SPEECH AND DEBATE - LIFE LESSON SPEECH Self Evaluations

SELF EVALUATION & REFLECTION

Life Lesson Motivational Speech

 

1.    What life lesson did you learn that you tried to share with your target audience?

I didn’t have an opportunity to study in elementary school and middle school. But I ended up getting accepted to Yonsei University by studying on my own without the support of my parents. I wanted to convey the lesson that with strong determination and will, one can achieve anything. Through my past story, I aimed to motivate others to become more ambitious, hard-working and resilient students.

2.    How was your life lesson/message relevant to your audience?

Most students at Yonsei University are individuals with strong determination who live purposefully. I shared my experience of studying diligently to remind these students of their past hard work. I aimed to rekindle the determination that drove them to study hard in the first place.

3.    What was your catchphrase? Explain how it encompassed the lesson and/or message you wanted to convey in your speech.

Catchphrase: "Where there is a will, there is a way."   I obtained my bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature through a self-study program, without the support of my parents or attending any private tutoring or academies. I relied solely on online courses and books. I worked at the construction site in weekends and spent minimum money while preparing for the exams. Initially, it seemed like it is impossible and there is no way to go to Yonsei, but I firmly believed in the catchphrase that if there is a will, there is a way. Furthermore, during my time in the military, I dedicated two hours every night to studying English. Many said I was crazy, but because of my belief in the catchphrase, I was able to consistently study. Therefore, my speech topic and catchphrase have a deep connection and relevance.

4.    How effective do you think your catchphrase was in conveying your message to the audience? How many times did you use your catchphrase throughout your speech? Where did you use your catchphrase throughout your speech (e.g. introduction, conclusion)? Where do you think you could have used your catchphrase in your speech more effectively?

I said my catchphrase in the beginning of the speech (around 00:30). I said my catchphrase (around 01:50) in the part that I got a bad SAT score and I decided to find my own way by joining the army after high school graduation. I was supposed to say the catchphrase in the part where I decided to move to Gunsan and study while being self-sufficient. (around 02:40) But I forgot. Around 03:20, I said my catchphrase in different way by modifying it a little “I was happy, because I had a will, and there was a way.” I said this in the context that I worked in the construction site and food factory while keep studying for the exam. I mentioned my last catchphrase around 03:50. This is the ending of my life lesson speech. By repeating my catchphrase in the end and give audience the catchphrase as the conclusion, I think I made myself clear to the audience.    I think this catchphrase was very closely related to my speech. I thought of catchphrases such as “don’t give up, forget the past, reconcile with the past, just do it, my life my way, father! you were wrong! , Let’s see whether I die before finishing it”. But “there is a way, there is a will” is much better. I can tell.  I said my catchphrase 4 times. I could have said my catchphrase around 03:20 but I was nervous so I forgot to, maybe next time I will do better.

5.      What did you think about your delivery? Focus on your eye contact, voice, and body language. What did you do particularly well, and where can you improve in your final farewell speech?

-Smile At the very beginning of the speech, I didn’t smile. Even though the professor gave me feedback to smile more, I was so anxious and nervous that I forgot to smile. Besides, I was fighting with my past bad memories at the time. Sometimes, my bad and painful memories I experienced in the past kicks in like PTSD, so I have to fight off that bad memories. Thus, I looked very depressed. Next time I will find a way to deliver the speech in a more bright and casual way every though the message itself isn’t that humorous and joyful. At least I will smile in the beginning.   -Eye contact Even though I look fine, actually I made eye contact to only one person. I was very nervous so I unintentionally blurred my focus of my eyes so, I didn’t make eye contact directly to anyone. The only person I made eye contact was a girl who was sitting right next to me across the screen monitor. I made eye contact with her like 0.1 second and it was a coincidence. I found it difficult to make eye contact, so I looked at the camera often. I should practice more to not be nervous in the stage and to make more eye contacts to audience.   -Voice The professor said in the comment that my voice is good in the first speech, so I feel very good. To reduce the frequency of my stammering and stuttering, I go to coin karaoke machine room every morning before I go to class and sing a song and practice my vocalization 30 minutes every day. That makes my throat expanded and relaxed. I did this in speech day as usual. But I sang so loudly than usual that morning, that my voice that day was a little husky than usual. But overall, I think my voice wasn’t so bad, and I minimize my stammer in the speech.   -Stammer I stammer a lot, so I deliberately speak very slowly. To finish my speech in time, I made my script very short. I minimize the script and put additional information in the ppt slide. Around 2:50 when I talked about Gunsan, my stammering peeked. It became my habit to use ummmm…. every time I stumble across my words. I think I will be okay as my stammering gradually gets better. My English pronunciation was now very good. My sister criticized that my English pronunciation sucks.   -Body language Even though I very improved than my first speech, I still make unnecessary movements. I move my feet and actually stepped several walks. I won’t do this next time and stick my feet in the ground. My hand shaking was more natural than my previous speech. But still, there is no moderation in my arm shaking gesture. Around 2:40, when I talk about my father didn’t support me a penny, I should have made my hand gesture bigger to emphasize the story.

6.      Do you think your PowerPoint supported the message of your life lesson well? Could it have been improved? If so, how?

During last speech peer review, I got feedback that using photo I took by myself is good. So, tried to use the photos that I took in the past as much as possible.     -slide 1 I will change my speech title in bold.   -slide 3 I used the movie “Charley and the chocolate factory”. I used Willy Wonky and his father Wilbur Wonky to explain the relationship between me and my father. I hope the audience recognize the movie.   -Slide 4 In slide 4, I used dodgy coin dog to make the point. At first, I was not going to use this image but one of the peers said that the image is very good. So, I used it. I think this image is a famous meme, so I think most of the audience actually recognized the image and related to the image. Overall, the slide is somewhat messy so I will make it neater and organized next time.   -Slide5 In this slide, I revealed my SAT score. My mother advised not to reveal the SAT score, but I didn’t listen. I think revealing my SAT score in the first and mentioned that I got accepted in Yonsei takes audience to the emotional rollercoaster.   -Slide 6 I drew circle timetable and painted it with my mouse. I like it. I hope the audiences liked it.   -Slide 7 I put my junior college grades and achievements in the slide to make the audiences understand why my father objected when I decided to quit.   -Slide 9 I used the movie “parasite” to emphasize that there was no internet in the apartment. I wanted to use dirtier and messier photo of the apartment, but I could find it. Instead, I used clean photo of my apartment that I took when I first arrived there.   -Slide 11 I didn’t mention CJ namwon factory, but I put the photo of it. I hope the audience recognize that I worked in the factory.   -Slide 12 In this slide, I put my highest achievements in my life: My self-study bachelor’s degree earned by myself without my parent’s support. The certificate of prize given by the minister of education for graduating self-study bachelor’s degree with good grades. And the acceptance letter from Yonsei. I hope this slide takes the audience emotional rollercoaster.

7.      What do you think you did particularly well in this speech? (i.e. the strengths of your speech performance)

I think the story of the speech is basically very noticeable and impressive. I speak slowly just as my speech therapist advised. I wear unique clothes that reflects my identity and my character. I finished my speech in time. I memorized the whole script.

8.    If you could do this speech again, what, if anything, would you do differently?

I would smile a little more. I look very depressed. At the time, I was very anxious and nervous on the stage, and bad memories are popping up in my brain at the time so, my face betrayed everything I feel at the time. Even though the topic and the theme of the speech isn’t a light and humorous, I would deliver the message in a brighter way. I think smiling can hide my anxiety and actually diminish my stress and nervousness. Even though I made fewer unnecessary movements than my first speech, I still moved around and shook my arm. I think it really takes the audience's attention away. So next speech, I will stand still and minimize unnecessary movement.

9.      Refer back to the goals you set for yourself after your Self-Intro Speech. Did you achieve these goals in the Life Lessons Speech? Explain.

Yes, I improved. I practiced so I stammer less. Less ummm…. means less stammering. I diminished my unnecessary movements. I didn’t read the script. I tried to make eye contact with the camera. But I forgot to smile. I finished my speech in time by minimize the script. By making the script short, I could make audience not to lose focus. My ppt slides improved. It is much neater and cleaner and organized.