Dr. Tony L. Eng
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: none
Many great thinkers of the past, the so called "Renaissance Men", excelled in both Engineering/Science and Exposition/Rhetoric/Oration. The creative men and women who will be the leaders of tomorrow can do so as well. "MIT Can Talk" promotes campus-wide awareness of good oral communication skills. It consists of: (1) a series of independent workshop sessions on public speaking/oral communication, followed by (2) a speaking competition. The workshops are open to the MIT community, but the contest is open only to MIT undergraduates and MEng students. The various workshops address different aspects of speaking and oral communication. They are meant to be practical and hands-on. Sometimes, audience volunteers will be asked to participate in a demonstration; preference will be given to those who have entered the speaking competition. Check out the website for the most updated information on the workshops and competition!
Sponsor(s): Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Contact: Dr. Tony L. Eng, mitcantalk@mit.edu
| Jan/24 | Fri | 02:00PM-04:30PM | 32-141 |
Nothing grabs audience attention and imagination so strongly as a well-told story. This workshop will teach you how to tell a story so that people really listen: what to include, how to shape it, and how to keep every moment compelling.
Want to enter the MIT Can Talk competition but don't know what to talk about? Come to this workshop!
| Jan/25 | Sat | 02:00PM-04:30PM | 32-141 |
Practice turning an event from your life into a story. Learn concepts and frameworks that will help you feel comfortable identifying, structuring and telling your story.
Want to enter the MIT Can Talk competition but don't know what to talk about? Come to this workshop!
| Jan/26 | Sun | 01:00PM-03:00PM | 32-141 |
Humor can liven up any speech. Come learn how to incorporate humor into your next one! Come and "find your funny." Squares encouraged to attend.
| Jan/26 | Sun | 03:30PM-05:30PM | 32-141 |
It's one thing to have funny material; it's another thing to be able to deliver it. Learn some techniques for how to deliver your material and how to be able to dynamically work on your feet before a live audience.
| Jan/27 | Mon | 01:00PM-03:00PM | 32-124 |
ex-pres-sive (adjective) 1. full of expression 2. conveying something
synonyms: Animated, Sensitive, Open, Easy-to-read, Dramatic
antonyms: Impassive, Emotionless, Blank, Expressionless, Inexpressive, Unrevealing
Which would you rather listen to? Which way would you rather speak? Bring any paragraph of text (from a book, a movie, or even your MIT Can Talk speech!).
Wear loose clothing for physical movement.
| Jan/27 | Mon | 03:00PM-05:30PM | 32-141 |
Improve your public speaking with vocal and imaginative techniques used by actors. Learn to enliven any text, free yourself of inhibitions, and be persuasive and interesting in front of an audience - whether it's on stage, at work, or at a wedding. No experience or preparation necessary.
| Jan/27 | Mon | 06:00PM-08:30PM | 32-141 |
Self-conscious about your accent? There's no shame in having one (foreign or domestic); nor is there any harm in learning a new one. Learn some steps you can take towards learning an "American" accent! We'll go through a step-by-step breakdown of the American accent, and then use some creative techniques to do some more individualized work (time permitting).
| Jan/28 | Tue | 01:00PM-03:00PM | 32-124 |
An effective confident speaker is more than just physically "there" -- they are present, they are in the moment, they take up space. Learn how to find and fill both the space within you and the space immediately around you, so that you can be yourself in front of an audience.
Wear loose clothing conducive for physical movement.
| Jan/28 | Tue | 03:00PM-05:00PM | 32-124 |
Dynamic speakers are vocally energetic, but they should be physically energetic as well. Learn some ideas for how to more effectively utilize your room during a speaking engagement.
| Jan/28 | Tue | 05:30PM-06:30PM | 32-124 |
Public speaking is a two party activity--but one of those parties isn't very communicative about who they are or what they want to get from your talk. Learn about the various mental models of your audience members and different techniques of communicating with them to make your ideas resonate.
| Jan/29 | Wed | 12:30PM-03:00PM | 32-141 |
You know those voices that you hear when you watch animated movies or when you listen to a commercial on a radio? Come learn techniques from the world of voiceovers for making your voice more dynamic!
| Jan/29 | Wed | 03:00PM-05:00PM | 32-141 |
This workshop explores the roles and influences that various nonverbal behaviors have on effective speaking. Through various demonstrations and activities, we will discover the power of eye contact, movement/use of space, and gestures as they relate to engaging and influencing the audience.