This is the Business English Podcast, episode 238.
Be prepared for impromptu English. Welcome to the Business English podcast from All Ears English.
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Hey, Michelle, what's shaking? Hey, Lindsay, not too much.
How are you? I'm feeling great. Oh, have you ever had to give an impromptu speech?
Michelle? I think you're probably pretty good at this.
Well, it would depend on how well I know the topic.
But certainly I, in general, I'm okay with that.
I've talked a little bit I used to do improv and I am a theater person.
And also I think this podcast certainly helps prepare us for that.
Everything we do is, I mean, planned, but also a little bit off the cuff because we don't script out the whole show.
Right. That actually would be a good reason for our listeners to experiment with starting a podcast just for fun as a hobby.
Wouldn't you? Yeah. I love that idea. I endorse that idea fully.
I endorse it. Yes. But Lindsay, what does impromptu mean, actually?
Impromptu is the opposite of prepared, basically.
It's just off the cuff, spur of the moment, spontaneous.
You have to come up with something. Yeah, not planned.
So when might somebody have to make an impromptu speech?
I mean, definitely at a meeting when you're introducing someone, you may be asked randomly to give a toast at a work event.
I think usually at weddings, your person would let you know ahead of time that you need to do a speech, hopefully.
Right, right, right. Exactly, exactly. So we're going to talk about this more in a second.
But guys, we want to remind you, if you haven't already, please hit the follow button wherever you are listening to the Business English podcast so you never miss anything. love it all right so we have a great question from a listener today yeah from jay henryne uh i'm not sure if this was in spotify or apple podcast but either way um the listener just asked how can i make an impromptu speech Yeah, very short and sweet.
Good question. Yeah, this is this is really good.
So I'm excited to talk about this. Let's talk about, you know, if you are preparing for this.
And what I mean is, is a speech. A speech can be impromptu, but you can always have a certain level of how prepared you are.
Right. So this is the idea is you should be prepared.
Know your stuff. just in general okay so there are certain kinds of impromptu speeches that may come up we talked about it maybe in a meeting maybe introducing somebody a toast right so you should know the general way to introduce yourself general ways to transition, to conclude.
If you have those things under your belt that you've practiced and just know the general idea of how these speeches are made, then you're going to be more comfortable.
So get yourself ready beforehand. So even though it's impromptu, you're more so filling in the blank and you'll be a little bit more relaxed in the moment. right?
Yeah, I like that. So you're saying, Michelle, it's really about preparing the English phrases and vocabulary that we need for these moments, the introduction, the transition, the conclusion.
And then it's like we have a template, kind of like we do on IELTS for every kind of essay on the exam over on IELTS Energy Podcast.
We give you templates. Then you fill in the content.
Is that what you mean? Yeah. It doesn't have to be a template in the way of, okay, I have this memorized, right?
We don't want to be robotic and just seem like we have everything memorized.
But the idea is if you are in a situation, this listener is probably asking this question for a reason, right?
Maybe this person has been asked to make an impromptu speech.
Maybe it happens a lot at meetings. Pay attention to where in your life this could happen to you, right?
So if you are at work, right, this is the Business English podcast.
So let's say... Let's say that every Monday your team has a meeting and you have to go around and report certain things.
That's impromptu. It could change week to week, but there are certain basic things that we can have prepared just in the background all the time.
Yeah, so it's impromptu but expected. I like that idea.
Right, right. So guys, we have really done a lot about public speaking on the podcast.
So if you haven't listened already, this is way back.
This is on our other show, All Ears English.
This is episode 1789 is three strategies for nerves during business English presentations.
And then, Lindsay, you were you wanted to recommend another podcast.
Yeah, I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is another resource for you guys is the podcast called Think Fast, Talk Smart.
It's by Stanford professor Matt Abrahams.
He's a friend of ours, friend of the show.
We've done some collaborations with him.
He's been on the show and we will be collaborating with him this fall for some additional episodes.
But he really focuses on spontaneous speaking and shows popular it will give you a lot of additional tips and tricks guys so go over and check that out good that's great that's great guys the other thing you can do is practice your skills with a friend make it a game maybe like improv here I for example a game could be you put topics in a hat everybody writes a topic on a slip of paper And you cut them up and you put it into a hat and you draw a piece of paper out of the hat and you have to talk about that topic for two minutes.
So overall, this is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
And I that's not my I feel like I heard that recently on a Peloton ride.
So that's not your quote, Michelle. No, no, that's not that's not my no.
But recently. Yeah, but it's but it's true.
Right. To start just getting yourself used to that feeling of, OK, now you.
Okay, now it's your turn to talk. Yeah, you're right.
I totally agree. There is a level of practice.
I think a lot of times we think we'll be a victim of this scenario.
Someone points at us and says, speak. But no, there's something that we can do.
It's like a muscle. We fine tune the muscle.
And I think as we said at the top of the show, podcasting is one way to do that.
I think you do develop a certain level of confidence in spontaneity when you're podcasting, when you're presenting frequently, when you're playing games, where you're on stage, anything you can do to get yourself, build that muscle.
It's like a muscle in the gym. Yeah, exactly.
Actually now, so my son is getting, starting to understand what a podcast is.
And so now, but, but, So now he makes podcasts.
Yeah, this is just new this week, so I hadn't told you yet, but it's on a video.
And I started to realize that we video him on our phones so frequently that I think he thinks he's on some sort of reality show.
Well, he knows that his mom's a podcaster.
Yeah, yeah. So now I'll tape it. I'll start the video.
And out of nowhere, he started just describing what he's doing.
He'll say, okay, so over the weekend, we did this.
That is so cute. Oh, my gosh. It is so cute.
So now he'll say, okay, so I want to do another podcast.
I want to do another podcast. So it is true.
So I'm thinking of it in that way for him.
He is you know it's a good skill as well for for anybody really yeah that's adorable i love it maybe he'll be a guest on our guest yes guest appearance abercrombie's viral denim sale is back and spotify listeners get an extra 15 off with code spotify af abercrombie is known for their denim with 30 to 50 off all jeans find out how denim should feel shop the viral denim sale in the abercrombie app online or in stores Valid in stores and online through August 11th, 2025 in US and Canada.
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Exclusions apply. See details online. Okay, Michelle.
All right, we're back. So here we go. So I love that idea.
And so now we see some of the things that we can do.
We know that it's a muscle, building the muscle.
So The other thing to acknowledge is there's no way you're going to know all the facts that you need to say when you're asked to speak in an impromptu nature.
That's why if you have the templates, if you have the muscle built of being confident just speaking off the cuff, it is okay if you don't have all the information, all the content perfectly correct or exactly what you need to say.
You know what I mean? It can kind of compensate.
Yeah. Right. Right. Absolutely. So I think in the moment when, okay, all right, Lindsay, make the speech, right?
Okay. Stay, stay calm, breathe, try and focus.
That's first and foremost, right? Breathing, like it really does so much.
It sounds so It sounds so cliche, deep breaths, but it really does help.
It helps your nervous system. It helps everything, helps you focus.
And yeah, I mean, it tells your body, it tells your, what is it?
It's your, I think it's your parasympathetic nervous system. to come forward, come to the foreground and put your sympathetic nervous system, which I think is what's going crazy with anxiety.
It says you go to the background, we need the parasympathetic nerve.
I hope I don't get, didn't get those screwed up.
I think that's right. It tells a different nervous system in the driver's seat.
Yeah. It really literally shifts your brain chemistry.
So huge deal. Yeah. Huge deal. And then a strategy is think of some key words, just, okay, we're just going to, you know, think of a few key words that we want to have.
So choose, choose three, right? Okay. These are a couple of words that are going to be key that I want to remember.
And then if you can take some notes, you could also just write down some of the main points.
Like Lindsay said, it doesn't need to be perfect with all the linking words, just the main words.
And again, if you've already been practicing, um, and working out that muscle, then you don't need to write all the other things.
You'll already know, okay, well, this is how I'm going to introduce myself.
This is how I'm going to fit. These are some of the main formats I want to use, the template of what I want to say.
And now you're plugging in the information.
So you can just take a few notes. Yeah, I love that idea.
I love that idea, Michelle. And then once you've done the preparation or you are about to stand up, being present is the best antidote to being nervous, right?
Because we interviewed Hadar Shemesh on All Ears English, and she made an important point and said, you can't have two thoughts at the same time.
So once you're standing up there, let's say it's Monday morning.
It's 8 a.m Group meeting team meeting your boss has said Michelle tell me about our status with our marketing in Asia Go stand up at that point.
You have a choice. You can either think I'm nervous and Honestly get kind of not perform very well Or you can decide to be present and focus in the moment and then probably perform better right you can't do you can't do both and You can't do both in the same moment.
So that's an important point. Right. Yeah, absolutely.
Keep your mind focused. You're only focusing on one thing.
And then, guys, overall, I touched on this before, but now that we've talked about this, take note in your life where this may come up.
Right. So take note of, okay, is that, oh yeah, I do always have a meeting at this time.
And sometimes they ask people to speak. So take note of that.
Right. So these can be where this can be a good starting place.
Okay. So sometimes I go to this event and they ask if anybody wants to say anything, people can say, right.
And so look in your life where this may happen and then you can work from there.
That's a really good point. It's kind of opening your brain box in certain scenarios.
You walk into certain parties where maybe you have a friend that you know tends to put people on the spot for whatever reason.
They just do that. Then you walk into that party every time there's a party there and you know, hey, I may be asked to speak spontaneously.
I'm going to have these vocabulary words ready.
Right. That's really good. That's really good.
Yeah, absolutely. All right. So I wrote if time we can play this game, but I don't know if you want to.
Do we have time? Let's see now. Yeah. You want me to be on the spot, Michelle?
Yes. OK, so I came up with two topics. If you want, you can switch the topic for me because I just wrote it for both of us.
I'm going to time you. Okay. So you're going to, Lindsay is going to speak for one minute and your topic is a toast to Jessica.
You're giving a toast to Jessica. And what is the context of the toast?
Is it a birthday toast? A birthday toast.
A birthday toast. How about a nine years at all ears English toast?
A nine years at all ears English toast. Okay.
Do you need time? Do you need a few seconds to prepare?
I'm ready. I'm ready. All right. Ready. Just one minute.
Just a one minute toast. All right. Ready?
A one minute toast. Okay. All right. Go. all right so i would like to take this opportunity to make a toast to our valued team member jessica jessica has been a member of our team in our incredible community here at allers english for the last nine years i remember the season when she started working with us at allers english it was the fall of 2014
And she has come in and added so much to our team's energy, our sense of purpose here at All Ears English.
She drove our direction in moving towards the training for the IELTS exam.
She became our initial thought leader within the IELTS, within our line of business, preparing students for IELTS.
And more than just content, she motivates students.
It really is inspiring to hear the energy in her voice on the IELTS Energy podcast and when we occasionally hear her on Business English or All Ears English.
And just being able to insert energy into students and motivate them to be prepared for the exam, to reach for their goals, and to know that learning English is about so much more than just the language.
It's about connection. Okay. Wow. That was a minute and 15 seconds.
I let you keep going because it was so beautiful.
Wow. We got to send this to Jessica. Wow.
She will be so, wow. That's a good day for Jessica.
That was very nicely done. So I was kind of taking a little bit of a few notes on what you were doing there.
Okay. What did I do? I don't know. It's a blur.
I feel like I can't even remember. It really was very nice and very true.
And Jessica, I love Jessica. For sure. So you started out, oh, I would like to take this opportunity to toast with Jessica nine years.
You also went into the past, right? You said, I remember when she started.
You told a story was interesting. You told the story about, okay, how it was when she started and specific things she's done at not only the tasks she's done, but also her character, what she brings to the team, not only with just her, her, tasks and the actual things she's done but also just her character the energy she brings so I think that this would be a good activity if you do with your friend have your friend take notes what did you say let's deconstruct oh i love that idea and i think i think it's really valuable falling back on we use the word templates but it might be keywords or frames it's always good if you know that you're looking to speak for a certain amount of time going back into history setting the stage something like i remember when super valuable because that spreads out the time across the past the present the future i didn't have time to get if i have thought about that for another second before we say go i may have said past present future Right.
Right. That's good. That's really good. So, yeah.
Anyway, so very nice, Lindsay. I don't know how our time is today, if I'm supposed to do it or not.
No, that's great. So I think I was going to say something else and then he took me by surprise, but that's what this is about.
This is impromptu speaking. And, you know, there is a level of anxiety that might come up in everyone when we're asked to come up with something.
Like in my mind, I felt like I was repeating certain words too much.
I felt like I was saying energy too much.
I thought I'm not sure if that's if it came off that way, but we have to be present in these moments.
And honestly, if you're not given any time to prepare yourself, Just focus on doing the very best you can.
You know, that's what we have to do. Totally agree.
Well, Lindsay, I think we should wrap it up for today.
Yeah, let's do it. Let's wrap it up. I would also say just one final thing is a way to, if you really want to improve your speaking skills and reach the next level, things we can do are join Toastmasters.
That's something we could do. You could also enroll and prepare for the IELTS exam because the IELTS exam is has the speaking sections one, two, and three, it is mostly, it is spontaneous speaking.
You don't know what they're going to ask you.
So if you spend six months preparing for that exam, you could inherit or build some key skills that could take you way beyond the exam where the exam is not the point.
Your job is the point or your university degree is the point, but it's a way of giving yourself a stage for practicing.
Okay. Definitely. I love it. Okay. Well, this has been a lot of fun, Lindsay.
Good job. And guys, definitely stay calm in these situations.
Work that muscle before you get to it and always be looking.
When could this happen to me? When might somebody say make a speech about this?
Let's go. Okay. So if you're prepared, the more prepared you are on the back end, the less impromptu it will feel.
I love it. Work that muscle before you get to it.
Very profound. Love it. All right. Love it.
I'll talk to you soon. Take care. Bye. Thank you. tap the link in the show notes.
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