The reason I couldn't give a one-minute speech in English was because of the "audience."
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🎯 Not being able to speak for a minute isn't because of your English ability
Today, I'd like to talk about the real reason why you can't give a one-minute speech in English.
If someone suddenly asked me to "speak in English for one minute," I'd freeze up too. It's probably because my English skills aren't good enough, right?
Actually, that's not entirely true. Even in Japanese, if you were asked to speak for a minute without any prior warning, many people would be at a loss for words, right?
That's true. If I were suddenly asked to speak during the morning meeting, my mind would go completely blank even in Japanese.
The reason is simple: you haven't decided "who" you're talking to and "why" you're talking to them. Once you've decided who your audience is, what you need to say will naturally become clear.
Before thinking about the English expression, you decide who your audience is. I had the order reversed.
Another important point is to choose what you *can* say rather than what you *want* to say. Using natural, everyday English is far more effective than using overly advanced vocabulary.
You'll stumble if you try to stretch yourself too much, right? How much should I say in one minute?
It's usually around 100-130 words. It's easier if you decide to fill in the gaps with "Well..." or "Let me see..." within 3 seconds if you get stuck.
So you're keeping fillers in your hand too? That way you won't be so afraid of silence.
🐱 If you share the same hobby, there's already a reason to ask.
Now, let's actually try creating one with a listener in mind. Initially, it would be a friend who shares the same hobbies. For example, a friend who loves cats.
I've been waiting for this. I could talk about cats all day long.
That's the key point. Just saying, "I also own a cat," gives the other person a reason to listen. The most difficult part is cleared with almost no effort.
Indeed, if you're both cat owners, you don't need to explain anything. Just telling people about how your cat runs to the door when you get home and rubs against your legs is enough to get the message across.
I'll have AI help me with writing the manuscript. All I have to do is tell it who my audience is, my English level, the structure of the PREP method, and which chunks I want it to be divided into.
Are you going to memorize the English sentences you get back word for word?
No, I only choose chunks that I can say fluently. If something is difficult to say, I can just ask them to "put it in simpler terms."
So, interacting with the AI itself is good practice, huh? If I want to talk for 3 minutes, do I have to create a new conversation from scratch?
You just need to add one or two more self-introductions and specific examples to the same chunk. For example, the story about him sitting on your laptop, or the story about him bringing toys in the middle of the night.
In that case, the same approach could probably be applied to hobbies other than cats. All you need to do is think about who your audience is, what they want to know, and where they feel they "understand."
🥁 The more specialized the person you're talking to, the more likely you are to choose something you can "talk about."
Next, let's consider someone who shares the same hobby but with a deeper connection: a fellow musician.
I play drums and string ensemble, so this is my chance to shine. But when it comes to technical topics, I think my English vocabulary will be insufficient.
That's exactly it. When I try to explain technical details in English, I quickly run out of words.
So, what should I do?
I focus on the feelings I had while performing and the most memorable moments. The more knowledgeable the other person is, the more effective it becomes to "choose what you can talk about."
That feeling of being in sync with the band. That moment during a live performance when everything clicks and it feels like time just disappears.
If you can express it in a short phrase like "locking in with the band," your fellow musicians will understand perfectly.
That's much more impactful than just listing technical terms. Anyone who plays music will definitely nod in agreement when they hear about how pre-performance nervousness turns into excitement.
💬 When learning English with friends, stories of failure are the best way to bond.
If your listeners are fellow English learners, your choice of topics changes completely. Stories of failures tend to resonate more than stories of successes.
I understand. It's more reassuring to hear about failures—things you've done too—than to hear about perfect success stories.
Simply saying, "I've made this mistake too," makes the other person listen to you as if it were their own experience. The story of failure itself becomes a reason for them to listen.
I've even gone into a conversation for almost a minute straight trying to find the perfect word.
I used to think that I had to have all the words ready before I could speak. But the conclusion is that speaking, even imperfectly, is much better than staying silent.
I once completely mispronounced a word in a meeting and wanted to disappear. It's a funny story now, though.
In situations like this, even when consulting with an AI, it's a good idea to add a brief mention of "failure stories" in addition to the other party's information. This will significantly narrow down the direction of the responses you receive.
The trick is to give both the other person and the theme. It's kind of reassuring to hear that even embarrassing stories can make good material.
🤝 When meeting someone for the first time, the self-introduction is the main focus.
From here on, you'll be dealing with foreigners you've never met before. First things first, let's introduce ourselves.
This is the most nerve-wracking part. The other person doesn't know anything about me.
That's why self-introductions, which you might skip when talking to friends, suddenly become the main focus. If people don't understand "who you are" first, the rest of your conversation won't get through.
Should I structure my self-introduction using the PREP method, starting with the conclusion?
A self-introduction that follows a natural flow—name, what you usually do, hobbies, and a short anecdote—feels more natural. Telling the AI this will result in more user-friendly English.
So you use different types of stories. If it were me, I'd probably talk about my name, my job, and my cat and drums.
If you want to keep it to 3 minutes, you can add details about your background, such as being born in Kyoto and raised in Osaka, or why you started learning English.
If you end the conversation by saying, "I could talk about cats or drums for hours," the other person is more likely to be interested.
That's the important part. If you sprinkle in a few keywords that could become common topics of conversation, it will be easier to continue the conversation after the self-introduction.
🗾 When introducing Japan, I prefer to do so from my own perspective rather than using generalities.
After introducing myself, the question I'm almost always asked is, "What's Japan like?"
That makes me feel like I have to properly explain the history and culture.
You can completely stop giving general, guidebook-like statements. What the other person actually wants to hear is your unique perspective.
Here again, the idea of choosing what you can talk about comes into play.
That's right. Talking about the place you grew up in or things you personally like is a good way to demonstrate your English skills and is also very persuasive.
If it were me, I'd choose Kyoto and Osaka. Quiet and traditional Kyoto, and lively and energetic Osaka.
Simply juxtaposing these two contrasting faces makes the story much more compelling. As someone born in Kyoto and raised in Osaka, I understand this contrast very well.
The idea that in Osaka you can start a conversation with a complete stranger right away sounds like something foreigners would enjoy. When you can talk about your hometown in your own words, introducing Japan suddenly becomes much more accessible.
🚀 The speeches you create become more valuable the more you use them.
Finally, let's talk about how to make the most of the speech you've created.
If you create them for various opponents, you should accumulate quite a few chunks.
That's right. Chunks like "Well..." and "To be honest..." appear repeatedly in every speech. What you learn for one purpose will naturally come into use in other situations.
It's nice how your pieces increase without you even realizing it. What do you use them for?
First, practice speaking to yourself, pretending to be someone else. Next, use the language in online study groups with people who share the same hobby, or in online English conversation classes or at English conversation cafes.
I also recommend compiling your thoughts into a blog or note. Consultations with AI might disappear in a chat, but turning them into articles leaves a lasting asset.
Furthermore, the 1-minute test focuses on explosive power, while the 3-minute test trains familiarity with the situation and courage; they train different things. Practicing both will make you stronger.
The ability to avoid awkwardness in one minute, and the ability to become comfortable in front of people in three minutes. Beyond that, it seems like it could extend to conversations, discussions, and even business negotiations.
Yes. The chunks we build up here will form the foundation.
If you prefer a more in-depth explanation rather than a conversation, please also check out the original note article. I'll leave the link here.