Practice delivering JFK's famous "Inaugural Address" speech.

1. © 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
SkimaTalk Official Course
Advanced Speech Delivery
Lesson 2: “Inaugural Address”
by John F. Kenney

2. 1. “I Have a Dream” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. “Inaugural Address”
By John F. Kennedy
3. “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate”
4. “iPhone Introduction”
5. “First Inaugural Address”
Advanced Speech Delivery
2© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
Today’s Lesson!

3. Session Guidelines
3
Your session with your SkimaTalk instructor will be structured
as follows:
Introduction / briefing
Deliver the speech
(speech text on pages 9 & 10)
Teacher feedback / discussion
5
min
10
min
5
min
5
min
© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
Deliver the speech again
(time permitting)
Spend 2 – 3 minutes
reviewing the content
on page 5. Answer any
student questions.

4. © 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
Preparation
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5. Speech Tip #2: Encourage Audience Participation
by Using Words Like “Us”, “We”, and “Together”
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Encourage applause and audience
participation with phrases such as…
l “Will you join us?”
l “Together, we can make a difference.”
l “We can only do this together.”
l “How will you make a difference?”
Pay close attention to how John F. Kennedy encourages audience
participation during his speech

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Are You Ready?
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7. 1
2
3
Preparing For Your Speech
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You should spend 1 hour preparing for your SkimaTalk
session. To prepare, please take the following steps:
Read the speech that you will be delivering for this
course (pages 9 & 10).
Watch the video of the original speech from John F.
Kennedy. (video link on page 8). Pay attention to how
Kennedy encourages audience participation/applause.
Practice delivering the speech in front of a mirror. Use
the speech notes as an aid; you should try to make
eye contact with the audience as much as possible.

8. Speech Details
8© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
Speech Title: “Inaugural Address”
Speaker: John F. Kennedy
Overview:
In this lesson, you will deliver a portion of John F. Kennedy’s “Inaugural Address” speech.
Kennedy delivered the speech when he was sworn in as President of the United States,
on January 20, 1961.
Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s6U8GActdQ
Text source: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm (from American Rhetoric - Top 100 Speeches)

9. Speech: “Inaugural Address” (pg. 1)*
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… Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms
we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the
burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation,” a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty,
disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South,
East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in
that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role
of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this
responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places
with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion
which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the
glow from that fire can truly light the world.
* The speech in this lesson is an excerpt from President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 “Inaugural Address”. The full text can be found
on the “American Rhetoric – Top 100 Speeches” website: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm.

10. Speech: “Inaugural Address” (pg. 2)*
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And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what
you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what
together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here
the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good
conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go
forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that
here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
* The speech in this lesson is an excerpt from President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 “Inaugural Address”. The full text can be found
on the “American Rhetoric – Top 100 Speeches” website: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm.

11. Teacher Notes & Discussion Questions
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Teacher Instructions:
Listen to the student deliver the full speech.
• Note any errors in pronunciation and delivery.
Discussion:
After the conclusion of the speech, discuss with the student:
• “How did you feel delivering the speech?”
• “What was the most difficult part of the speech?”
• Review any pronunciation errors.
• Provide suggestions on how the student might improve (e.g., slow down /
speed up, use more emotion, make better eye contact with the audience, etc.)
(Time Permitting): Have the student deliver the speech a second time.
Teacher Version Only

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End of Lesson
We Hope You Enjoyed It!