Introducing & Explaining (Grades 1-2)

Become a Master at Introducing and Explaining!

Hello, everyone! Have you ever talked to your friends or teachers about your favorite things, your personal "treasures," or something exciting you found at school?
You might sometimes wonder, "How can I speak so that everyone truly understands?" But don't worry! Once you learn a few key tips, anyone can easily learn to share their thoughts clearly and smoothly.
In this lesson, let's learn how to speak skillfully together so you can introduce people or things and explain how to do things or how things look!

*Note: We will explore "Listening carefully" and "Sharing your thoughts or asking questions after listening" in another lesson called "Listening and Sharing Thoughts (Lower Grades)." Here, we will focus on "Speaking up and sharing ideas yourself."

1. What Should You Talk About? Choose a "Topic"

First, decide what you want to talk about. The theme of your talk is called the "topic."

Find Ideas from Familiar Things and Personal Experiences

The easiest things to talk about are the ones you know best.

• Things you love and treasure (a favorite toy, a beloved book, a special photo, etc.)
• Things you have experienced (taking care of morning glories, an insect you found in the park, etc.)
• People and living things you love (family, friends, pets at home, etc.)

[Key Tip]
If you try to share everything all at once, your listeners might wonder, "What is the most important thing they want to say?" A very important trick is to choose just one thing that you really want to share!

2. In What Order Should You Speak? "Sequencing Events"

Once you have chosen your topic, next, let's think about "the order of speaking"!
If things are mixed up and out of order, your listeners will get confused. Putting your ideas in the right order makes everything super easy to understand.

The "Basic Structure" for Introducing and Explaining

1. Beginning (Name / Title): Say what you are going to talk about.
　Example: "I am going to introduce my favorite instrument, the castanets."

2. Middle (Details and Sequence): Share colors, shapes, sizes, movements, and what happened in order.
　Example: "They are red and blue. They are round, and when you clap them together, they make a lovely high-pitched sound."

3. Ending (Your Feelings): Share your thoughts or a concluding message.
　Example: "They make music class so much fun. I hope you all get a chance to play them too!"

"Time Order" Is Important Too!

When you explain how you made or did something, speak in "the order of actions taken."
Using words like "first," "next," "then," and "finally" will help your listeners easily follow the flow of time.

[Common Mistake]
× "It was so much fun! I planted morning glory seeds. Sprouted shoots came up." (Feelings come first, and the order is all mixed up.)
○ "I would like to tell you about growing morning glories. First, I planted the seeds. Next, the shoots sprouted. When the flowers bloomed, I was so happy!" (It clearly has a beginning, middle, and ending, and the time order is spot on!)

3. Tips for Using Your Voice and Speaking Well

Once you have planned what to say, it is time to say it out loud!
No matter how wonderful your story is, listeners will not catch it if your voice is too quiet or if you speak too fast.

① Voice Volume

Speak in a voice loud enough to clearly reach friends sitting in the very back row. A voice that is not too loud, not too quiet, and echoes comfortably throughout the classroom is best.

② Speaking Speed

When you feel nervous, it is easy to start talking too fast.
If you aim for a pace that feels "just a little slow" to you, it will sound just right to your listeners.

③ Posture and Mouth Movement

• Stand or sit up straight: Good posture helps you breathe from your belly and makes your voice sound clear and strong.
• Open your mouth clearly: Avoid mumbling; pronounce each syllable distinctly.
• Use polite language (such as polite endings): Speaking politely helps your listeners feel comfortable and happy to listen.

[Fun Fact]
Before you begin speaking, "take one deep breath"! This helps you relax and start speaking at a calm, comfortable pace.

4. Summary: The Master Speaker's Checklist

Before you speak, check these three things for yourself!

□ Topic: Have you chosen one single thing you want to share?
□ Order: Is your talk organized into "Beginning, Middle, and Ending"?
□ Voice and Posture: Are you using good posture, speaking slowly, and using a voice that reaches the back of the room?

You might feel butterflies in your stomach at first, but making mistakes is completely okay!
Put your heart into sharing what you love, and have fun speaking to everyone!