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How to Memorize Speeches
1. Understand that it takes most people quite a while to memorize an entire speech. Unless you are exceptionally
good at memorization, you will need to go through the steps below over 20 times before you speech is
memorized.
2. Break your speech into “chunks.” Chunks should be about 1 sentence or whatever you are able to learn quickly.
3. Memorize one chunk at a time. Once you have learned the first chunk, add the second one, then the third, and so
on. Repeat all successive chunks each time you add a new one.
4. Choose a memorization technique that best works with your learning style.
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Auditory Learners: Record your speech using a tape recorder or your phone. Starting with the first chunk, listen
to it and repeat it back to yourself. If you can’t repeat all of it, then make your chunks smaller. Do this many
times until you feel you can recite the speech without listening to it.
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Visual Learners: Starting with your first chunk, write/copy the speech on a separate piece of paper. Continue
doing this until you can write it without looking at the original.
Another option is to draw pictures that help you visualize the topics of your speech. For example, if you talk
about a lion and then homework, you could draw something like this:
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Kinesthetic Learners: Stand up and read your speech aloud. Add gestures when they feel natural. Begin to
memorize the speech by linking the gestures and the words in your mind.
Another option is to bounce a ball while you speak. Sometimes setting a rhythm with a movement helps.
You can also visualize how you would act out the speech. If your speech mentions homework, you could
visualize sitting down to do your homework.
5. All students have the option of making a notecard for your speech. See guidelines for notecards below:
Notecards
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You may not write complete sentences on your notecard.
Instead, write the first few words of each sentence. This is where most
students get stuck.
As you are memorizing, add words/phrases to your notecard that you are
having trouble memorizing.
If you plan to use a notecard on speech day, you must practice with your
notecard. Notecards can be very helpful, but they somewhat limit your
ability to gesture. Make sure you are not fidgeting with the notecard as you
speak, and make sure the text on your notecard is large enough to read.