Speech Swap Scenarios
Speech Swap Scenarios
Impromptu Practice: Informal to Professional
Instructions: Cut out these cards. In pairs, Student A reads the "Informal/Casual" prompt. Student B must immediately deliver the same information in the "Professional/Presentational" style specified, without using any verbal fillers (um, uh, like, so).
Scenario 01 Topic: Lunch
CASUAL (READ THIS ALOUD):
"So, like, I went to the cafeteria and the pizza was, uh, really greasy but actually pretty good? I think they used extra cheese today or something."
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE:
Style: Food Critic Review
Deliver a formal 30-second review of the cafeteria pizza. No fillers allowed.
Scenario 02 Topic: Weather
CASUAL (READ THIS ALOUD):
"It's, like, totally pouring out there. My shoes are, um, soaked. It's supposed to keep raining all day, I guess."
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE:
Style: Local News Meteorologist
Deliver a weather bulletin regarding the rainfall. Use a confident, authoritative tone.
Scenario 03 Topic: Late Homework
CASUAL (READ THIS ALOUD):
"Um, so, sorry my essay is late. My internet, like, crashed last night and I couldn't, uh, hit 'submit' until this morning."
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE:
Style: Corporate PR Statement
Address the "missed deadline" as a formal communication. Focus on accountability and solutions.
Scenario 04 Topic: The Super Bowl
CASUAL (READ THIS ALOUD):
"That catch was, like, crazy. He just, uh, jumped way high and grabbed it. I think they're gonna win now for sure."
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE:
Style: ESPN Play-by-Play Announcer
Describe the catch with high energy and technical sports vocabulary. Keep it polished!
Scenario 05 Topic: A New Phone
CASUAL (READ THIS ALOUD):
"Check out this phone. It's, um, really thin and the camera is, like, so much better than the old one. It's pretty cool."
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE:
Style: Tech Product Launch (Apple Keynote)
Pitch the phone to a live audience. Use words like "revolutionary," "sleek," and "seamless."
Scenario 06 Topic: A Broken Lamp
CASUAL (READ THIS ALOUD):
"Uh, I accidentally, like, knocked over the lamp? It's kind of, um, shattered. I'll buy a new one, I guess."
PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE:
Style: Crime Scene Investigator
Describe the "incident" with clinical precision and objective reporting. "Subject was found on the floor..."
Peer Feedback Rubric
Fluency (No Fillers)
Tone (Matches Style)
Confidence
