State of the Union registers at 8th grade reading level

= Problem with USAs intelligence/adhd problems

What's the point here? Isn't the average novel written at this grade level or below? The point of any speech is to communicate succinctly and clearly, not to impress people with big words or legalspeak.

Definitly speaks volumes about his target demographic... and their comprehension levels

reply to post by jerryznv

Like when your in public speaking class in college and your graded solely on one thing...like how many times you said umm...or uhhh...is that what you mean?

No. I don't mean anything like that. I just have a very "personal" approach to teaching, and in my opinion, there is a huge concern about standards and scores or avaliations, without really considering how people express them-selfs.

For example, what do you think is more important:

A- Talking without any flaws, perfect accent and all that, with an extensive vocabulary, but having an apathy vibe towards the public.

B- Not being perfect on how you talk, or how extensive/complex is your vocabulary, but having a vibrant and clear touch with the public and having your message understood.

Most important characters in history are remarkable for the B, not A. Like someone said earlier, if you talk too "fancy", you might take the risk of sounding elitist and arrogant. Not that someone who knows how to talk is automatically arrogant, but I think you know what I truly mean. It's just an(my) opinion.

I can give an awesome presentation about jellybeans...but if I say umm three times I fail.

If you say "um" or "uuuh" a lot it shows lack of confidence, knowledge, or any other negative aspect of communication towards an audience, thus making said presentation weak, not awesome.

When you are awesome, you don't usually say "umm" or "uuh" because mostly you would show excitment in most cases, right? You love jellybeans, you are making a speech about them, you try to bond to people throw your speech. The same way a president addresses the nation about his "jellybeans". lol

I'm sorry but your post makes no sense to me..."Doesn't matter the content..."?

I said that to isolate speech technique discussion, and the subjects Obama was talking about. The subjects are obviously important, but we were discussing the technique in his speech, which, personally, I don't think was 8th grade level.

It was a fluid speech, easy to listen to, and he even joked a bit in the middle, lifting it up a knot or two.

That's what I meant by "the content doesn't matter". It was just something my teachers used to say to me when I was younger... "Sometimes it's more important what you say (meaning) than how you say it (method)".

Regards

Originally posted by Tifozi
reply to post by jerryznv

 

Like when your in public speaking class in college and your graded solely on one thing...like how many times you said umm...or uhhh...is that what you mean?

No. I don't mean anything like that. I just have a very "personal" approach to teaching, and in my opinion, there is a huge concern about standards and scores or avaliations, without really considering how people express them-selfs.

For example, what do you think is more important:

A- Talking without any flaws, perfect accent and all that, with an extensive vocabulary, but having an apathy vibe towards the public.

B- Not being perfect on how you talk, or how extensive/complex is your vocabulary, but having a vibrant and clear touch with the public and having your message understood.

Most important characters in history are remarkable for the B, not A. Like someone said earlier, if you talk too "fancy", you might take the risk of sounding elitist and arrogant. Not that someone who knows how to talk is automatically arrogant, but I think you know what I truly mean. It's just an(my) opinion.

I can give an awesome presentation about jellybeans...but if I say umm three times I fail.

If you say "um" or "uuuh" a lot it shows lack of confidence, knowledge, or any other negative aspect of communication towards an audience, thus making said presentation weak, not awesome.

When you are awesome, you don't usually say "umm" or "uuh" because mostly you would show excitment in most cases, right? You love jellybeans, you are making a speech about them, you try to bond to people throw your speech. The same way a president addresses the nation about his "jellybeans". lol

I'm sorry but your post makes no sense to me..."Doesn't matter the content..."?

I said that to isolate speech technique discussion, and the subjects Obama was talking about. The subjects are obviously important, but we were discussing the technique in his speech, which, personally, I don't think was 8th grade level.

It was a fluid speech, easy to listen to, and he even joked a bit in the middle, lifting it up a knot or two.

That's what I meant by "the content doesn't matter". It was just something my teachers used to say to me when I was younger... "Sometimes it's more important what you say (meaning) than how you say it (method)".

Regards

Wow...that was a long, well thought out response!

I think your explanation clears up that nicely...thanks for making a effort to explain what was hard to understand at first!

Okay...now a few questions of my own!

What do you teach (in reference to your personal approach...)?

I only ask because of things like this...

For example, what do you think is more important:

Is this a question that ends with ":" instead of "?"?

I won't be as long winded as you in my response and I hope you can understand your first post was misleading and seemed reckless!

I don't think I am the only one that went "huh" when I read it!

Anyway...well thought out and lucid response!

For the record...I should also mention that I don't use "umm" or "uhh" when delivering a speech...I was using the example hypothetically!

Oh yes...one more question!

What is this word supposed to mean?

avaliations

reply to post by jerryznv

Okay...now a few questions of my own!

What do you teach (in reference to your personal approach...)?

I only ask because of things like this...

For example, what do you think is more important:

Is this a question that ends with ":" instead of "?"?

Oh, I'm not a teacher. Sorry if I sent that notion, I was only mentioning my past when I was a student in school, and I had 2 teachers who once told me that (I don't remember the context of such episode though, but that phrase got stuck in my mind).

As for the question with the ":", that's my native language getting in the way. Semantics are a bit different, and although I try to have a good english level, sometimes my brain uses the speech mechanism from my native language, instead of english, which may seem somewhat confusing to english native speakers.

I won't be as long winded as you in my response and I hope you can understand your first post was misleading and seemed reckless!

I don't think I am the only one that went "huh" when I read it!

Anyway...well thought out and lucid response!

For the record...I should also mention that I don't use "umm" or "uhh" when delivering a speech...I was using the example hypothetically!

Sure, I understand. Actually I'm pretty much aware how my posts sometimes get interpreted by other members who have better english than me. Even jokes that don't have a emoticon at the end, or a "lol" are often seen as arrogant or something along those lines. Thus my effort to improve my english.

Oh yes...one more question!

What is this word supposed to mean?


"avaliations"

That's pretty embarrassing. lol

That's a perfect example of my portuguese-speaking part of the brain taking over and mixing both languages, instead of separating them. The word I meant was "evaluations".

In portuguese it's "avaliações" in plural, and "avaliação" in singular.

reply to post by Tifozi


Once again you have cleared up your post...and I am understanding you better!

As far as an English speaking tongue...I too use English as a second language and primarily speak Spanish!

So sometimes shutting one off and replacing it with another keeps my mind busy!

For example...someone might post "especial'...and I automatically read it as "special" its Spanish equivalent!

Anyway...thanks for clearing up what I had difficulty understanding!

As far as the POTUS and his speech...it makes sense that it came across well to someone who does not speak English as their native language and certainly well if your English is only at an 8th grade level!

reply to post by jerryznv


LOL, I know the feeling. Portuguese and spanish are similar.

I have the same issue actually.

"especial" in portuguese also means special, the difference is just in the accent. You guys "press" on the E, while we give connotation to the I.

But for example, "espAcial" means "space", as in "space program"...

Just a letter and it has a whole different meaning.

reply to post by Tifozi


Asi que es muy cierto!

They are very close...Spanish and Portuguese...do people still speak Pigeon in Portugal...I always wondered about that?

The President's State Of The Union Address is watched in Portugal...that is awesome!

reply to post by mnmcandiez


That's just completely inexcusable and lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think what level it was really matters - they are talking about the language and at 8th grade - language is really pretty developed. It's certainly not baby talk.

The content was what I took issue with. It was on communicating with the braindead masses level.

reply to post by mnmcandiez


I do not see what the problem. Make the language as plain and simple as possible. The more complicated your terminology , the more likely for a loop-hole in the future. Keep it simple .. straight forward .. and to the point.