Speaking Center Tour

Here is the door to the Speaking Center, Combs room 101. You’ll find it on the first floor of Combs on the left from the front entrance. The door will only be open when the Speaking Center is open.

On the door, you can see a schedule of when consultant hours are. They change from semester to semester because all consultants are students here, and we work around our classes.

When the Speaking Center is open, what you’ll see is this. This is our front desk, where we answer your calls and emails. The consultant sitting here will help you set up an appointment if you don’t have one already.

Here is our front table and library. We keep all of our books and videos about communication and speaking skills here. Students are welcome to use these resources while in the center, but cannot leave with them. Faculty members are permitted to sign them out.

Here is one of our three consultation rooms. This is where you will go with your consultant to practice or brainstorm for your speech. There is a computer in each room, so you can open up a Powerpoint or visual aid through your email or a USB flash drive. You may use the podium to put your speech on while you practice.

Here is another one of our consultation rooms. In this one, you can see the flat screen TV, which is used for displaying visual aids while you speak.

In this picture of a consultation room, you can see the video camera in the far upper right hand corner. If you would like your practice session to be videotaped, we will record your speech with the VCR in the center of the picture. Then, after the speech, you and your consultant will watch the video of your speech on one of the TVs.

Here’s what the video camera projects onto the TV. If you were giving a videotaped speech, you would be able to see yourself behind that podium.

Here is a small sample of our collection of handouts. We have a large file of handouts that contain speaking tips for every public speaking hurdle: from what to do with your hands, to speaking anxiety, to leading a group discussion. A consultant may give you some helpful handouts on your way out of the speaking center.

On your way out, be sure to have a mint! Bye!