Making an advancement in Masonic Knowledge can become far easier when you ‘learn how to learn’.

A scientific approach to; how we learn is an interesting subject.  Each of us may have different ways in which we engage with the process of learning.

For some time, it has been thought that we may have specific ‘learning styles’ that are individual to us.

For example, there is one premise that we are one of the following:  ‘visual’, ‘audio’ or ‘kinesthetic’ learners. This learning style is known by the acronym VAK and was developed by Walter Burke Barbe and colleagues who proposed three learning modalities:

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Struggling to learn your ritual? Become a 5-Minute Ritualist with the aid of a book of the same name.

The 5-Minute Ritualist is a scientifically founded, flexible, time and labour saving method for memorising Masonic Ritual using short, regular, highly focussed learning sessions. 5-MR offers a friendly, helping hand right across the Masonic age and experience spectrum – particularly so for inexperienced members of the Craft, aspiring WMs and Brethren living with declining memory challenges.

by Barry Cooper

Following on from our series of articles and tips on how the learn Masonic ritual, Barry Cooper directed our attention to his blog post ‘how to learn a speech’.  With his kind permission we have reproduced it below.

Do you need to speak in public, and want (or have) to do it without notes?

This article outlines my personal approach; like everything else, it won’t work for everyone – but I hope it will work for you.

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Simon Lancaster, a leading speech writer discusses 6 techniques that will help improve the effectiveness of a public speech

TED talk video

His 6 tips

1 Three Breathless Sentences
(why 3 ? 3 is the magic number in Rhetoric) – convincing compelling convincing

2 Three repetitive sentences

3 Three balancing Statements

4 Metaphor

5 Exaggeration

6 Rhyme

How can we use the 7 secrets of the greatest speakers in history

In this TED Talk video article presented by David JP Phillips, we take a brief look at some of the greatest orators of the 20th Century, and the techniques that makes a great story teller.

How can we as Freemasons incorporate some of these techniques into our Masonic and professional life?

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An introduction to the art of public speaking – speak with confidence.

Whether you are reciting ritual in a Masonic meeting or giving a toast at the festive board, at some point you will have to speak in public.

Public speaking is a skill you can learn, and Freemasonry offers the opportunity to perfect and practice this skill. By becoming proficient you will enjoy it and start to understand how important it is to inform and persuade people in your private and professional life too.

A comprehensive article concluding with a TED talk by Caroline Goyder

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