This document provides an overview of a SkimaTalk lesson on delivering Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The lesson instructs students to: 1) read an excerpt of the speech; 2) watch a video of King's delivery; and 3) practice delivering the excerpt, focusing on using pauses effectively. During the session, the student will deliver the speech while being evaluated on pronunciation, delivery style, and use of pauses. The teacher will provide feedback and suggestions for improvement.

1. © 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
SkimaTalk Official Course
Advanced Speech Delivery
Lesson 1: “I Have A Dream”

2. 1. “I Have a Dream”
by Martin Luther King Jr.
2. “Inaugural Address” – 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
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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 #1: Use “Pauses” to Make Your Speech
More Memorable and Impactful
5© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
Pauses can be especially powerful
for…
l Creating anticipation: pause directly before an
important point to create anticipation.
l Making moments more memorable: pause
after an important to point to lock the moment
into the audience’s memory.
l Conveying seriousness: pause during, before,
or after a point to convey the seriousness or
sadness of the point.

6. © 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
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 Martin
Luther King, Jr. (video link on page 8). Note how King
uses “pauses” to make his speech more impactful.
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: “I Have A Dream”
Speaker: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overview:
In this lesson, you will deliver a portion of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have A
Dream” speech. King delivered the speech, which called for an end to racism in the
United States, on August 28, 1963.
Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE
Text source: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm (from American Rhetoric - Top 100 Speeches)

9. Speech: “I Have A Dream” (pg. 1)*
9© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
... And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a
dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of
its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves
and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of
brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the
heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an
oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will
not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
* The speech in this lesson is an excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1968 “I Have A Dream” speech. The full text can be found
on the “American Rhetoric – Top 100 Speeches” website: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm.

10. Speech: “I Have A Dream” (pg. 2)*
10© 2015 SkimaTalk, Inc.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its
governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" --
one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join
hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and
mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked
places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh
shall see it together.”
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with…
* The speech in this lesson is an excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1968 “I Have A Dream” speech. The full text can be found
on the “American Rhetoric – Top 100 Speeches” website: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.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.
• In this lesson, students are taught to use pauses to increase the impact of the
speech. Note whether the student used pauses effectively.
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 use of pauses, etc.)
(Time Permitting): Have the student deliver the speech a second time.
Teacher Version Only

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End of Lesson
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