Teacher Helpers::

Please approach your teacher helper, who will inform you when they are holding
meetings. They will then give you help with pronunciation, intonation and allow you
to practice your event with them.


Thursday Open Workshop

Every week, beginning Thursday 23rd October, Mr Jones will also have an
open workshop. This is open to all students who have questions or want
advice with their event. Please bear in mind that this session will no
doubt be quite busy, and time with each competitor will be limited. Please
see your teacher advisor for more in depth help.

How to prepare and Practice::

1. At home, take your script, stand in the middle of your bedroom and begin reading
aloud.  Try to read slowly, loudly and clearly.

2. Try to learn sections of the script at a time. Do not attempt the whole thing.

3. Approach your teacher helper as early as possible, so that you can get the
pronunciation of words correct

4. At home, or at school, download the zipped sound files on this website (see the 
¡¥downloads¡¦ page). If your script is a long one there may be several parts to download,
but each should be small enough to easily fit on a floppy disk. The sound file (when 
unzipped) will play a recording of Mr. Jones reading your event. You can play this 
recording as often as you like on your home computer (if you have one), copying 
pronunciation and delivery.

5. Nearer to the competition, be sure to practice your event in front of your parents and friends, so that you get used to an audience.



Hints and Tricks::

1. Right from the beginning. Try to practice, moving around the room, and gestures as you
 learn the script. DO not add the acting just before the competition.

2. Make sure you do not rush. Slow and clear is much better.

3. Always remember to leave a short pause after the end of sentences,
 and a longer pause regularly. GIve your character time to think of what he will say next.

4. Try not to use a 'reading voice', e.g. do not let your voice become flat and dull.
 When speaking normally, our voices go up and down, sometimes high, sometimes low.
 You should try to do this when speaking too.

5. If there is a question, make sure it sounds like a question (e.g. you voice should
 go up at the end).

6. As soon as possible, try to figure out what tone of voice is being used. Is the speaker
  being humourous, or serious. Is he angry, or calm. YOu should try to understand what you
 are reading as completely as possible. for this you may well need lots of help from your teacher
  helper.
 
7. FOr dramatic monologue it is essential that you use your voice, face and gesture to 'act'as much as possible.
  Practice expressions and gestures in front of a mirror.