Activity 4.1.1 Autobiography Presentations

Purpose

To practise communication skills and gain confidence in public speaking To discover the growth experienced from life changes

Materials

Handout–Autobiography Presentation

Time

1–2 hrs

Method

1. Instruct participants to complete the handout. They will look at their lives in five-year increments.
2. The first section of the handout asks participants to examine what their lives were like 10 years ago and what stands out in their mind from that time period.
3. The next section asks participants to examine what their lives were like just five years ago. Again, what was life like for them, and what was significant at that time?
4. Section three of the form asks participants to describe their life now, and what is important at this time.
5. The final section requires participants to predict where they would like to be and what they would like to have happening in their lives five years from now.
6. At the bottom of the form, participants are asked to communicate/write about the changes in their lives.
7. Once the handout has been completed, facilitators should set up dates and times for participants to give an autobiographical presentation to the class. Participants may also bring in objects that are relevant to their information.
8. Inform participants that they will not be able to use their completed handout as a guide. They will be required to speak to the class in a casual and informal way, and deliver their information from memory.
9. Facilitators may wish to use this opportunity to evaluate the participants’ presentation skills. This could be done as a peer evaluation or self-evaluation. Criteria might include: communicates clearly, has organized information, presents with confidence, etc.