PREPARATION TECHNIQUES
- READ THE SELECTION
- Read as a listener
- Read it aloud
- Read it in other translations
- PRAY WITH THE READING
- Open your heart to the message so you may share it with others
- Use it as morning or evening meditation
- UNDERSTAND THE SELECTION
- Pronunciation
- Paraphrasing exercise
- Determine the literary form
- Put the passage in context -- read entire chapter or more
- Capture the intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic
- Research other translations
- Commentaries
- Dictionary of the Bible
- Preaching the New Lectionary: The Word of God for the Church Today
- PRACTICE THE SELECTION
- Read aloud -- on tape or to another person. (It's good to practice regularly with a friend.)
- Combat nervousness
- Concentration
- Relaxation exercises
- Learn how to use the microphone
- Work on voice quality. A good speaking voice consists of:
- Activity in the mouth
- Relaxation in the throat
- Power in the diaphragm
- Use proper volume spaces -- acoustical
- Diction
- Pace (rhythm -- use of silence)