Educational and methodological material on the topic: Techniques for attracting and maintaining the attention of students in the lesson. Psychology of attention

Experiment without pseudo-patients After completing the first stage of the study, Rosenhan went to the research center clinic, where they knew about his experiment involving pseudo-patients. There he said that in the next three months their hospital

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Public speaking has its own specific features that must be taken into account when thinking through the composition of the main part of the speech. Each oratorical speech should arouse interest in the audience, a desire to understand the topic of the speech. Only interesting, meaningful lectures, reports, and conversations are listened to with great attention. “You will never, with any words, force the reader to explore the world through boredom,” wrote Alexei Tolstoy. The speaker must remember this too.

But no matter how interesting the lecture is, attention becomes dull over time and the person stops listening. Everyone could verify this from their own experience. Combating attention fatigue is an important task that the speaker should not forget about when thinking through the structure of his speech. Therefore, the speaker needs to know oratorical techniques for maintaining audience attention and plan them in advance when working on the composition of a public speech. When composing his speech, the speaker should determine which technique to use in this or that place.

What oratorical techniques for attracting the attention of the audience exist? Famous judicial figure of the 19th century. Porokhovshchikov (Sergeich) considers such techniques to be a direct demand for attention from listeners, addressing listeners with an unexpected question. To attract the attention of the audience, he recommends that speakers interrupt their speech and pause.

One of the interesting oratorical techniques is the so-called the secret of entertainment. In order to interest and intrigue listeners, the subject of the speech is not immediately named. Here is what P. Sergeich writes about this technique in the book “The Art of Speech in Court”:

Let's move on to the fifth technique, after which only two more will remain; Of these, the last, seventh, is the most interesting. The fifth technique is very attractive, but at the same time... However, at the moment it seems to me more convenient to turn to the sixth technique, no less useful and, perhaps, similar to it in its basis; the sixth technique is based on one of the common and sensory weaknesses of man; there is no doubt that, having thought for at least a second, any more or less intelligent person will point it out himself; I don’t even know whether it’s worth directly calling out this trick, when the reader has already noticed from a distance that the writer is simply trying to drag out the presentation and tease his curiosity in order to ensure his attention.

Returning now to the fifth technique, we can say that the attention of the listeners receives a push when the speaker unexpectedly interrupts the thought he has begun - and a new push when, having talked about something else, he returns to something unsaid earlier.

Special oratorical techniques for attracting the attention of the audience include: question-and-answer technique. The speaker thinks out loud about the problem posed. He poses questions to the audience and answers them himself, puts forward possible doubts and objections, clarifies them and comes to certain conclusions. This is a very successful technique, as it sharpens the listeners’ attention and forces them to delve into the essence of the topic under consideration.

A.N. often used the question-and-answer technique in speeches. Tolstoy. Thus, speaking at a conference of young writers, A.N. Tolstoy asked questions to the listeners, to himself, and immediately answered them, so his speech turned into a dialogue, a live conversation with the audience, for example:

Writing is always difficult, and the harder it is, the better it comes out. How to get over these obstacles? Only one thing can be said with confidence: of all the possible solutions to an artistic problem, you need to choose the one that is most interesting to you, the one that captivates you the most.

In other words, you must check each of your artistic statements on your own disgust: is it disgusting for you to write it or not? If writing is disgusting and boring for you, don’t write - it will still turn out bad and false.

I was faced with a formidable question about the tool that can be used to transform blocks of life into its reflections in art.

What kind of weapon is this? In this case, it is the language your people speak.

That’s when I realized for the first time that I don’t know Russian. Why do I write the phrase this way and not that way? Am I choosing those words over these? What are the laws of language? What is the criterion here? Beautiful? But that doesn’t say anything yet - it’s beautiful! The aesthetic criterion is a fiction, since it is divorced from reality, from the life of the people, from their history.

Examples from fiction, proverbs, sayings, phraseological expressions, etc. enliven the speech.

Experienced speakers introduce elements of humor into serious speech. The hero of A Boring Story, A.P., spoke about this effective technique. Chekhov:

You read for a quarter, half an hour, and then you notice that the students begin to glance at the ceiling, at Pyotr Ignatievich, one will reach for a scarf, another will sit more comfortably, the third will smile at his thoughts... This means that attention is tired. We need to take action. Taking the first opportunity, I make some pun. All one and a half hundred faces smile broadly, their eyes sparkle cheerfully, the roar of the sea can be heard for a short time... I laugh too. Attention quickened. I can go on.

First of all, the logical organization of speech (consistency, consistency, validity) contributes to maintaining attention. Listeners are attracted by the structure of the presentation, in the course of which questions arise, and answers to them are born in the process of joint search or subsequent presentation. Maintaining the attention of the audience is facilitated by a problematic situation in speech, the presentation of facts or ideas in opposition.

Listeners follow with intense attention a performance in which new content is constantly being revealed in the material presented. If a speech contains nothing new, it not only goes unnoticed, but also leaves listeners feeling bored, annoyed, or even irritated. Therefore, the most important condition for maintaining attention to a speech is its content, that is, new information unknown to listeners or an original interpretation of known facts, fresh ideas, analysis of the problem.

The presentation must be accessible, which is largely determined by the speaker’s speech culture. The inclusion of terms and ways of defining concepts are thought out in advance. The use of examples and visual aids, artistic means of language, a rational combination of theoretical principles with facts, and pauses to comprehend what is heard helps to make the speech understandable and intelligible.

The expressiveness of the speaker’s speech is capable of captivating listeners - changing intonation, colorful verbal images, original comparisons, apt expressions.

In addition, a variety of presentation techniques support attention. Dialogue of speech, question-and-answer moves, and addressing the audience are so effective that they can save the situation even when the audience begins to get bored. Here we can also recommend using dramatization of speech: an emotional and visual depiction of events related to the topic.

Experienced speakers who have an excellent command of the topic sometimes resort to provocation: they say something that causes disagreement of the audience (and therefore attracts their attention), and then, together with them, come to constructive conclusions.

What sustains attention is the empathy that arises when a speaker passionately describes events that touch the feelings and interests of the audience. At the same time, an interested silence arises in the hall.

Listeners do not remain indifferent to trust when the speaker manages to connect the subject of speech with his own experience, his own thoughts.

Conversational speech is usually combined with a natural, relaxed manner of presentation, which has a good effect on listeners and invites joint thinking and conversation. The manner of presentation is manifested in posture, gestures, facial expression, and sound of voice.

Gestures- the fundamental principle of any language. Don't be afraid to use them.

• 1. About 90% of gestures must be done above the waist. Gesticulation below the belt often means uncertainty, failure, confusion.
• 2. Elbows should not be closer than 3 cm from the body. A smaller distance will symbolize the insignificance and weakness of your authority.
• 3. Gesture with both hands. The hardest thing is to start using gestures that you find acceptable.

Expression attracts attention, makes the performance spectacular, and provides aesthetic pleasure. Of course, gestures are only good if they are natural.

Finally, very important conviction and emotionality speaker. If he is sincere, these qualities not only keep the listeners' attention on the problem, but also allow him to infect those gathered with his attitude towards it. Eastern wisdom says: “You, the speaker, will not convince anyone if you don’t have in your heart what comes off your tongue.”

A moderate pace of speech is necessary, such that listeners have time to follow the speaker’s train of thought, assimilate what is said, and write down, if necessary.

Pauses are required in speech. It is during pauses that what has been said is comprehended, the opportunity to ask a question arises, and attention is mobilized.

A speaker with a sense of humor does not have to resort to special techniques to maintain attention.

Constant eye contact allows you to monitor the reaction of listeners and control their attention. If instead the speaker is looking into the distance, looking at the toes of his shoes, or buried in notes, he will not notice that the audience has “muted out” and his speech is in danger of failure.

During a speech, there often comes a moment when the audience's attention wanes. A.F. Koni figuratively called inattention tired attention. There is a whole arsenal of techniques to mobilize attention.

At the first sign of audience fatigue, you should use techniques that stimulate involuntary attention. The easiest way is to change the sound of your voice: intonation, speech rate, sound strength. A pause serves the same purpose.

You can give an example that affects the immediate interests of the listeners, or tell a short funny story (anecdote). The so-called digressions sound unexpected and therefore allow listeners to relax.

We advise you to switch the attention of the listeners from time to time, this mobilizes it, it seems to get a boost. Shifting attention occurs, for example, when a speaker skillfully completes one question or topic and then names the next one. An even greater effect is provided by the demonstration of visual aids, the offer to write something down, answer a question, do a simple calculation, compare two opinions - in a word, any work of the listeners.

Dialogue with the audience initiates all types of attention. In some cases, it helps to directly indicate that the issue under consideration is very important, will be useful in the future, etc. This technique stimulates volitional attention, but, of course, you should not abuse it.

Oratorical gesture call any body movement in order to emphasize the meaning of spoken words, make their meaning clearer, and influence the audience. In narrative, descriptive and explanatory speeches, it is allowed to use illustrative gestures: imitative, descriptive and indicative. They are used only to make the illustration brighter. Special mention should be made of gestures that help express the meaning of words. Sometimes you just can’t do without them.

Experienced lecturers believe that it is better to end a speech a minute earlier than later.

When preparing for a public speech, you should not forget about techniques for attracting the audience's attention.

It is customary to begin any speech with an address. It is necessary to pay special attention to the correspondence of the situation and the composition of the audience to the chosen message. For example, requests “Dear friends!”, “Gentlemen!”, “Dear guests!”, “Colleagues!” differentiated depending on the composition of the audience.

The goals and main points of a report or speech are best stated at the beginning. Thus, listeners will understand the author’s position in relation to the problems raised in the speech.

To attract attention, it is appropriate to use paradoxical situations and sayings. For example, Mark Twain’s aphorisms allow us to formulate a thought in a non-trivial way: “A person who does not read good books has no advantage over those who cannot read”, “You cannot rely on your own judgment if it is not based on imagination”, “I have always tried so that my studies do not interfere with my education."

In the middle of the speech, an appeal to the current moment, to the situation “here and now” will help to attract attention. To do this, you need to monitor the reaction of your listeners. It is also advisable to appropriately and tactfully refer to the speech of the previous speaker, the use of speech formulas: “as I correctly noted...”, “I already spoke about this today...”, “like the previous speaker, I...”, “I would like support the point of view already expressed...", "one cannot disagree with...", "let me object...", etc.

Interventions designed to create laughter and relax the audience may be appropriate if listeners are fatigued. Anecdotes, entertaining stories, references to personal experiences related to the topic of the speech can be prepared in advance. It is known, for example, that American President F. Roosevelt attracted the attention of a distracted interlocutor with the words: “This morning I killed my grandmother.” The surprise effect stimulated active listening.

Rhetorical questions(containing a statement and therefore not requiring an answer), question-and-answer session(the speaker independently formulates questions and gives answers to them), entering into dialogue with the audience - all these techniques will help restore fading attention to the speech.

A provocative question or statement can be used to attract attention and activate the audience. In this case, it is desirable that the speaker and the audience come to a common opinion on the problem posed by a provocative question or statement.

Subordinating the speech to the goals set, the speaker must demonstrate conviction, competence in the issues being discussed, preparedness for a speech or discussion, exercise self-control in the event of a negative reaction from the audience, control facial expressions and gestures.

The reaction of the audience can be determined by the behavior of several people present, sitting in different places in the hall. It has been experimentally established that speech is best perceived by listeners sitting in the middle rows. Contrary to the natural desire, the speaker should not focus on the most emotional listeners, even if they express clear approval. We must try to notice different reactions without trying to immediately respond to their manifestations.

Without breaking eye contact with the audience, you should especially carefully monitor their reaction at the moment of presenting thoughts or facts of increased expressiveness. A more intense reaction from the audience helps reveal the real attitude towards the speaker and his speech.

An experienced speaker can recognize the state of his audience even by the slightest changes in the appearance and behavior of the audience. At every moment of his speech, he is able to put himself in the place of the listeners, recreating their state and reaction and properly distributing attention. An emeritus professor from A.P. Chekhov’s story “A Boring Story,” while giving a lecture, compares himself to a good conductor who, “transmitting the composer’s thought, does twenty things at once: reads the score, waves his baton, follows the singer, makes a movement to the side.” drum, then horns, etc. It's the same for me when I read. Before me are one and a half hundred faces, not similar to one another, and three hundred eyes looking me straight in the face. My goal is to defeat this many-headed hydra. If I every minute, As long as I read, I have a clear idea of ​​the degree of her attention and the power of her understanding, then she is in my power.”

Other ways to attract the attention of the audience (especially in a situation of long public speaking) include the following.

• 1. An unexpected interruption in thought. As P. S. Porokhovshchikov believed, “the attention of the listeners receives a push when the speaker unexpectedly interrupts the thought he has begun, and a new push when, having talked about something else, he returns to something unsaid earlier.” By the way, such a “break” can also be used to return to that place in the speech that was accidentally missed by the carried away speaker (“Yes, I almost forgot...”).
• 2. Voice techniques. In order to activate the audience's attention or focus it on the position of the speech, it is enough to increase the volume of speech or raise the tone of voice. In this case, of course, moderation should be observed. Sometimes the opposite technique can be used: lowering the volume down to a whisper, as well as lowering the tone of the voice. You can restore attention by changing the pace of speech, especially slowing it down. In all these cases, external sound stimulation contributes to attracting involuntary attention. However, the ethics of public speaking suggests that everything that was said quietly must be repeated at normal volume after the effect of attracting attention has been achieved.
• 3. Pause. A calculated and skillfully maintained pause not only at the beginning of a speech, but also in the middle of a speech can also have a “hypnotizing” effect, focusing the audience’s attention on the right place in the speech. Often a pause has an even stronger effect than increasing the volume or raising the tone of speech, being a type of cessation of irritation.

In certain cases, it is recommended to pause, focusing your gaze on those who are interfering with public speaking. However, this technique can be used once or twice: if repeated frequently, it loses its effectiveness. You can also introduce an extended pause, urgently creating a climax in the speech. And this technique must be used within reasonable limits, because pauses introduced too often will only irritate the audience.

• 4. Gesture and movement. An emotional or pointing gesture helps focus the audience's attention, especially when combined with other techniques. A hand raised at the right moment, a clenched fist and other gestures, as a rule, attract the attention of listeners and help to capture their attention.
• 5. Visual aids(illustrations, diagrams, geographical maps, real things, etc.) not only have informative value, but also help to switch or restore the attention of the audience, since the change from auditory to visual perception necessarily arouses involuntary attention. A good effect will be given by reading an excerpt from a document that the speaker takes out of his pocket or unfolds in front of the public. Modern electronic presentations allow you to combine different means of visualization, but you need to ensure that the presentation does not become the main means of attracting attention and does not push the speaker into the background.
• 6. Humor in public speech, this is one of the most effective means of relaxation (for more information about humor, see paragraph 8.4). Here’s how the professor from A.P. Chekhov’s “A Boring Story” uses this technique: “You read for a quarter, half an hour, and then you notice that students begin to glance at the ceiling... one will reach for a handkerchief, another will sit more comfortably, the third will smile at his thoughts... . This means that attention is tired. We need to take action. Taking the first opportunity, I say some pun. All one and a half hundred faces are smiling broadly, their eyes are sparkling merrily, the roar of the sea is briefly heard... I laugh too. Attention has been refreshed, and I I can continue."

Of course, the listed methods of attracting involuntary attention are “forced” in nature. The speaker should strive for the harmonious use of all means to ensure that the listeners' attention is focused on the content of the speech.

One of the important components of a successful speech is the speaker’s ability to establish eye contact with the audience. You cannot start a speech without establishing emotional and visual contact with the audience. It is necessary, first of all, to demonstrate a friendly facial expression with a half-smile. It is important not to overplay here. The “American smile” is not appropriate in this situation. In our tradition, a smile is not routine and obligatory. From the entire spectrum of smiles, you should choose the one that is most appropriate for the occasion. Without changing our facial expression, we slowly and thoroughly look around the room. We slide over the faces, lingering for a moment on each (or almost each). If you manage to catch a friendly glance or a reciprocal smile, you can make a barely noticeable facial movement: “Hello, and you are here! I am very glad to see you!". Even if you see a person for the first time in your life. This is how you stretch invisible threads from the eyes of the audience to your own eyes.

If the hall is large, then eye contact needs to be simulated. Here we should remember how a ballet dancer appears on stage. Freezing, he looks around the hall from left to right. And only after pausing does he begin his first steps. He sees nothing under these spotlights, but the viewer has absolute confidence that he sees him and dances only for him.

First, eye contact is established with those who are already looking at us, then those who are used to going about their business look up when the speaker begins to speak. You should make eye contact with them. Now they won’t lower their eyes for a long time. Next, you need to wait until those who almost never look up at the speaker look at the speaker. You should wait until there is not a single pair of eyes left that are not focused on the speaker. This is important for the success of public speaking. You can imagine that between the eyes of the speaker and the eyes of those sitting in the hall there are wires along which important information flows, and if these wires break, the information is lost.

Eye contact is not only a way to establish a relationship with the audience and convey the necessary information to it, but also a way to get feedback from the audience: how much the audience understood what was said (maybe something needs to be repeated); Is the audience tired (maybe they need a break); Is the topic interesting to the audience (is it time to move on to other issues); is the audience interested in you (or is it time to change the speaker).

When it comes to establishing and maintaining eye contact, the most neglected parts of the room are the gallery (the back rows) and the wings (the outer seats to the left and right). It is from there that the most tricky questions come from. This is where they rustle and cough. The viewing sector for a novice speaker is 30-35 degrees, for an experienced speaker - 40-45. Thus, we catch with our eyes only the central part of the hall, with which we actually communicate. It is with those sitting there that excellent eye contact is maintained throughout the entire performance. That's where they listen to us. This is where they nod and express agreement in other ways.

How to choose a place to speak in such a way as to ensure the possibility of establishing eye contact with the entire audience? There are different halls, it’s just difficult to describe a hall in meters. Most often they are rectangular. The speaker usually stands on the narrow side. You need to stand so that an equilateral triangle is formed between the speaker and the spectators on the far left and right in the first row. It is equilateral, not just isosceles. This will be the ideal distance. This rule will help you with other hall configurations. It is from this point in the hall that it is best to start the performance. Start, because during the speech the speaker will move around the stage - come closer, move further away, move either to the left or to the right edge of the stage.

Particular attention should be paid to those places from which the speaker receives signals of loss of attention: moving, rustling, whispering, snoring. Attention is restored instantly. By communicating with those deprived of eye contact, you acquire the most faithful allies. You should come closer and say a few phrases, facing, for example, the right edge. When asking questions, you need to show with a gesture and look that you expect an answer from those sitting and in the last rows. By making and maintaining eye contact during a speech, the speaker keeps these at-risk groups in mind. Under no circumstances should you lose this contact. The speaker may look for a moment at the floor, at the table he is demonstrating, at his hands. But only for a moment. Even if he got confused, forgot the text, his shifting gaze will immediately give away the puncture. If the speaker continues to look at the audience, this will create the impression of a planned pause. And the significance of what he says after a pause will even increase.

Thus, eye contact is necessary because it conveys concern for the listener. However, it should be noted that the empty look of the speaker is no better, i.e. a way of looking at people as if they were empty space. The listener notices this immediately. Having eye contact with the audience does not mean that you have to try to look at everyone all the time. You can create the impression of eye contact by slowly moving your gaze from one part of the audience to another. This will help the audience avoid the embarrassment that many experience from staring. With each new phrase or with each most significant word, the speaker must move his gaze from one wall to another. And at the same time sometimes turn your head and body a little. But the point is not in technical techniques aimed at establishing contact with the audience. The fact is almost inexplicable, but if the speaker really addresses people, they feel it.

In general, when the audience is unfamiliar, a wall of “officiality” and mistrust often arises between the speaker and the audience, which prevents the impact on the listeners. It is better to remove this wall immediately, although over time it will collapse on its own. The following general techniques help with this:

• a) goodwill, which is expressed in a smile, a confidential tone of voice;
• b) naturalness;
• c) emancipation;
• d) conversational style of presentation;
• e) free gestures and movements.