Your thoughts on Reverend Burklo - please Thank him at burklo@usc.edu -- What did you think was interesting? Inspiring? Controversial? Made you think? What examples did you like?
One thing that really stuck out to me was when Reverend Burklo talked about nervousness as a charm. I thought his perspective was interesting because most people don't regard being nervous during a public speech as a benefit of any sort. He even said to embrace our anxieties and use it to our advantage. Personally, I try to appear extra confident when giving speeches because I'm that much more nervous; however, if people can see through me anyway, as Reverend Burklo said, I think his advice on nervousness will definitely be a good tactic to try out in future presentations.
I was pleasantly surprised by Reverend Burklo's speech today. I thought he might be over religious for my own taste but he was very open to other religions. I really appreciated him answering questions after his speech because those were the answers that stuck to me the most. I loved his answer about nervousness being a charm and his willingness to be vulnerable. I was touched that he told us that the hardest speeches he gives are at funerals and that he often gets emotionally attached. When I normally see someone as a higher figure I sometimes forget they are human and he reminded by telling us the detail about funerals. Most of all his charisma was very impressive and truly got me excited about the speech.
It was so nice of Reverend Burklo to take his time just to speak to us. Like Helen and Noreen, I was surprised that he talked about nervousness as being a gift rather than as a hindrance to public speaking. I would have never seen it in that perspective. With that being said, Reverend Burklo gave me hope that maybe one day, I can completely overcome my terrible fear of speaking in front of a big group. I also felt that he has so much wisdom to share, not just about public speaking but about anything else. As I emailed him this morning to thank him for speaking to us and telling him how much he has inspired me to strive harder to be better at speaking publicly, he responded with "Be kind to your fear, be patient with it. Your nervousness can inspire your audience to help you become a better speaker." So the next time I go up to give my speech, I am going to embrace my anxiety and remind myself that I am one speech closer to the time that I would be completely comfortable with speaking in front of a big group of people.
Reverend Burklo was a very composed and interesting speaker to have. I enjoyed how he related speech and reading back to biblical times, before the invention of the printed press- it was interesting to get that perspective. I enjoyed how he was very straight-forward in saying that it is humbling to be nervous and isn't necessarily a bad thing, since most of us are.
I too really enjoyed Reverend Burklo’s speech. I thought it was nicely catered to us, but also stayed true to who he was. The only awkward part for me was his Biblical story about Jacob. There was sort of an empty silence when we weren’t giving him much feedback. I think he expected us to be familiar with the story, and at least for me, I wasn’t. He said, “remember from Sunday school…” which kind of alienated me because I didn’t grow up practicing any religion and had no idea what he was talking about. Nevertheless, I do like learning about these Biblical stories because I feel like they are so universal and frequent in literature and rhetoric that their more enlightening than truly alienating.
His perspective on the introduction of a speech also intrigued me, as he suggested not to explicitly preview what you ideas you will cover. When he gave his opening story, I wondered where he was going with it. It was definitely an attention grabber, and much more natural and organic. I agree that you don’t necessarily have to give a clear thesis and preview statement to be clear and effective. Through his historical example and the repetition of the words “I forgive,” he indirectly previewed his topic about the impact of words and public speaking, as well as set up a subtle religious undertone for his speech.
Finally, I liked the ending of his speech, and the story about how speaking out loud has reciprocal benefits. I kind of saw myself in this story because the more I speak out in my other classes, or just in general, I feel like it gets easier every time and I feel more confident sharing my ideas.
I really enjoyed having Reverand Burklo speak to our class. I found him to be very engaging, and he exuded a sense of comfort about the topic of public speaking that I really appreciated.
What I found interesting about his speech was his advice to stray away from visual aids when giving a speech. My whole life I've been taught that any form of visual aid, especially PowerPoint, was essential and beneficial to a speech. Especially in this era where society is facing what some may call a "technological revolution", it seems as though everyone depends on some form of technology to enhance their lives. So, in saying that public speaking should come straight from the mouth, and not rely on any aids was an unconventional and unique piece of advice that I'm not sure can be applied due to the realities and interests of our society.
I really enjoyed having reverend Burklo come speak to us in class. I think that what he said to us was influential and memorable. He gave good examples and is speech was organized in a way that made it easy to listen to. I think my favorite part of his speech is when he talked about how we, the speakers, always have to be the content of our speeches. That idea really made me think about how I can bring back my own stories into any speech in give in the future. Also, I think that reverend Burklo's story about him first starting out as a pastor giving sermons was enjoyable. Hearing about his own life and how he originally struggled with public speaking was relatable to my own struggles that I feel when I am giving a speech.
I got a lot of helpful information out of Reverend Burklo's speech. It was interesting to hear him saw that the main topic of every speech should be ourselves. This seems like it may be a hard thing to accomplish, especially in the indirect kind of way that he was describing; however, I can see how having the ability to do this would make our speeches much more effective and interesting. It was really helpful to hear from someone who obviously has so much experience in giving public speeches. It was nice to see him emphasizing the importance of what we actually say in a speech and not letting something like a powerpoint take center stage, and providing the audience with too much of what you are going to say before you actually say it.
Reverend Burklo's speech was very informative and entertaining at the same time. It was useful to hear from someone as experienced as him and his passion was obvious. Personally, I was most impressed by his story about a very modern church in Los Angeles that only allows their pastors to use personal stories and experiences rather than biblical or past examples during sermons. While Christianity is originally based on the bible, I think he was trying to illustrate the point that more people can connect with what you are saying and trying to share/teach if it is personalized. I will definitely keep this in mind when I am preparing for speeches in the future. Using a personal story can also help cure any nervousness you may have because you are really speaking from the heart. Hopefully using personal stories in my speeches can help me connect with my audience as well as calm my nerves.
I really enjoyed having Reverend Burklo come speak to our class. He was very engaging and seemed receptive to our thoughts by just analyzing our expressions and movements. I thought it was interesting how he could tell whether or not we were more or less engaged in his speech by just observing us. He was able to direct his speech according to what he thought we would prefer. I also thought it was interesting that he said nervousness was good. It made me realize that I should not plan my speech word for word, so I don't get as nervous, but to incorporate my nerves into my speech. Like Reverend Burklo said, you should never say what you planned to say.
I enjoyed Reverend Burklo's speech very much! Particularly his point about the speaker, you, being the subject of the speech regardless of what the topic is. This point was quite fascinating in that it made me think about my speeches and how my personal factors can make or break my public speaking. I took this point of the speech just beyond being nervous or awkward and applied it to demeanor, casualness or poise, and also my dress and attire. While public speaking it can be so easy to forget about those influences but the audience is ultimately judging you and all aspects of you. From this point alone I hope to improve my demeanor and attempt to "impress" my audience with more poise and also by dressing appropriately.
I thoroughly enjoyed Reverend Burklo's thoughts on public speaking. There were several things that struck a cord with me.
1. Pauses are Powerful I usually never consider pauses when planning a speech, in fact, I want to avoid them as much as possible because I fear those eternal awkward silences. However, Reverednd Burklo provides an interesting twist on pauses. Pauses can be used to my advantage in driving home my message or I can uses pauses as a way for me to relax my breathing. I think I'll use this method in my next speech.
2. Nervousness as a Charm Another twist! I hate looking nervous when giving a speech and yet I know that my nerves always take over my body before a speech. But using my nerves to my advantage, as a means to look more human and appeal to the better nature of my public is something I had not thought of before. I just hope I don't look really, really, human.
3. Public speaking as a way to bring words into life. So true, yet complex, and hard to execute. Reverend Burklo made it clear that words carry meaning to them, so much so that they are things. They affect and influence, they inflict and soothe. Therefore words should be regarded with such severity, especially when giving a public speech.
Reverend Burklo's speech added another perspective on how I should approach public speaking. When he told us that the main focus of the speech is the speaker and not the content of the speech, I was a little surprised, and it made me think. I think that point goes to show just how important non verbal cues and gestures can be. Thinking about it, I don't really know what kind of body movements and stance I portray when I give speeches because I can't see myself. Another applicable point Reverend Burklo made was that speakers should pay attention to the audience's facial and body signs and speak accordingly. Changing how I would normally go about a speech based on whether the audience is responding and actively listening to my speech seems difficult. Especially because I am concentrating so much simply on delivery, I realized I barely recognize and read the audience's expressions and non verbal feedback. I think this skill comes with practice and confidence, and if I can master it, it will be a sign of improvement.
When Reverend Burklo first began his speech, I did not know what to expect especially because he opened his speech with a biblical tale, and I am unfamiliar with Biblical tales. As his speech progressed I found myself captivated by his words, his gestures and movements, the pauses he emphasized, his examples, and his personal stories. Since I was completely inspired by his expertise in public speaking, it was only appropriate for me to trust his advice.
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that silence, like spoken and written words, has the ability to communicate. Therefore, we must consciously use it to enhance what we are trying to express. My biggest problem when public speaking is that I talk extremely fast. I try to disclose as much information as possible, in as short of a time as possible, in order to assure that I have said everything I need to say. Often times in the past I believed that audiences tune you out unless you relay the necessary information quickly. Nonetheless, Reverend Burklo helped me realize that once the audience is tuned into a speech - you've got them- well, for a good bit of time at least. It is then up to us to utilize that time to carefully deliver all required information while making it relevant to the audience. A speech is not a race to see how fast you can relay a ton of information, as a result, pausing will enhance a speech.
The other main lesson I took away from Reverend Burklo's presentation is never to apologize. As he stated in class: say what you need to say, feel the emotions you are feeling, use these in your speech, and never apologize for doing so. This was relevant advice for me because I am a very apologetic person, and I even tend to begin my speeches with an apology. However, Reverend Burklo taught me that doing so takes away from the command that I could have over the "stage." Using these feelings and thoughts in my speech shows much better control and ultimately will help me advance my public speaking skills.
I felt pretty awkward when Reverend Burklo started speaking. I do not consider myself a religious person in any shape, way, or form, so I was just sitting there while he started off his sppech with a story from the Bible. It was interesting, since I've never even read the Bible, but I wondered if his whole speech was going to revolve around religious tales. It didn't, thankfully, and the points that he made were quite interesting. Things like remembering to to breathe, and pause should be like common sense to us, but since we're all terrified of public speaking, it's much harder to actually do when we're up there. Pausing is fairly important though-- it'd be a shame if you just ran through a vital point in your speech and gave the audience no time to digest it. What did strike me though was when he said that no matter what the topic of the speech is, the main focus will always be the speaker. It was kind of hard to believe at first, but it's so true: when I think about it, it's how the speaker presents the topic and illustrates it with examples, whether they be fictional or personal, that truly makes the speech what it is.
Truthfully I thought Reverend Burklo seemed like a great guy, but I didn't think he was the best public speaker. I know he is a Reverend and he probably gives speeches all the time, but he seemed very uncomfortable. He would make quick movements and laugh when things got silent. I was kind of confused when he told the class that we shouldn't tell stories during our speeches because they are a waste of breath, yet he goes on to tell numerous personal stories during his speech. Even though I though I thought some parts were off, he was a very kind guy and I enjoyed having him in class
Despite the evidence of my past experience with religious community leaders (my rabbi is like a young Burklo), I have always subconsciously viewed a "reverend" as a lofty individual, who held himself with a level of dignity that escalated him out of the reach of his congregation; a man who preaches, as opposed to interacts. Burklo's speech really cemented the opposite in me. Throughout the speech, his colloquial familiarity and straightforward modesty were really powerful in helping me understand his position as a public speaker and a religious figure. It felt to me lie he was expressing how important it is that eloquence in public speaking is not misinterpreted to be tricky word play and high brow intellectualism, but rather the most real delivery possible. Eloquence, from what I gathered, is like attempting to imitate the voice inside the head of the speaker. It is why when he said "don't tell us what you are going to tell us, just tell us" it seemed right, even if I had been taught the other way in high school.
I know this is late, but I also really enjoyed Reverend Burklo's speech, and hope that we have more inspiring guest speakers in the future. I really liked how he started off his s peach, talking about a specific example and expanding to the concept of the power of words. He was a passionate speaker, pausing appropriately and making sure that his audience was engaged in what he was saying. He was a great story teller, and was able to link his stories to the points he was making. Although I myself am not very religious or well versed in the Bible, he did a good job of relating his occupation to the larger community, and did not make too many religious references or started preaching to the audience.
One thing that really stuck out to me was when Reverend Burklo talked about nervousness as a charm. I thought his perspective was interesting because most people don't regard being nervous during a public speech as a benefit of any sort. He even said to embrace our anxieties and use it to our advantage. Personally, I try to appear extra confident when giving speeches because I'm that much more nervous; however, if people can see through me anyway, as Reverend Burklo said, I think his advice on nervousness will definitely be a good tactic to try out in future presentations.
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised by Reverend Burklo's speech today. I thought he might be over religious for my own taste but he was very open to other religions. I really appreciated him answering questions after his speech because those were the answers that stuck to me the most. I loved his answer about nervousness being a charm and his willingness to be vulnerable. I was touched that he told us that the hardest speeches he gives are at funerals and that he often gets emotionally attached. When I normally see someone as a higher figure I sometimes forget they are human and he reminded by telling us the detail about funerals. Most of all his charisma was very impressive and truly got me excited about the speech.
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice of Reverend Burklo to take his time just to speak to us. Like Helen and Noreen, I was surprised that he talked about nervousness as being a gift rather than as a hindrance to public speaking. I would have never seen it in that perspective. With that being said, Reverend Burklo gave me hope that maybe one day, I can completely overcome my terrible fear of speaking in front of a big group. I also felt that he has so much wisdom to share, not just about public speaking but about anything else. As I emailed him this morning to thank him for speaking to us and telling him how much he has inspired me to strive harder to be better at speaking publicly, he responded with "Be kind to your fear, be patient with it. Your nervousness can inspire your audience to help you become a better speaker." So the next time I go up to give my speech, I am going to embrace my anxiety and remind myself that I am one speech closer to the time that I would be completely comfortable with speaking in front of a big group of people.
ReplyDeleteReverend Burklo was a very composed and interesting speaker to have. I enjoyed how he related speech and reading back to biblical times, before the invention of the printed press- it was interesting to get that perspective. I enjoyed how he was very straight-forward in saying that it is humbling to be nervous and isn't necessarily a bad thing, since most of us are.
ReplyDeleteI too really enjoyed Reverend Burklo’s speech. I thought it was nicely catered to us, but also stayed true to who he was. The only awkward part for me was his Biblical story about Jacob. There was sort of an empty silence when we weren’t giving him much feedback. I think he expected us to be familiar with the story, and at least for me, I wasn’t. He said, “remember from Sunday school…” which kind of alienated me because I didn’t grow up practicing any religion and had no idea what he was talking about. Nevertheless, I do like learning about these Biblical stories because I feel like they are so universal and frequent in literature and rhetoric that their more enlightening than truly alienating.
ReplyDeleteHis perspective on the introduction of a speech also intrigued me, as he suggested not to explicitly preview what you ideas you will cover. When he gave his opening story, I wondered where he was going with it. It was definitely an attention grabber, and much more natural and organic. I agree that you don’t necessarily have to give a clear thesis and preview statement to be clear and effective. Through his historical example and the repetition of the words “I forgive,” he indirectly previewed his topic about the impact of words and public speaking, as well as set up a subtle religious undertone for his speech.
Finally, I liked the ending of his speech, and the story about how speaking out loud has reciprocal benefits. I kind of saw myself in this story because the more I speak out in my other classes, or just in general, I feel like it gets easier every time and I feel more confident sharing my ideas.
I really enjoyed having Reverand Burklo speak to our class. I found him to be very engaging, and he exuded a sense of comfort about the topic of public speaking that I really appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found interesting about his speech was his advice to stray away from visual aids when giving a speech. My whole life I've been taught that any form of visual aid, especially PowerPoint, was essential and beneficial to a speech. Especially in this era where society is facing what some may call a "technological revolution", it seems as though everyone depends on some form of technology to enhance their lives. So, in saying that public speaking should come straight from the mouth, and not rely on any aids was an unconventional and unique piece of advice that I'm not sure can be applied due to the realities and interests of our society.
I really enjoyed having reverend Burklo come speak to us in class. I think that what he said to us was influential and memorable. He gave good examples and is speech was organized in a way that made it easy to listen to. I think my favorite part of his speech is when he talked about how we, the speakers, always have to be the content of our speeches. That idea really made me think about how I can bring back my own stories into any speech in give in the future. Also, I think that reverend Burklo's story about him first starting out as a pastor giving sermons was enjoyable. Hearing about his own life and how he originally struggled with public speaking was relatable to my own struggles that I feel when I am giving a speech.
ReplyDeleteI got a lot of helpful information out of Reverend Burklo's speech. It was interesting to hear him saw that the main topic of every speech should be ourselves. This seems like it may be a hard thing to accomplish, especially in the indirect kind of way that he was describing; however, I can see how having the ability to do this would make our speeches much more effective and interesting. It was really helpful to hear from someone who obviously has so much experience in giving public speeches. It was nice to see him emphasizing the importance of what we actually say in a speech and not letting something like a powerpoint take center stage, and providing the audience with too much of what you are going to say before you actually say it.
ReplyDeleteReverend Burklo's speech was very informative and entertaining at the same time. It was useful to hear from someone as experienced as him and his passion was obvious. Personally, I was most impressed by his story about a very modern church in Los Angeles that only allows their pastors to use personal stories and experiences rather than biblical or past examples during sermons. While Christianity is originally based on the bible, I think he was trying to illustrate the point that more people can connect with what you are saying and trying to share/teach if it is personalized. I will definitely keep this in mind when I am preparing for speeches in the future. Using a personal story can also help cure any nervousness you may have because you are really speaking from the heart. Hopefully using personal stories in my speeches can help me connect with my audience as well as calm my nerves.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed having Reverend Burklo come speak to our class. He was very engaging and seemed receptive to our thoughts by just analyzing our expressions and movements. I thought it was interesting how he could tell whether or not we were more or less engaged in his speech by just observing us. He was able to direct his speech according to what he thought we would prefer. I also thought it was interesting that he said nervousness was good. It made me realize that I should not plan my speech word for word, so I don't get as nervous, but to incorporate my nerves into my speech. Like Reverend Burklo said, you should never say what you planned to say.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Reverend Burklo's speech very much! Particularly his point about the speaker, you, being the subject of the speech regardless of what the topic is. This point was quite fascinating in that it made me think about my speeches and how my personal factors can make or break my public speaking. I took this point of the speech just beyond being nervous or awkward and applied it to demeanor, casualness or poise, and also my dress and attire. While public speaking it can be so easy to forget about those influences but the audience is ultimately judging you and all aspects of you. From this point alone I hope to improve my demeanor and attempt to "impress" my audience with more poise and also by dressing appropriately.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed Reverend Burklo's thoughts on public speaking. There were several things that struck a cord with me.
ReplyDelete1. Pauses are Powerful
I usually never consider pauses when planning a speech, in fact, I want to avoid them as much as possible because I fear those eternal awkward silences. However, Reverednd Burklo provides an interesting twist on pauses. Pauses can be used to my advantage in driving home my message or I can uses pauses as a way for me to relax my breathing. I think I'll use this method in my next speech.
2. Nervousness as a Charm
Another twist! I hate looking nervous when giving a speech and yet I know that my nerves always take over my body before a speech. But using my nerves to my advantage, as a means to look more human and appeal to the better nature of my public is something I had not thought of before. I just hope I don't look really, really, human.
3. Public speaking as a way to bring words into life.
So true, yet complex, and hard to execute. Reverend Burklo made it clear that words carry meaning to them, so much so that they are things. They affect and influence, they inflict and soothe. Therefore words should be regarded with such severity, especially when giving a public speech.
Reverend Burklo's speech added another perspective on how I should approach public speaking. When he told us that the main focus of the speech is the speaker and not the content of the speech, I was a little surprised, and it made me think. I think that point goes to show just how important non verbal cues and gestures can be. Thinking about it, I don't really know what kind of body movements and stance I portray when I give speeches because I can't see myself. Another applicable point Reverend Burklo made was that speakers should pay attention to the audience's facial and body signs and speak accordingly. Changing how I would normally go about a speech based on whether the audience is responding and actively listening to my speech seems difficult. Especially because I am concentrating so much simply on delivery, I realized I barely recognize and read the audience's expressions and non verbal feedback. I think this skill comes with practice and confidence, and if I can master it, it will be a sign of improvement.
ReplyDeleteWhen Reverend Burklo first began his speech, I did not know what to expect especially because he opened his speech with a biblical tale, and I am unfamiliar with Biblical tales. As his speech progressed I found myself captivated by his words, his gestures and movements, the pauses he emphasized, his examples, and his personal stories. Since I was completely inspired by his expertise in public speaking, it was only appropriate for me to trust his advice.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest lessons I learned is that silence, like spoken and written words, has the ability to communicate. Therefore, we must consciously use it to enhance what we are trying to express. My biggest problem when public speaking is that I talk extremely fast. I try to disclose as much information as possible, in as short of a time as possible, in order to assure that I have said everything I need to say. Often times in the past I believed that audiences tune you out unless you relay the necessary information quickly. Nonetheless, Reverend Burklo helped me realize that once the audience is tuned into a speech - you've got them- well, for a good bit of time at least. It is then up to us to utilize that time to carefully deliver all required information while making it relevant to the audience. A speech is not a race to see how fast you can relay a ton of information, as a result, pausing will enhance a speech.
The other main lesson I took away from Reverend Burklo's presentation is never to apologize. As he stated in class: say what you need to say, feel the emotions you are feeling, use these in your speech, and never apologize for doing so. This was relevant advice for me because I am a very apologetic person, and I even tend to begin my speeches with an apology. However, Reverend Burklo taught me that doing so takes away from the command that I could have over the "stage." Using these feelings and thoughts in my speech shows much better control and ultimately will help me advance my public speaking skills.
I felt pretty awkward when Reverend Burklo started speaking. I do not consider myself a religious person in any shape, way, or form, so I was just sitting there while he started off his sppech with a story from the Bible. It was interesting, since I've never even read the Bible, but I wondered if his whole speech was going to revolve around religious tales. It didn't, thankfully, and the points that he made were quite interesting. Things like remembering to to breathe, and pause should be like common sense to us, but since we're all terrified of public speaking, it's much harder to actually do when we're up there. Pausing is fairly important though-- it'd be a shame if you just ran through a vital point in your speech and gave the audience no time to digest it. What did strike me though was when he said that no matter what the topic of the speech is, the main focus will always be the speaker. It was kind of hard to believe at first, but it's so true: when I think about it, it's how the speaker presents the topic and illustrates it with examples, whether they be fictional or personal, that truly makes the speech what it is.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully I thought Reverend Burklo seemed like a great guy, but I didn't think he was the best public speaker. I know he is a Reverend and he probably gives speeches all the time, but he seemed very uncomfortable. He would make quick movements and laugh when things got silent. I was kind of confused when he told the class that we shouldn't tell stories during our speeches because they are a waste of breath, yet he goes on to tell numerous personal stories during his speech.
ReplyDeleteEven though I though I thought some parts were off, he was a very kind guy and I enjoyed having him in class
Despite the evidence of my past experience with religious community leaders (my rabbi is like a young Burklo), I have always subconsciously viewed a "reverend" as a lofty individual, who held himself with a level of dignity that escalated him out of the reach of his congregation; a man who preaches, as opposed to interacts. Burklo's speech really cemented the opposite in me. Throughout the speech, his colloquial familiarity and straightforward modesty were really powerful in helping me understand his position as a public speaker and a religious figure. It felt to me lie he was expressing how important it is that eloquence in public speaking is not misinterpreted to be tricky word play and high brow intellectualism, but rather the most real delivery possible. Eloquence, from what I gathered, is like attempting to imitate the voice inside the head of the speaker. It is why when he said "don't tell us what you are going to tell us, just tell us" it seemed right, even if I had been taught the other way in high school.
ReplyDeleteI know this is late, but I also really enjoyed Reverend Burklo's speech, and hope that we have more inspiring guest speakers in the future. I really liked how he started off his s peach, talking about a specific example and expanding to the concept of the power of words. He was a passionate speaker, pausing appropriately and making sure that his audience was engaged in what he was saying. He was a great story teller, and was able to link his stories to the points he was making. Although I myself am not very religious or well versed in the Bible, he did a good job of relating his occupation to the larger community, and did not make too many religious references or started preaching to the audience.
ReplyDelete