By studying Speaking and Listening, we can develop and apply skills for communicating effectively in a spoken or signed world language, in order to disseminate knowledge, reach a broader audience, and foster understanding across people and cultures.

Perspectives

What would it have been like to hear the great speakers of the past, those before we had the ability to record, and especially those who spoke in different languages? Most of what we have is their words written down, by themselves or second-hand (which can be an issue when people misrepresent someone’s words – see, for instance, the comparison of two versions of Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” speech, one written down by an audience member at the Woman’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, on May 29, 1851, and one written down a decade later, giving the speech its common title). Sometimes we are fortunate enough to have a description by a contemporary listener. Neely Tucker of the Library of Congress quotes from the 1850 Anti-Slavery Bugle someone who heard Frederick Douglass speak: “His voice is full and rich, and his enunciation remarkably distinct and musical. He speaks in a low conversational tone most of the time, but occasionally his tones roll out full and deep as those of an organ. The effect is electrical.” We learn about the timbre of Douglass’ voice, his style of speaking conversationally rather than more formally, and his ability to emphasize certain points by changing his tone. We also learn he was “electrical.” Skilled speakers have this effect: to thrill, to move, to make an impression on their listeners.

See more about the “Following in Douglass’ Footsteps” project conducted by Anne Mattina with a grant from Mass Humanities.

Concepts to Consider

The ability to speak effectively is invaluable. Speaking is our primary means of communication on a daily basis, whether that is public speaking or simply talking with other human beings. We use speaking skills when we convey our order at the local Dunkin Donuts in the morning and when we ask for clarification on an assignment from an instructor. We use them on job interviews and in advocating for our children’s needs at school. And we use them in public speaking circumstances where we are often trying to persuade our audience of something we deeply believe. Mark Rowh (2009) remarks, “Public speaking abilities can be helpful in everything from making a class presentation to advancing your career. In some cases, public speaking is a job requirement.” He continues that “public speaking gives you a chance to make a positive impression on others […and] provides a great vehicle for sharing ideas that matter to you […as it] offers you a chance to articulate your thoughts and inform or shape the opinions of listeners.” We increase our value in the workplace as well as our opportunities for making a difference.

Critical listening is the flip side of effective speaking. As reading and writing work together, so do Speaking and Listening. A speaker tries to communicate clearly and persuasively to their audience. The audience then has the responsibility to listen carefully and, like a reader, construct meaning from what is presented. The COVID years gave us a unique challenge in listening. As many of us were mostly communicating on remote devices, how we listened changed. We were confronted with shifts in how we were given information, a potential lack of accompanying body language, and difficulties with concentration. Remote interaction, however, can, depending on the platform, have the advantage of closed captioning, which can increase access to the spoken word.

In addition to public speaking in our first language, another way to gain Speaking and Listening skills on an advanced level is to study a world language. The benefits of learning a language have been well documented. The infographic below by the Modern Language Association breaks them down by stage of life. They focus on learning and cognition in youth. In adulthood, they note success in college and how the skills developed while learning a language translate to academic success overall. There is also evidence that speaking more than one language can improve the likelihood of finding a job and, subsequently, affect the amount a person earns over their lifetime. Dr. Rala Diakite, professor of Humanities at Fitchburg State University, reiterates the advantage of learning languages in career preparation: “In the past 10 years or so, the number of jobs available with being bilingual as one of the qualifications has doubled. This is true for any number of jobs at any number of levels, even in the service industry. There’s also a whole other more advanced level in political science, finance, world health, journalism, travel and hospitality. There’s just a range of options where those skill levels will help students” (first published in Fitchburg State University Contact, Summer 2021). Beyond that, as we get older, being bilingual can decrease chances of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and increase the ability to recover from other brain-focused conditions, such as strokes.

Learning another language has the broader benefit of fostering understanding across people and cultures (see Diverse Perspectives in chapter 5.2). The ability to speak another person’s language creates connections to that person. As we learn languages, we learn about culture and history, gaining insight into diverse perspectives. Krismelly Grullon Rojas, an alum of Fitchburg State majoring in early childhood education, comments on the benefits of studying another language: “You can communicate more with people, you can communicate across cultures, and you can understand more. The more you learn, the better” (first published in Contact, Summer 2021). Pair language learning with studying abroad or visiting a country that speaks that language, immersing in another experience and way of thinking, and the result can be life-changing (see Integrative High Impact Practices in chapter 6.2). It is important to note that, while we often default to thinking of Speaking and Listening as exclusively verbal and auditory experiences, signed languages are also a form of Speaking and Listening.

Public speaking and learning world languages can invoke some anxiety, especially when perceived as a requirement. Concerning public speaking, Nancy Weil (2009) humorously writes, “Given the choice between picking up a live snake or a live microphone, many of you reading this would reach for the reptile.” Some of this anxiety stems from fear of looking foolish or of rejection. As Benni Ichsanda Rahman Hz (2022, p. 116) notes, “students find it difficult to share their thoughts or ideas to others, because they are afraid that their perspectives will not be accepted.” This anxiety can increase when asked to speak in a new, as yet unfamiliar language. Introverted individuals especially tend to have more anxiety traditionally in these situations: “Introverted people already have a lot of dopamine in their bodies, so when they are required to speak in front of a community, their anxiety and tension levels will increase” (p. 112). But, as Richard Tierney writes on the book jacket of The Introverted Presenter (2015) about certain jobs, “Introverts are congenitally programmed to recoil from the prospect of public speaking with fear and loathing, yet making presentations to expert and non-expert audiences is an inescapable requirement for career advancement in any technical field.” It is important we learn how to manage our anxiety to share our voices.

Weil reassures us that we “can learn, improve upon and even come to enjoy” speaking skills. To do so, we have to practice communicating to audiences and find our own styles. What may be effective for one speaker might not work as well for another, due to personality differences, audience types, and experience. Learning about different strategies, especially how skilled speakers of the past and present became so, helps us develop our own way of communicating.

Speaking and Listening and Good, Necessary Trouble

Having performed at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2020 reading her poem “The Hills We Climb,” Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in United States history. She also is the first National Youth Poet Laureate, the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl, and the first poet featured in an Annie Liebovitz photo on the cover of Vogue.

In her TED talk, and in her activism work, Gorman makes us think about the connection between Speaking and Listening and speaking up. She openly talks about her speech impediment, citing how it made her doubt her ability to speak clearly and whether she had anything necessary to communicate. She also has an ​​auditory processing disorder and is hypersensitive to sound; her mention of “jumbling and mumbling” referencing how she hears words at times. Upon reflection, she chose to perform poems and give speeches about issues such as race, feminism, and marginalization – about people she wanted to stand up for by speaking up.

There are those who have tried to silence Gorman. In May 2023, a complaint was filed at the Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, Florida, against the book version of Gorman’s inauguration poem, “alleg[ing] that the work is ‘not educational,’ contains indirect hate speech and shouldn’t be in schools” (Chappell, 2023). But, as Gorman reminds us, “the choice to be heard is the most political act of all.”

Special note: Gorman was one of the college graduates in 2020 who did not get a commencement when she finished her undergraduate degree in sociology at Harvard University. She celebrated by joining actor John Krasinski’s web series Some Good News, chatting with Oprah Winfrey and giving her own commencement address at the end. 

View: “Using your voice is a political choice”

Discussion 4.4

• If you have already taken a course with a primary focus on Speaking and Listening, think about what you were asked to do and what you learned. If you have not already taken a Speaking and Listening course, think about the types of courses you could take.
• In what ways did or might the idea(s) or example(s) discussed above apply in such a course?
• What other ideas or examples would you add to the discussion?