Kom ons kraak dit.
A toespraak (speech) is a text you write to be heard, not read. You might give one at assembly, at a prize-giving or in front of your class for an oral. Because your audience can’t reread anything, a good speech is clear, short and talks straight to the people in front of you.
The structure
Most speeches follow the same six steps. Learn them once and you can use them for any topic your teacher gives you.
The opening address (aanspreekvorm)
Start by greeting your audience. In a formal speech you address the most important person first, usually the chairperson, then the principal or guests, then the teachers and learners:
Meneer die Voorsitter, Mevrou die Hoof, geagte onderwysers en medeleerders
Write the titles you use to address someone with a capital letter (Meneer die Voorsitter), but the rest of the group in small letters (geagte onderwysers en medeleerders). If the chairperson is a woman, say Mevrou die Voorsitter.
For a class speech, a simpler greeting is fine:
Goeiemôre, Meneer, en medeleerders or Goeiemôre, Juffrou, en klasmaats
A hook in the first lines
Grab attention before you say what your topic is. Try one of these:
- a question: Hoeveel water het ons vanoggend al gebruik?
- a picture for the audience to imagine: Môreoggend draai ons die kraan oop, en daar kom niks uit nie.
- a short story or a surprising fact you know is true.
Never start with My toespraak gaan oor … It’s the most boring opening there is.
Introduce your topic
Now say clearly what you are going to talk about, in one or two sentences: Vandag wil ek met julle praat oor kuberafknouery. Your audience should know your topic and your opinion before your first main point.
Two or three main points, with examples
Give two or three main points, each in its own short paragraph. Number them out loud so listeners can follow: Eerstens … Tweedens … Derdens …
Back up each point with an example: Byvoorbeeld, as jy ’n kraan sien drup, sê dit vir ’n onderwyser. One clear example beats three vague ones.
Speak directly to your audience
This is what makes a speech different from an essay. Use these tricks:
- Talk to them. Use u for adults (polite “you”), julle for a group of learners, and ons (we) to make everyone feel part of it. Don’t use jy when you speak to adults.
- Rhetorical questions (questions you don’t expect anyone to answer): Is dit regtig die wêreld waarin ons wil leef?
- Repetition of a key phrase, so people remember it: Elke druppel tel. Elke druppel tel!
A strong ending
Sum up your message in one or two sentences, end with a call to action or a memorable line, and then thank your audience:
Baie dankie vir u aandag. (Thank you for your attention.) or simply Dankie.
Don’t just stop or say Dis al. (That’s all.)
Useful phrases
| Afrikaans | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vandag wil ek met julle praat oor … | Today I want to talk to you about … |
| Het u al ooit gewonder …? | Have you ever wondered …? |
| Dink net aan … | Just think of … |
| Eerstens … Tweedens … Derdens … | Firstly … Secondly … Thirdly … |
| Byvoorbeeld … | For example … |
| Boonop … | What’s more … |
| Ek is oortuig daarvan dat … | I am convinced that … |
| Ten slotte … | In conclusion … |
| Kom ons staan saam en … | Let’s stand together and … |
| Baie dankie vir u aandag. | Thank you for your attention. |
Giving your speech for a mondeling
When your speech is part of your mondeling (oral), you’re marked on how you say it, not only on what you wrote. Your teacher will usually give you a time limit and a rubric, so check both before you practise.
- Eye contact. Look at different parts of the room, not at the floor or the ceiling.
- Cue cards. Write only keywords on small cards, one card per part of your speech. Don’t read your whole speech off a page.
- Pace. Nerves make you speak fast. Slow down, pause after your hook and before your ending, and say difficult words clearly.
- Voice. Speak loudly enough for the back row to hear you.
- Practise out loud. Time yourself at home, in front of a mirror or someone in your family.
Wenk!
Learn your first two sentences and your last sentence off by heart. A confident start calms your nerves, and a confident ending is the last thing your teacher hears before giving a mark.
Example speech
A Grade 11 learner talks about saving water at assembly. Notice the hook, the three numbered points and the repetition near the end.
Meneer die Voorsitter, Mevrou die Hoof, geagte onderwysers en medeleerders
Môreoggend draai ons die kraan oop, en daar kom niks uit nie. Geen stort nie, geen koppie tee nie, niks. Vir baie mense in Suid-Afrika is dit nie ’n storie nie, maar die werklikheid.
Vandag wil ek met julle praat oor iets wat ons almal elke dag gebruik: water. Water is kosbaar, en ons kan nie bekostig om dit te mors nie.
Eerstens kan ons by die huis water spaar. Stort korter, draai die kraan toe terwyl jy jou tande borsel en gebruik die badwater vir die tuin.
Tweedens kan ons by die skool help. As julle ’n kraan sien drup, moenie net verbystap nie. Sê dit vir ’n onderwyser of vir die opsigter.
Derdens kan ons ander mense aanmoedig. Praat met julle gesinne en vriende. Klein dingetjies maak ’n groot verskil.
Water behoort nie net aan ons nie, maar ook aan die mense wat ná ons kom. Elke druppel tel. Elke druppel tel!
Dink weer daaraan wanneer ons vanaand die kraan oopdraai.
Baie dankie vir u aandag.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Ek gaan vandag oor water praat.
Right: Meneer die Voorsitter, geagte onderwysers en medeleerders …
Always greet your audience before you start. The opening address is part of the format.
Wrong: Reading the whole speech word for word from a page
Right: Kyk na die gehoor en gebruik kort aantekeninge op kaartjies.
Use keywords on cue cards and keep eye contact. Reading aloud sounds flat and loses marks in an oral.
Wrong: Het jy al ooit gewonder hoeveel water ons mors?
Right: Het u al ooit gewonder hoeveel water ons mors?
When adults are in the audience, use u (or ons), not jy.
Wrong: Meneer die voorsitter, geagte Onderwysers
Right: Meneer die Voorsitter, geagte onderwysers
Capitalise the title of the person you address directly; the rest of the group stays in small letters.
Wrong: … en dis al.
Right: … Baie dankie vir u aandag.
End with a strong final line and thank your audience. Don’t just stop.
Practice
Answer each question, then check your answer.
- In a formal speech at assembly, whom do you address first?
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The chairperson: Meneer/Mevrou die Voorsitter.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Which Afrikaans word for “you” do you use when you speak to an audience of adults?
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u
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- What is a rhetorical question?
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A question you ask for effect, without expecting the audience to answer it.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- What should you write on your cue cards, and why?
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Keywords only, so you can look at the audience instead of reading.
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Skryf reg: meneer die voorsitter, Geagte Onderwysers en medeleerders
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Meneer die Voorsitter, geagte onderwysers en medeleerders
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Skryf oor vir ’n volwasse gehoor: Het jy al ooit gewonder waarom ons so baie plastiek gebruik?
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Het u al ooit gewonder waarom ons so baie plastiek gebruik?
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Vul in (attention): Baie dankie vir u ___.
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aandag
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Vul in (Firstly): ___ kan ons by die huis water spaar.
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Eerstens
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Vul in (In conclusion): ___ wil ek sê dat elke druppel tel.
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Ten slotte
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
- Vul in (talk): Vandag wil ek met julle ___ oor kuberafknouery.
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praat
Probeer weer! Check the rules above, cover the answer and have another go.
Klaar! Lekker gewerk.
You've checked every answer. Screenshot your score and flex in the group chat.
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