Speaking confidently in formal contexts
Confidence in speech is mostly preparation plus pacing. Both can be practised alone, in short bursts, without an audience.
Part of your national curriculum
- Spoken English: Speak confidently and effectively, using Standard English confidently in a range of formal and informal contexts
- Spoken English: Give short speeches and presentations, expressing their own ideas and keeping to the point
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Speak confidently and effectively, using Standard English confidently in a range of formal and informal contexts
Key learning points
- • Plan in headings, not sentences
- • Pace, pause and volume
- • Standard English under pressure
- • Handling questions
This lesson at a glance
- 26 minutes
- 20 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 20
Watch first
Speaking confidently in formal contexts
Pace, pause and Standard English when you are speaking formally.
In a nutshell
Speak confidently and effectively, using Standard English confidently in a range of formal and informal contexts
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 20
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Plan in headings, not sentences
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 20
Learn
Plan in headings, not sentences
Full scripts produce a flat read-aloud. Instead, write four headings with one piece of evidence under each. You keep the structure and still sound like a person talking.
Reset break
Part 4 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 20
Learn
Pace, pause and volume
Speak slightly slower than feels natural, pause fully at each full stop, and let volume rise only on the point you most want remembered. A pause is not dead air; it is the listener's thinking time.
Quick check
Part 6 of 20
Quick check
Part 7 of 20
Reset break
Part 8 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 20
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Standard English under pressure
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 20
Learn
Standard English under pressure
In formal talk, keep to full verb forms, agreement and clear referents: ‘the survey shows’ rather than ‘it shows’. If you lose the thread, stop, take a breath and restate the heading — that recovery reads as control, not failure.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 20
Learn
Handling questions
Repeat the question briefly, answer in one sentence, then add one piece of evidence. If you do not know, say so and offer where the answer would be found. Both are marks of a credible speaker.
Reset break
Part 12 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 20
Quick check
Part 14 of 20
Challenge round
Part 15 of 20
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 16 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 20
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
In ____ talk, keep to full verb forms, agreement and clear referents: ‘the survey shows’ rather than ‘it shows’.
Challenge round
Part 18 of 20
Game · Recall cards
Why mark stress and pauses before rehearsing?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 19 of 20
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Speaking confidently in formal contexts
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Why mark stress and pauses before rehearsing?
2. When is stillness most effective?
3. What is the main purpose of improvising a scene in your own words?
4. Which is the strongest justification of a performance choice?
Lesson round-up
Part 20 of 20
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 20 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Speak confidently and effectively, using Standard English confidently in a range of formal and informal contexts
- Not looked at yet
Give short speeches and presentations, expressing their own ideas and keeping to the point