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PSR™ Method
(Presentation Skills & Reading)
Test yourself...
You have a unique speech pattern
You may not have noticed it, but when you put your jeans on, you start with the same leg every time. In the shower, if you are right-handed, you probably pick up the soap with your right hand and wash (let’s say) your left shoulder first. You never think: This is boring, I’ve been doing it this way for years… today, it’s going to be left hand, right knee. Well, in the same way, we develop a speech pattern.A speech pattern starts when a baby is born. It’s not surprising that a newborn baby cries when it is held upside down in a strange new world. Crying is the first form of communication. In this case it says:
'I’m not very happy.'
After a while, the baby learns to smile:
'I’m happy.'
From then on we learn a language, an accent, speed, tone and an intricate way of arranging words in a sentence. These are influenced by our parents, friends, school and, disappointingly, by untrained TV and radio news and programme presenters (see the chapter Newsreaders, reports and presenters)
The trouble is that no school, university or college (even a stage school) teaches a specific technique for reading a script or teleprompt (autocue).
Throughout the world and in every language,
children are simply taught to string words together.
children are simply taught to string words together.
Without a technique, you are reading by instinct:
instinct /in'stingkt'/ n. The innate aspect of behaviour that is unlearned.
In other words, 'guessing'.
However good you are, you know you could be better. However successful you are, you’ll be even better with the PSR™ Method!
( 26 seconds)
Hi Steve,
I’ve now finished the PSR™ Method Home Study Course
and thought I would drop you a line with a couple of comments.
Kind regards,
James Mullen
Scotland, UK
!!! FREE VOICE TEST !!!
If you would like a free voice test,
simply record the following script and send it to me:
Chocolate Heaven
Have you ever tasted paradise?
Have you ever tasted a chocolate so delicious you fall in love?
Excite your palate with the smooth creamy chocolate from Chocolate Heaven.
Chocolate made for chocolate lovers.
Have you ever tasted a chocolate so delicious you fall in love?
Excite your palate with the smooth creamy chocolate from Chocolate Heaven.
Chocolate made for chocolate lovers.
RECORDING OPTIONS
- MP3 format
You can download a free recording programme for your computer from - Cassette tape
You can buy a Sony TCM939 Shoebox Cassette Recorder from Argos or Comet
for £24.49. - CD
- Minidisc
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. You will need a headset.
If you don’t have one, you can buy a Logitech headset from £10.
Download the instructions for Audacity here
If you have recorded this commercial in MP3 format, please email it to me at:
If you have used a cassette or CD recorder, you can send it to
88 Erskine Hill, London, NW11 6HR, United Kingdom
Alternatively, you are welcome to give me a call and read the script
to me!
My direct line UK: 0208 455 1666
USA: (347) 756 4030
Have fun!!
Speed test yourself at home
There are seven elements in the PSR™ Method.
One of them is to find ‘mental commas’.
Here’s an example of how easy it is to get it wrong:
read the following two lines and notice the comma has been moved.
This simple change completely alters the meaning of the sentence!
I hope it makes you smile!
Woman, without her, man would be lost.
Woman, without her man, would be lost.
Another element is slowing down.
About 73 % of us talk too fast, including most broadcasters!
Talking too fast makes you sound less confident and nervous. This makes it difficult for your listener to keep up with you.
By speaking slower, your listener is able to retain more information and will have more confidence in what you say.
Talking too fast makes you sound less confident and nervous. This makes it difficult for your listener to keep up with you.
By speaking slower, your listener is able to retain more information and will have more confidence in what you say.
How fast do you speak?
Timing is very important because when you read a 30-second commercial in 29 seconds, you have to read it again in the correct time. Adding one or two seconds to a script is difficult - try it.
The Polar Express
On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I didn’t rustle the sheets and I breathed slowly and silently.
Castle cement
One of the principle aims of Castle is to ensure full compliance with all environmental regulation governing its sites.
Nevertheless, it is not the philosophy of the company to stand still
It is continuously seeking to minimise its impact on the environment, placing great emphasis on improving conservation, restoration, landscaping, dust control and emissions. A $55 million modernisation programme was announced in 1998 which will make Castle Cement world class in terms of production, efficiency and environmental performance.
Chocolate Heaven
Have you ever tasted paradise?
Have you ever tasted a chocolate so delicious you fall in love?
Excite your palate with the smooth creamy chocolate from Chocolate Heaven.
Chocolate made for chocolate lovers.
To find the correct timings:
