Shadowdh Posted August 19, 2008 at 01:31 PM Report Posted August 19, 2008 at 01:31 PM Hi all, well I have to give a short speech in chinese of thanks and perhaps including an amusing anecdote and I am wondering if there is any sort of format or style that I should follow... last time I just winged it and it was ok but if I could nail a more formal style maybe that would be better... cheers for any assistance... Quote
Senzhi Posted August 19, 2008 at 02:51 PM Report Posted August 19, 2008 at 02:51 PM (edited) I regularly give 15 to 30 minute speeches, in English ... with a Chinese interpreter standing next beside me. I never thought about the structure being different and do my speeches as I always did everywhere in the world: Greetings and a funny or shocking anecdote to grab attention. Then the usual stuff: building up to conclusion, conclusion giving a short recap. Ending with a funny anecdote again, followed by the "thank you for your attention". One thing I do be more careful about in China is to twist any negative sounding words into positive ones. Especially when you talk about China and/or anything Chinese: in my experience, Chinese people are not keen with constructive feedback. Edited August 19, 2008 at 03:56 PM by Senzhi Quote
Shadowdh Posted August 19, 2008 at 03:27 PM Author Report Posted August 19, 2008 at 03:27 PM Thanks for the pointers... I am not the best at speeches at the best of times... and for some reason get really nervous when I do it in Chinese... cheers Quote
Senzhi Posted August 19, 2008 at 03:52 PM Report Posted August 19, 2008 at 03:52 PM and for some reason get really nervous when I do it in Chinese Practice in Chinese in front of a mirror, with nobody around you. Believe me, everyone from Bill Gates to Wu Jintao did it. It helps building up confidence, for you'll see yourself the exact way people see you. Being nervous is actually not a bad thing. It would be much worse if we'd all stand there ... bored. Quote
liuzhou Posted August 19, 2008 at 04:01 PM Report Posted August 19, 2008 at 04:01 PM Don't forget to say "That's all" at the end. Quote
Shadowdh Posted August 19, 2008 at 05:18 PM Author Report Posted August 19, 2008 at 05:18 PM Senzhi - thanks for the tip, I think I will do that... Liuzhou - no "folks" at the end of that... Quote
Scoobyqueen Posted August 21, 2008 at 08:33 AM Report Posted August 21, 2008 at 08:33 AM deleted Quote
Shadowdh Posted August 21, 2008 at 09:32 AM Author Report Posted August 21, 2008 at 09:32 AM Thanks Scoobyqueen, its a short (3-5 mins) thanks for all your support and help type of speech and the amusing little story is to be from my time in China... I have a couple to hand but just need to fit them in and try to be at least interesting... I will look up that thread... cheers Quote
Scoobyqueen Posted August 21, 2008 at 09:45 AM Report Posted August 21, 2008 at 09:45 AM deleted Quote
Shadowdh Posted August 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM Author Report Posted August 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM No they dont, as it was pointed out to/asked of me sooo many times when I was in China... usually when I talked with people who were learning English one of the first things they ask is why do British people talk so much about the weather... Seeing as the speech will be given in the Chinese Embassy in London it might be relevant though... thanks for the idea... Quote
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