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Cue Cards - Useful Tool Or Hindrance
To Public Speaking Success?
I find it amusing the fact that cue cards are an
essential part of the training of junior public speakers and debaters, yet
you will never hear it mentioned when experienced public speakers are
involved. Why is this so? Are cue cards a useful tool or a hindrance to
public speaking?
One reason for using cue cards is that it takes emphasis
off memorisation and puts it on delivery. Young speakers do not necessary
have to memorise their speech but they should be at least very familiar with
it so that cue cards become only a backup when their memory lapses.
Because of cue cards, junior speakers can concentrate
more on areas such as delivery, body language and voice projection. These
areas of public speaking are much more important than the ability to
memorise a speech, thus explaining why cue cards are used.
One of the reasons for not using cue cards is that it
hinders your connection to your audience. Every time you glance at your cue
cards, you break your connection with them. As a speaker, if you do this
excessively, you will not be able to develop any sort of relationship with
your audience; therefore your speech will be falling on deaf ears.
Another reason
for not using cue cards in public speaking is the fact that a novice speaker
will read their cue cards, rather than use them as an aide. What we want the
speaker to do is a public speech, not a “public read”.
My personal
opinion is that all new speakers, regardless of age, should use cue cards to
help them with their public speaking. The first few times speaking in front
of a large audience are the hardest; therefore, we need to give the new
speaker as much help as possible. Also cue cards help stop nervous or
excessive hand movements as both hands are usually holding the cards.
As to the issue
of experts using cue cards, I am not totally against it, but I think that
they should be able to memorise their speech, therefore they shouldn’t
require cue cards. If they want to write some notes down about what they
want to cover so they don’t forget everything, then write a page of notes
and place them on a lectern or table, rather than carry a set of cards.
Expert public speakers should use both hands to help them emphasise salient
points during their talk and cue cards will hinder this.
So cue cards
are a useful tool for beginner speakers, but they should gradually be
disposed of, as the speaker gets more experienced, otherwise cue cards will
become a nuisance and a hindrance to public speaking success.
My Name Is Christopher
Carlin And I Want To
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