Kang Won-gook's Clinic for Speaking Troubles

I Want to Speak Well - What Speech Means

I get the feeling that good speakers share certain traits.

The most striking trait of a good speaker is having an abundance of things to say. Such a person listens well to what others say and remembers it. They also ask good probing questions. Through this they gather information they can put to use in their own speech. Enjoying talking is another thing they have in common. To enjoy speaking, you first have to speak often. And you need interests of your own. Look for something you feel you could speak about better than others. Those who have such a thing enjoy reading and try to observe and learn. They know that you can speak only as well as you have studied. Good speakers are also good at reflection and at letting the mind go blank. What they gain from these is their own opinions and perspectives. These are the answers ready for when someone asks what you think. To answer without hesitating is to speak well. Reflection is the work of finding those answers.

A good speaker files away newly learned facts in a knowledge notebook of their own. They make a habit of organizing what they know about particular concepts. They have their own method for storing and keeping the knowledge, information, memories, opinions, and perspectives that good speech requires. A good speaker also treats the raw material of speech differently.