You may well say, "I recognize that before one can com­mand the respect of an audience he must gain self-respect; but where do I find a place to practice?' Well, learning to swim means finding a swimming hole. Learning public speaking means finding a meeting. Either instance requires a bit of initiative. Where are the practice fields?

Luncheon Clubs etc

Luncheon clubs, lodge meetings, military orders, and community gatherings, afford any ambitious speaker ample opportunity to be heard.

 P.T.A

Since the school gives parents the first sense of community life and orients them socially, the P.T.A. is a primary starter for making speeches

Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International of Rancho, Santa Margarita, California, is dedicated to helping any person improve themselves as a speaker. This non-profit   organization   has   11,700   clubs in 92 countries and nearly 235,000 members. These groups meet weekly and ac­cording to their slogan, every member should talk, how­ever briefly, at every meeting.

Dale Carnegie Institute

College extension courses are available, but bear in mind that an ounce of practice is better than a pound of corres­pondence. The Dale Carnegie Institute recognizes that "practice makes perfect," and energetically seeks placements for its pupils as public speakers.

Civic and Service Club Forums

Public speakers became a scarce commodity during World War II. This was particularly true in smaller cities and non-university towns. Kiwanis Clubs solved that prob­lem according to O. D. Peterson, Secretary of Kiwanis In­ternational in Chicago, by looking for talent right in their own back yards. They found certain members could express themselves well on certain subjects, and only needed en­couragement. This practice of encouraging speaking talent within the Club has become a permanent policy.

Rotary International of Evanston, Illinois, according to Russell Perry, urges its clubs to use local (club) talent whenever possible.   Many chapters assign to their own members the task of making commemorative addresses for near and dear ones—Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, etc., and for observing birthdays of famous men.

And Finally Invite Feedback

Debating Societies and the Toastmasters' members are evaluators of other members. They observe poor speaking habits and distracting mannerisms and point them out. These evaluations by fellow members go far in removing any awkward, self-conscious ill-at-ease manner that might embarrass both you and your audience when you get up to talk. If you can't prevail upon one of these evaluators to hear you speak your piece, pick a member of your family or a close friend to hear you out and criticize your efforts

 Summary

 Be creative in finding your practice fields. Like any skill, the more often you practice the faster you will become skilled in public speaking. Honest and constructive feedback will also help you master the fundamentals, if you receive it with an open mind and see it as an opportunity for improvement.