The obligations of the day to day can make us exhaust ourselves, physically and mentally, very easily. Hence, it is important to take time to rest and to distract the mind in recreational or leisure activities.
In general, there are those who prefer to do some kind of sporting activity, such as walking, jogging, running, bicycling, swimming, etc., while others prefer leisure activities, such as playing a board game, drawing, doing crafts, read, among others.
In relation to reading , those who are passionate about it affirm that it is a liberating pastime. Thanks to reading they can meet different types of people, travel around the world, return to the past, travel to the future and even go to the center of the Earth.
This, without taking into account that reading brings other great benefits, such as improving concentration capacity, preventing cognitive degeneration, favoring intellectual development, stimulating imagination, etc.
However, it is easy to read from the privacy of the house or when we are resting lying on the grass of a park, but what happens when reading aloud in front of an audience made up, mostly, of strangers? In this case, we would appreciate being able to count on a good read so as not to suffer embarrassment.
Do you have difficulties with reading aloud? Do you stumble from time to time while reading? Do you want to improve your reading skills, but don’t have the slightest idea how to do it? Don’t let the parrot go!
During this article you will be able to find out everything you have to do and take into account to be a better reader, specifically, by doing it out loud. After having read it, you will be filled with confidence in yourself, because you will already know how to read aloud correctly. But, without further ado, let’s see right now how to achieve it.
Instructions for reading aloud
There are many situations that require reading aloud. When they do show up, it’s important not to be caught off guard and to know what to do. In order to be successful, consider the following:
- Before starting to read aloud, advance preparation is essential. To do this, take enough time to underline key words and phrases in the text. This will give you the opportunity to emphasize the relevant parts so that the audience has a better understanding of the message.
- To be successful when it comes to emphasizing, you must learn to modulate your voice depending on the intention of the text. Vary the pace, tone and volume, especially when there are dialogues in the reading to give each of the characters their own personality.
- Respect punctuation marks. By doing so, you will have the opportunity to breathe and continue reading. Also, you may need to identify other rest points so that you don’t run out of breath in the middle of a sentence, which would show a lack of preparation and could even change the meaning of what is being read.
- When reading aloud, look up from time to time so that you make eye contact with the audience. This will help you capture and hold the interest of others. It also makes it easier for listeners to understand the text.
- Make eye contact with specific people, such as your friends or family members present. However, do not obsess over the same people. Widen your field of vision and fix your gaze on a person while you say the entire sentence. By doing so, you will be able to build a deep connection with your viewers.
- Of course, this is not always easy to do. Actually, it is a true art. There is a possibility that later you do not know where you were going in the reading. To prevent this from happening and to have good eye contact, list the moments when you will look up. That way, you’ll know where you left off and can continue reading smoothly.
- Remember that practice makes perfect, which means that before you go out to read aloud, you should have practiced. You can do it in front of the mirror or in the presence of some friends. This will help you deal with your nerves and be familiar with what you have to pronounce to read fluently.
- When reading in front of the mirror, pay attention to your facial expressions and body language so that you look natural and relaxed in front of your audience and can connect with them.
- Finally, record yourself practicing reading aloud. Use your phone or a camera for it. Read just as you would in front of others, taking into account appropriate pauses, breathing, body language, facial expressions, and proper emphasis.
- When you have finished your reading, play the recording so you can see and hear yourself. In this way you will realize what your strengths and weaknesses are and you will know what points you should work on to improve.
- Also, pay close attention to your body language to correct certain peculiarities, such as putting your hand in your pants pocket, playing with your hair, poor posture, etc.
As you may have realized, reading aloud is not something extraordinary and does not have to be a very complex task. It’s all a matter of having a good preparation.
Of course, sometimes you will not have the text that you are going to read aloud at hand, with enough time in advance. In such a case, something that will help you is to constantly practice your reading. That way, when you’re assigned a read aloud, it won’t come as a surprise and you’ll be prepared. But what else do you need to know?
How to control the nerves?
Do breathing exercises
When you learn to control your breathing, you will also be able to control your heart rate and blood pressure. Also, your body will adopt a relaxed posture.
Try this: sit in a quiet and comfortable place, taking care to have good posture. Close your eyes as you inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. As you take a breath, try to hold it for a second and then, as you release it, count to 4. Repeat the exercise over and over again. When you finish, you will be able to notice a big difference in your mood.
Maintain good posture
For example, that your shoulders and hips are aligned at a right angle, while your back remains upright, whether you are sitting or standing. In relation to your feet, they must be firmly planted on the floor, at a distance of approximately 30 centimeters from each other.
If you have a table or a lectern, you can use it to place your text, to rest your hands or to adopt a more authoritative position.
Focus your attention on people who show interest
No matter how important or instructive what you are saying is, there will always be those who do not share those ideas. In fact, some may be downright bored, distracted, and even sleepy. In such a case, the best thing you can do is ignore them.
Locate those people who show real interest. They are usually the ones sitting upright, nodding their heads and making eye contact with you.
Doing this will give you more confidence and make you feel more relaxed, natural and flowing. In addition, you will be able to establish some interaction with the audience in general.
Keep it real
As much as you prepare very well and practice enough, you are human and there will always be the possibility of making a mistake. Don’t let that paralyze you.
If you misused a word or missed a line, the audience probably didn’t notice. Therefore, continue your reading as if nothing had happened, unless the error distorts the meaning of what you say. In such a case, it is best to go back and correct before proceeding.
What do you need to read aloud?
When reading aloud it is necessary that you pay close attention to some important aspects. For example:
- The speed with which you read. Nerves can make you read faster than normal. This could cause you to run over the words and make it more difficult for your audience to comprehend the reading. To prevent this from happening, read slower than usual. It doesn’t matter if this seems unnatural to you, since your reading is probably faster than you think. However, you must be balanced on this point. If you keep a linear rhythm in your reading, it will become boring and you will lose the interest of those who listen to you. Vary the pace in order to make the reading vivid and arouse emotions in the audience.
- The correct pronunciation of the words. If you don’t pay attention to this point, the audience may have a hard time understanding what you are saying. Something that will help you, in this particular, is to practice the articulation of some sounds. Highlight words that end in consonants, such as t, d, b, g, etc., so you can pronounce them more clearly.
If you have difficulty pronouncing specific words, spend time practicing their pronunciation. Do it as many times as necessary until you manage to do it correctly and naturally.
Naturally, when it comes to reading aloud, everyone, regardless of whether they are introverts or extroverts, experiences some nervousness . But, what can we do so that they do not dominate us?
Tips for reading aloud
Before you head out to read aloud, do some warm-up exercises. This does not mean that you have to move your limbs or something like that. Rather, what it means is that you must prepare your voice, how can you do it? Very easy! Sing or hum a song throughout the day. This will keep your voice from sounding fatigued when reading.
Another idea is to repeat tongue twisters, with different levels of difficulty, so that you can relax both your tongue and your lips. You can also repeat a sentence exaggerating its pronunciation to stretch your jaw, relax the muscles of your face and achieve greater flexibility in your tongue.
Drink plenty of water, if possible, before and during your reading. Especially if you notice that your voice is getting a little hoarse or if your lips are getting more dry than usual. This will help you salivate appropriately while reading.
Since everything you eat or drink influences your voice, for better or worse, it is important that you pay attention to this particular. For example, if possible, refrain from drinks that contain caffeine, such as black sodas, coffee, and some teas.
Also, avoid mints, nuts, and other high-fat foods, as they can give you heartburn or hoarseness, which you don’t want to happen while reading aloud.
Finally, keep in mind that no one expects perfection from you. Reading aloud is a stressful situation and, therefore, it is normal that, on occasion, you make some mistakes. Don’t get demoralized by it or be too hard on yourself. Remember that you will always have another opportunity to do better.
Practice your reading. Familiarize yourself with each of the words that make it up. This will make you enjoy your reading and others will be able to notice it, so they will also relax and be more willing to listen to everything you have to say.
If you take these recommendations into consideration, you will surely have an efficient and clean reading aloud, worthy of a large audience.