how to memorize speeches fast

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• Presentations
• Public Speaking

How to Quickly Memorize a Speech (In Under an Hour)

The clock is ticking and soon you've got to get on stage and deliver the speech of your life. But you don’t have a single word memorized yet. What on earth are you supposed to do in such a situation? 

First of all, don’t panic. But second, though this is an understandably stressful situation, it doesn’t need to paralyze you. In fact, you can use a bit of that adrenaline to fuel. It'll motivate you to get the speech memorized and to prepare yourself mentally to deliver it in front of an audience. 

Whether it’s for a packed theater or an audience of one, today, we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions for memorizing a speech quickly – sometimes under an hour’s time. 

Reasons You May Need to Memorize a Speech Quickly 

You won’t always be under such time constraints, of course, but sometimes speech memorization really does wind up being a last-minute thing. If you’re curious about what situations might cause such restrictions, here are a few possibilities: 

• You've got a last-minute presentation to give. Whether someone else canceled or you were recruited with little notice, having memorization techniques at the ready could prove helpful if you need to prep with limited time.
• You’ve had to update a previously memorized speech. Maybe you’re prepared to give a speech over the past week, but some elements had to be rewritten or amended at the last minute? This is another case where knowing how to memorize information quickly would be invaluable. 
• You’re an actor or performance artist. Memorization is a part of your work-life regularly, so having some extra ways to memorize more quickly could prove helpful. 

Is it Possible to Memorize a Speech in a Day (or Less)? 

Now, you may be wondering if it’s even possible to memorize a speech in a day, let alone a single hour.

The answer is absolutely, yes. You can! But it’s not truly a matter of memorizing a huge chunk of text verbatim. The methods of memorization we’ll be discussing here today are intended largely for the corporate set. These folks need to memorize the themes, intention, and main points of a speech rather than a word-for-word regurgitation. 

How to Memorize a Speech in an Hour (Traditional Method)

The first method to memorize a speech in an hour or less we’ll talk about here's what we’re referring to as the “traditional” method. That is, it doesn’t really use any unfamiliar tricks. It’s a standard approach to memorization that can help you save some time and improve your recall. 

Let’s explore this process now. 

1. Write Your Speech Down 

The first thing you should do is to physically write your speech down. Now you can approach this in any number of ways. But most often people will choose to write out word-for-word what they’d like to say or create a structured outline of the topics and main points they’d like to address. 

Both approaches are valid and workable. The key here is to just get your ideas on paper, so you've got something to work with. This is especially important if there are specific industry terms, jargon, or slogans that you’d like to include to catch your audience’s attention. No matter your approach, get your ideas down on paper first. 

2. Read It Out Loud 

Next, read back what you wrote. Do so out loud so you can hear the flow of the words and get a feel for what it’ll be like delivering this speech to an audience. If you’ve created a script, you can literally read this out loud. But if you created an outline, you can reference your notes as you talk about the subject at hand. 

This process will allow you to identify clunky phrasing or bits that need clarification. It’ll also help you figure out the flow of your speech and what will sound best. 

For even more public speaking tips, review this tutorial:

3. Try a Recall Test 

When you’re happy with how your speech is sounding, you can perform a recall test.

This is just a matter of covering up your notes or script and seeing what you remember. Do your best to see what you remember. You might surprise yourself as to how much you’ve retained. 

4. Memorize the Main Points First 

When it comes to memorization, you’re better off locking in the bigger parts of your speech first before tackling the details. This is where creating an outline is actually really helpful. It helps you see what your main points are and what the primary topics of discussion will be. Then you can commit those large ideas and your main points about them to memory. 

For instance, if you’re giving a speech about a product, your main points might be its main features and how it solves the customer’s problems. Or, if you’re giving an informational speech, your main points might involve the evidence you have to back up an argument. 

5. Add in the Transitions and Small Sections Next

With those big ideas memorized, you can move on to the details and transitions. For some, this will be where you get the exact phrasing down. For others, it’ll be tiny details or the occasional turn of phrase you like and want to include. 

Then you can work on combining the larger points and the finer details into a cohesive whole. 

6. Perfect the Delivery 

Now that the majority of your speech is memorized, it’s time to get the delivery right. Work on saying your speech out loud in the mirror to make sure you’ve incorporated any gestures you’d like to include, movement, or the use of props or a PowerPoint presentation. 

This is also where you hone in on the appropriate intonation. You don’t want to sound like a robot, after all. 

For more tips on perfecting the delivery, review this tutorial:

7. Give the Speech to a Trusted Audience Member 

Once you’re happy with how your speech is sounding, perform it in front of a trusted audience member. This could be a co-worker, family member, or friend who you feel comfortable around and who you know will provide reliable feedback. 

After incorporating their notes, there’s nothing left to do but to go out there and give your speech! 

How to Memorize a Presentation or Speech (Mind Palace Method) 

Though the above method of memorizing a speech is valuable and definitely works, it might not always fit within shorter time frames. To hasten the process, there’s another way to memorize a speech that relies much more on visualization and concepts than on words. 

1. Create an Outline of Talking Points 

The mind palace method starts out similarly to the traditional method in this regard. You begin by creating an outline of your speech. In this case you’re actively discouraged from trying to memorize it word for word. Instead, you'll come up with bullet points that encompass the general topics, themes, and points you’d like to cover. 

This approach leaves room for spontaneity and unique phrases and sentiments that you might express in the moment. 

2. Assign a Mental Image to Each Point 

Once you've got your outline completed, your next task is to give each main idea an image. Picture something really specific in your head to go along with each idea.

So, if you were going to discuss finances as one of your main points, you might picture the dollar sign or a stack of money. Maybe even gold coins? Whatever image connects with the concept is what will work best for you. 

3. Create a Mind Palace in Your Home or Office

With images secure in your mind’s eye, your next task is to create what Ron White , a memory expert, calls a “mind palace.” It sounds a bit new-agey but it’s actually a time-honored practice used by William Shakespeare, even. 

How it works is that you assign a number to each piece of furniture in your home or office. So, you’d enter a room and walk around it in a natural way and assign a number to each large item in the space. So, the couch would be 1, the coffee table would be 2, the main lamp 3, and so forth. 

Walk around the space a few times reciting the numbers you’ve given each furniture item as you pass it. 

4. Assign the Mental Images to Spaces in Your Mind Palace 

With the lay of the land figured out, so to speak, you can now assign the mental images you made a couple of steps ago to each item of furniture. So, walk through the room again and stop at each furniture item then think of the mental image you created. But don’t stop at just a static image. Mentally bring it to life with as much sense-memory and emotion as possible. 

Using the money example mentioned earlier, listen to the sound of coins clattering onto a table, and think of how they’d feel in your hand. You can even imagine the metallic taste of metal if you were to bite a coin. 

The more visceral the imagery, the more effective it'll be for triggering your memory. 

Repeat this same process for each mental image you created. Then practice mentally touring your room and imagine pausing at each furniture item to recall the mental image. This is how you can access your speech’s bullet points – and eventually give the speech itself – without needing a single note in front of you. 

5. Practice, Practice, Practice 

Again, you'll need to practice this technique a bit to enjoy its full effects. But the great thing about the mind palace is that once you’ve created it, you can reuse it over and over with different mental images for different speeches. 

Plus, repeated practice will ensure you’ll always know where you are in your speech even if you don’t have your notes. You can always use visual aids or a presentation to go along with your speech. But with the mind palace, those aids are there for the audience and not something you’ll need to rely on.

Complement Your Speech With a PowerPoint Presentation

Though relying on a presentation isn’t ideal, having a PowerPoint on hand can help to trigger your memory if your mind ever goes blank. It can also help you to illustrate your points and serve as reinforcement for your audience. And thankfully, you don’t have to look very far to find compelling presentation templates to get started. 

Explore PowerPoint Templates

Envato Elements offers access to tons of PowerPoint presentation templates and many other design resources for one monthly subscription fee. 

Learn More About the Art of Giving Speeches 

If you want to take your speech-giving skills to the next level, we’ve covered the topic extensively in the past. Here are just a few tutorials and guides we’ve published on the subject:

Use the Best Way to Memorize a Speech for Your Circumstances

Having to give a speech can be a nerve-wracking ordeal. But if you take the time to bolster your memorization skills, you’ll find that you’re able to deliver speeches more eloquently, with greater confidence, and without forgetting anything important. 

And you can even create compelling graphics and presentations to go along with your speeches with PowerPoint templates , readily available from Envato Elements . 

There’s no time like the present to improve your speech memorization skills, so why not get started? 

Editorial Note: This content was originally published in June 2022. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

How to Memorize a Speech Fast: 5 Proven Tips for Memorizing Speeches

Anthony metivier.

• June 12, 2024
• Memory , Presentation

Podcast: Download

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Now tell me, how do you feel? Are your hands sweaty or your knees shaky? Is your stomach tied up in knots and feeling a bit queasy?

If you’re anything like me during my undergraduate years, maybe you even have a phobia of public speaking.

Yes, it’s true.

I might be a TEDx speaker now who gives presentations from memory around the world, but I once had a terrible aversion to giving speeches.

But now I use memory techniques and on this page I’ll share with you my best tips.

You’ll discover not only how I memorized my TEDx Talk word-for-word, but also an example from another successful speaker who I taught these techniques to over an hour. His talk did not get as many views as mine, but still did really well!

Since being able to give speeches is a highly marketable skill that also lets you express your personality, it only makes sense to learn how to do it right. Without sounding like a robot.

Let’s dive in!

The Best Way To Memorize A Speech

The short answer is to use a Memory Palace . This simple memorization technique will help you feel fearless, focused , and give you the ability to track back if you ever do lose your place.

This is because this specific technique enables you to use space in the world to memorize exactly what you want to deliver… in the order you want to deliver it. As you move through your Memory Palace, you’re just ticking off boxes, spatially speaking.

You know when you’ve finished a specific section of your speech, and you know exactly where you are in space. This is why it’s easier to find your place if you momentarily get lost.

How To Memorize A Speech: Step-By-Step

As we go through these steps, keep in mind that they are quite linear.

This is the exact process I have followed many times over the years. They are the modern version of an approach that has been around since at least 90 BCE, as described in a book called Rhetorica ad Herennium .

Step One: Write A Great Speech

It sounds kind of obvious, but I want to point it out all the same.

So many speeches fail because they speaker knows that their message isn’t great.

There’s only one fix: Put in the time to boil your message down to just one idea. Craft it and shape it like a wordsmith.

Include examples and quotes, use metaphors and similes, all in the service of addressing just one key theme or thesis.

Also, make sure to choose an opening with short and simple words. One study in particular has found something I think that accounts for the success of my TEDx Talk and my video presentations overall: short and simple words are correlated with trustworthiness.

It’s worth reading your written speech over several times, and ideally having it reviewed by at least one other person.

To get an object take on it yourself, record yourself speaking the speech out loud that you’re sure it sounds right. Often, you’ll be able to weed out unnecessary words a lot better once you’ve heard what they sound like when played back on a recording. 

You can also get a speaking mentor like I did. I’ve actually interviewed him on my podcast where we go over further details about how I delivered my TEDx Talk based on his presentation coaching.

You’ll save a lot of time by only memorizing a speech that you don’t need to change after you’ve memorized it.

Next, you’ll begin to create the ultimate tool for memorizing the perfected speech.

Step Two: Create a Memory Palace

A Memory Palace is simply a mental recreation of a location you’re familiar with. First, you draw out a journey and then decide where you will play mnemonic images that remind you of each and every word.

Let’s look at a specific example of how a real person uses this technique based on my help: Jonathan Levi and his TED Talk “ What if Schools Taught us How to Learn? “

As I just mentioned, I suggest you draw out your Memory Palace journey. Here’s Jonathan’s:

The trick is to make the Memory Palace big enough to contain your entire talk.

For my own TEDx Talk, I used an entire neighborhood in Kelvin Grove, part of Brisbane:

Step Three: Use Compression & Keywords To Memorize the Speech

You don’t have to place every single word inside of your Memory Palace.

Certainly, you can, and there are verbatim quotes in my TEDx Talk where I did just that.

However, for most of the talk, I was using one or two images to remind me of entire sentences.

For example, “How would you like to completely silence your mind?” was just the image of Howie Mandel hitting the YouTube like button and creating silence.

If you’re new to memory techniques, it can be challenging to come up with associations for your quotes and keywords. I suggest you learn the pegword method . It will make it simple for you to rapidly assign your associations.

Step Four: Rehearse Using the “Big Five”

Once you’ve memorized your speech using the Memory Palace, it’s time to use the Big Five at least five times. 

What does that mean?

• Write out what you’ve memorized, from memory.
• Speak it out loud, either to yourself or someone else.
• Record yourself speaking and then listen to the recording.
• Get your recording transcribed and read it over.
• And practice, practice, practice!

Practice your speech in front of the camera or in front of friends. Use the relaxation tips I shared earlier in the post. And get as comfortable as you possibly can before you jump up on that stage.

Finally, let’s take a look at a couple of real-life examples, so you can see how this methodology works in practice.

Real-Life Examples of How to Remember a Speech Using Alternative Approaches

In this section, we’ll talk about how to memorize a speech quickly using some of my favorite alternatives to the Memory Palace technique.

There are a couple of speeches I give regularly. Both the NAME and FREE speech are very fluid and packaged, and I do them entirely from memory based on acronyms.

Let’s look at both speeches, starting with… 

The NAME Speech

When I give this speech, I talk about how to memorize names.

I follow the acronym “NAME.”

• Making A ssociations,
• Using M emory Palaces, and
• Managing E xpectations.

Within 20 minutes I’m done and everyone in that room can memorize any name they want!

Does working from an acronyme mean my speech is a little bit different every time? Of course, but this method is super simple to follow, very structured, and gives me the chance to just talk about the topic.

Next, let’s look at… 

The FREE Speech

The same thing goes for this particular speech. When I give this speech, I run through the acronym:

• F requency,
• R elevance,
• E dutainment, and 
• E ngagement.

What I find fun about using acronyms to memorize your speech is that you can also use them backward. Sometimes I’ll write out “FREE” on the board, and then proceed to work up from the bottom. It’s a great way to catch the audience’s attention.

Hopefully, by this point, your interest has been piqued. And maybe you even want to learn more about how to give a great speech.

The Ultimate Benefits of Memorizing A Speech

Now that you know how to memorize a speech, I think it’s worth looking at some of the benefits I’ve enjoyed over the years.

Marketability

There are lots of companies that need someone to be able to present the value they offer – their expertise, unique selling proposition, value for the market, etc – and why customers should pick them. It’s the same for you — you want to be known as the person a company wants to hire, the one they want to promote, the one they want to give a raise.

Public speaking displays your expertise

Your ability to speak coherently and clearly is a key indicator to both your employer and clients that you know your stuff. When you can speak from the top of your mind without hemming and hawing or stuttering, it lets your knowledge shine.

Stepping on stage develops courage

Getting comfortable with public speaking takes practice — and getting out there and starting to give speeches (even if it’s just to a friend or two at first) will begin to build your courage muscle. It’s a win-win.

Speaking shows your personality

As you practice giving speeches, you’ll begin to develop your own personal presentation style. And the more comfortable you get, the more your personality will shine.

Giving speeches helps build relationships

Getting out into the community allows you to connect with people in both your personal and business networks. And if you’re still in school, it can help you build connections with your teachers and your fellow students.

Public speaking sets you up as an expert in your field

When you’re the one up on stage, it’s clear to the audience that you know what you’re talking about. You can prepare the road ahead by being known as the expert who has the courage to get up on stage and share their knowledge. Just look at Sunil Khatri’s speech success story. It helps you deliver results to other people.

Right now, your audience doesn’t have a particular set of knowledge. When you get up on stage, you’re able to give them that knowledge — and package it in a way that helps them quickly absorb it. Plus, you can do so in a way that encourages them to take action, because they’ve seen you demonstrate how valuable it is from the stage.

Speaking can help you build your memory as you learn

Learning to memorize a speech will help you build your memory as you go. Even if you do need notes in the beginning, you can still improve your memory as you practice your speech.

So as you can see, learning to commit your talks to memory is not only a valuable skill, but being able to jump up on stage and speak off the top of your mind is actually a lot of fun!

Have Fun Memorizing a Speech

Think back to how giving speeches used to make you feel .

Sweaty. Queasy. Shaking just thinking about stepping up on stage.

Now, think about how confident and powerful you can feel standing up on stage as you deliver your expertise to a rapt audience.

This second scenario isn’t just possible… it’s probable. All you have to do is follow the tips and techniques in this post, and before you know it you’ll be a cool and confident public speaker.

But maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t know how to get started — how can I give my first speech?” I would recommend to everybody, if you haven’t given a speech in your life, make an occasion to go out and give a speech, and give it in different ways. 

Give a number of speeches, even if it’s just to a small audience or a close group of friends. This simple practice will help develop both your crystal and fluid intelligence – both needed for developing the skill of speaking. And try different formats: recite from a piece of paper, do partial recall from memory , speak verbatim from memory, or any way you prefer.

And whatever you do, have fun with it! Giving speeches is a great way to play a giant, satisfying brain game — as well as delivering value to others and setting yourself up as an expert in your field.

If you’re still feeling uncertain, there’s a mini-course in the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass about memorizing speeches that goes deeper into this topic.

Dive in, enjoy and please let me see you deliver your speech once it’s recorded and up online!

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4 Responses

Great podcast Anthony. I continue to learn from you and improve my own memory. I am excited to be preparing a mini class to teach my 17 year old nephew the basics of the memory palace and the major system. He is enrolled in a pre-law program and I believe this type of training will serve him well for his entire career. I just hope I can make it interesting enough for him to continue to pursue his own memory training and perhaps take your course eventually. Keep up the great work. You are an inspiration!

Great that you’re doing this for your son, Steven. These techniques are very useful in legal studies.

We find time and again that they way to make these memory skills interesting to young people is to make it a family activity. If you can demonstrate that you have the skills, often your kids will naturally want to master them too.

This is an excellent podcast for those who also get nervous talking to a webcam (me, me, me). Thank you for creating this golden podcast.

Thanks for checking this out, James, and glad it is giving your some help for speaking on video.

I was really nervous in the beginning too. The sooner we get into the practice, the sooner we can gain that confidence and serve our audience.

What topic do you want to make videos about?

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5 Steps To Memorize a Speech in One Hour

I like building and growing simple yet powerful products for the world and the worldwide web.

Published Date : December 16, 2020

Reading Time :

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:

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 .

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. 

Try to watch this video about what it means to be an excellent speaker:

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:

• Making A ssociations,
• Using M emory Palaces, and
• Managing E xpectations.

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:

• F requency,
• R elevance,
• E dutainment, and 
• E ngagement.

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. 

• Rehearsal Pro  

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  

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

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How to Memorize a Speech in One Night

Last Updated: October 16, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,253,845 times.

Memorizing a speech in one night is not an easy task, but it's possible. There are hundreds of different memorization techniques out there, but the best method is the basic, tried-and-true strategy of repetition and practice . If you're looking for something a little more fun, you can try the memory palace approach - it will help you visualize the key components of your speech and help you commit the whole thing to memory in just one night.

Memorizing Through Repetition

• There is no need to print the typed speech each time that you type it.
• However, you may be more likely to remember things that are handwritten rather than typed. [2] X Research source

Using the Memory Palace Technique

• For example, if the bullet refers to finances you may visualize dollar bills.
• If the bullet is discussing fashion you may visualize a shirt.

• For example, you may discuss fashion by visualizing a row of shirts in the wardrobe.
• When talking about finances you may visualize dollar bills coming out of the oven.

Preparing for Success

Expert Q&A

• Don’t worry about memorizing the speech word for word. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 4
• Remember to rehearse your body language as well as your speech. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 3
• Read it in front of a mirror. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

Tips from our Readers

• Try not to wait until the last day. Practice every day for about 30 minutes, and try to do it in front of other people so you feel more confident when you're giving your actual speech.
• Stand in front of a mirror and recite your speech one paragraph at a time. Remember to make eye contact in the mirror to help you build more confidence.
• If you're allowed to have them, write keywords from your speech on flashcards to help trigger your memory with what comes next.
• Whenever you have free time, try to recite the speech out loud to yourself so you can practice a bit more.

• Work on separate parts, and then slowly put it together. Thanks Helpful 35 Not Helpful 3
• Memorizing a speech in one night can be difficult. If you have time, try to spread the work out over several nights. Thanks Helpful 69 Not Helpful 26

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
• ↑ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/taking-notes-by-hand-could-improve-memory-wt/
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/02/dont-just-memorize-your-next-presentation-know-it-cold
• ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/ours/oral-presentation-tips-30.htm
• ↑ https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/19102/22119
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/visual-aids
• ↑ http://campusmindworks.org/students/self_care/sleep.asp
• ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210729122037.htm
• ↑ https://counseling.uiowa.edu/self-help/30-ways-to-manage-speaking-anxiety/

About This Article

If you only have one night to memorize a speech, start by typing out the speech or writing it on a new sheet of paper to help commit it to your memory. Rather than memorizing the entire speech word for word, focus on remembering the bullet points and any important facts or statistics. When you feel comfortable with the material, try rehearsing in front of a friend or family member, or record yourself and watch the video to see where you can make improvements. For tips on remembering your speech with the memory palace technique, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Memorize A Speech: Proven Tips And Tricks

• Why Memorize Speeches?
• How To Memorize Speeches

Preparing for a big speech can be a nerve-wracking experience. Whether it’s the commencement speech at your graduation ceremony , a career-making presentation, or the best man speech at a wedding , preparation is the key to getting through your speech without a hiccup. 

But how do you even begin to memorize something as lengthy and detailed as an entire speech? Luckily, there are some tried and true ways to commit your speech to memory before the big day. Here’s why memorizing your speech can make it even better and eight ways to make the memorization process a total breeze.

Why is it important to memorize speeches?

Public speaking is challenging for many people, but it’s much easier when you give yourself the opportunity to plan and prepare. Memorizing your speech allows you to move from point to point without even thinking about it. This not only increases your credibility as a speaker, but it also makes it easier to connect with your audience, since you’ll be at ease instead of struggling to figure out what to say next.

How you go about memorizing your speech is important, too. You don’t want to appear robotic or get tripped up if you’ve memorized a speech perfectly from beginning to end and then happen to forget a word and lose your place. The best way to memorize a speech is to know it front to back, inside and out, and to be able to recall each piece of it, even if it were broken up and jumbled like a jigsaw puzzle. 

Sound like a big task? Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. Here’s how to memorize your speech like a pro.

How to memorize a speech

1. Get organized.

Think of your speech as a script. Decide exactly what points you’d like to make and what you’d like to say ahead of time. Ideally, your speech should have distinct sections that divide the information you’re trying to convey as well as an attention-grabbing introduction and conclusion. Make use of transition words , too, to keep your audience engaged. The more organized your speech is, the easier it will be to memorize and to create cues for yourself in case you get tripped up.

2. Write it down.

Reciting your speech out loud isn’t the only way to memorize it. You can also write it down. The practice of writing helps to encode things in the brain more deeply. Pick one section of your speech and write it word-for-word a few times during the week. The next week, pick a different section and keep the practice going. In no time, you’ll find yourself remembering lines and transitions with more ease than ever.

3. Give yourself enough time.

Memorization doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t wait until the night before or even the week before a big speech to begin the work of memorizing. For longer speeches, give yourself at least four to six weeks to get it down. For shorter speeches, two to three may suffice. Plan which parts of your speech or presentation you’ll work on each week, with the final week spent running through the entire thing from start to finish. Not only will you get the speech down completely, but you’ll also prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed.

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4. Use memory tricks.

Don’t have superhuman memory? That’s OK; most of us don’t. That’s where memory tricks come in. If you need to remember a difficult acronym, specific terms, or just where to transition from one part of your speech to another, come up with a memory device to help remind you in the moment. Here are some ideas to try:

• Make flash cards for each section of your speech.
• Use mnemonics for important terms or to recall the order of information.
• Create a song or rhyme you can refer to in your head if you get stuck.
• If it makes sense with your speech, include images or visuals to trigger your memory.

5. Practice your movements, too.

Coordinating specific movements to make during different parts of your speech can help encode it more deeply in your memory. Plus, it helps you avoid awkwardness during the real-life delivery of your speech. Decide where you’ll stand as well as when and if you’ll move to different areas while you’re talking. If you’ll be behind a podium, figure out which hand gestures make sense and won’t be distracting to your audience. All of this will help you feel more prepared and make the delivery of your speech feel like second nature.

6. Use sleep to your advantage.

Research has shown that sleep helps the human brain process and store information. You can use this as a trick to help you with memorizing your speech. Try reviewing your speech right before you go to bed some nights. The night before the big speech, do one last run-through and then make sure you get a full night’s sleep so that you feel refreshed and that your brain is functioning at its highest capacity.

7. Quiz yourself.

It’s a good idea to test yourself regularly to make sure you’re making progress on memorizing your speech. The easiest way to do this is to memorize each section of your speech separately and then test yourself over that section. As you learn more and more of the speech, you can challenge yourself to recite all of the sections you’ve learned so far. You can even pick random sections to recite out of order to make sure you really have it down. Lastly, ask a friend to read the speech while you recite it so they can catch any missed words or information.

8. Make a plan for mistakes.

Even if you prepare a lot, mistakes and forgetful moments can still happen. Rather than fretting about it, come prepared. Write good notes that you can use to cue yourself with just a glance. Plan to take a sip of water if you need to buy yourself an extra few seconds to remember the next line. Also, brainstorm some phrases you can use to talk yourself through mishaps and keep your audience engaged if you need a second to get back on track. Here are some examples:

• “I’ll refer to my notes here.”
• “Let me take a step back and gather my thoughts.”
• “To summarize what I’ve talked about up to this point, …”
• “Are there any questions about what I’ve covered so far?”

Remember: your audience doesn’t expect perfection. Relax, make eye contact, and trust in the hard work you’ve done to commit your thoughts to memory. You’ve got this!

Public speaking is a craft you can master with tips, tricks, and practice. Learn how!

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How to Memorize a Speech

Last Updated: April 22, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 61,173 times.

Memorizing a speech for a class, work presentation, or another affair can be an intimidating task for some people. Fortunately, whether you're memorizing a long soliloquy or a short report, there are multiple methods you can use for memorizing your speech. The visualization technique is best for memorizing the main ideas of your speech, while the chunk method is best for memorizing a speech verbatim.

Chunking Your Speech

• You should write out the entire speech even if you do not plan on memorizing it verbatim. The point is not to memorize it right now, but to get a sense of how the speech reads and flows.
• If at all possible, try to read the speech in the place you will deliver it. The acoustics of every room and setting vary somewhat, so reading your speech in the actual delivery location can help you get accustomed to the way your voice will sound from that spot. Additionally, it helps you get comfortable with the layout of the room, making it possible for you to rehearse your movements as well as your words.

• Take the time to actually mark off each section or chunk of information in your written notes. This can make it easier for you to recall when one part ended and when the next part picks up as you practice, making it harder for you to accidentally forget or leave any parts out.

• If you get stuck, do not immediately return to your notes. Start from the beginning and try to say the chunk again. If this fails, spend a few more moments trying to recall the missing information. When you decide that nothing can help you remember it, return to your notes and briefly look up what the missing part consisted of.
• When you finish memorizing a chunk of your speech, read through it again to verify that you have it correct.

• It is important that you continue repeating previously memorize chunks so that you do not forget them. Moreover, repeating all chunks of your speech together will help you to memorize how each chunk fits together with the rest.

• Regardless of which memorization tactics you use and how effective they are, the most valuable thing you can do for yourself is to practice the speech as often as possible.
• Practice your speech from memory as best as possible. You can refer to your notes when you get stuck but deliver as much as possible without your notes.
• Try to practice your speech from memory for at least half of your practices, if not more.

Using the Visualization Technique

• For instance, instead of writing “When I was a child, I was attacked by a dog. It was a mean old dog that belonged to my neighbor at the time. Ever since then, I've been afraid of dogs,” simply write “dog attack story.”
• Writing your outline this way will prevent you from memorizing the exact words you intend to use in your speech, which would make you sound robotic instead of natural.

• For example, if 1 bullet point reads “my semester abroad in China” and the next bullet reads “attending a Chinese school,” these can be combined into a single section called “my experiences in China.”
• These sections should logically flow into each other in a comfortable narrative format. Think of them as the different acts in a story you're telling the audience.
• If you did not write an outline or do not like the way your information is organized into bullet points on the outline, you could opt to divide your speech by paragraph instead of by bullet point. The idea is mostly to assign one major idea to each part.

• For instance, if a part of your speech mentions that coconut oil can help hair grow faster, you could imagine something like Rapunzel sitting on top of a tower made of coconuts or living in a room filled with coconuts. Rapunzel emphasizes the idea of long hair, while the coconuts help point out the connection to coconut oil.

• For example, the section of your speech on your experiences abroad can be assigned to your bathroom sink if you like.
• You can choose another location besides your home if you like, such as your office or the road you drive on to get to work. The location can be near or far; the choice is up to you. Ultimately, though, you should be able to navigate it well enough in your mind to find your way to your various visuals.
• Alternatively, you could also use the human body as a map. The images can be “tattooed” onto the body in your mind, and as you travel along the body, you will hit the images in order more naturally.

• Construct narrative links between each mental image. For example, if your visual for the dog attack story was a bandaid and your visual for your experiences in China was a dumpling, imagine yourself putting a bandaid on in the bathroom, then walking into the kitchen to find a dumpling on the counter.
• You need to have firm links connecting one visualization to the next. If not, you might forget the order your information is supposed to land in.

Employing Other Methods

• Use this recording to listen to your speech when you do not have the chance to practice it out loud. You can play it for yourself in the car or play it as you fall asleep, for example.

• For instance, if you say that a certain historical event really made a bang or made a splash, you can imagine the sound of a loud bang or the sound and feeling of something heavy dropping into water.

• For example, you can use the acronym HOMES to recall the names of the Great Lakes in the U.S., H for Huron, O for Ontario, M for Michigan, E for Erie, and S for Superior.

What Are Tips For Memorizing a Speech?

Expert Q&A

• Memorizing the introduction of your speech can be a good idea because knowing precisely what to say at the beginning of a speech can help calm you down and ease you into the setting. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Memorizing the conclusion is also helpful because it prevents you from accidentally falling into a concluding loop, in which you continually repeat information as you try to close. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Don't wait until the last minute to memorize your speech. It'll be much easier to memorize when you have several days to do so instead of a few hours. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
• ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.
• ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/memory-and-mnemonic-devices
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-psychology-dress/201111/visualize-it
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psychology-teacher-network/introductory-psychology/study-better
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2013/09/learning-secrets
• ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/8-tips-for-improving-your-memory/
• ↑ https://schools.au.reachout.com/resilience/fail-acronym

About this article

To memorize a speech, write the entire speech out on paper and read it out loud to get a feel for how it will sound. Next, split up the speech into short chunks that are 2-3 sentences long and mark off the sections on your written version. Then, practice reciting the first chunk out loud, referring to your notes as little as possible, until you've completely memorized it. Add a new chunk onto the first and continue this process until you’ve memorized the whole speech. For tips on using other memorization techniques, like visualization and acronyms, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to memorize a speech 10x faster

June 7, 2021 - Sophie Thompson

Public speaking is a key life skill to learn and will help not only your personal development but also your career prospects. While you might not think this to be true, making a speech to an audience happens  much more often  than you realize.

Many job interviews now, for example, will involve making a presentation to interviewers, while making speeches at events like funerals or weddings may also come your way.

Central to all public speaking is the speech itself. What you say is, after all, critical in getting your message across in the right way. Although  coming up with a speech  can be daunting at times, it is remembering what to say when the pressure is on which scares us the most.

To add to this pressure, you will not always have lots of time to learn your speech by heart.

If time is short or you just don’t fancy spending hours going over a speech, the best thing is to find ways to memorize it quickly. The tips below will come in handy for this and help you learn any speech up to 10x faster.

1. Outline your speech to begin with

Memorizing a speech faster begins with how you formulate the speech itself. So many people make the classic mistake still of writing out a formal speech verbatim, as you would an essay or story. This does not help you learn the text quickly though or sound natural when delivering your speech.

It is much better to simply  outline key ideas for your speech  when writing it out. Many top-level speakers will just make a bullet point list of what they need to talk about for example.

If you need specific stats or examples as well, try to simply note them concisely by the relevant bullet point. This type of speech is much faster to memorize and also gives you room to improvise.

2. Use mental images to help

As well as how you write your speech out to then learn, the mental process you use to remember it is crucial. In short, the human mind tends to  remember images better than words . You should therefore improve your ability to learn a speech quickly by attaching images to the key ideas in your dialogue.

If you plan to start off a business speech by discussing how to increase profits, you might attach the mental image of a dollar bill to this for example. It then makes sense to do the same with the other parts of your speech. You should find that, when speaking for real, bringing the images to mind helps you to remember what to say.

3. Use the ‘Memory Palace’ technique

In addition to using images to help memorize a speech faster, you can also try the ‘Memory Palace’ approach. You may have heard of this before because it is a method used by famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

In essence, it sees you attach the bullet points/mental images in your speech to objects in the real world. The most common way is attaching each point/image to a piece of furniture in the room as you learn a speech.

When you then come to recite it back, you use the visual aid of looking at a certain piece of furniture to remind you what to say next and where you are up to.

4. Practice it

Once you have your outline and mental techniques in place to remember your speech, you should practice it as much as possible. It is fine to start off with the written outline in front of you but you should try to make the speech from memory after a few goes.

Practice Memorizing a Speech

Practice memorizing your speech in a 3-step process using the online exercise. Learn More

It can also be handy to practice the speech in front of someone else (even if it is just your partner) because this gets you used to rehearsing it with people watching. Although you might not always have lots of time to practice, it will help you learn it faster.

• Practice your speech in virtual reality
• Practice your speech with online exercises

5. Stay rested and well hydrated

Although this has nothing to do with the practicalities of writing your speech, it can help you memorize it faster. But why is this? The fact is that our minds are able to retain information  much better when rested and hydrated . On the other hand, you will find it a much tougher task to memorize a speech quickly if you are tired or dehydrated.

It is therefore wise to get enough rest when learning your speech and also drink plenty of water. Doing this will allow your mind to focus fully on remembering what to say and help you get the speech firmly lodged in your memory faster.

One great tip for committing a speech to memory faster is to relax. If you are overly stressed or tense about remembering it, it can actually make it tougher to recall. Sometimes the harder we try to force something, the further away it slips.

Try to relax  and remain in a state of positive mindfulness. You should find this helps the information to stick in your brain better and be easier to recall. A clear, quiet and relaxed mind means there is no internal noise stopping you from recalling any information.

Memorize a speech faster for less hassle

If you need to give a speech in public for whatever reason, you need to learn it and be confident of what you will say when the pressure is on. No one wants to spend long hours, late nights and weekends doing this though.

In addition, you might not have much time to learn a speech anyway! With this in mind, the above tips to memorize any speech up to 10x faster are very useful.

Not only do they make committing any speech to memory a breeze but they also enable you to get fully prepared for your public speaking engagement.

Learn how to memorize a speech with online classes and a memorization game for practice.

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

4 Best Tips on How to Memorize a Speech Quickly

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Public speaking can be extremely stressful, especially if it’s your first time or you have stage fright. In fact, 30% of Americans report they are afraid of public speaking. So how can we mask fear with confidence while delivering a speech?

I’ll show you some effective tips on memorizing a speech and the steps that will help you prepare.

How Long Does It Take to Memorize a Speech?

There is no exact time it takes to memorize a speech. I don’t even recommend memorizing a speech word by word because it leads to a monotonous delivery. All you have to do is get the flow and ideas in your head and refine the terms.

The duration of your memorization process depends on several factors, including the length of the entire speech and your memorization skills. It also depends on how you practice verbal enhancement.

Excellent speakers perform delivery of speeches anywhere between 1 and 18 minutes. For instance, an impromptu speech or short story might only take 2-5 minutes, which is easier to memorize than a TED talk with broad content.

A powerful speaker can memorize a 5-minute speech in under a minute if they don’t have to deliver the exact words. But if the speech takes longer, the speaker should list the sub-topics and practice it every day for 10-15 minutes.

If you need to memorize it within the day, give yourself two to three hours. Make sure this practice time includes rests in between so you don’t get burned out once it’s time to do the actual public speaking.

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How Long Should a Speech Be?

A superb performance does not necessarily depend on the length of the speech. The best way to know how long your piece should be is to ask the event organizer. If you were invited to deliver a speech, this duration should already be part of the invitation.

Extemporaneous speeches, which we don’t memorize or read from manuscripts, should take around 5-8 minutes or 600-1000 words. This type of speech is usually used to deliver a compelling story, discussion on business, or educational preaching.

A complete speech with a manuscript takes about 10-15 minutes. You can also give a 20-minute speech when necessary. These speeches are pre-planned and require several practices.

If you want to give a TED talk, the average time for a speech is 18 minutes. This platform for public speaking has been very successful because of the limits they set for their presenters.

Benefits of Being a Good Public Speaker

Public speaking skills are more than just a confidence booster. Let’s discuss the different advantages of learning how to deliver an exceptional speech.

Public Speaking Shows Your Expertise

Being an excellent public speaker is an attention-getter to your career network. You’ll stand out in the workforce since not all your coworkers want to be in the spotlight.

This marketable skill might attract potential employers with better career opportunities to offer. You will be more comfortable in interviews, sway more people in your favor, and convince them to give you a promotion.

Professional speakers also make business speakers in sales. You can reach higher sales goals when you know how to convince other people about your product or service.

You might also show your expertise in leadership because people will start approaching you for your ideas. They will consult on problems and make you a more reliable person.

You Can Develop Your Courage

Aside from better careers, self-confidence is a life-changing characteristic you will acquire once you start public speaking. Even if you make typical mistakes your first time, you’ll quickly get over them and be motivated to create a more awesome speech in the future.

That’s because public speaking develops your communication skills and counters your negative self-talk. This freeing activity allows you to express yourself and feel like everyone is listening.

Public speaking enhances your social interaction skills because you learn how to present your perspectives logically and coherently. You won’t be afraid to share your ideas in round-table discussions and intimate conversations.

It Helps Build Relationships and Connections

A successful speech is an excellent way to meet people with the same interests as you. For instance, if you deliver a business speech, you’ll find that entrepreneurs will approach you to share their own ideas or maybe ask for advice.

Try mingling with your audience after the speech to seek new perspectives on the topic and clarify any misunderstandings they had. Consider giving them your number or email for new opportunities.

Don’t be afraid to speak with other presenters and congratulate them on their speeches. There are several networking opportunities you don’t want to miss in the public speaking sphere.

Develops Critical Thinking Skills

Preparing for a speech goes beyond rote learning and memorization techniques. It also enhances your critical thinking skills because it helps you analyze your thought process and ensure you follow the correct structure of a speech.

If you’ve tried giving an engaging performance a couple of times, you already have a mental image of your ideas and their sequence. But if you’re a beginner, you can practice with professionals to help you make well-reasoned opinions.

The Step-by-Step Process to Memorize a Speech

Good speakers do not rely on memorizing a speech by heart. But there are a couple of steps you need to undergo when remembering a speech.

Prepare Yourself

The first thing you should do when memorizing a speech is to be ready. That means being in the right headspace to write and remember everything. Be prepared to undergo a 3-step process of writing, memorizing the big parts, and memorizing the small details.

The actual process includes making a detailed outline, producing cue cards, and researching your audience. It would help if you had an idea about their interests and attention span, so you’ll know the content and length of your speech.

This step is also an excellent time to motivate yourself. Think of the career prospects you’ll get and the social network you’ll build after delivering this speech. Imagine the confidence, leadership, and critical thinking skills you’ll gain after it.

You also want to try relaxation techniques if you have stage fright. This strategy helps if you are not used to speaking in front of a crowd or if you have too many expectations from yourself.

Rehearse the Speech With Your Script/Outline

Once you’re relaxed and ready, performing content mapping is the next step to effectively memorizing a speech. This method lets you structure everything you want to say so that you don’t include additional content that will ruin the piece’s flow.

You can also do mind mapping by providing structure in space to fill your memory. Another strategy to try is reading some books to widen your knowledge about a specific topic.

Understanding the outline is an easy way to get everything in your head. Memorize each sub-topic so you’ll know your cues and appear more casual or spontaneous.

Effective speeches take lots of practice. Pretend you’re speaking in front of the audience to make memorization fun. Check how it sounds as a speech before actually memorizing it.

It also helps to edit the speech for every round of reading continuously. Make sure it’s free from technical and flow errors. It should sound more natural, logical, and interesting. This process is relatively easy if you’ve given speeches before.

Read It With Others

Reading your speech aloud with a few close friends or family will save you lots of time editing and proofreading the original outline. Ask your audience to sit as you stand on stage and deliver the speech.

This step is also an excellent opportunity to study your body language. Check if your posture needs improvement or if you are not making enough eye contact.

Memorize, Big to Small

Memorizing from big to small means starting with the core content or key pieces and then the supporting details. This hierarchical process reduces verbatim memorization because it focuses more on the structure for correct delivery.

If you are an expert speaker, you don’t have to bring the entire manuscript. You might want to get a piece of paper with a bullet point list of the “big ideas.”

Remember that starting with the bigger details is better because most of your audience won’t even know the small details. This is a memory technique that is especially important in a sales presentation.

Memorizing from big to small also lets you gain maximum practice in your overall speech. Focus on the best parts first, then try to be more specific as you master each element.

Move to the Small Points

After the broader structure, it’s time to practice the tiny points of your presentations. These small points are not necessarily the exact sentences and words but the supporting details.

For example, if a big part of your speech talks about helping the community, you might speak about sub-topics such as volunteering, donating, and fundraising. In other words, you want to expand your bullets into big chunks to represent better ideas.

This third step can be more challenging than the second one. Try memorizing the small points by quizzing yourself and practicing the speech. Ask yourself, “What are the sub-topics for helping the community?”

Memorize the Delivery

Once you’re done with the chunking method, it’s time for the most elaborate process. As you already know, rote memorization is not the best way to remember your speech because it makes your delivery robotic.

If you’re confident enough, you can simply go out and deliver your presentation without note cards or any kind of memory aid. But feel free to bring a small piece of paper with you so you’ll have a guide.

If you’re delivering a speech at a conference, you might want to create PowerPoint slides. There are many compelling presentation templates for different applications. Prepare them in advance to practice the memorization of your delivery.

Rehearse the speech from top to bottom a couple of times. You should also continue editing your work until this point. For example, you might notice a grammar error or overuse of a word.

Deliver the Speech

Once you’ve done the chunk method and cue cards, it’s time to deliver the speech. Focus on the bigger chunks and ideas instead of the words and exact sentences.

Focusing on the bigger chunks will make your content more flexible and natural. If someone interrupts your speech or you forget a word, remember to return to your main point. It will help you get back to a logical path instead of just moving on to the next idea.

Tips on How to Memorize a Speech Quickly

Here are some excellent speech memorization techniques that might speed up the entire process.

Create an Outline

Creating an outline prevents you from memorizing a speech verbatim. Start with a central image that will guide your speech, also known as the thesis statement. Then, preview your main points and supporting details.

For example, your speech on opening a business might start with discussing market research and then fixing legal documents. Then, it’s time to discuss how to launch your company.

Once you’ve built the body of your speech, go back to the start and craft an introduction that will grab the audience’s attention. If you’re unsure what will work, practice it in front of your friends of similar age and interests.

Establish a conclusion, leaving your audience with something to remember. The last step is to piece everything together by using transitional devices.

Use the Memory Palace Technique

The best way to memorize a speech is using the Mind Palace Technique. This strategy might be familiar to you because the fictional character Sherlock Holmes used it. The tip is to attach the bullet points or mental images in your speech to any piece of furniture.

For example, the couch would be idea 1, and then your dining table would be idea 2. Idea 3 would be your main lamp, and so forth. Now walk through your home, stop at each furniture piece, and think of the mental image attached.

Try to keep the mental image as visual as possible. This will make you more effective because specific objects trigger your memory.

Repeat the Memory Palace Technique, then practice mentally touring your room. Imagine stopping at every room or furniture piece and recalling the idea in your head.

Use the 20-20-20 Rule

Another proven way to deliver your speech is using the 20-20-20 rule when rehearsing. That means reviewing your manuscript for 20 minutes. Then, repeat it twice for another 20 minutes each.

This repetitive strategy will help you remember the content better. Focus on the bigger chunks so that you can maximize your 20-minute limit. But another rule is to repeat the speech within 30 minutes. Otherwise, it will not be encoded in your long-term memory.

Get Enough Rest

I know how tempting it is to stay up all night to memorize a speech. But it’s not an excellent idea because it will slow down your brain. Lack of sleep increases the production of stress-related hormones and decreases concentration.

Aside from getting eight hours of sleep, it helps to take a break while practicing. Take a quick walk, eat dinner, and stay hydrated. Try meditating or using simple breathing exercises to calm yourself before the speech.

Common Mistakes of Memorizing a Speech

You don’t need to be an expert public speaker to deliver a good speech. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when memorizing a speech.

Not Listening to Yourself Practice

This is a classic mistake every beginner makes. No matter how much you cringe at a voice recording of yourself, it’s essential to listen to yourself practice.

You might not notice that you’re saying “um” or “you know” too much. Listening to yourself practice also helps you fix tongue-twisting phrases and words.

Complete Memorization

One complaint about memorization is that you won’t feel connected to your audience. Your responsibility is to speak with them or even appeal to their emotions. And if you treat your audience like air or ghosts, you will not be able to achieve your goals.

Complete memorization might also lead you to speak too fast. Control your speed so that your audience understands what you’re saying.

Keep Practicing

Don’t let your fear of being criticized hinder you from becoming a remarkable public speaker. With enough practice, you can deliver the most inspiring and convincing speech.

Remember to outline your speech, read it to a few trusted friends, and use different memory techniques. Make sure to get enough rest before the big day, too!

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5 steps to memorize a speech in less than an hour

• Memorizing a speech is sometimes easier said than done.

• Two-time national memory champion Ron White has some tips on how to memorize a whole speech.

• From outlining the talk to creating a mind palace, here are a few tips on how to become a confident public speaker in no time.

Speaking in front of a crowd can be scary. In fact, research has found that glossophobia — the fear of public speaking — is the most common phobia among Americans, ahead of thanatophobia — the fear of death.

As Jerry Seinfeld points out in his standup routine , this means the average person going to a funeral "would rather be in the casket than give the eulogy."

But public speaking doesn't have to be so scary.

Ron White, a two-time national memory champion , said in a video that when you know your speech by heart and don't have to rely on note cards or reading a slideshow, "your confidence will skyrocket."

"This also allows you to maintain eye contact, being a more dynamic and powerful speaker," he explained. "You will appear more knowledgeable to your audience as well."

White says he learned this simple five-step process for memorizing and giving speeches about 25 years ago, and he still uses it today:

1. Write the outline for your speech

Never write out a speech word for word, or try to memorize it word for word, White said. "It will sound corny or canned. You want a speech that sounds natural and flows." Also, he says, when you only memorize the bullet points, this allows you the freedom to say something spontaneous that may turn out to be a great new addition to your speech. "I typically just write out short phrases or a single word to remind me of what I want to talk about," he explained. For example, if he wants to give a speech on increasing profits, he might write out the 10 main ideas like:

• Increasing profit • Time management • Communication • Continuing education and growth • Goals • Rewards for hitting goals • Working smarter not harder • Efficiency • Organized • Teamwork

"Because it is my speech, these bullet points are all I would need to know to keep my thoughts on a stream," he said.

White explained that this step is no additional work. "If you were going to give a speech with notes you would do this anyway, because these would be what you'd write on your note cards. So the first step is to prepare as if you aren't going to use a memory system."

2. Create mental images for each bullet point

Next you'll want to create mental images for each of bullet points "because the mind remembers pictures easier than words," said White.

He shared the mental images he'd use for his example bullet points:

• Increasing profit: dollar bills • Time management: a clock • Communication: a phone • Continuing education and growth: a plant growing (for growth) • Goals: a field goal • Rewards for hitting goals: a "Wanted" poster with a reward  • Working smarter not harder: a brain • Efficiency: an energy-efficient apartment • Organized: a organizer/planner • Team work: a sports team

3. Create a 'mind palace'

In order to memorize anything, you need a place to store the data. "The best technique for this is the Mind Palace," White explained. This technique has been around for at least 2,500 years and is written about in the "Sherlock Holmes" books and utilized by Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre.

"It's where you visualize what you want to recall on furniture in your home," he explained.

White says it will take you about 20 minutes upfront to build a Mind Palace — meaning, to select pieces of furniture in your home or office. "But once you do that, you can use this Mind Palace for the rest of your life for so many other things," he explained.

To assign numbers to the furniture, you'll want to stand in the doorway of a room, start on your left, and move around the room clockwise numbering five large items.

In the first room, you'll number the furniture items 1-5; in the second room, number them 6-10; and so on.

4. Visualize

Now you want to assign the images you associated with each bullet point to these items — but as you do this, you want to think of a smells, tastes, sounds, or feelings associated with each image for each piece of furniture.

"The more action and emotion, the better," said White.

For instance, if furniture item No. 1 is your couch, imagine the cushions are green and stuffed with money, and that they make the sound of paper being crumbled when you sit on them.

Do this for each bullet point and item, one through 10.

"This is how you memorize," said White. "You really want to see the images on the furniture. The more vivid you can make the images — by actually hearing the sounds of the water, tasting the food, feeling the heat of a fire, etc. — the better you will remember it."

Then, he says, when you give your speech and you are standing in front of the room with no notes in your hands, you'll be able to think back to your house and start mentally walking through your home.

You'll see the couch stuffed with money and say, "Today I want to talk to you about increasing our profits."

5. Review and practice

Review these items and images over and over in your mind until you know them, said White.

Give the speech at least once from memory to make sure the images work for you and they are enough, he suggested.

"Once you have this technique mastered you could give a speech that lasts for hours without notes," he said. "You can still use a Power Point as a visual aid, but it will no longer be a crutch for you."

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In a Hurry? Here’s How to Memorize a Speech in Less than an Hour

This article covers a few great tips about how great speakers make the presentation memorization process easy and stress-free. First, we will cover the big mistakes that most people make when they design a presentation that makes memorizing the presentation much harder. Forgetting what you want to say is a common phobia even among good speakers. So, the first step is to eliminate bad habits that make memorizing a presentation more difficult.

Next, we cover a few memory techniques that are common among professional speakers. (These tips are fantastic, and they work really well.) However, in the third part, I will show you how to actually design your entire presentation where you won’t have to memorize ANYTHING!

If you use this memory technique, your audience will see you as being absolutely brilliant. (Your speech will also be fantastically easy to deliver.)

Big Mistakes When Designing a Presentation that Makes Memorizing a Speech More Difficult.

Before you actually attempt to memorize a speech, the first thing that you want to do is to eliminate the following preparation mistakes. If you do these things, it won’t matter what memory aid you use. Your presentation will likely be difficult to deliver and boring for the audience. (That’s bad.)

1) Starting with the Visual Aid.

Many presenters will often start by designing a PowerPoint slideshow or some other visual aid. When we do this, we will likely end up with a long list of bullet points. As the speaker prepares to deliver the speech, he/she will often need to try to memorize exactly what he/she wants to say for each of the bullets. (This can be hard, and it adds a lot of unneeded pressure.) Instead, start by designing a good presentation. Then, after you have a great speech determine what visual aids will help your audience understand the content.

2) Writing a Presentation Word-for-Word.

Another big mistake is to write out their entire presentation longhand. Many presenters see delivering a presentation like learning lines in a play. We think that we have to create a script first. If you think about the logical “next steps,”, though, you will quickly see the big challenge. Because, after the script is written, you really only have two choices. Choice one is to just read the entire presentation. (Very boring!) Option two is to memorize the entire speech word-for-word (rote memorization.) That adds an extreme level of complexity to the delivery. It also doesn’t fix the initial problem with option number one. (It is still going to be very boring.) To fix this, just create a simple outline of your major points.

3) Data Dumping.

The hardest problem to overcome is called “data dumping.” This is where we give too much information in too short a period of time. When we design presentations, we often think that in order to present well, we have to tell the audience EVERYTHING that we know about the topic all at once. In reality, though, a few points covered really well will be better received than a bunch of points covered in a cursory fashion. We suggest that you limit your main points to five or fewer.

The good news is that once you eliminate these challenges, the next step is pretty easy — choose a memory technique based on the structure of our speech.

How to Memorize a Speech in Just a Few Minutes. (Memory Hack)

The human brain is a fantastic hard drive that can store vast amounts of information. However, most people don’t really understand how to efficiently use this fantastic organ effectively. All that you need to know to improve your memory dramatically in just a few minutes is to realize that your mind thinks in pictures.

When presenters make the mistake of writing out their speeches word-for-word, they will next try to memorize the presentation word-for-word as well. We look at the words on the paper, and we get overwhelmed. You see, our minds don’t remember the written words. We remember the images that those words create in our minds.

An Ancient Memory Technique that Assigns Mental Images for Each Part of Your Speech

The Stacking Technique is an ancient technique used to memorize the most important specific points of your presentation. You can actually memorize a whole speech, by focusing on the main ideas of the presentation — not a word-for-word recitation. Start by creating an outline of the speech. Break the speech into component parts. Then, just create a mental image for each point.

Here is a specific example. Let’s say I was giving the following presentation…

Our Plan to Increase Profit Next Quarter. Cut Costs by Buying Materials in Bulk. Decrease Rework by Improving Communication with Our Customers. Reach Out to Our Existing Satisfied Customers for Additional Orders.

All I would have to do to remember the main concepts is to create a mental image for each bullet point. For the first bullet point, I could create the image of a price tag being cut with a pair of scissors. This will help me remember to speak about cutting costs. For point two, I could picture a golfer who slices his shot and then secretly drops a new ball onto the fairway. The Mulligan golfer will help me remember to speak about reducing rework. For the final point, I could picture an employee with arms stretching 20 feet to shake hands with a customer. This will help me remember to speak about reaching out to happy customers.

To improve the chance of memorizing each item, add some type of action going from one image to the next. For instance, I start with the giant scissors cutting the price tag. The pieces of the price tag fall with a thud on either side of the startled golfer in mid-swing. As a result, his shot goes way off course. The disgruntled golfer looks around nervously and drops a new ball where his previous ball had laid. As he swings a second time, the ball slices around one of our employees. She has super-stretchy arms that are over 20 feet long. With her right hand, she reaches out to shake hands with a happy customer.

This technique works well even if you have to deliver a large number of bullet points. Just add a new image for each new bullet point. Practice the list of images with a friend to move the images to long-term memory.

The Best Way to Memorize a Speech: Mind Map it Out in Your Memory Palace

If you have ever seen a professional keynote speaker come on stage and deliver an entire hour-long presentation without any notes, he/she probably used the Mind Palace technique. (Also called the Mind Palace, Palace Technique, or Room Technique.) This technique is similar to the Stacking Technique, but instead of memorizing the images in sequential order, the images are placed within a location that you know extremely well. So, just like in the Stacking Technique, you create an image for each main point in your presentation.

Next, pick a location you can easily remember in great detail. It could be your house, office, or even the meeting room or banquet hall if you want. Then create a logical ‘route,’ based on which room or piece of furniture that you see first. For example, when you open the front door of your home, what is the first room that you enter?

After deciding on a route, imagine taking that route and focusing on the rooms or items AND the order that you see them. Using my home as an example, when I enter through the front door, I’m standing in the formal living room. The first piece of furniture that I see is the sofa to my left. This is where my dog sleepily wags her tail when I first enter. To my right is my wife’s office. Straight ahead is the formal dining area with the big table that is only used when my family visits on a holiday. Next is the smaller living area where the TV and comfy sofas are. Finally is the kitchen with the island in the middle.

Since I know this route and the specific locations really well, I can easily insert the images that we prepared in the Stacking Section. Instead of seeing my dog on the formal sofa, there is an oversize pair of scissors cutting a price tag. On my wife’s desk is the disgruntled golfer. Seated at the head of the formal dining table is my employee with her arms stretched all the way across the table to shake hands with a happy customer. If I had a fourth point, it would be watching TV. The fifth point would be on the kitchen island.

Add Details with Additional Pictures

Once you have the outline memorized, you can add additional images to represent additional content. For instance, for the first point about bulk orders, let’s say that you want to tell a story to reinforce the point. Last week, we ordered three separate supplies on three different orders and paid shipping fees for each delivery. If we had prepared the orders all at once, we would have saved money on shipping. A good image to help you remember this story is three sailing ships. (This represents the three separate shipments.)

In addition, let’s say that you want to underscore this opportunity by ending with an analogy. For instance, if you are going to fly to three different cities where clients are located, and you will only spend a single day with each, you will save a lot of money (and time) by organizing the trips in a single week. If you made the trips separately, in three different weeks, you’d pay more for your airline tickets and spend way more time at airports. It would also take you at least six days for all of the trips (three traveling and three with the clients.) However, if you left on a Tuesday, visited a client on Wednesday, flew to another city on Thursday, and then another on Friday, you’d spend a lot less time and money.

That is what we want to do with our ordering. Instead of having three people place three orders, paying for shipping for each of the orders, and having three people process the intake when the three orders arrive, we do it all at once. A single order, a single shipping cost, and a single intake. To remember this analogy, I could create an image of a Trident. (A single weapon with three points.)

Going back to the image of the Scissors on my formal sofa, well that sofa has three cushions. The left-most cushion has the scissors. The middle cushion has three ships. And, finally, the third cushion has a trident sticking into it. I can do the same for each room that I created using the Palace Technique.

How to Deliver Your Entire Speech without Memorizing ANYTHING!

By the way, we teach both of these memory techniques in our presentation skills classes . However, almost no one who comes through our classes ever uses either of these techniques.

What? Did you say no one ever uses these techniques to memorize a presentation?

Yes. Delivering a memorized speech is actually a terrible way to give a presentation.

If you design a really good presentation in the first place, you won’t really need to memorize anything. The technique that we teach in our classes is to focus on just a few, key concepts related to what your audience wants or needs to know about your topic. Then, create a visual aid with just those key bullet points on it. Since your bullet points are right there on your slideshow or visual aid, you don’t really need to memorize them. Then, for each of you bullets, come up with a compelling story, interesting analogy, or some other type of “attention getter.”

If you prepare and practice a few items like this for each of your main bullet points, then, when you deliver the presentation, just internally ask yourself, “How can I best explain this concept to my audience?” The answer will always be one or more of the items that you prepared.

A presentation like this will be much more spontaneous and interesting than a memorized presentation.

For additional help, make sure to visit our 101 presentation tips for public speaking blog post.

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How to memorize a speech.

Giving a good speech is a kind of paradoxical task.

On the one hand, nobody likes a reader. If you’re looking down at your notes, or worse, simply reading off the slideshow, you seem unengaged and unprepared.

On the other hand, the speech should feel natural. Good speakers sound as if the words just came to them in a conversation, even though they probably practiced it thousands of times.

For an interesting dissection of this, consider this analysis of how the comedian Louis C.K. tells a joke . The delivery is so casual that you feel like you’re overhearing him chatting with a friend in a bar. Yet the timing is so perfect you know that he did this dozens, if not hundreds, of times to get it right.

That’s the paradox: you need to memorize a speech, without seeming like you memorized it.

Fortunately, there’s a method for doing this, that is useful to learn.

Should You Even Try To Memorize?

Before I jump into the method, I want to address a first complaint—that memorizing a speech isn’t the thing you should do. That memorization will make your delivery robotic.

There’s some truth to this. Over-reliance on verbatim memorization can lead to an artificial sounding speech . However, I’ve learned that this is more a symptom of memorizing the speech, in the wrong way, than an issue with memorizing per se .

Good speakers aren’t entirely rigid. There should be some flexibility to your speech, particularly if there’s a chance you might get interrupted or need to change direction based on the reaction from your audience.

However, memorization, in some form or another, is essential. If the speech isn’t in memory, then it needs to be in your cue cards or slideshow, and then you’re back to reading. So most critiques of memorizing speeches are merely critiques of memorizing in a particularly inflexible, verbatim way. The way I’ll teach you avoids this problem.

The Step-by-Step Process to Memorize a Speech

1. write out the speech.

The first step is to write out your speech. There’s two ways you can do this. The first is simply to write it out exactly how you want to say it. If you’re comfortable as a writer, or you are trying to script out a presentation quite precisely, this can work.

However, most people are more familiar with talking than writing, so it’s often better to write out the speech as an outline, instead of as a full script.

2. Rehearse the Speech, With Your Script/Outline

Next, you want to try saying your speech out loud, with your script. At this stage, it’s okay to read it. You simply want to know how it sounds as a speech before you start the work of trying to memorize it.

Very often, when you start reading your speech aloud, you’ll recognize parts that need to change. This is a sculpting process, where you delete, add or reorder large chunks to make it sound better.

If you wrote out a complete script, you’ll need to do this several times to edit the script to make it sound more natural. If you’ve written a lot of speeches, this is easier. However, writing and speaking differ in many ways, so if you just go straight to memorizing a fully written speech you will probably sound a bit off.

If you only wrote an outline, this stage is where you end up creating the speech. It will probably take several times just to figure out what you want to say, so this process can sometimes be longer. The advantage of going from outline, as opposed to full script, is that you don’t have the residue of the written script influencing how you deliver it. If you need to appear more casual or spontaneous, this is especially helpful. Less so if you’re doing a formal presentation.

3. Memorize, Big to Small

The key to memorizing a speech is to memorize it hierarchically. You want to start with the broad chunks, then specific paragraphs, phrases, and finally, specific intonation and timing with words.

There’s two reasons to do it this way. The most obvious is that, aside from professional speakers, few people will hit the last stage and memorize the tiny details. Instead, the speech will be “good enough” when you’ve memorized the broad content of certain paragraphs, and are still loose enough to switch the delivery a little bit.

The second reason is that this gives you maximum practice at the more zoomed out level of your speech. This means you’ll have memorized this part the best, and will be able to fall back on it if you misremember a lower-level detail.

I once was presenting with a team, and one of our team members had the bad habit of skipping over small paragraphs or sections, like a record skipping over part of a song. For us it was a nuisance. But for the audience, he was skipping out parts of the logical sequence of the speech. Suddenly, our beautifully crafted presentation didn’t make any sense since we omitted a key part of the presentation. Memorizing hierarchically solves this problem by giving you the ability to remember the gist, even if you forget the parts.

4. Start with the Big Chunks

The first place to start is with the biggest chunks. These should be the logical and rhetorical content of your speech. The broad strokes of what you’re trying to talk about.

If you’re giving a sales presentation, this might be, “Describing the problem,” “What our product is,” and, “How to buy it.”

The first way to memorize this is simply to write out what these main points are on the page and then, covering them up, try to recall them. Spend a few minutes doing this and then try delivering your speech, focusing on the broad points, without worrying too much whether you get the exact delivery right.

5. Move to the Small Points

Once you’ve convinced yourself that the big chunks are 100% memorized (which shouldn’t take too long), then you want to move to the smaller points. These are not sentences, but they represent the meaning of what you want to say with them.

Depending on the speech there will be a lot more of these. I recommend expanding your bullets for your big chunks to represent each idea with one or two key words. This is considerably briefer than a full script, but it may actually be more detailed than your original outline—since you’ll have one point every sentence or two, whereas your original outline might have only included the big chunks.

Quiz yourself to memorize these points. I often like to tie them to the big chunks. So I could ask myself, “What are the points for — ‘Describing the problem’?” I would then proceed to recall from memory all the points I want to make and then check my list. Did I get them all right?

This can take a bit more work, so it’s useful to do a mixture of memorizing via this quizzing and actually practicing the speech. The reason to do some self-quizzing, instead of just rehearsing the speech, is that we’re trying to memorize the speech content first. Whereas, if you only rehearse the speech verbatim, it’s very easy to get stuck on memorizing the literal words of the speech but losing track of the broader structure.

Your goal here should be perfect recall of all the points. If I ask you, what are the points for chunk X of the speech, you should be able to flawlessly tell me what they all are. If you can’t, or you have to stop and think for more than two seconds, you don’t know it well enough. Keep quizzing yourself and you’ll have it memorized soon.

6. Memorize the Delivery

Now, hopefully, you’ve memorized the big chunks of your speech and all the points you need to make in each chunk. Since you’ve done it in this order, the overall structure of the speech should be deepest in your memory, followed by the points to be made and only finally some of the ways in which you are trying to say those points.

For many speeches, this is enough. You can simply go out and deliver your presentation, knowing that even if you change how you deliver it, the content will remain the same.

However, good speakers often go a step further. They rehearse it top-to-bottom a number of times so they can start making microscopic changes to the order of words, sentences, even timing and intonation.

One example of such a tweak. If I’m giving a speech, I might start to overuse a word too much. If I were giving this article as a speech, loosely, I might say the word “memorize” over and over again. In this phase of rehearsing a speech, I could make sure that sometimes I say “memorize” and sometimes I say “remember” and other times “rehearse” so as to give variety in my performance.

Jokes and comedy depend a lot on timing and delivery. So if you’re trying to write a speech that intends to be funny, this step is often difficult to skip since you need to have not only the right content, but the right delivery to make the speech work.

7. Deliver the Speech

Finally, you need to actually give the speech.

Although now we’re onto performance not rehearsal, it’s important here to remember to focus on the high-level chunks and points, not the words and delivery in your mind at this stage. Focus on what you want to say, and the “how” of your delivery will simply come out however you practiced it most before.

This step is important for a couple reasons.

First, it gives you maximal flexibility. If you get interrupted, someone asks a question or you flub and forget a word, you’ve remembered the meaning not the syntax. This means it’s easier to get back onto a logically coherent path, rather than trying to spit out sentences in the wrong order.

Second, it will feel the most natural. What makes someone feel natural in their delivery of a speech is that they are feeling the content of the speech as if it was coming to them right now. When you memorize the words, the semantics of the speech can get buried, and you can end up delivering it in a way you would never do in a conversation.

If you did do the sixth step, mastering the delivery, then whatever was best practiced will be the groove to which the record needle of your mind sticks to. Focusing on the content, not the delivery, is important here to seem natural. Think about what you want to say and the right way to say it will come out automatically because of your practice.

Why Bother With Memorizing a Speech?

I don’t memorize every presentation I have to give. If I know I have multiple takes (say I’m recording a video) very often what gets recorded are the takes I do as I’m trying to figure out what to say.

Similarly, if I’m delivering a longer talk then I may aim for improvising around the structure of the talk, without trying to master some element of the delivery. Longer speeches, obviously, take longer to memorize, so there may be somewhere when the cost-benefit of memorizing is no longer being reached.

However, often in your life you’ll have to deliver a speech where the stakes are high and there are no do-overs. In this instance, knowing how to properly memorize a speech, so you can say it exactly, without sounding robotic, is a useful skill to develop.

The nice thing about this process is that it goes in order of priority. So the question usually isn’t, “should I use this approach to memorize a speech?” but, “how far should I go for this particular speech?”. You may finish after early rehearsals, or memorizing the points, or even go so far as to perfect the timing of tiny nuances in your body language or tone of voice for particular words and phrases. This same process applies throughout.

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• Published on June 16, 2018
• June 16, 2018

How To Memorize A Speech Faster And Other Awesome Memory Hacks

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Did you know that the fear of speaking is the most common phobia in the United States, even ahead of the fear of death? That’s right — at a funeral, most people would rather be in the casket than have to give the eulogy. Yikes.

If you are among the many, we are here to help you dissolve this fear. This article is all about how to memorize a speech faster, smoother, and more effectively so that you awe the audience with your soaring confidence and impeccable delivery.

Oh, but we won’t stop at teaching you how to memorize a speech… We will be giving you other awesome memory techniques , such as how to memorize lines, how to memorize the periodic table, and even how to remember your dreams.

We are equipping you to be a memory wizard!

How Can I Memorize A Script Quickly?

1. don’t write out your speech.

Word by word, that is. Here are just a few problems with writing out your speech word-for-word:

• You are more likely to stumble upon your words.
• You risk sounding like a robot.
• It’s a zillion time more difficult to remember.
• Think you nailed it by remembering every word? Nobody knows the difference.

So, here’s the idea: Instead of writing your speech out word-for-word, just write an outline of what you want to say.

This way, you only need to memorize the key points you want to get across to your audience. This frees up the mind and allows for more charisma, emotion, and flow. Your outline only has to be 1-2 word points for every topic you’d like to cover. Keep it simple, you just need enough direction to keep your thoughts on a steady stream.  

2. Visualize And Create A Memory Palace

Now that you have a basic outline of your speech, assign each point a mental image. For instance, if you want to talk about your company’s profit, you may create a mental image of a bag of money (or a dollar sign). Do this for every point, and don’t be shy — you can make these as weird and quirky as you wish (nobody’s going to know about them).

After this, you can create a “ Memory Palace .” A Memory Palace is an ancient memory technique that leverages our brain’s impressive spatial memory to help us memorize lists (or an outline, in this case). The basic idea is to use your imagination to place these mental images in a room that you are very familiar with. So, for instance, you can imagine walking into your bedroom and seeing a giant bag of money on your bed, then place other mental images throughout the room as you would scan it.

You can learn more about this impressive memory technique and how to memorize a speech using it here.

3. Practice

Need we say more? Practice, practice, practice.

Practicing will really help to build your confidence. Also, don’t worry if your speech is different every time — as long as you are getting all of the main points across, it’s perfect.

4. How To Memorize A Speech Faster

Whatever you are giving a speech on, you are an expert. Don’t let fear get in the way of remembering this. Remind yourself of your brilliance, and let your knowledge and wisdom flow out of you.

Relax, do a dance, laugh. You’ve got this.

Other Awesome Memory Hacks

While we’re riding the memory train, here are a few more quick, awesome memory hacks to use when learning how to memorize lines, how to memorize the periodic table, and even how to remember your dreams. Okay, let’s go!

How To memorize Lines

Need to memorize your lines for a production? Here are a few quick, simple tips to help.

• Read the script and fully understand it’s meaning
• Try writing out your lines
• Move around, gesture, and convey emotion as you memorize them
• Visualize your lines and the messages they convey
• Memorize one chunk at a time
• Record yourself
• Repeat your lines (over and over)
• Relax and give yourself many mental breaks

How To Memorize The Periodic Table

For most chemistry classes, in grade school and college, you are required to tediously memorize the periodic table of elements. Or, perhaps you wish to have them memorized for fun! Either way, here are some tips to make the memorization process far less tedious.

• Create images for all the elements (for example, someone waving “Hi!” for Hydrogen)
• Use the Memory Palace technique
• Use flashcards
• Break it down and learn sections at a time (for instance, learn the noble gases first, then the halogens, etc.)
• Check out this catchy song from AsapScience

How To Remember Your Dreams

Do you ever ask yourself, “Why can’t I remember my dreams?” If so, you are not alone! Here are some tips you can start implementing right now.

• Be sure to get enough good-quality sleep (8+ hours)
• Set the intention to remember your dreams
• Keep your alarm clock close to your bed (getting up to turn it off disrupts your thought process and dream recall)
• As soon as you wake up (before you even move) think about what you were just dreaming
• Keep a dream journal
• Keep a note by your bed that asks “What did you dream?”
• Avoid alcohol or medication (even the green kind) before bed
• Try these dream herbs and supplements to help boost your dream recall

What Is The Fastest Way To Memorize A Paragraph?

There are several ways to remember paragraphs fast. The fastest and most efficient one is the old Hindu method that is used for remembering long religious texts.

Naturally, you would have to go step by step, so you should read the first paragraph, repeat it several times, and once you’re sure that you’ve remembered it, go onto the next one.

Now, repeat the first and the second line together. Keep repeating until you are sure that you have memorized them and then go onto the third line.

Repeat the process again, first to the third line, and when you are done, move forward.

This chain way of memorizing long texts is one of the fastest and most effective ones.

How Do You Memorize A Speech Without Notes?

There are situations in life when you will have to make a speech, but you will not be allowed to use notes. And you probably shouldn’t. A speech without notes seems much more professional and natural.

The worst thing you can do to remember a speech is to sit down and try to memorise a pile of cue cards. — David Thomas

But, how do you memorize a speech and succeed in conducting a good one?

Of course, there are some techniques that can help. Our favorite is the Journey method.

The Journey Method

• Separate your speech into smaller bits and find strong keywords that will represent each part and that you will easily memorize. There should be no more than 10-20 words, depending on the length of your speech.
• Give each trigger word a specific position in a place you are familiar with. For example, your bedroom can have the first word for the first point in the script, your bathroom can have the second, kitchen third, and so on. This way, each time you are in that room, you will remember a certain part of the speech and its main points.
• Give a picture to each room. Imagine something silly or interesting in each room that will remind you of the trigger word that you have previously chosen.
• Form a route through the place and go through your speech’s main points every time you step into the room and remember those mind images connected to the trigger words.

Should You Memorize A Speech?

In most of the cases, remembering just key points of a speech would be quite enough. The point is to be able to represent the ideas from a speech once you’ve understood it completely.

When you know where you’re going with your speech, you just need the main idea and all the rest will follow. It will seem much more natural that way and the listeners will enjoy more.

Photo: Christina Mänd Lakhiani on the stage at Mindvalley’s Afest, Sardinia

Do you have any other tips on how to memorize a speech (or anything, for that matter)? How about tips on how to remember your dreams? Share with us in the comment below!

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4 Ways to Memorize a Speech—Without Sounding Like a Nervous Robot

If you’ve ever had to give a big presentation , chances are high that each time you practiced , you said it a little differently.

This is actually pretty normal—and totally allowed! The key to memorizing a speech isn’t getting every word verbatim, but remembering the principal elements. If you can get those down, you’re golden.

And we’re here to help you remember the big stuff! This infographic will take you step-by-step through how you can begin to imagine your speech—without notecards, of course. Hint: Images are key.

Infographic courtesy of EssayTigers . Photo of man studying courtesy of Shutterstock .

Do You Want To 3X Your Focus?

How to memorize a speech: a step-by-step guide.

Does the thought of public speaking make your palms sweat?

If so, then you’re not alone. One study suggests that approximately 25 percent of the population suffers from glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking.

Several techniques may be used to remedy or relieve this fear. One of the most common of these is to memorize your speech.

The idea of memorizing an entire speech may have just caused your heartbeat to speed up to an unhealthy rate. However, this is something that all public speakers confront at some point.

"The true art of memory is the art of attention." Samuel Johnson Tweet

When I was asked to give a talk a few years ago, I felt plenty of anxiety. Nonetheless, I challenged myself to memorize my speech. This meant that I spent a lot of time going over the language, and I practiced until I knew forward and backward what I was going to say.

You know what? That was probably the best speech I’ve ever given.

When it was time for me to get up on stage, I was nervous, but I also was prepared. I knew that speech cold, and I didn’t have to rely on any notecards that I could have dropped or shuffled in the wrong order.

Even better, I felt confident. I could make eye contact with the audience, and I could see that they were actually engaging with what I was saying.

5 Public Speaking Myths

By now, you’re probably wondering how to memorize a speech, but it may be valuable to spend a few minutes dispelling some public speaking myths.

Do you believe any of these? If you do, then it’s time to recognize them and let them go.

1. Only "naturals" can be good public speakers.

Maybe there is a tiny percentage of the population for whom public speaking is as natural as breathing. They don’t even need prepared remarks. It’s enough for them to jump up on stage and wing it. Maybe those people exist, but I doubt it. Think of the best speech you ever heard. Whether it was inspirational, business, politics or something else, you can bet that the speaker didn’t arrive at this skill naturally. That’s right, public speaking is a skill, which means that it can be learned by absolutely anyone. That great speech that you’ll always remember was probably written, then re-written and then re-written again. Just as critically, that speech was tirelessly practiced until it felt natural, but it definitely didn’t start out that way.

2. If you're good, you don't get nervous.

This statement doesn’t stand up in any respect. If you are nervous, it’s actually a positive sign. That’s because it’s an indicator that you care about what you’re doing. Maybe you care about getting your message across to the audience. Perhaps you’re anxious to make a good impression. Whatever it is, it’s something about which you care deeply, and that’s why you’re nervous. Being nervous has nothing to do with whether or not you’re “good.” In fact, you may even be able to focus those nerves so that you give an even better performance.

3. Introverts can't be good public speakers.

The opposite of this statement actually is true. Introverts can be fantastic public speakers. Some of the most famous speechmakers of the modern era, such as Nelson Mandela and Gandhi, are acknowledged introverts. This is partly because speaking is in many ways a motor skill. In other words, anyone, even an introvert, can train their body to be a better public speaker. That means managing their breathing, taking control of their body language and appropriately projecting their voice for the message and the venue. All of these components and more are within the introvert’s control. These are skills that can be practiced, learned and remembered. Introverts also tend to be more sensitive than extroverts. This can be exceptionally helpful in the public speaking arena as it leads the introvert to really examine their speechmaking techniques and look for ways to improve.

4. You have to memorize your speech.

This may seem counterintuitive to the purpose of this article. However, we aren’t suggesting that you memorize every word of your speech verbatim. Doing so can be a recipe for disaster because if you miss one word or say the wrong word, then your whole speech can be derailed in an instant. Moreover, a speech that is memorized verbatim frequently sounds rigid and disengaged. The speaker may deliver the whole thing in a monotone, sounding more like a robot than a human being. This lack of the speaker’s engagement with the material will lead the audience to disengage as well. When you practice the techniques that we describe here, you’re not memorizing your speech verbatim. Instead, you’re getting intensely familiar with your subject matter, what you want to say about it and how you want to say it. It’s a formula that’s far more foolproof than total memorization.

5. A good speech is all in the words.

Of course the words that you use in your speech are vital, but they aren’t the total package. Other things matter too. A few of these things include your tone, pauses, breathing, body language, making eye contact and your facial expressions. Accordingly, as you figure out how to memorize a speech, it’s not enough just to have the subjects and the words in the correct order. It’s just as critical to figure out how you should say the words. Which words should be emphasized? Where does it make sense to pause? Would a hand gesture help to illustrate your point? All of these considerations go into crafting a memorable and effective speech.

How to Memorize a Speech

1. Make an outline of your speech.​

2. Reduce the Script to Key Phrases.​

3. Highlight and Memorize Each Key Phrase in Order.​

4. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse.​

6. Keep a copy of your key phrase list in your pocket when delivering your speech.​

1. Make an outline of your speech.

It may be tempting to write out every word of your speech, but this isn’t always a good idea. Having a precise script that you memorize verbatim can end up making you sound robotic and disengaged, which is the same problem that comes from reading a speech. Instead, it makes sense to create an outline of your speech. You’ll include parts such as: -An introduction; -The body, which covers all of the major points you intend to make; and -A conclusion It’s all right if your outline is pretty rough. Practice reading your outline out loud as if you were giving a speech. Because there are key differences between writing and speaking, reading out loud will tell you what sounds “right” and what needs to be changed. Reading out loud will help you to flesh out and rearrange your outline until you have something that works. The outline approach keeps things fresh and creative, preventing you from getting locked into phrases and the order of the topics before you’re ready. An outline also leaves you room to be spontaneous on stage or to switch directions if you expect audience reaction to at all influence how your speech will be delivered or the order in which you’ll proceed.

2. Reduce the Script to Key Phrases.

Once you’re satisfied with your outline, it becomes your script. Now is the time to start the real work of memorization. The key to this is reducing your script to key phrases. Think of these key phrases as the road map of your speech. Once you know these phrases, it’s virtually impossible for you to get lost as you move from your introduction to your conclusion. Key phrases don’t have to be long or wordy. In fact, it’s best if they are short and to the point so that they’ll be easier to remember. Beginning the memorization process by identifying your key phrases is critical because this is the part of your speech that will be most firmly cemented in your mind. Regardless of what happens on that stage, you’ll always have your key phrases at hand to guide you. Your key phrases could be anything from your speech. You could use: -Describe the problem; -Explain my solution; -Highlight the advantages of my solution As you can see, a list of key phrases may be quite brief. The longer your speech, the more key phrases you may have. Once you have identified your main key phrases, it’s time to break down each of these sections into smaller parts. Effectively, you’re looking for the subordinate key phrases that support each of your main key phrases. As an example, for the main key phrase “Describe the problem” used above, your supporting points might be: -Employee distraction is at an all-time high -Mistakes are more common -Productivity is down -Employees are less invested in their output Then, move on to your solution: -Prohibit cell phone use during meetings -Encourage employees to practice single-tasking rather than multi-tasking -Use a timer to promote focus for task completion Accordingly, your key phrases for the first section might be: -Distraction -Mistakes -Dropping productivity -Less investment in output While the key phrases for the second section might be: -Prohibit cell phones -Single-tasking -Timers

3. Highlight and Memorize Each Key Phrase in Order.

On your outline, highlight each key phrase. Start with memorizing your main key phrases, which likely will be quick and easy because there aren’t many of them. Try repeatedly writing down these key phrases, reading them several times and then covering them with your hand to ensure that you can recall them. Next, repeat this process with your subordinate key phrases, remembering to read your main key phrase with the connected subordinate phrases so that you stay organized.

4. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse.

It is virtually impossible to practice too much in the days and weeks leading up to your speech. The more your practice, the better your recall of your key phrases will be. Additionally, lots of practice ensures that you are using good breathing techniques, that you’re pausing in all the right places and that you’re emphasizing certain words so that your point is driven home to your audience. Extra practice also lets you get comfortable with things like body language and facial expressions. Don’t forget your personal attachment to the subject matter. Does a certain section come across better with a smile? Is a hand gesture required to highlight a fact somewhere else? Lots of practice lets you try out different techniques so that you can discover what works and feels natural for you. Once you have that figured out, you keep practicing to solidify your familiarity. As you practice, it’s fine to keep your outline with the highlighted key phrases with you. Refer to it as necessary, but continually challenge yourself to use it less and less as you practice more. If possible, ask trusted friends or family members to watch and critique your speech. They may provide helpful tips and insights that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Adopt their suggestions if they work for you and seem helpful, but don’t be afraid to discard their ideas if they make you uncomfortable or if you think they will make your speech seem unnatural.

6. Keep a copy of your key phrase list in your pocket when delivering your speech.

If the worst happens and you get serious jitters while on stage or something trips you up, all you have to do is refer back to your key phrase list. Because you have practiced so much, seeing your key phrases should be the perfect prompt for getting you back on track. If you do have to glance at your key phrases, try to use that moment to reconnect yourself to your speech and why it matters. Remember that you have important information to communicate, take a deep breath and dive back in.

In Conclusion

Public speaking is a nerve-wracking experience for many people, but this won't prevent you from giving a great speech.

That means memorizing your speech. However, it’s not wise to take a verbatim, word-for-word approach. Use the techniques that are described above to help you remember and connect with your subject matter. Doing so will ensure that you give a memorable and effective speech.

• Silviu Marisk
• March 22, 2020

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How to Memorize a Speech (In 5 Easy Steps!)

February 15, 2023

If you have an upcoming speech or presentation, you’ve probably wondered whether or not you should try to memorize it. 

Some people memorize the speech word-for-word, some people use notecards, and some don’t commit any bit of their speech to memory. But what’s best?

In our ultimate how-to guide, we’ll cover how to memorize a speech fast, why memorizing speeches is beneficial, common pitfalls when trying to memorize a speech, and other tips for memorization. 

Why Should You Memorize a Speech?

Learning how to memorize a speech — or at least the main parts of a speech — can be incredibly beneficial for any public speaker. Your audience will understand your message or the information you’re trying to convey much easier if you’ve memorized the key points. Chances are, you’ll speak more clearly and appear more confident and engaging. 

Think about it: If you’re reading a speech from a piece of paper or your phone, or if you’re just reading the slides of your presentation, you’re hindering the connection with your audience. 

On the other hand, if you’ve memorized a speech, it’ll sound more natural, conversational, and almost informal, which helps people relate to what you’re saying. Using note cards is totally fine, but the more you’ve memorized, the easier it is to deliver a successful speech.

There are tons of benefits to learning how to memorize a speech. For example, you’ll: 

• Master effective public communication, one of the most helpful skills you can have (no matter what career or industry you’re involved in)
• Build and a cultivate closer connection with your audience
• Show just how knowledgeable you are about the subject you’re covering 
• Shine a light on your public speaking skills

However, memorizing a speech can be challenging for lots of people.

What’s the fastest way to memorize a speech?

How fast it’ll take you to memorize a speech depends. But at the very least, try to give youself an hour’s worth of time.

How to Memorize a Speech Fast

To memorize a speech fast, you’ll have to put in some work and practice. 

The best way to practice memorizing a speech is through a speech coach like Yoodli . Yoodli uses AI capabilities to analyze a user’s speech to provide them with insights they can use to improve. 

It can tell you if you’re talking too fast, if you’re using too many filler words, and even if you’re using non-inclusive language by accident. You’ll get coaching comments too, including actionable suggestions to take your speech to the next level — completely for free. 

Once you’ve recorded or uploaded a video of yourself practicing your speech, you’ll get instant analytics and feedback you can take advantage of.

Here are some more specific tips on how to memorize a speech fast, including the specifics for the best way to practice.

5 Tips for How to Memorize a Speech Fast

We already know there’s a plethora of benefits to memorizing a speech. From improving your confidence to building reliable connections with your audience, memorizing at least parts of your speech can take your public speaking skills to the next level.

Here are the top five tips to memorize a speech fast. 

1. Write your speech out first.

Before you do anything, write your speech out in full. You can also make an outline for the overall speech (this will help you identify some key points for later).

Making an outline and writing out your speech also helps you nail the structure and plan not only what you want to say, but when you want to say it. If you’re wondering how many words you should aim for, you can make an estimate based on the time limit you’re going for. For example, evaluating how many words in a five-minute speech can help you make an appropriate estimate. 

2. Start by reading your speech word for word.

Even though your goal isn’t to read your speech word-for-word to your audience, reading it to yourself in full can help you identify areas that don’t work. There might be some awkward phrasing or even a mistake or two. Reading it aloud helps you target these.  

You can change overly complex information or complicated jargon to simpler terms, making it easier for the audience to understand and easier for you to convey.

3. Identify your speech’s key points.

Since you have an outline and full speech written out, identifying your speech’s main points will be easier. 

If you’re feeling stuck, try thinking of the top three main points you’d like to make. Then, you can break down those main points into smaller key points via a method called chunking. You can think of it like a tree. 

The main idea would be the tree trunk. So, for example, if you were giving a presentation on cybersecurity , you might have three main branches: information sharing, federal networks, and critical infrastructure protection. Under the information sharing branch, you might have a few other smaller branches, like: 

• Information sharing programs
• Traffic Light Protocol (TLP)
• Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS)

Chunking information like this can help break your speech down into bite-sized, consumable pieces that are easier to memorize. 

4. Practice, practice, practice.

Most importantly of all, to memorize a speech, you need to practice. Practicing through Yoodli is a great option, since you’ll get instantaneous, individualized feedback for improvement. You can use this AI speech coach to skip the guesswork and find exactly what you need to work on. 

For example, maybe Yoodli flags your filler word usage as an area for improvement. Now, you know exactly what you need to work on. You can even play games on Yoodli, like “No Filler,” that tests your ability to go without fillers for a set period of time.

Whichever way you practice, it’s always easier when you have some direct feedback to work off of. 

5. Don’t stress.

Easier said than done. But keeping your cool is essential to memorize a speech. Getting overwhelmed or overly anxious can derail your progress. Nerves can affect your practice and your speech’s delivery, too. 

Use some relaxation techniques, like deep breathing and mindful pauses. Remember: You’re fully capable of giving a successful speech. 

Common Mistakes When You’re Learning How to Memorize a Speech

If you’re learning how to memorize a speech, you’ll want to avoid these common pitfalls: memorizing the speech in full and not preparing at all. 

Although you might be tempted to memorize the entire speech just to be safe, it actually does more harm than good. Here’s why: You could completely lose the actual message in staying too close to the script. 

If you’re so focused on not slipping up and merely reciting the speech, there’s a good chance you’ll sound too robotic or monotonic . 

Memorizing your speech in full also puts extra pressure on yourself, whether you realize it or not. Going off script can inevitably cause you to panic, since you didn’t practice anything other than the word-for-word speech.

However, not preparing at all is an even bigger mistake when you’re learning how to memorize a speech. 

This is the complete opposite of the first pitfall . People who choose not to prepare usually do so because they’re worried they’ll sound too monotonic if they try to memorize any part of their speech. However, that’s not the case if you stick to memorizing the key points. 

It’s always better to prepare through practice and key memorization than to just wing it. Winging it is too big a risk, especially if the speech and presentation could affect your career. 

How to Improve Your Memorization Skills

When you’re learning how to memorize a speech fast, sometimes working on your core memorization skills can make a world of difference. 

Here are four quick tips to improve your memorization skills, especially if you have a speech or presentation coming up.  

• Get some good rest. Although you might be nervous about your speech (or you might be tempted to stay up all night practicing), it’s essential to get good sleep if you’re working on your memory. 
• Make sure you’re eating right. Nerves aside, you shouldn’t be skipping meals. Make sure you’re eating healthful foods and staying hydrated. Being dehydrated or hungry can affect how your brain remembers things. 
• Be sure you stay organized. Just like your notes and speech should be well-organized, so should your overall space. It’s difficult to memorize anything when you’re in a cluttered, distracting environment, so staying organized can help with this issue. 
• Keep your mind sharp. It’s easier to memorize things if you’re working on your mental capabilities as well. Keeping your mind sharp can include doing things like: crossword or sudoku puzzles, finding a new hobby, reading, playing music, or even in-person activities, like volunteer work. All of these activities can help prevent memory loss in the future. 

The Bottom Line

Learning how to memorize a speech can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Usually, you aren’t trying to deliver a perfect monologue. The goal of giving speeches and presentations is to convey information in a meaningful, effective way.  

By learning a few tips for how to memorize a speech fast, you’ll be able to break down the speech into manageable, key points that are more easily remembered. 

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Getting better at speaking is getting easier. Record or upload a speech and let our AI Speech Coach analyze your speaking and give you feedback.

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r/publicspeaking is a place for anything and everything to do with the art of public speaking. Whether you want to share a video of a great speech or want some help with a school speech assignment r/publicspeaking is the place for you!

How to memorize a speech 10x faster

The tips below will come in handy for this and help you learn any speech up to 10x faster.

1. Outline your speech to begin with

Memorizing a speech faster begins with how you formulate the speech itself. So many people make the classic mistake still of writing out a formal speech verbatim, as you would an essay or story. This does not help you learn the text quickly though or sound natural when delivering your speech.

It is much better to simply outline key ideas for your speech when writing it out. Many top-level speakers will just make a bullet point list of what they need to talk about for example.

2. Use mental images to help

In short, the human mind tends to remember images better than words . You should therefore improve your ability to learn a speech quickly by attaching images to the key ideas in your dialogue.

If you plan to start off a business speech by discussing how to increase profits, you might attach the mental image of a dollar bill to this for example.

3. Use the 'Memory Palace' technique

In addition to using images to help memorize a speech faster, you can also try the 'Memory Palace' approach. You may have heard of this before because it is a method used by the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

In essence, it sees you attach the bullet points/mental images in your speech to objects in the real world. The most common way is attaching each point/image to a piece of furniture in the room as you learn a speech.

4. Practice it

Once you have your outline and mental techniques in place to remember your speech, you should practice it as much as possible.

5. Stay rested and well hydrated

Although this has nothing to do with the practicalities of writing your speech, it can help you memorize it faster. But why is this? The fact is that our minds are able to retain information much better when rested and hydrated . On the other hand, you will find it a much tougher task to memorize a speech quickly if you are tired or dehydrated.

Try to relax and remain in a state of positive mindfulness. You should find this helps the information to stick in your brain better and be easier to recall.

Learn more here: https://virtualspeech.com/courses/public-speaking

3 Actionable Steps For Getting Past The Fear Of Public Speaking

Practice and preparation always helps with public speaking.

Public speaking is a common fear that can hinder personal and professional growth. Many people experience anxiety at the thought of standing in front of an audience, but overcoming this fear is possible with the right strategies. Here are three actionable steps to help you conquer the fear of public speaking and become a more confident and effective communicator.

3 Clear Steps To Get Over Your Fear of Speaking

1. preparation and practice.

The foundation of overcoming any fear is preparation. Being well-prepared can significantly reduce anxiety and increase confidence. Start by thoroughly understanding your topic and organizing your content in a clear, logical structure.

Action Steps:

• Research and Organize: Accumulate all possible information concerning your topic. It is also important to develop an outline with the introduction, body, and conclusion. This structure will assist you in not deviating from the main subject as you deliver your speech.
• Rehearse Regularly: Rehearse your speech several times. Record yourself or do it in front of a mirror or better yet, present it to friends or family members. Consider your pitch, speech rhythm, and nonverbal communication.
• Simulate the Environment: If possible, practice in the actual environment where you are to speak. It will also help you to be familiar with the environment so that when the day of the speech comes it will not be so daunting.

2. Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Anxiety often stems from negative thoughts and physical tension. Incorporating mindfulness and relaxation techniques can help you stay calm and focused before and during your speech.

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• Deep Breathing: Take your time to breathe deeply to ensure that you calm the nervous system. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, pause for a few seconds and breathe out gently through the mouth. It is recommended to repeat this process several times to help reduce tension.
• Visualization: Imaginise yourself giving a good speech. Think how the audience will respond and how great it would be afterwards. Visualization can bring feelings of comfort and security.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This technique involves contraction and relaxation of each of the muscles in the body for several cycles. Proceed from feet to the head, paying attention to the tension in every part of the body.

3. Focus on the Message, Not the Fear

Shifting your focus from your fear to the message you want to deliver can make a significant difference in your performance. Remember that your goal is to share valuable information with your audience, not to achieve perfection.

• Know Your Audience: Know who your audience is and what issues interest them. Adapting to their needs and preferences makes you feel more connected and less conscious of recording yourself.
• Engage with the Audience: Smile, look at people in the eyes, then ask questions and get them to open up. Therefore, communicating with your audience helps make the environment less lonely and more stimulating.
• Accept Imperfection: Accept the fact that errors are inevitable when practicing public speaking. This implies that even professional speakers commit mistakes at times. Do not expect to attain an ideal type of language, rather, the focus should be on conveying the intended message sincerely.

Overcoming the fear of public speaking is a journey that requires patience, practice, and self-compassion. By preparing thoroughly, incorporating mindfulness and relaxation techniques, and focusing on your message rather than your fear, you can build the confidence needed to speak in front of any audience.