how to memorize a speech faster

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Education and Communications
Communication Skills
Public Speaking

How to Memorize a Speech in One Night

Last Updated: October 7, 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 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 1,257,629 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

Step 3 Rehearse your speech for a friend.

Using the Memory Palace Technique

Step 1 Organize your speech into bullet points.

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

Step 4 Match the bullet point with an object and piece of furniture.

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

Reader Videos

Don’t worry about memorizing the speech word for word. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 4
Read it in front of a mirror. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
Remember to rehearse your body language as well as your speech. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3

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

↑ 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

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 62,049 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

Step 1 Write out the entire speech and read it out loud.

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.

Step 2 Split the speech into short chunks that are 2-3 sentences long.

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.

Step 3 Practice the first chunk of your speech until you can fully recall it.

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.

Step 4 Add more and more chunks to your recall.

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.

Step 5 Continue this process until you've memorized the whole speech.

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

Step 1 Write an outline of the speech using bullet points instead of sentences.

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.

Step 2 Divide the speech into distinct sections based on your outline.

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.

Step 3 Visualize a mental image for each section of your speech.

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.

Step 4 Assign each of these images a location in your home.

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.

Step 5 Practice linking the visuals together to recall your speech.

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

Step 1 Record yourself reciting the speech, if possible.

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.

Step 2 Engage your other senses as much as you can.

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.

Step 3 Create an acronym if your speech includes a list.

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

↑ 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