Francisco Toledo Reflection #2

 After watching all the group presentations in our Public Speaking class, I ended up learning way more than I thought I would. Reading the book on my own gave me the basic ideas, but seeing different people explain the chapters in their own way made everything click in a much more relatable way. Every group had their own style and personality, and seeing how each one approached their chapters helped me understand public speaking in a more realistic and personal way. Instead of feeling like I was just going through a list of concepts, it felt like I was being shown what those ideas actually look like when people try them out in real life.

The first group set the tone for everyone else. Their chapters were about the basics of public speaking, but the way they explained everything made the foundations feel more important than I originally thought. When they talked about understanding your audience and knowing the purpose of your speech, it made me realize how often I skip over those steps in real life. I usually go straight into writing whatever I think sounds good, but they made me see that if you don’t think about who you’re talking to or why you’re talking in the first place, the message doesn’t land the same way. What stuck with me the most was when they spent time talking about ethics and honesty. I started thinking about speakers I’ve watched who sounded polished but didn’t seem sincere, and I remembered how fast I stopped paying attention to them. It made me rethink how important trust is between the speaker and the audience.

Something that really surprised me from their presentation was the part about listening. I always think of public speaking as being all about the person talking, but they showed how listening is just as important, both for the speaker and the audience. They talked about things like empathetic listening and the barriers that get in the way, and I found myself thinking about how often I let distractions or assumptions keep me from really hearing people. It made me see that being a good listener actually helps you become a better speaker too, because it teaches you how people think and react. When they explained adapting your message depending on the situation, their examples made it feel really clear and obvious. It reminded me of all the different ways I talk to different people without even noticing. The short funny video they showed about how not to present made the whole lesson stick with me even more.

When it came to my group’s presentation, I remember being nervous because our chapters were honestly the ones people usually find boring or overwhelming. We covered topics like brainstorming, researching, creating outlines, and choosing supporting materials. But as we prepared, I started to understand how these chapters are basically the building blocks that make everything else possible. Talking about how to come up with a good topic made me notice how often I pick something randomly and then struggle later because I never focused the idea. When we explained the importance of research and credible sources, it made me think about how easy it is to rely on the first few things you find online without checking if any of it is actually reliable. I shared an example from another class project where bad research almost messed me up, and I could tell people related to it.

The parts about supporting materials and organizing speeches helped me personally too. When we talked about using examples, quotes, stories, and statistics, I realized that the speeches I remember the most always use those things. They make the message feel alive instead of just a bunch of information. And explaining different organizational patterns, like problem-solution or cause-and-effect, made me want to rethink how I structure my own speeches. We tried to ask the class questions and keep things interactive so it didn’t just feel like a lecture. Looking back, I think our group did a good job of breaking down the chapters in a way that made them feel useful instead of stressful.

The third group took things in a different direction by focusing on how people process information and how speakers can make their message more memorable. One of the first things they talked about was primacy and recency, the idea that people remember the beginning and the end of a speech the most. It made perfect sense to me, and I honestly don’t know why I never thought about it before. It made me think about how many good speeches I’ve seen that start strong and end strong. Their explanation made me realize how important those moments really are.

They also talked about language in a way that was really interesting. They explained how speakers need to be careful with words because things like slang, jargon, or complicated terms can confuse an audience. I started thinking about times when someone used words I didn’t understand, and how fast I stopped paying attention because of it. It reminded me that choosing simple and clear language isn’t about dumbing things down, but about making sure people actually follow what you’re saying. Their section on visual design called me out a little because I tend to put way too much text on my slides. They made a really strong point about keeping slides clean and using visuals that enhance the message instead of overwhelming people. The best part was when they showed a short TEDx clip with a speaker who had amazing delivery. Watching someone who speaks confidently made the concepts feel a lot more real.

The last group wrapped everything up by focusing on public speaking in everyday situations. They talked about informative speeches first, explaining how to teach something without confusing your audience. Their examples showed how organizing your information in certain ways makes it easier for people to follow along. Then they talked about persuasion, which I personally find really interesting. They explained how different audiences react differently depending on whether they agree with you, disagree with you, or just don’t care. That part stood out to me a lot because persuasion feels less like arguing and more like understanding people and adjusting how you talk to them. They also broke down the different types of reasoning and the ways speakers use logic, emotion, credibility, and even cultural stories to support their arguments. It made me think about how much more effective I could be in everyday conversations if I understood those strategies better.

Their sections on speaking online and giving special occasion speeches felt extremely relevant. Speaking on video or through a screen really does feel different from speaking in person, and they gave practical tips like keeping your energy up and remembering to look into the camera instead of at your own face. The part about special occasion speeches made me realize that not every speech has to be formal or serious. Sometimes it’s more about setting the right tone and creating a meaningful moment. They showed a short clip from a virtual graduation speech that tied everything together and showed how speakers can still connect with people even when the setting is digital.

After reflecting on all the presentations, I feel like I’ve grown a lot in how I understand public speaking. I used to think it was all about memorizing lines or trying to sound confident, but now I see that it’s about understanding your message, knowing your audience, choosing the right approach, and being flexible when you need to be. Every group added something valuable, and together they made the whole topic feel way more doable. If there’s one thing I’m taking away from this, it’s that you only really get better by doing it. Reading, watching videos, and listening to advice can help, but the real improvement comes from standing up, trying, messing up sometimes, and eventually finding your own voice.