Details

Quick on Your Feet: Spontaneous Speaking Practice

Goals:

This interactive on-your-feet workshop uses improvisation and free-speaking exercises as methods to train speakers to stay focused and structured when giving spontaneous talks and handling an audience Q&A. The seminar will help participants to communicate confidently in various semi-formal contexts in order to gain confidence in impromptu public speaking with practical tips and exercises. Participants develop strategies for engaging listeners and tailoring information to the audience in semi-formal role-play settings such as site visits, conferences, panels and social events. Playful and practical techniques encourage presenters to step out of their comfort zone and to maintain authority and become more self-reliant when speaking extemporaneously.

Content Outline:

Exercises are used throughout the course to ensure that participants can immediately put skills into practice. The seminar begins with verbal and non-verbal communication training, connecting breathing to thinking, in order to manage nervousness when giving an impromptu talk. This is followed by training with improvisation techniques to help speakers maintain focus and composure when thinking on their feet. Participants are then given free-speaking exercises in order to train their quick-thinking skills, in order to stay focused, and to engage an audience in their topic. The training ends with an exploration of best practices for handling the question and answer session. Each speaker will have ample opportunity throughout the workshop for individual coaching and feedback.

Methods:

• Improvisation
• “Pitch” practice to promote one’s research effectively
• Developing effective tactics for handling the Q&A
• Language practice and analysis
• Partner work/role-play
• Trainer and group feedback
• Voice and body techniques

Language: This workshop will be held in English. Good English skills are of advantage but are not a requirement.

Trainer: Ric Oquita is a dynamic trainer, specializing in kinesthetic communication and presentation techniques, helping professionals and academics to give convincing and motivating oral presentations at international conferences, meetings and lectures. With a rich background in theatre, he provides techniques to strengthen and support effective speaking, corporal and vocal training, and interpersonal communication skills.

Date: Tue June 9 and Wed June 10, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days
Place: TU Hamburg, Am Schwarzenberg-Campus 2 (B), Room B 0.001

Registration: Due to a limited number of participants a binding registration is necessary. Please ask your supervisor for permission to participate and then address your registration to intranet.tuhh.de/anmeldung/speaking_practice_26_leu

For registered participants attendance at the entire workshop is obligatory.

Contact: 

• Dr. Krista Schölzig (T: 040 30601-4337 | E: Krista.Schoelzig@tuhh.de)
• Lara Walkling (T: 040 30601-3752 | E: Lara.Walkling@tuhh.de)

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