Shadowing Practice: How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers - Learn English Speaking with Video
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102 sentences
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Oh wow, I'm so nervous.
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Gosh, these lights are so bright.
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Is this mic on?
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Is there even a mic?
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Opening a speech is so stressful.
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There's nothing worse than walking on stage and not knowing what to say.
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Or worse, saying something super awkward.
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Can you see my hands shaking?
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Imagine you naked, imagine you naked, imagine you naked, imagine you naked.
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Gotta see clearly.
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Hello, Chicago!
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Oh, Houston, we're in Houston.
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Hello, Houston!
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In this video, I'm going to give you the best and worst speech openers for your next presentation, pitch, speech, or toast.
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Let's start with the worst ways to open.
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I hear these speaking cardinal sins all the time.
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Please don't open your speech by… Never start with anything technical.
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Gosh, these lights are so bright.
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Is this mic on?
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Is there even a mic?
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Friends, do a tech check or show up a little early.
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If you call attention to something not working, that's all your audience will think about.
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never mention your nervousness.
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Do I look as nervous as I feel?
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Wow, there are so many people here.
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So I should start by saying that I am not a great public speaker, so this should be short.
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Many people think it's vulnerable or honest to start with how nervous they are.
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But actually, for your audience, it's distracting.
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Why?
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The moment you mention your nerves, you make your audience nervous and they will begin looking for all the signs of your nervousness.
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It becomes a giant, nerve-wracking wave that you start from stage.
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give a half-hearted welcome.
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Thanks for having me.
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Well, it's so nice to be here.
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Thanks for that intro.
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Do not start with a boring nicety.
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Or worse, saying something nice but not sounding like you mean it.
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I can't tell you how many times I have seen people get on stage and say, I'm so happy to be here,
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but look so incredibly unhappy as they say it.
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Fake, fake, fake.
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The only exception to this is if you can turn it into a joke, like the amazing Ken Robinson.
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He opened his talk with a boring nicety, but then made it funny.
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Let's watch.
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Good morning.
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How are you?
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It's been great, hasn't it?
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I've been blown away by the whole thing.
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In fact, I'm leaving.
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Okay, now that we've talked about the worst ways to start a speech, let's talk about the best.
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Speech opener idea number one, use stories.
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The absolute best way to start a presentation is with a story.
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There is nothing better to capture the imagination and attention of an audience.
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Let's watch how David Brooks hooks you in right at the start with his story.
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So we all have bad seasons in life, and I had one in 2013.
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My marriage had just ended and I was humiliated by that failed commitment.
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Woo!
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Hooks you in right away.
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He gets right to the heart of it.
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Stories help your audience feel right there with you.
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Here are some fill in the blanks you can use to start your next speech with a story.
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Once upon a time, I'm here for a reason, and it's an interesting story.
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The best thing that ever happened to me was… speech opener idea number two, your big idea.
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I love when speakers share their big idea right up front.
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They don't make you wait for it.
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They dive right in.
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Let's watch how Stacey Smith starts off her talk with her big idea framed in an interesting way.
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Today, I want to tell you about a pressing social issue.
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Now, it's not nuclear arms, it's not immigration, and it's not malaria.
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I'm here to talk about movies.
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Here's some fill in the blanks you can use to open your speech.
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You're here for a reason.
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It's… The single most important thing I want to share with you today is… Today, I want to share a big idea.
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Speech opener number three, a quirky one-liner.
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No one loves humor more than me, and I can promise you that your audience will as well.
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If you dare, try to open your speech with something intriguing.
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Very intriguing.
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Humor or curiosity is a great way to start a speech on a high.
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And please, get creative.
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Think of an interesting fact about you, your audience, or your topic that can lead you into your content.
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For example, when I gave my TED Talk in London, I opened with my quirky one-liner.
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You can also use an interesting fact or even a question to the audience.
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Try some of these fill in the blanks.
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Did you know?
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Do you ever worry about?
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Have you ever wondered?
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For example, I do tons of corporate workshops and trainings, and here are some interesting factoids I start with that hook the audience in.
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Did you know that it takes less than a second to make a first impression?
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Did you know that your nonverbal communication is 12.5 times more powerful than your words?
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Did you know that we are lied to 200 times a day?
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Got you hooked, right?
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I would love to speak to your group anytime.
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Call me.
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Okay, you are ready for your next speech.
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Your next question might be, how do I end my speech?
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I have 20 top closing lines from history's greatest speakers.
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Go to scienceofpeople.com slash closers to grab your free download.
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Do you have powerful presentation skills?
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Whether you're on a stage, on a video, in a boardroom or in a meeting, I want to show you how you can share any of your ideas powerfully, confidently, and authentically.
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In my new course, Powerful Presentations, I'm going to give you my framework that you can use for sharing any idea, whether that's in person or online, in video or on stage.
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I'll also show you some of those pesky things that are really hard in a presentation, like where to put your hands and how to hold a mic, how to show visuals, how to tell stories,
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even how to be funny.
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Join me in my course, Powerful Presentations, at scienceofpeople.com slash presentations.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 102 sentences and 1030 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:58. The speaker talks at a steady 148 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| presentation noun | /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/ | The act of presenting, or something presented. |
| naked adjective | /ˈneɪkɪd/ | Bare, not covered by clothing. |
| hook noun | /hʊk/ | A rod bent into a curved shape, typically with one end free and the other end secured to a rope or other attachment. |
| blank noun | /ˈblæŋk/ | The white spot in the centre of a target; hence (figuratively) the object to which anything is directed or aimed, the range of such aim. |
| nerve noun | /nɝv/ | A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics. |
| bore verb | /boɹ/ | To inspire boredom in somebody. |
| gosh | /ɡɑːʃ/ | A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm. |
| humour noun | /ˈhjuːmɚ/ | The quality of being amusing, comical, funny. |
| liner noun | /ˈlaɪnɚ/ | A large passenger-carrying ship, especially one on a regular route; an ocean liner. |
| quirky adjective | /ˈkwɜːki/ | Given to quirks or idiosyncrasies; strange in a somewhat silly, awkward manner, potentially cute. |
| topic noun | /ˈtɑpɪk/ | A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest. |
| immigration noun | /ˌɪmɪˈɡɹeɪʃən/ | The act of immigrating; the passing or coming into a country of which one is not native born for the purpose of permanent residence. |
| commitment noun | /kəˈmɪtmənt/ | The act of sending a legislative bill to committee for review. |
| pitch noun | /pɪt͡ʃ/ | A throw; a toss; a cast, as of something from the hand. |
| capture verb | /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/ | To take control of; to seize by force or stratagem. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| blow away verb | To cause to go away by blowing, or by wind. |
| show up verb | To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically. |
| start off verb | To begin. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 18 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: presentation /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, immigration /ˌɪmɪˈɡɹeɪʃən/, capture /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/, exception /əkˈsɛpʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: immigration /ˌɪmɪˈɡɹeɪʃən/, incredibly /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/, imagination /ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/, curiosity /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/, malaria /məˈlɛəɹi.ə/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like presentation, naked, hook.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have seen · It's been · I've been blown |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | I've been blown · was humiliated |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.