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Show , GENERAL SUGGESTIONS TO TIlE INSTRUCTOR 53 subject for its own sake-such forgetfulness as leaves one uncon I know oj no cerned before an audience as in one's study. still less road. golden rule, any royal Inaccuracy, carelessness, half-devotion-these are the bane of our students; once a man is earnest enough to forget himself, to be ready to laugh at himself with the audience 'l!!ithout losing his head, to forget how he looks and feels, he is successful and persuasive with or without technical knouiledge and practice; though of course these things are assets, 4 if he has them." Concentration. One reason why communication is more difficult and embarrassing than other forms of expression is that the entire body must be used as a medium, rather than a part-say the hand or foot. Pupils will gain confidence by a good stance, by taking a good breath before beginning to speak, this will assist them to . .. feel comfortable and will also make the audience feel at ease; it good beginning, which is said to be half will at least guarantee a the battle. The speaker who hurriedly starts out to talk before he is ready, begins badly, and finds it almost impossible to retrieve himself. If the pupil can lose himself in what he is to say; if he being on the purpose of his concentrate his entire absolutely speech, there is no place for self-consciousness. Reading is a jealous mistress and demands greater mental and physical concen can tration than of. any other human behavior. It allows no intrusion. If anything else comes into the consciousness, the contact is broken, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to pick up the broken threads. 'I'imidity. practice. come by Timidity in reading may be controlled Those who read aloud from childhood fear. They may have the nervous are by correct never excitement over which oppresses everyone, experienced and inexperienced alike, in any pub lic performance; only a proper realization Those who never feel such a weight but this excitement is of the importance of the effort. responsibility never rise to great heights. Such nervous phe nomena soon change into exhilaration as the speaker begins to address his audience. He forgets all except the thing in hand. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," not in the prepara tion; so the 'proof of the speech or reading is in its effect upon an of 4 Primer of Psychology-Scribner's Sons. |
