ELOCUTION-GUIDE TO CHILDREN(PARENTS)

Children should participate in extra curricular activities like elocution contests,as it will give them self confidence.&a subjective assessment of themselves, for a healthy psychological state. This is written with the hope that parents might take this hint to help their children.


They should guide children continuously & encourage them.Parents, teachers, or well wishers must be in charge as a coach at all times.The following points must be physically checked while preparing a child for a competition.

• Must talk boldly. This is very important because if the child is scared before the audience he will forget what to speak. The best way to get rid of fear complex is, to tell him that all the spectators in front are fools &that the child alone is intelligent.BETTER the child is taught to look into a mirror &say within his "heart" in his private room thus:"All those in front of me are fools".So the child when gets on stage speakers like this mentally before opening the mouth for a talk.
• Must have several rehearsals.
• Body language essential as per contents of speech.
• VOICE MUST BE AUDIBLE &LOUD.No harm if the volume of sound is more than average.Child can speak 2-3 sentences &ask the audience whether they can hear.Beware the mick may fail due to electricity failure.
• contents of speech:For example if the subject is related to the topic"THE TRUTH",speak about Harichandra a Hindu mythological hero or if it is "SACRIFICE", PEOPLE WHO MADE THE HIGHEST SACRIFICE BY NAME IS ESSENTIAL,LIKE VEERAPANDIA KATTABOMMAN
• VOC, OR NEHRU FAMILY,should be mentioned.The child who uses the name of the best & famous personalities who are known for heroism,or valor alone wins the contest.
• Better not to see the paper while talking.But under certain circumstances can look into the points.
• Better to mix some humor in the form of a short story for people to laugh,&clap hands.
• Address the stage as RESPECTFUL TEACHERS,BROTHERS & SISTER
• SOME GESTURES,TO START WITH, AS IF THIS STAGE IS NOTHING FOR YOU,BY RUBBING YOUR FACE NECK ears ON ONE SIDE&LOOKING UP
• IF YOU FORGET BY CHANCE,THE NEXT POINT OF YOUR SPEECH,take out your hand kerchief & clean your face to recollect the forgotten point. not too fast. Let the audience hear each &every sentence of yours.
• Add one or two quotations if possible.Books available for this purpose can be referred to.
• RECORD THE SPEECH IN A TAPE RECORDER,&REPLAY.MAKE necessary corrections.
• Can start with a relevant "Thirukkural", first,&translate it into English. Continue other points latter.
• Have a high level of confidence.you will not miss points.
• A coach is necessary,be it a teacher, or parent.
• It should be stressed, that winning the prize is not the motto,but the spirit of participation is important,so that if the child does not win the contest ,he should not feel discouraged &loose his heart .This should be strongly advised before hand ,well in advance.
• Some children may feel guilty as if they have made a big mistake.Tell them that failures are stepping stones to success.