Here's an example of what you might have said.

"I think how the speech is given is the most important element because even if it is not prepared much, the speaker has the moment to deliver their message, and this is better than saying nothing at all!" Someone else might disagree and say, "I think the words in the speech are the most important element because an audience needs to hear clear facts and evidence in order to be persuaded." So, two different ideas, and like I say, neither of them are right or wrong, it's just your own personal opinion.

So today, we're going to focus on a particular technique used to connect with an audience.

We're going to look at how humour and sharing anecdotes helps a speaker to connect to their audience.

Remember, humour is a noun and it's the quality of being funny or amusing, something I bet you are all very good at.

So today, we are going to analyse a speech by Malala Yousafzai.

I would like you to discuss, have you ever heard of Malala Yousafzai before? And do you know why she is such an important figure? Pause the video and discuss that now.

Okay, let's come back together.

Malala Yousafzai is an activist.

That was one of our key words.

She was the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

An activist is a person who campaigns to bring about social change.

A Nobel Peace Prize is a special award given each year to someone who has done amazing things to bring peace to the world.

A cause that Malala Yousafzai is very passionate about is children's rights to education.

Rights are rules that say that everyone should get treated fairly and have what they need to be safe and healthy.

Now, in 2008 when Malala was just 11 years old, she began speaking out for girls' rights to go to school in Pakistan, which is her home country.

Her father actually ran a school which taught girls in particular.

But when she spoke out about girls' rights to go to school, this put her in danger.

She survived a dangerous group hurting her in 2012 and she became even stronger, carrying on her campaigning.

So let's check your understanding so far.

What cause has Malala Yousafzai worked hard and campaigned for? Is it A, children's rights to education? B, people's rights to healthcare? Or C, animal rights? Pause the video while you think about your answer.

Okay, the correct answer is, Malala has fought for children's rights to education, and that's what she's worked so hard and campaigned for, that children all have the right to access education.

In 2012, after she was hurt, Malala Yousafzai and her family moved from Pakistan to the UK.

From here, she continued her work as an activist and an advocate, there are two of our keywords, for children's rights and for women's rights too.

Remember, an advocate is someone who speaks up for or supports a cause, idea or person.

By 2014, she had gained so much respect around the world that she was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, a highly prestigious award.

In her acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize in 2014, Malala Yousafzai used humour as well as anecdotes.

So, we are now going to watch the first few minutes of this very famous speech.

Now, this will be found on the internet, your teacher might find it for you, or if you are looking for it yourself, please make sure you ask a parent or guardian or trusted adult to help you find what you are looking for on the internet.

I'd like you to watch the first part of the speech, and as you're watching it, I want you to think about where does Malala use humour and what effect does this have on the audience? So, pause the video while you complete this now.

Okay, let's come back together.

So, in case you didn't have a chance, perhaps you were thinking about it.

Can you pause the video now and discuss where does Malala Yousafzai use humour in her speech, and what effect does this have, do you think, on the audience? Pause the video now to discuss this with a partner.

Okay, well done, let's come back together.

So, you might have noticed that she said her brothers still call her "bossy." So, that's an example of her making a funny joke and using humour.

And so, what effect does that have on the audience? Well, maybe you said, "I felt like the use of humour made me like her even more! It can feel a bit intimidating when someone is so good at what they do, but funny anecdotes help break the ice a bit." The saying, break the ice, is a saying that people use.

If everyone's feeling quite tense and serious, if someone breaks the ice, it's like everyone suddenly feels a bit more relaxed, and humour can have that effect.

And I think definitely it has that effect here.

So, using humour and anecdotes involves the speaker using funny language and telling short stories about themselves.

This is a key technique that helps the speaker connect to the audience.

Malala Yousafzai includes humour when she tells the audience the following, that she was the youngest winner of the award, how life is with her brothers, and that she still has to do her own schoolwork.

So, I'd like you to discuss now, why do you think that humour helps the audience to connect to the speaker? Why, if someone comes in and gives a speech, would it help you to connect to them if they used humour? Pause the video and discuss this now.

Okay, let's come back together.

So, maybe you said, "Funny stories or funny sentences really help to break the ice.

I respect Malala so much for what she's done, but using humour makes her so humble and relatable, like she's just one of us." Maybe you said, "Yes, I like that she doesn't come across as too serious or self-important.

Her funny phrases make me like her as a person, not just for what she's done as an advocate." So, the use of humour and anecdotes in a speech helps the audience to connect to the speaker.

And using humour and anecdotes helps to achieve the following.

It makes a speech more personal.

So, this isn't just some robot giving a speech, but this is actually a real person and it helps us to recognise that.

It shares lived experience on a topic.

Actual real life experience that that person has had.

It often creates empathy in the audience.

It helps the audience to understand how they might be feeling.

And all of this helps to achieve the purpose of persuading the audience.

So, let's check your understanding.

Using humour in a speech does what? A, makes a speech less formal.

B, makes a speech less intimidating.

C, only works if the speaker is a comedian.

And D, creates no connection with an audience.

Pause the video while you select your answers.

Okay, well done.

The correct answers are, using humour in a speech makes a speech less formal and less intimidating.

So, it's time for your first task.

I would like you to discuss, if you were accepting a very special award, what joke or humorous anecdote could you tell? I'm sure you've got lots of examples.

So, you're going to work with a partner to bounce ideas off each other.

And you're going to imagine this scenario.

Imagine you are winning an imaginary headteacher's award for being the best 10-year-old in the world.

Think of a time when you certainly have not been showing 10-year-old manners, behaviours, or attitudes that you could share a joke about.

So, imagine you are giving a speech, accepting this award that you are the best 10-year-old in the world.

And you might say, think of a time where perhaps that hasn't always been the case, to help the audience to connect with you.

Remember, you are working with a partner so you can bounce ideas off one another.

Pause the video, and I hope you really enjoy this task.

Okay, lovely, let's come back together.

Here are some examples of what you might have said in your speech.

"Well, there have definitely been sometimes at home in the last few weeks when I've been behaving a bit more like a five-year-old than a 10-year-old.

Don't speak to my dad about last Friday when he turned the TV off!" Here's another example.

"I've got to tell you that whilst I might do some of the right things in school, my sister will tell you that sharing a room with me can be more like sharing a room with an animal! I'm super untidy!" So, in both these examples, the person giving the speech is showing that they are modest and that they also have weaknesses, but they're using that humour to help to connect with the audience.

So, we're gonna move on to learning cycle two, where we are now going to focus on delivering a speech ourselves.

So, I have written a similar speech to Malala Yousafzai's, using humour to break the ice in an acceptance speech.

I've imagined that I have just won the Head Pupil nomination at my secondary school.

I'm going to model delivering the speech in character as Sofia, and you will then deliver this speech to an audience yourself.

So, you've got to imagine now, I'm Sofia, I'm in secondary school and I've just been made Head Pupil and I'm going to give a speech.

So, you'll have the option of including your own humorous jokes or anecdotes, or you can use some of mine.

So, you are going to now listen as I read the speech to you, and try to notice where I've tried to include humour to help to connect to my audience.

"Thank you so much for this incredible honour of being named Head Pupil.

I must admit that when I first heard the news, my first thought was, 'Does this mean I can drive to school?' Then I remembered that I don't even have a car or a driving licence for that matter.

But seriously, I'm truly grateful even if it just means I get to boss my friends around officially now! I have to give credit where creditors due.

I couldn't have made it this far without my teachers who somehow found the patience to deal with my endless questions like, 'Will this be in the exam?' And 'Why do we even need to learn algebra?' Thank you for your wisdom and your guidance.

And of course, to my parents, thank you for always supporting me even when I convinced you that playing video games was part of our computing work.

Winning this prize is a bit like getting the Most Likely To Succeed award in a game of Monopoly.

I have no idea how I got here, but I know it involved a lot of Chance cards! I know this role comes with responsibilities, like actually coming to meetings on time and setting a good example, and I promise to do my best.

Finally, to my fellow students, I want to say that this prize is not just mine, it's for all of us.

It's proof that if you work hard, stay curious, and occasionally bake cookies for your teachers, anything is possible.

Let's continue to support one another, share laughs and make school a place where we can all shine.

Thank you, everyone!" Okay, so I'm going to model delivering some humour from this speech.

So, here's an example where I have used some humour in the speech.

"I must admit that when I first heard the news, my first thought was, 'Does this mean I can drive to school?' Then I remembered that I don't even have a car or a driving licence for that matter." And now I'd like you to discuss, did this use of humour help you to connect to me? Pause the video and discuss that now.

Okay, let's come back together.

So, you maybe said something like, "Definitely! I really like it when a speech is both emotive and funny.

It makes me listen to the speaker.

It makes me like the speaker and listen to them." Or maybe you said, "Absolutely! I want to be friends with people who make me laugh.

I find humour the best way to break down barriers." Imagine if you were a pupil, a younger pupil at that secondary school, maybe it was your first year and you've just started there.

You might feel like the Head Pupil who's much older than you might feel a bit serious or a bit intimidating.

So, when they gave this speech, when Sofia gave the speech, that kind of made a joke of herself and said things that she's kind of done, she does things wrong too like she pretended to her parents that gaming was part of her computing curriculum, and asking the teachers questions, and all those things make her seem, it helps to break the ice and it helps her to seem humble and just like she's another pupil, and hopefully really helps you to connect with her and really like her.

So, it's time for your second task.

In this task, you are now going to deliver this speech, which can be found in the additional material sections of this lesson, to an audience.

I want you to focus on delivering the speech, particularly how you deliver the humour in a way that allows you to connect to your audience.

You can read the examples of humour in the model speech or you can substitute them for your own.

So, you can take them out and put in your own examples of humour.

And then you can ask for some feedback from your audience, like, did you feel connected to me during the speech? How did the use of humour and anecdotes make you feel? And what impression did you have of me after I'd finished? So, you are going to deliver the speech to a small audience and then you're going to ask them for some feedback.

And try to think about all the things that we've learned about how to deliver a successful speech.

I hope you enjoy this task.

Pause the video now.

Okay, well done, I hope you feel really proud of yourselves.

Delivering a speech in front of any audience can feel quite intimidating.

So, well done for giving that a go, and I hope you enjoyed using some humour as part of your speech.

So, let's see what some of your feedback might have been.

When you asked your audience, "Did you feel connected to me during the speech?" They might have said, "Definitely! It felt like you were letting me into your life a bit and sharing your sense of humour.

I think humour is a great way to break down barriers and to make people feel connected to each other.

We all know how to laugh!" Maybe when you ask them, "How did the use of humour and anecdotes make you feel?" They might have said, "I loved the joke about baking cookies for teachers! I knew that this hadn't really happened, but using that sort of humour made you seem more humble.

It didn't feel like you were arrogant or you were thinking, 'Oh yeah, I'll definitely be Head Pupil.

' I really like modesty in people who are leaders." And finally, "What impression did you have of me after I'd finished?" They might have said, "I'd have really wanted you to be my Head Pupil! I felt like I respected you and found you funny, both of which are important in a leader." Okay, so let's summarise what we've learned today.

We've learned that a speaker can connect with an audience in a variety of ways.

One way is using humour and anecdotes to connect with the audience.

Malala Yousafzai is an activist and she actively campaigns for children's rights to education and women's rights worldwide.

Malala Yousafzai is also a humanitarian, advocate, and public speaker, who was the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

I hope you've enjoyed learning with me today.

Perhaps in the future, if you ever have to write and deliver a speech, you can use some anecdotes and humour to help you connect with your audience.

Hopefully I'll see you for some more learning another time.

Bye!.