Speech Opening Lines for Students - Express Gratitude to Your Audience

1. Thank the audience for coming and the announcer for introducing you.

At the beginning of your speech, thanking the announcer for introducing you and the audience for attending can be quite beneficial since it forges an immediate bond with the audience.

For example | “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak about the topic.”

2. Name a well-known individual

A further powerful method to begin a speech is to relate what you are about to say to something that a well-known individual did. Individuals are drawn to famous people; therefore, telling a story that incorporates anything notable people said or did is likely to engage your audience.

For example | “Dr. Kalam believed that education must be imparted with love”.

3. Express gratitude to your audience.

You can improve your audience's perception of you and get them to pay closer attention to what you have to say by telling them that it is an honour for you to speak in front of them and how much you respect them.

For example | “Thank you for the time and attention you have given to me.”

4. Use Quote

If the quote is relevant to the topic of the speech, quotations from renowned people can make great speech openers. Quotes lend the discourse some sense of authority.

For example | APJ Abdul Kalam Azad said “Dream is not something that you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep”.

5. Use of statistical facts

When one begins a speech with a statistical fact, it gives the appearance that they have done thorough study and have reliable knowledge. Additionally, employing statistical data contributes to the speech being more memorable and less boring.

For example | According to the Census of India, Kerala has the highest literacy rate i.e.89.8 while Bihar has the lowest literacy rate i.e. 38.5 in India.

6. Make your message relevant to current events

By connecting the central issue of your speech with a well-known recent occurrence, you can capture the interest of your audience. It's more probable that they will be interested in what you say because newsworthy stories tend to draw people in. However, it should be generally uncontroversial, which will likely be well-received by most of the audience.

7. Connect your message to past occurrences

Similarly, you can grab listeners' attention by relating your message to a well-known historical figure or event. As it links your speech to the person or occasion you are referencing, this might increase the credibility of your speech.

8. Construct a hypothetical scenario.

The audience will be forced to engage their imagination and follow your thought process throughout the speech if you begin with a "what if" question closely related to the main issue.

For example | “What if there are no plants left on the earth? What does the Earth look like? Will there be anyone alive on earth?”

9. Make a compelling remark, then ask a question.

A strong opening line that relates to the topic of your speech can get the audience's attention, and ending with a question can prompt them to consider an answer because they are prone to do so when asked a question. After you have made them think about an answer to your question, there is a higher chance that they will listen to what you have to say.

For example | “Who wouldn't want to reside on a fascinating island?”

10. Draw on experience.

People are drawn to familiar information, so opening with a phrase they can identify with can improve the likelihood that they will pay attention to the rest of what you have to say.

For example | “5 years ago, I was going to Agra, and on the way, I saw a child who was working at a dhaba.”

11. Ask audience to imagine

One of the skills of successful storytelling is asking the audience to picture a certain scenario. By assisting the speaker in visualising the speech's substance, it also builds anticipation for what the speaker will say throughout the speech.

For Example | “Imagine that you work hard and maintain a strict schedule, and as a result, you achieve well in school…….” The audience will be able to picture and relate to the speech's context with the aid of this statement.

12. Draw on your personal assets.

The most excellent way to begin a speech is in a way that naturally flows from you. You should incorporate humour in your opening if you have it. A well-presented fact or statistic may be the best place to start if accuracy is one of your most vital attributes.

13. Be concise and to the point.

Starting with the speech's main point without making any introductions can be pretty effective when done confidently. The likelihood that this approach will have a favourable impact on the audience will increase with a firm tone and persuasive body language.