Speaker Tips

BEFORE THE PRESENTATION

Consider an approach that puts you on friendly terms with your student audience. This can be done by relating a humorous anecdote, telling an interesting story having to do with your topic, or simply adopting an informal, conversational speaking style. Asking a question at the beginning of your presentation sometimes helps.

DURING THE PRESENTATION

Actively involve the students in your presentation. No matter what age level you are working with, you will find you get a much better response if the students can do something, rather than just be an audience. Following are some techniques to get them involved in the presentation.

• Ask questions. If you see a student that appears to be precocious, ask her/him questions. Get them into a dialog.
• Have students write down questions.
• Create small group of students (5 to 10) for brainstorming exercises.
• Have them participate in a task or assist in a demonstration.

Pass along any ideas you have for activities that might follow up your presentation. If you have such resources as brochures, pamphlets, posters or pictures available for distribution, leave them with the students to reinforce the efforts of what you've done.

JOB RELATED TOPICS

As a member of the Youth Motivation Task Force, your primary objective is to discuss how your education has helped you in your job. These discussions will help build a bridge between school today and meaningful jobs tomorrow. Following are possible topics you can discuss.

• Duties of my occupation or profession.
• Working hours.
• Special clothing requirements.
• Working conditions: indoors, outdoors, noise, temperature.
• How subjects you took in school useful in your work.
• What subjects have been the most helpful.
• In what way do I depend on other people to help me do my work?
• In what ways do others depend on the work I do?
• How society benefits from your work.
• What interests and abilities would tend to help a person be successful in life?
• Physical demands of the job.
• What personal qualities are important?
• Factors which caused me to select this occupation or profession.
• Rewards/drawbacks of this type of work.
• What preparation is required--high school, trade or technical school, college, on-the-job training, and apprenticeship?
• Jobs young people can do to help prepare them for this type of work.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS THE STUDENTS MAY ASK

• What does your company do?
• What kind of job can I get with your company?
• What good will a high school diploma do me?
• Can I get a part-time job?
• Can I get a summer job?
• Is there any age requirement?
• What kind of training program does your company have for high school graduates?
• Can I wear a beard or an Afro?
• How do I apply for a job at your company?
• What's the difference between wages and salary?
• What's the most I can make at your company?
• How far can I move up at your company?
• What decisions and/or suggestions have you made that have affected your company since your employment there?
• What at some of the benefits you are eligible for as an employee?

SOME STATISTICS YOU CAN USE

• Average life time wages of person without high school diploma = $600,000.
• Average life time wages of person with high school diploma = $1,100,000 (almost twice as much).
• Value of 1 hour of high school class is more than $100 if student graduates and gets diploma (based upon data above).

YMTF offers scholarships to students showing a marked improvement in grades. Students with 4 years of straight "A" are not selected.

AFTER THE PRESENTATION

• Conduct a question-and-answer session to clarify issues or correct misconceptions.
• Allow time to circulate any items you may have brought along to share with the class.