American English · C1 · Unit 11
Speeches
Speeches
By the end you can
- Give a short speech that moves people
- Analyse what makes a speech persuasive
- Understand a well-known speech
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for those of you who don't know me | a common way to start a speech | For those of you who don't know me, I'm Jake, the best man. |
| I'll keep this brief | a promise of a short speech | Don't worry, I'll keep this brief. |
| I'd like to raise a glass to | a way to start a toast | I'd like to raise a glass to the happy couple. |
| here's to | a toast: let's drink to | Here's to many more years together! |
| without further ado | now, without more waiting | So without further ado, the bride and groom! |
| strike a chord | connect with people's feelings | Her story will strike a chord with anyone who's moved far from home. |
| moving | touching people's feelings | It was a moving speech. |
| a rhetorical question | a question you ask for effect, not for an answer | He opened with a rhetorical question. |
| the rule of three | the idea that lists of three are strong and memorable | She used the rule of three: faith, hope and love. |
| repetition | saying the same words again for effect | Repetition makes a speech memorable. |
| I have a dream | the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr. | Every American child knows the words 'I have a dream'. |
| eloquent | speaking clearly and beautifully | She's an eloquent speaker. |
Then talk it through
Giving a speech at a friend's wedding. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.