No, I’m not any more patriotic than the next guy, but I say the “Pledge of Allegiance” daily. Why? It’s part of a presentation drill I learned years ago, and practicing it regularly helps me with enunciation, speed and projection when speaking in public. Here’s how the pencil drill works:
1. Place a pencil in your mouth about halfway back, and lock it into your jaw.
2. Put your tongue over the pencil, keeping your tongue in your mouth.
3. Recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” so that people can actually understand you.
I know it sounds silly, but the more you practice this, the easier it gets. The drill helps you to focus on speaking each syllable slowly and clearly enough that your audience can hear you. Good luck!
