Making a presentation in front of your peers can be daunting and even frightening, but with a little preparation and practice you will be amazing! Youth are naturally curious and want to know more about their peers but are often shy to ask. Your presentation will give your classmates a safe space to learn more about Islam and ask questions about things they have wondered about. When writing lessons, teachers often ask, "What do I want my students to take from this lesson?" This technique is called backward planning. Once we have a grasp on what we want our students to take from a lesson, planning it becomes a little easier. Ask yourself, "What do I want my peers to take away from my presentation?" Make a few bullet points then elaborate on them in your notebook. Read them aloud and practice at home in front of your family. Ask your parents, local imam, or a trusted adult who knows about Islam for help. You may also email Darus Salah for help in writing and preparing your presentation, we have an entire team of educators eager to help you, please contact us at [email protected].
Once you write your speech, read it aloud to your teacher or have him/her look it over. Even if your teacher may not know a lot about Islam, they do know a lot about teaching and they will be able to guide you better on how to present in front of your class. Below you will find some public speaking tips you can use for your presentation and a powerpoint presentation you may use to present or as a guide to make your own.
Presentation Day
Collaborate with your teacher: Ask your teacher to look over your presentation and take his/her suggestions. Tell your teacher what you will need ahead of time for your presentation as well, i.e. access to a projector, a board to write on, help keeping track of time, etc. Make sure to thank your teacher and principal for giving you this opportunity.
Breath: Our diaphragms project our voices best when we are standing, try to deliver your speech while standing up. Take deep breaths and pause when you need to. It may seem like a long pause to you but to the audience it is barely noticed. However, if you avoid taking breaths and pausing when you need to recollect yourself your speech may come off rushed and this will make you look and feel nervous. Take your time and breath through it.
Use artifacts: Take artifacts or visual aids you may have at home to show your class, these may be common items for you but they will be exciting for your classmates. However, make sure it is okay with your parents first and avoid taking items that can break or need to be touched with wudu such as a Quran. Some items you can take from home to show your class may include a prayer rug, a misbaha/tasbih, calligraphy pieces or decorative pottery and dishes.
It is okay if you do not have all the answers: If your teachers and peers ask you questions you do not have the answers to, it is okay to acknowledge that you do not know or to tell your classmates you are unsure and will get back to them later. This will give you time to ask someone who has more knowledge and it will keep you from making mistakes and misrepresenting Islam. At your age, you are not expected to be an expert in Islam or a scholar, it is okay to ask those who are for help. Scholars and elders are here to guide and help us with what we do not know. You can also seek answers to your questions by emailing [email protected] and one of the teachers will email you back a response or ask a scholar on your behalf.
Avoid Generalizing: It is important we recognize Muslim cultural practices are diverse. When speaking, be cognizant of using language that recognizes the diversity in the Muslim community. For example, instead of saying, "Muslims make a milk and date dessert for Eid." it is better to say, "My family and many others from my country make milk and dates for dessert on Eid." Generalizing information can make other Muslims uncomfortable and feel misrepresented. It is also okay to recognize religious practices we may not adhere to. For example, if a Muslim student is asked about prayer but he/she does not pray regularly, one way to respond would be, "Islam requires Muslims to pray five times a day at designated times, some Muslims are more regular than others in their prayers."
