Public speaking · lesson 5 of 24 · free

Eye contact and facial expressions — Public speaking for kids

Eye contact makes each listener feel you are talking to them. Look at one person for a few seconds, then move on — left, centre, right, front and back. Glance at your notes, then look up. Your face should match your words: a warm smile to greet, a serious face for safety, a surprised look for an amazing fact.

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Speaker's tip

Look, then move — “look at one person for a few seconds, then move to another part of the room”

  1. Good: looking around the room, a few seconds per person, every section including the back row, glancing at notes and then up.
  2. Poor: staring at the ceiling, the floor or the slides, reading with your head down, looking at one friend only.
  3. Match your face to your words: warm smile, serious face or surprised look.

Use it for: Every speech, presentation, interview and viva, and when reading the news in assembly.

Worked example: 👀 About how long should you look at one person before moving on? → a few seconds

  1. Too short looks nervous; too long feels like staring.
  2. A few seconds — about one thought — then move on.

Check: Practise aloud: tell a short story to three family members, finishing one sentence while looking at each of them in turn ✓

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✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

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🏁 Lesson 5 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 👀 Eye Contact Ace badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 8 lessons of Part 1 · Speaking basics. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Public Speaking Worksheet: Eye Contact and Expressions

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