Arts & Entertainment, Business
Case Study: Reading to Adults
Lesson time 10:13 min
LeVar demonstrates specific techniques to help you communicate confidently with an adult audience.
Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
Topics include: Reading Excerpt: Aftermath · Play With Rhythm and Tempo · Reading Aloud Is a Gift
Teaches the Power of Storytelling
Emmy winner and Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton teaches you his techniques for more dynamic, authentic storytelling.
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[MUSIC PLAYING] - I believe that you will find if you practice reading aloud, in the mirror or to people, to actual human beings, it will improve your comfort level when speaking in front of people in the office or in conversations with your friends and family. It is the confidence that you gain with reading aloud that will translate. It will spill over into your everyday life. Whether you're reading by yourself or reading to an audience, having a place where it's okay to experiment will absolutely translate into your interactions that involve storytelling or speaking in public. In this case study, I'm going to read an excerpt from my book, "Aftermath." Then I'll give you some guidance on the practice of reading out loud that will make you more confident in your everyday communication. [MUSIC PLAYING] "Chapter 13. Leon Cane stood in the window feeling the wind upon his face-- cool, caressing, like the kiss of angels. It whispered in his ears, sharing with him secrets of faraway places and times long past. He closed his eyes and imagined himself flying with the wind, soaring like a bird up to the sun. Soaring, soaring, soaring, never falling, sweeping over mountains and deserts, touching ancient temples and forgotten cities of stone. His spirit passed beyond the reach of day into the cool darkness of the night. Following the path of dead kings, he drank from sacred pools of water, which glowed like jewels in the moonlight. He sighed and opened his eyes. Leon was on the 20th floor of the Atlanta Hilton and Towers, looking out over what had once been the heart of Atlanta. Most of the downtown area had been destroyed during the riots, the once glittering high rises looted and burned. The remaining buildings had been pockmarked and scarred by rocket and artillery attacks during the war. But Leon hadn't climbed 20 flights of stairs and a burned out hotel just to admire the view, not that it was worth admiring. He had come seeking peace for a troubled soul, to rid himself of guilt and anguish. He had come to join his family, again, forever. His throat tightened as memories of his wife floated through his mind, Vanessa curled up on the sofa watching television, a bottle of mineral water on the table beside her, the smell of her hair, the feel of her flesh when they made love, the whisper of her voice late at night when she lay beside him and spoke of her dreams for the two of them, and their daughter. Tears slowly trickled down Leon's cheeks as he thought of Anita, healing the emptiness that lay within his heart. There was no way to describe how badly he missed his daughter, for it was beyond description. Never again would he be able to hold his little girl on his lap, hug her, listen to her laughter when he playfully tickled her feet or see her lower lip turn into a pout when she was mad. Words alone could not begin to tell of the loss he felt or the guilt. It was his fault that his wife and daughter had died, ...
About the Instructor
With his iconic roles in Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation and 23 years as the host of Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton has left an indelible mark on our culture. Now the Emmy, Grammy, and Peabody winner is sharing his approach to storytelling so you can connect authentically with any audience. Learn how to find intention, use your voice, and mine your experiences to be a more effective and dynamic storyteller.
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LeVar Burton
Emmy winner and Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton teaches you his techniques for more dynamic, authentic storytelling.
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