Practice delivering Barack Obama's famous "First Inaugural Address" speech.

1. © 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
SkimaTalk Official Course
Advanced Speech Delivery
Lesson 5: “First Inaugural Address”
by Barack Obama

2. 1. “I Have a Dream”
2. “Inaugural Address”
3. “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate”
4. “iPhone Introduction”
5. “First Inaugural Address”
by Barack Obama
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 – 11)
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.

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Preparation
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5. Speech Tip #5: Change Your Speaking Pace as You
Transition Topics or Tone
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Changing pace signals a new topic or a change of tone in
the speech
Notice how President Obama changes pace as he moves from one
part of the speech to the next.

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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 – 11).
Watch the video of the original speech by Barack
Obama (video link on page 8). Note Obama’s use of
different speaking paces during the speech.
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
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Speech Title: “First Inaugural Address”
Speaker: U.S. President Barack Obama
Overview:
In this lesson, you will deliver a portion of Barack Obama’s “First Inaugural Address”
speech. The speech, which was delivered in Washington, DC in 2009, outlines President
Obama’s plans and goals for his presidency.
Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4#t=757
Text source: New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-obama.html?pagewanted=all

9. Speech: “First Inaugural Address” (pg. 1)*
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My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the
trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation... as well as the generosity and
cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of
peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging
storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill
or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful
to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
* The speech in this lesson is an excerpt from President Barack Obama’s 2009 “First Inaugural Address”. The full text can be
found on the New York Times website: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-obama.html?pagewanted=all

10. Speech: “First Inaugural Address” (pg. 2)
10© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war
against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly
weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but
also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new
age.
Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too
costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the
ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable,
but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear
that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they
are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this
America: They will be met.

11. Speech: “First Inaugural Address” (pg. 3)
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On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose
over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false
promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have
strangled our politics…

12. 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!