According to Psycom, 75% of the population is affected by glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking. One factor is that memorizing a speech is often easier said than done.
I bet you might even be nervous while thinking about delivering a speech in front of a crowd. However, that is understandable because giving a talk is quite paradoxical.
You must memorize a speech without seeming like you learned it word for word. On the other hand, the delivery must be casual and natural, yet the timing is perfect.
Good speakers eventually sound like words come out of their mouths effortlessly, but they probably memorized and practiced it a thousand times.
So, are you now prepared to kick your fear of public speaking and enjoy giving a speech instead?
Let us look and dive into how to memorize a speech fast, some useful tips, and the advantages of being a good speaker.
Should You Memorize a Speech?
Before going into the step-by-step speech guide on memorizing a speech, let’s first discuss the complaint about memorization.
Some people think that learning it by heart is not necessary. Others feel that memorizing the speech may make the delivery sound robotic.
Yes, over-reliance on verbatim memorization may result in an artificial-sounding address. However, it can help if you acknowledge that it is more a symptom of learning the speech incorrectly than a problem with memorizing itself.
Those good speakers you hear and see at conferences or seminars are not entirely rigid. They are flexible, especially when there is a chance that they might get interrupted based on the audience’s reactions.
However it is best to consider that memorization is essential in some form or another. Most critiques of memorizing speeches are only critiques of memorization in a specifically unvarying and verbatim way.
Now, let us proceed with discussing how to memorize a speech fast.
How to Memorize a Speech Fast?
Forget word-for-word scripts! Memorize speeches ten times faster with these hacks: Ditch scripts and create a focused outline with key ideas. Use mental images linked to those ideas for easier recall. Imagine placing these images in familiar locations like your home (Memory Palace technique). Practice regularly, starting with the outline and progressing to delivering from memory. Remember, a well-rested and hydrated brain retains information better, so prioritize sleep and water. Finally, stay calm and positive: stress impairs memory, while confidence enhances it. Implement these strategies and say goodbye to memorization anxiety!
Additionally, when you are confident in your knowledge of your speech’s topic, you will appear more knowledgeable to your audience.
So, to help you on how to memorize a speech fast, here are the five essential steps to consider:
Step 1: Write Out Your Speech
The first step to memorizing a speech is to write it out. There are two ways to do this, which are the following:
- You may write it out how exactly you want to convey it.
- You may choose to write it as an outline.
If you are trying to create a precise script for a presentation or are comfortable enough as a writer, the first writing option may work better.
On the other hand, if you are more familiar with talking than writing, it is often better to create an outline instead of a full script. It can effectively help you memorize the flow of your speech.
Step 2: Practice Your Speech with Your Script
After writing, the second step is to say your address aloud using the script you made. It is acceptable only to read it in this step since you solely want to know how it would sound like a speech before memorizing it.
If you start reading your address aloud, you can recognize some unclear parts and realize it needs a bit of revising. Revising is a process of cleaning your speech in which you delete, add, or rearrange several chunks.
By doing this, you can ensure that you deliver words that people can genuinely learn and understand.
Pro tip: Practice with the Orai App, where you get feedback on your tone, tempo, confidence, and conciseness.
Step 3: Memorize the Bigger Parts of Your Speech
The key to memorizing a speech is to learn it hierarchically. It is best to begin with the bigger chunks, which are the rhetorical and logical content.
Specifically, these are the broad strokes of what you are trying to talk about in your speech. If you are giving a sales presentation, this may be the following:
- Describing the issue
- What your product is
- How to purchase your product
The first technique for memorizing a speech’s main points is to write them on the page, cover them up, and try to recall what you wrote. Spend a couple of minutes doing this method, and then deliver your speech.
When you practice giving your speech, focus on the broad points without worrying about whether you say the exact words or deliver the speech correctly.
Step 4: Proceed to the Small Points
After ensuring that you have memorized the primary parts completely, you can proceed to the speech’s small points.
These are not particular sentences, but they signify the meaning of what you want to say to the audience. Depending on your speech, there may be many of these small points.
We suggest you expand your bullets for the big chunks to represent every idea with one or two keywords. Refer to this example below:
| Main Issue | What Your Product is | How to Purchase |
|
|
|
Moreover, it is considerably shorter than a full script, but it might be more detailed than your original speech outline. Remember that your goal here is to recall all the points correctly.
Step 5: Work on Your Speech Delivery
After digesting and recalling all the big chunks and small points of your speech, you should work on delivering your address as the last step on how to memorize a speech quickly.
You can work on it by rehearsing and running through it several times, making a couple of tweaks along the way. These changes might be the areas where you would like to pause for some effect.
Moreover, keep in mind that when you are doing this, you are giving your speech a personality as well.
Tips on How to Memorize a Speech Quickly
After discussing how to memorize a speech and its step-by-step procedures, we now go through the useful tips to help you do it better.
Accordingly, if you want to know a few pointers on how to memorize a speech quickly, you may refer to the following:
1. Be Ready
Of course, the first thing you should consider is to prepare yourself. It means that you should research and gain knowledge about the topic or idea that you are presenting.
This tip is noticeably essential, but many people still think they can skip it, which is wrong. When you are worried or nervous, that fear often comes from the fact that you do not know your topic well.
Being ready with solid research and knowledge can help you in so many ways. To help you prepare, here are some methods you can use for this helpful tip about how to memorize a speech.
| Mind Mapping | It can help you fill in your memory from the very start by providing structure in space. |
| Content Mapping | This method can help you when you want to memorize your speech in verbatim and remember your beats. |
| Read Some Additional Books | Reading more books can give you more references and broader knowledge about the topic. Then, you can use them to memorize your speech effectively. |
2. Relax Yourself
The second tip on how to memorize your speech quickly is relaxation. It can help if you are willing to let go of too many expectations for yourself.
The more relaxed you are in preparing and memorizing, the more you can effectively assess how your speaking engagement will be.
When you are at ease, you can think about the possible results and improve more instead of negatively judging instantly about yourself.
3. Read It Aloud with Others
There are several methods to approach a table read. However, the essential element is to read aloud the content that you are going to deliver.
You can do this technique by sitting down with others and standing to study your body in those positions while delivering your speech.
The table read can help you correct what you have written about your topic, so it sounds natural while you are speaking out loud.
Common Mistakes of Memorizing a Speech
We finished talking about the actual steps on how to memorize a speech and some useful tips. Now, we go further by discussing typical mistakes when learning your address.
This part can eventually impart more learning when you want to know how to memorize a speech fast and correct your misconceptions about some methods.
The following are two things that you thought are much helpful, but unfortunately, they are not.
1. The Lack of Preparation
In reality, some people do not genuinely prepare themselves when giving a speech. They mostly say that they do not want their talk to come off sounding like a robot, so they choose to wing it.
For example, some individuals tend only to write a few points on a piece of paper to remind themselves. They only figure it out once the speech gets going and think that details will somehow fill themselves in.
However, this method is only easy and convenient when you know a topic very well and have often spoken about it. In case it is your first time to cover the concept, then better prepare.
If you want to know how to memorize a speech quickly, remember to maintain the right balance between over and under-preparing.
2. Complete Memorization
When attempting to ensure that you remember every detail, you tend to memorize the speech entirely. Many people practice it over and over again until they have each word stored inside their brains.
In many ways, this kind of habit is understandable since most people are naturally afraid of giving a speech. You want to be completely prepared and not commit any mistakes at all.
Yes, it makes a lot of sense when talking about how to memorize a speech quickly, but it also has its negative side. Its downside is that you tend to sound like a robot when delivering it if you learn it word for word.
Chances are, you tend to concentrate only on remembering each part. You lose the ability to reflect your speech to a varying degree and free form when a specific situation warrants it.
Benefits of Being a Good Public Speaker
Perhaps, after the things mentioned above, you might be wondering this: what is the point of learning how to memorize a speech fast?
Of course, it is highly beneficial for you, mostly when you frequently speak in front of many people. To know more about this matter, here are a few benefits that you may have when you are an excellent public speaker.
1. Public speaking shows your expertise.
Your ability to speak coherently is the primary indicator to both your clients and employer that you genuinely know your way into things.
When you talk from your mind without stuttering or being hesitant, it allows your knowledge to shine, and people can eventually notice it.
2. You can develop your courage.
Being comfortable with speaking in public takes time and a lot of practice. Also, getting out there, facing a crowd, and starting to deliver speeches can establish your courage and self-esteem.
You can watch this video about confidence-building:
3. It helps build relationships and connections.
When you become a speaker at different conferences and seminars, you get to go out more into the community. This opportunity lets you connect with more people in both your personal and business networks.
In case you are still in school, it can also help you build connections with your teachers, classmates, and other students in the institution.
4. A highly marketable skill.
Many companies need someone to present the value that they can offer and why customers must choose them. This scenario is the same for you.
You want yourself to have the recognition as an individual whom a company would like to hire. You wish management to see you as someone worthy of promotion and get a raise in other cases.
Real-Life Examples of How to Remember a Speech
In this part, we give you some examples of memorizing a speech fast or remembering it. You can utilize these techniques to make the memorization process fun and make recalling more manageable.
The NAME Speech
The acronym “NAME” stands for the following:
- Noticing,
- Making Associations,
- Using Memory Palaces, and
- Managing Expectations.
This example is a simple yet very structured method that gives you the chance to talk about the topic well.
The FREE Speech
The same as the previous one, it is also using an acronym. FREE stands for:
- Frequency,
- Relevance,
- Edutainment, and
- Engagement.
You may find using this acronym example amusing because you can also utilize it backward. You can start from the bottom part and then end at the top one.
Applications to Help You Memorize a Speech Fast
There is no shortcut on how to memorize a speech. However, there are some available tools or apps that can help you practice.
If you are techy, you might find note cards too analog. So, here are several applications to help you end your fear and start preparing:
This app lets you input whatever you are trying to memorize, and then it tests you as practice. It also checks your voice against the stored text.
Rote memorization is still a process, but now you gain a visual of your weak spots. Pay attention and practice those areas that need improvement until you eliminate its issues.
It is the predecessor and more budget-friendly version of Rehearsal 2. Fast Company, LA Magazine, BACKSTAGE, and New Your Times even featured this application.
It can help you learn methods that teach actors to get used to memorizing big chunks of text.
Script Rehearser is an excellent application for actors and presenters. It allows you to save speeches or dialogues, edit the text when needed, and record, and replay the practice pieces.
Additionally, it lets you memorize and see which areas of the whole speech you tend to drag on a little too long or rush through.
How can being well-rested and hydrated help with memorization?
Ditch sleep deprivation and dehydration for sharper memory! Getting enough sleep and staying hydrated are surprisingly powerful memory boosters. Well-rested brains are sharper, allowing for better information absorption and longer retention. Sleep-deprived minds, however, struggle to grasp and store new info. Similarly, hydration fuels brain cells with oxygen and nutrients crucial for memory formation. Dehydration, on the other hand, leads to cognitive decline and memory impairment. So, for optimal memory, prioritize restful nights and adequate water intake to ensure your brain is firing on all cylinders!
How can mental images help with memorizing a speech?
Forget rote memorization. Embrace mental pictures! Images are memory magnets, making it easier to remember your speech than plain words. Create a unique image for each key point: imagine a dollar sign for growing profits, a mountain for overcoming challenges, or a bright light bulb for a revolutionary idea. As you rehearse, connect these images to their corresponding sections, building a visual map of your speech. When delivering, summoning these mental pictures will jog your memory, ensuring smooth sailing and a confident performance. This “image association” trick strengthens memory and empowers you to ditch the script, delivering a captivating and impactful speech.
How can relaxation aid in memorizing a speech?
Imagine your mind as a library – a clear, organized one is much easier to navigate than a cluttered, stressful one. That’s how a calm and focused state of mind benefits memory recall. Free from distractions and tension, your brain stores and retrieves information effortlessly. Forcing recall, on the other hand, is like slamming a closed book – fruitless and frustrating. Instead, positive mindfulness acts as a gentle opening, allowing information to flow freely. Relaxation works similarly, clearing the mental clutter and creating space for recall. Stress and tension, however, are like locked doors blocking access to precious memories. So, prioritize a clear and relaxed mind before your speech – think open library, not locked vault – and you’ll be amazed at how effortlessly your carefully stored words come to life.
What are some tips for formulating a speech that is easier to memorize?
Ditch the script; embrace preparation! To conquer that speech, start by practicing aloud with others – feedback refines your content and delivery. Master memory methods like NAME (think associations and memory palaces) or FREE (keep it relevant and engaging). Apps like Mind Vault can be your practice partners, too. Preparation is key, especially for new topics. Strike a balance: avoid “winging it” but embrace flexibility. Craft a bullet-point outline instead of a script, allowing for improvisation and a natural flow. Remember, stats and examples? Summarize them alongside relevant points for an easier-to-memorize structure. Finally, ditch the full script, focus on key ideas, and create a bullet-point outline. This speeds up learning while ensuring a natural delivery. Remember, a relaxed and positive mindset is your secret weapon! Combine these tips with confidence and a clear mind, and you’ll be delivering powerful speeches with ease.
Bottom Line
Delivering your speech to any audience or gathering, such as meetings, conferences, or seminars, is sometimes frightening. So, why choose to be ill-prepared and add worry to yourself?
Remember to start your memorization process early so that you become more confident in conveying your topic. If you are calm, your audience gets relaxed, and then the people can get a good grasp of your words.
We hope we have helped you learn more about how to memorize a speech fast in this guide. You can also download the Orai app at the app store for a free speech trial. Start your free trial today, available on the app store.
Practice the art of Public speaking. Download the Orai App now and start preparing for your big day
