New
New
Year 7

Considering how to use body language and voice to perform a convincing monologue

I can use body language and voice to deliver a convincing monologue with a clear, character voice.

New
New
Year 7

Considering how to use body language and voice to perform a convincing monologue

I can use body language and voice to deliver a convincing monologue with a clear, character voice.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We can use our body language, posture and eye contact to convey certain emotions.
  2. We can vary the pitch and pace of our voice to convey different emotions and influence the tone of our monologue.
  3. You can trick yourself into feeling more confident about a performance through deep breathing and smiling.

Keywords

  • Pitch - Pitch refers to the relative highness and lowness of voice when speaking.

  • Pace - When delivering a monologue, pace refers to the speed at which you are saying the words.

  • Tone - Tone refers to the general mood or feeling.

  • Body language - Body language is the movements or positions of your body that show other people how you are feeling.

Common misconception

That we can't do anything to help control our nerves.

While we can't stop the feeling of nervousness entirely, we can trick our body into relaxing more by smiling and using deep breathing.

You could ask the students to perform their monologue to the whole class or in small groups.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You may want a copy of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Eye contact refers to ...
Correct answer: whether someone looks into your eyes.
whether someone wears glasses.
where someone smiles when they speak to you.
Q2.
Performing a monologue means ...
Correct answer: delivering your monologue in front of an audience.
planning your monologue using a beginning, middle and end.
writing your monologue using ambitious vocabulary.
Q3.
If someone is speaking really quickly and tripping over their words then it might indicate ...
Correct answer: excitement.
boredom.
indifference.
Q4.
Which of the following might indicate confidence?
slouched posture
Correct answer: upright posture
crossed arms
Q5.
A monologue written from the perspective of a character is an opportunity to ...
give impartial information about a character
Correct answer: give a character's thoughts and feelings
give other character's opinions on the character
Q6.
How do we effectively communicate with others?
through verbal communication and precise language
Correct answer: through a mixture of verbal and non-verbal communication
through non-verbal communication with exaggerated gestures

6 Questions

Q1.
The way someone holds themselves when they’re seated or standing is known as ...
their eye contact.
their pitch.
Correct answer: their posture.
Q2.
The pace of your voice refers to ...
the highness and lowness of your voice.
Correct answer: the speed with which you talk.
the attitude and emotion of your voice.
Q3.
Which of the following indicate confident body language?
fiddling with your hair
standing with your hands in your pockets
Correct answer: having your hands free and open
Correct answer: standing without fidgeting
Q4.
The movements or positions of your body that show other people how you are feeling is known as ...
Correct Answer: body language, Body Language, body language., Body language, Body language.
Q5.
Having a high pitched voice can indicate ...
boredom.
a resolute attitude.
Correct answer: agitation.
Q6.
Speaking using a slow pace of voice could indicate ...
heightened emotion.
fear.
Correct answer: relaxation.