impromptu speech sample video

• Internet , Productivity

15 Best Impromptu Speech Tips (With Examples)

An impromptu speech is often the scariest type of speech you can make because you don’t get to prepare or predetermine what you’re going to say.

The speaker only gets a topic given in the form of a quotation, object, or proverb, and they have to do their best to deliver long-awaited answers.

Impromptu speech doesn’t have to be a full speech on its own. It can be a combination of answers to short quotations or terms provided during interviews or live discussions broadcast on the television.

While you can’t prepare yourself for the impromptu speech since you might not have any idea what you’ll be asked, you can still work on improving your speech and dialog with the help of the tips below!

I have also listed some great examples of impromptu speeches to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

Also Read : Common Weaknesses List & Examples

15 Best Impromptu Speech Tips

These 15 tips will let you know exactly how to behave during an impromptu speech, how to know what and when to say, and how to guide your speech without having too many pauses or breaks in between.

1. Hold it Together (Be Confident)

Impromptu speeches might happen suddenly for many reasons, and often, you might find yourself in front of the audience without even agreeing to it.

No matter what happens during the speech, you have to assure yourself that you’ll be alright. This means you should look up, never avoid eye contact, and breathe deeply. Thinking about something positive is a confidence boost you might need to get through the speech.

2. Focus on Your Audience

When you’re starting your impromptu speech, keep in mind that you’re not going against the audience, yet the audience will be on your side.

Therefore, you should work with the audience and focus your speech around something positive and helpful to the audience.

The goal is to have the audience listen and understand what you’re saying in your impromptu speech but also respond to the things you’re saying. Being confident in front of the audience is one thing you should do, while the other is to focus on the audience and plan a structure you’ll learn in the next tip.

3. Plan a Structure

Even though you might not be prepared for a speech, you will still be able to quickly develop a speech structure in your head as soon as you hear the topic, question, or object you’re given to talk about.

Every speech structure should include three steps and the speech can be structured around almost anything. The most popular structures are:

• Past/present/future
• Cause/effect/remedy
• Before/the event/the result

Think of the structure as a guideline of your speech that will help you get from start to finish as smoothly as possible. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can tell your structure/plan to your audience so they can easily keep up with your speech and know what to expect from it.

Check Out : Professional Development Goal Examples

4. Don’t Ramble

When you come up with a quick structure for your impromptu speech, you’re left to deliver the speech, but one thing you should keep in mind is not to ramble.

Rambling won’t get you anywhere; you’ll feel unease, and your audience won’t follow your speech easily.

Instead, it would help if you stuck to the “less is more” saying, stick to the target, and keep things short and to the point.

With a proper structure plan, you’ll have three key points (no matter what they are), so by splitting your speech into three sections, you’ll be able to judge how much time you should spend talking about each section.

5. Stand Out

Many try to stand out by actions, gestures, and confidence during their impromptu speech. While this is also important, there’s something even more important.

The first and the last sentence are the most memorable. It’s all about the primacy and recency, and most of the audience will most likely remember the first and the last thing you say.

Therefore, starting and finishing with powerful sentences that go well with your given topic and are linked to the message you deliver in the speech is super important as it will have the biggest impact if properly executed.

6. Talk as if You Were Talking to a Friend

Talking in front of the audience can be scary, but without preparation, talking in front of the audience can be even scarier.

Instead of feeling the pressure, feeling uncomfortable, or sweating buckets, you should go on with your impromptu speech as if you were talking to a group of friends.

You don’t have to fake anything, as the audience will see right through it. Instead, be yourself and try to do your best as this will always provide a better result.

Also Read : Best Executive Summary Examples

7. Tell a Relevant Story to Personalize Your Speech

The great thing about impromptu speeches is that they can go in your favor. If you don’t know what to talk about or what to include in your speech, here’s one tip that can help change the way you do your speech.

Try to think of a personal story that will be relevant to the subject of your impromptu speech. This will give you a topic to talk about, you won’t have to do any research or try to come up with facts that you will have to somehow back up, and your audience will love a personal story.

Personal stories are always easier to follow, and they’ll always go down well with any audience. Another piece of advice is to include a personal story in the middle section of your speech, but you can place it somewhere near the beginning of the speech.

8. Pay Attention to Your Voice Tone

When you take care of everything else before the speech and during the speech itself, many speakers forget to think of the voice tone.

There’s not much to overthink and you should speak slowly. Rushing might get you near the end sooner, but your speech won’t be a smooth ride.

Instead, take your time, focus on your breathing, rely on pauses, and have an impact while you deliver the key parts of the speech.

9. Make Sure to Follow Your Speech with Confident Actions

Confident actions are the most powerful body language actions that are not hard to get right, yet you might have to remind yourself to be “presentable”.

Standing tall on both your feet, not slouching over, keeping eye contact, using hand gestures, and avoiding fiddling are some of the things that will make you look confident.

Such confident actions will go well with your speech structure, confident voice tone, and relaxed, personalized speech.

Learning a couple of hand gestures will also put you at ease as you won’t have to wonder what to do with your hands during the speech.

10. Don’t Aim for Perfection

Every speaker wishes for their speech to be perfect, but an impromptu speech is the worst time to expect a perfect speech from yourself.

Therefore, it’s okay to lower the bar and focus on the execution and let the main goal be the smooth flow.

Setting the bar too high will only put you under pressure. In reality, most impromptu speeches happen due to unpredicted reasons, so if you’re put under the spotlight unwillingly and unprepared, the audience will notice, and they’ll understand, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Explore : Goal vs Objective – Difference & Examples

11. Practice Beforehand

You might not ever be prepared for a specific impromptu speech, but if you’ve been put into the spotlight once, you can be put under the spotlight again.

What you can do is practice quickly coming up with a speech structure on any given topic. Even if you have only a couple of minutes, you can develop a quick and concise structure and rehearse it in your head or in front of a mirror before you go in front of the audience.

And if you have a couple of hours, you can do a lot of practicing and even go through all these tips and be fully ready, no matter what the audience throws at you.

12. Use Humor to Break the Ice

No matter what the speech is about, you can always add a bit of humor to it. Don’t overdo it, but even a tiny bit of humor can help you make a better connection with your audience, ensure they pay attention to what you’re saying, and that they’re intrigued to hear what’s next.

Followed with a personalized story, you’ll have the audience hooked up until the end of the speech.

Of course, humor should come naturally, and you shouldn’t do it if you feel like you have to force it. But keep in mind that humor can be a great ice breaker, so it’s never a bad idea to keep it as a “secret weapon”.

13. The Meaningful Pause

Unfortunately, you’ll likely feel stuck or not know what to say next during your impromptu speech.

Just the thought of this can paralyze many speakers who are put under the spotlight. However, there’s a quick tip you can use to turn the block in your head into an advantage.

Instead of worrying if your audience noticed, try to “fake” a meaningful pause whenever you’re feeling stuck. During this pause, you can relax, and sooner than you know it, you will think of something.

The best thing is, your audience will never notice that “something’s wrong”, and yet this will also give them a breather and help them continue following your speech.

14. Keep Things Short

Less is more, and during impromptu speeches that can go extremely wrong, it’s better to cut your speech short and yet deliver everything you believe is valuable to the audience.

In other words, it’s better to regret not saying something than to say too much and then be on the spot from where you can’t turn back.

Also, keeping things short will help you stay in control of your impromptu speech and even look a lot more confident during your performance!

15. Try Turning the Impromptu Speech into Q&A Session

Since most impromptu speeches happen unexpectedly, not only will you have to come up with something from nothing, but you’ll also have to give the audience something you’re looking for.

Therefore, depending on the setting of your speech, you might try and turn your impromptu speech into a Q&A session, just like the journalistic interview type.

This will help you think less about what your whole speech will look like and focus on things the audience asks you in pieces.

You’ll still have full control over the answer, so turning a speech into a Q&A session is never a bad idea.

Check Out : Motivational, Funny, & Uplifting Sales Quotes

Best Impromptu Speech Examples

We’ll now take a look at some of the best examples of impromptu speeches to draw inspiration from.

University of Kentucky – Speech and Debate Team

In this impromptu speech example, the speaker only took two minutes for a quick structure plan from where she was put under the spotlight straight away.

A great start with a personalized story that leads straight into the argument. During the argument, clear signs of uncertainty are visible, but the speaker did well by slowing the speech down and taking a couple of very short meaningful pauses.

Prepared with examples which is a bonus, the speaker went through her speech structure with ease. There were moments where the speaker was nervous, but she kept it well together and even seemed confident in her speech at times.

Use gestures, confident actions, eye contact with the audience, and all other positive things you can learn from the tips above.

Closing the speech without any rumbling and getting the point straight across to the audience is a memorable way to end the speech, which is why this is one of many perfect examples of an impromptu speech.

Interesting Post : Popular Digital Marketing Quotes

Chris Gurrie Impromptu Speech Example

This is a short yet educative impromptu speech example where the speaker, Chris Gurrie, gets assigned a random topic by the audience and then guides the viewers of this video on how to plan a perfect impromptu speech structure.

While you would usually have around two minutes for the planning and practice process, Chris does it in about 30 seconds.

Chris starts his impromptu speech with many questions that come from a personalized story that then leads into the main topic of the speech.

What Chris also does is focuses on his audience and he shares his planned structure.

Chris’s impromptu speech is full of valuable information the audience might not have been aware of, which then ties to things on a larger scale. Even though Chris only took 30 seconds to work on the speech plan, he looks very relaxed, confident, with a strong game right until the end of the speech.

What’s interesting enough is that if you didn’t know this was an impromptu speech, you might not even know. Therefore, this is a perfect example of how good you can get at impromptu speeches without knowing the subject beforehand.

Toastmaster International – Impromptu Speaking

If you prefer learning from a video example, this four-minute video is everything you’ll need to gain the confidence to do an impromptu speech.

In this example, you’ll learn opportunities where impromptu speaking might be required. Of course, all of the opportunities are the ones where you don’t have much time to prepare.

However, with the techniques covered in this example video, you’ll learn how to manage last-minute speeches.

Lastly, the video will teach you all the benefits of holding impromptu speeches.

Even though this is an educational-type video, if you have a better look, you would notice that this whole video is less than five minutes long, and it’s scripted in a way to serve as yet another impromptu speech example.

Therefore, as you learn how to perform an impromptu speech, you’re watching an impromptu speech which is a brilliant idea.

Preparing yourself for an impromptu speech is only half the job, so in this video, you also learn how to deliver your impromptu speech with more useful tips.

Impromptu Speech Example: Thesis-Point-Story Format

Planning a structure for your impromptu speech is super important. The thing about the structure is that you can develop any three- or four-step process that will get you through the speech.

This video is a perfect example of a thesis-point-story format where Chris, the speaker, gets assigned a random topic from where he creates the thesis-point structure, shares it with the students, and gets down to the speech itself.

With word play, Chris slowly introduces the topic to the audience, and while he speaks to his students as his friends, he is getting down to the story’s main point.

As Chris goes through his impromptu speech, you can also notice that he asks the audience plenty of questions, and by answering his questions, he is slowly revealing the whole story behind the point of his impromptu speech.

Even though this example might be a bit complicated to understand, you can also learn from Chris’s body language, how he speaks, and how he controls his speech as he’s a highly skilled impromptu speaker.

Angel Anderson – Impromptu Speech Example

In this four-minute impromptu speech example video, Angel Anderson teaches you exactly what impromptu speaking is, how to practice it, and even shows an example full of important tips that can help you develop the same skills.

Angel uses a question-style topic, after which he sets the timer for two minutes for his impromptu speech.

With this type of question, Angel starts his impromptu speech with a personal story that gets interesting, which ensures that the audience follows him.

Not only did Angel answer a question, but he also shared an anecdotal story, and even then, he shared some more information connected to this story.

By far, Angel’s video is not the perfect impromptu speech, but it’s a real example of how easily you can work on your impromptu speech, practice, and learn as you progress.

Of course, this example is ideal for all interview-type impromptu speeches, which can be as hard as the topic-type speeches.

Impromptu speech can seem scary at first, but with plenty of preparation and practice, you will be able to speak on any topic without much preparation.

These 15 tips are everything you’ll need to start, develop, and finish your impromptu speech while being confident both verbally and nonverbally.

On top of that, these five examples show you how impromptu speech is done first-hand. Remember that you shouldn’t aim for perfection, but even tiny improvements are a good step forward to achieving a decent impromptu speech.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Communication Skills
• Public Speaking

How to Give a Great Impromptu Speech

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 412,340 times.

Most speeches are the result of careful planning, revision and practice. There may be times, however, when a situation demands that you give an impromptu speech with little or no time to prepare. When you find yourself in an unexpected public speaking scenario, you’ll be improvising what you say, which means you’ll have to be able to think on your feet. Following a basic structure, pacing yourself and staying composed will help you deliver an oration you can be proud of, or at least survive with minimal embarrassment.

Setting Up an Unexpected Speech

• Most of the time when you’re giving an impromptu speech, you’ll be singled out to say a few words on the spot. Since you’ll only have a few moments, preparing yourself is more about getting yourself in the right state of mind than it is knowing exactly what you’re going to say.
• If you really need to milk it, you can buy yourself some extra time by shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries or adjusting the microphone stand before speaking.

• Assume that everyone around you wants to see you succeed. This will help put you at ease. Expecting yourself to fail will only destroy your composure and make you more fearful of your audience.
• Confront the reality of your situation to avoid being blindsided by panic. Accept that you have to give a speech and then focus all your resources on giving a good one.

• Oftentimes, the more confident you make yourself appear, the more confident you’ll feel.
• Relax! Speaking in front of a crowd is not that big a deal. Even if you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world.

• Don’t just jump right into the main idea of your speech. Test the waters by getting used to speaking and sharing a little about yourself first.

Delivering an Effective Speech

• Use simple sentences that follow a logical progression and enunciate your words carefully to keep yourself from getting tongue-tied.
• Slowing yourself down a little will give your mind time to catch up and formulate new ideas.

• Two minutes will fly by once you start speaking. Despite your reservations about being put on the spot, you may actually find it harder to give a short speech than a long one.

• A good way to give your speech a solid beginning, middle and end is to present details chronologically. For example start with “when I first became friends with John, he…”, follow that up with “now that we’re coworkers, we have more fun than ever…” and conclude with “I have no doubt that the future of our friendship will be just as entertaining.”
• When describing personal experiences, avoid sharing opinions on irrelevant controversial subjects.

• Humor is a great icebreaker and also makes it easier to hold your audience’s attention.
• Be sure any jokes you make are suitable for the age and demographic of your audience, as well as the occasion itself.

Ending on a High Note

• As with the rest of your speech, keep your conclusion brief. It’s alright to sign off with a simple “thank you for your time” or “let’s hear it for the newlyweds.”

• If you’re planning on making a specific request or appeal, as for a business conference, the end of your speech is the proper time to do it.
• The conclusion is the perfect occasion to come out with something especially heartfelt. Emotions will run high and the crowd will be moved by your sentiments.

• You don’t have to thank every important figure at the event individually. A general expression of gratitude is all that’s needed.
• Be clear who you’re supposed to hand the microphone or floor off to so that you don’t end your speech by looking around in confusion. [11] X Research source

• Impromptu speeches are mostly appraised by the willingness of the speaker to rise to the occasion. There’s no sense in being too critical of your performance since you’ll have had no time to work on it beforehand.

Expert Q&A

• Practice for unexpected speaking scenarios by volunteering to give impromptu speeches at casual events. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 2
• If you're using a microphone, stay within optimal range for your voice to be amplified. Don't move the microphone too close or too far away from your mouth. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 2
• While brainstorming, quickly come up with three or four main points to cover. Thanks Helpful 20 Not Helpful 4

Tips from our Readers

• Speak clearly and be confident. This will make you seem more credible even if some parts of your speech aren't as strong as others.
• Don't waste your time by writing full sentences, write bullet points and then expand on them when you give the speech.
• Make sure not to be too cocky or sound sarcastic, or you might not win over the audience.
• Use your own stories. Relate the topic to some of the moments in your life.

• Steer clear of subjects you don't know much about. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2
• Be careful not to offend your audience. Not only is it bad form and will make your speech be perceived as a failure, it could actually harm your standing among your acquaintances. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 3
• Take a moment to get your appearance in order before presenting yourself. Steal a quick glance in the mirror or have a trusted friend tell you if your hair is a mess, your shirt is untucked, you have food stuck in your teeth, etc. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 3
• Don't use generic, pre-written speeches pulled from the internet or oration guidebooks. These can easily come off as stilted and inorganic. Your audience will be able to tell if you're simply going through the motions. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 4

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ http://wittcom.com/how-to-develop-confidence-speaking/
• ↑ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/how-to-impromptu-speech/
• ↑ http://www.askmen.com/money/body_and_mind_150/192b_better_living.html
• ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/how-to-use-humor-effectively.html
• ↑ https://speakingwithoutnet.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/ending-on-a-high-note-the-last-sentence/
• ↑ https://www.workingvoices.com/insights/presenting-how-to-react-when-you-make-a-mistake/

About This Article

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Bridget Harris

Mar 1, 2023

Did this article help you?

Veeraraghavan. Santhanam

Jul 21, 2017

Dharyl Bizu

Mar 27, 2017

Apr 30, 2017

Sameed Ahsan

Jan 28, 2019

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Develop the tech skills you need for work and life

                                      LIVE 1-HOUR CLASSES AVAILABLE 

Categories:

• Storytelling

How to Give an Impressive Impromptu Speech

An Impromptu speech is a talk that you give on the spot with no preparation.

The speech could be as professional as a project update or as casual as a toast at a wedding. Either way, you are expected to say something smart, witty and charming.

While it might feel like torture even to the most second C-level executive, giving an extemporaneous speech is the mark of an excellent communicator and leader.

Impromptu Speech Situations You Must Be Ready For

It’s not how you handle yourself when you are prepared, that demonstrates your leadership, it’s how you handle yourself when you are least prepared. Most of the presentations you give will be prepared, yet some will not, and these unplanned events will have a bigger impact on your personal brand.

It’s how you handle yourself when least prepared that demonstrates your leadership

Here are just some examples of them

• Introducing yourself at networking events.
• Filling in for a late speaker.
• You are asked to give a toast at a company party.
• You get asked a question you did not prepare for while on a panel.
• Job interview questions from left field.
• You are interviewed by a reporter.
• You get pulled into a meeting to give an update.
• There is unexpected push back on your ideas at a company meeting.
• Say a goodbye speech to a departing employee.
• Your college refers to you in the middle of a presentation for input.

The Best 3 Impromptu Speech Tips I Ever Got

The first company I interned for during my college years threw me a goodbye party. I was happy until the manager asked if I had a few words for the team.

Then I opened my mouth, and gibberish came out. It sounded like I was speaking in tongues, “Ahh, Ahh, blah, blah, blah…”

Later, my manager at that time gave me three tips about talking on the spot that I carry to this day: “Stick to the truth, share from personal experience, and practice out loud.”

Stick to the truth, share from personal experience, and practice out loud.

1. Stick to the truth. No need to embellish, exaggerate or stretch the truth. The truth is always good enough.

For example, if you feel happy to have your colleagues in a meeting, then don’t say that you feel “super excited.” Saying that you feel happy is good enough. At least when you tell the truth, you will be authentic.

Now, telling the truth does not mean that you divulge company secrets. You stick to your truth at the moment. If you don’t know, then you say you don’t know; if you are not sure, then you say you are not sure.

Sticking to the truth will save you from a lot of mental anguish.

2. Share from personal experience. When you speak from personal experience, then you are referring to things that you intimately know. No need to research, no need to investigate, and no need to memorize anything.

When in doubt about what to say, just tell a story from your past related to the situation. That will make your contribution unique and valuable.

For example, someone asks you about the future of self-driving cars. Instead of making up stuff, just talk about the time you were in Mountain View, and you saw one of the Google’s self-driving cars for the first time.

Wait, you never saw that. No problem. Talk about the last time you were talking with your spouse about self-driving cars.

Wait you never did that. No problem. Talk about the first time you heard about self-driving cars.

You get the idea here. No need to make up anything, just look back in your memory to the closest experience with the topic and share that.

3. Practice out loud. Thinking on your feet is like dancing, you can’t learn it by thinking about it.

There are two ways to practice impromptu speaking:

1. On your own. Choose a different random topic every day and speak out loud about it. What you say does not have to be perfect, or eloquent, or enlightening. The important thing is to speak out loud. I do this when I am stuck in traffic. I pick a random topic and then I just speak on it for a minute or so. Don’t overdo it. Just once a day is enough.

2. Speak in a group. Practicing in front of a group and getting professional feedback is the best way to learn impromptu speaking. I know that this option is harder than practicing on your own for many reasons. Not finding the right group, not finding the time are just a few. However, it is not impossible. You can try out different speaking classes or join a Toastmasters group in your area until you find one that resonates with you. It will be worth it.

Quick and Dirty Impromptu Formula You Can Use Right Away

In an impromptu speech, the structure king. Without a present and practiced structure, you will ramble on and make no point at all. In fact, the structure will be the king, queen, and general combined to martial and lead your content in a concise and relevant way.

Structure is king!

There are many other formulas that I use for impromptu speaking, however, here I want to share with you an excellent one.

It’s called FAT.

F = Feeling

Share your honest feeling about the topic, circumstance or person. If you feel excited to be there then, that’s the impression that you share (remember to stay close to the truth)

A= Anecdote

Share a relevant story. Most of the time, I share my first experience with the topic. For example, if it’s a car, then I share a story about my first car in college. If it’s a person, then I share my first experience meeting the person. It does not have to be that way.

T = Tie Back

After you are done with the anecdote, make sure you tie it back to the topic you are talking about. Example, if you are doing a toast for a departing coworker, and you share the story of the first time you meet her, you can tie back by saying, that after that event, you knew that she was destined for big things and that she will be missed when she leaves.

When you get asked to speak about someone or something, you can always rely on the FAT formula.

Here is an example of an impromptu speech using the FAT method.

Scenario: you are asked to thank a group of interns that worked with your department for the summer.

I want to thank Michael, Amey, and Kira for working with our department over the summer. Their work is greatly appreciated, and I don’t know how we would have done it without them (only say it this way if it’s the truth).

A: Anecdote

I remember your first day. You were all quiet, taking notes and probably thinking oh my god what a mess . Then surprised us all by your initiative and how quickly you learned. With your help, we caught up on our financial audit.

T: Tie back

We were so thankful to have you this summer and wanted to wish you the best in your academic career next year. I know some of you will be graduating, and I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you would consider coming back to work with us 🙂 Good luck!

Ok, that was the FAT method. Easy right?

You don’t have to remember any content, all you have to remember is a structure. The takeaway is that it can be used for many different scenarios. Weddings, eulogies, goodbyes, updates, answers, etc.

Extemporaneous and Impromptu speaking is a great skill to have. I say a skill because it is something you learn and develop over time. Impromptu speaking is something you get good at with practice and feedback. Start practicing today and leave an impromptu comment below.

Take a Presentation From Good To Great By Setting Boundaries

How to React to an Unresponsive Audience

The One Quality You Need To Boost Your Influencing skills

3 Ways To Dramatically Open Your Presentations

Examples of How to Give an Impromptu Speech

Did you know that the most memorable part of one of the most famous speeches in history was not part of the script?

An impromptu speech can feel intimidating. After all, you’ve probably heard that you need to prepare well in advance to give an effective speech. But in truth,  a short speech that you give directly from your heart can reach your audience and stir them to action .

How to Give an Impromptu Speech

An impromptu speech is a public address that the speaker hasn’t planned on giving beforehand. As such, it can be an intimidating prospect, especially for those who feel they lack public speaking and communication skills. Impromptu speaking means you didn’t prepare for the moment, meaning you have to do everything on the fly. Even with experience, you’re not always guaranteed a successful speech. It truly is one of the most difficult public speaking skills to master.

Impromptu Speech Topics

An impromptu speech example.

First, understand that the stakes are fairly low in this type of setting. You don’t need to stress over what to say, but that’s not an excuse to ramble on about whatever comes to mind. That would be an impromptu speaking failure.

The Advantages of an Impromptu Speech

Even if you’re still nervous about giving an impromptu speech on a specific topic, there are several advantages you should know about. As mentioned above, people are generally forgiving when it comes to spur-of-the-moment speeches derived from personal experience. You don’t have to worry about being overly eloquent or super organized. As long as you practice  charismatic leadership , you’ll have their attention all the same.

Your story should indicate what drives you and motivates your  decision-making . Over time, you can refine that story until you’re ready to share it at a moment’s notice. In that way, you can be sure your impromptu speech will leave a lasting impact.

Need a little extra help with a speech?  Check out these articles.

Speech Outline: How to Get the Most Out of Your Next Speech

Think & Play Bigger!

Two-minute Impromptu Speeches (Examples for Self-Study)

These two-minute impromptu speeches show how well a person can grab a surprise topic and talk about it clearly and confidently in just a short time. It’s like seeing someone catch a curveball effortlessly.

This isn’t just about being a smooth talker, though. It’s about being ready, being clear, and making sense even when you’re surprised.

What are impromptu speeches?

Impromptu speeches are like on-the-spot talks. You don’t get time to plan or rehearse. Imagine being asked to speak about something without any warning. That’s what an impromptu speech is. It’s all about thinking and speaking right then and there.

Why are they important? Have you ever been put on the spot and asked to share your thoughts? It happens a lot in life – in school, work, or even with friends. Learning impromptu speaking helps you handle these moments.

It boosts your confidence and lets you share ideas quickly. With practice, you can handle surprise questions or topics with ease and look good doing it!

What can studying short impromptu speeches teach us? By looking at short impromptu speech examples, there’s a lot to learn. These examples show us how to get to the point fast. They teach us how to organize our thoughts quickly.

You’ll notice how some start with a story or a fact to grab attention. Studying these helps you speak better when caught off guard and keeps listeners interested even if you’ve only got a short time to talk.

Impromptu Speech Bootcamp

Ask jef menguin.

As part of The 10x Chronicles , I'm launching a new segment where I answer YOUR burning questions. Whether it's about leadership, public speaking, productivity, or anything in between, I want to hear from you.

I'll dive deep into your questions on my podcast and articles, offering actionable advice, strategies, and stories from my experiences. No question is too big or too small—if it's on your mind, it's worth exploring. Submit your questions.

About The Author

Jef Menguin

Start typing and press enter to search.

Impromptu Speech

Speech generator.

If delivering a speech can get nerve-racking for some people, just imagine if they are to deliver an impromptu speech. When we know we are to deliver a speech, we would often go out of our ways just to plan, rehearse, and practice for days, even weeks for some, just to make sure we could ace it. However, when we are asked to deliver a speech on the spot, that’s when things would get challenging for us.

• Church Welcome Speech Examples – PDF
• Salutatorian Speech Examples – PDF

Even though the moments when you would be asked to deliver an impromptu speech could be unexpected, there are some moments when you are most likely to deliver one and such moments are weddings, award presentations or recognition, and even project updates in your workplace. Whatever it is, people would expect that you would be able to deliver an impromptu speech that is smart, witty, insightful, and informative, especially if it’s a formal setting.

If you are not really good at making an impromptu speech but you would always find yourself to be asked to deliver one, then you have to ace your game and surprise everyone who has already witnessed your countless nail-biting situations with the help of the impromptu speech examples that we have compiled here in this article. We have also included some tips on how to deliver an impromptu speech that will surely be of help when you are asked to deliver another impromptu speech.

What is Impromptu Speech? – Definition An impromptu speech is a type of speech that is given without prior preparation or notice . It requires the speaker to quickly organize their thoughts and ideas on a given topic and deliver a coherent and persuasive presentation on the spot. Unlike prepared speeches, where the speaker has time to research, plan, and rehearse, impromptu speeches are spontaneous and demand a high level of quick thinking, adaptability, and the ability to articulate thoughts clearly and effectively under pressure. Impromptu speaking is a valuable skill in various contexts, including everyday conversations, business meetings, interviews, social gatherings, and competitive speaking events. It tests a speaker’s ability to think on their feet, use language creatively, and engage with an audience without the safety net of prepared materials. Mastering impromptu speaking can enhance one’s communication skills, confidence, and ability to handle unexpected situations gracefully.

Tips on giving an impromptu speech

• Stay Calm and Composed : The key to successful impromptu speaking starts with your mindset. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and approach the task with confidence. Remember, your audience is more forgiving than you think.
• Listen Carefully : If you’re given a topic or question, listen carefully to understand it fully. Clarify if necessary before you start speaking to ensure your response is relevant.
• Structure Your Thoughts Quickly : Organize your speech with a clear beginning, middle, and end. You might use the simple structure of stating your main point, supporting it with a few details or examples, and then concluding by summarizing your point.
• Use the PREP Method : Point, Reason, Example, Point (PREP) is a straightforward formula for organizing your thoughts. State your main point, give a reason why it’s important, provide an example or evidence, and restate your point.
• Draw on Personal Experience : Personal stories or examples can make your speech more engaging and relatable. Don’t hesitate to draw on your own experiences when relevant.
• Keep It Simple and Clear : Avoid trying to cover too much in a short speech. Focus on one or two key points that you can discuss clearly and succinctly.
• Engage Your Audience : Make eye contact, use gestures for emphasis, and modulate your voice to keep the audience engaged. Showing enthusiasm for your topic can also help captivate your listeners.
• Practice Active Listening : Improve your impromptu speaking skills by practicing active listening in daily conversations. This helps you become better at formulating quick and coherent responses.
• Embrace Silence : It’s okay to take a moment to collect your thoughts before responding or to pause briefly during your speech. These pauses can actually improve your speech’s clarity and pacing.
• Learn from Every Experience : After each impromptu speech, reflect on what went well and what could be improved. Continuous self-reflection and practice are key to becoming a more effective speaker.
• Stay Informed : Being well-read and informed about a variety of topics can provide you with a wealth of material to draw from when asked to speak spontaneously.
• Practice Under Pressure : Challenge yourself by practicing impromptu speeches in different settings or under time constraints. This can help build your confidence and improve your quick-thinking skills

Impromptu speech frameworks

Impromptu speech frameworks are structured approaches that help speakers organize their thoughts quickly and deliver a coherent speech on the spot. These frameworks provide a guideline for arranging your points, making it easier to speak confidently and clearly under pressure. Here are several effective frameworks for impromptu speaking:

PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point)

Point : Start by stating your main point or argument. Reason : Explain why this point is important or relevant. Example : Provide an example or evidence to support your reason. Point : Conclude by restating your main point, reinforcing your argument.

PEEL (Point, Explain, Evidence, Link)

• Point : Begin with the main point you intend to make.
• Explain : Elaborate on your point, providing more detail.
• Evidence : Offer evidence, examples, or anecdotes to support your explanation.
• Link : Conclude by linking back to your main point, showing how the evidence supports it.

What? So What? Now What?

What? : Describe the situation or topic you’re addressing. So What? : Discuss the importance or impact of the situation/topic. Now What? : Suggest a course of action or a conclusion based on the discussion.

5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and How

This framework is especially useful for informative or explanatory speeches. Address each of the “5 Ws” to cover the topic comprehensively, followed by “How” to explain processes or solutions.

Problem-Solution-Benefit

Problem : Start by describing a problem. Solution : Propose a solution to the problem. Benefit : Highlight the benefits or positive outcomes of implementing the solution.

Cause-Effect-Solution

Cause : Explain the cause of a particular issue or situation. Effect : Describe the effects or consequences of this cause. Solution : Offer solutions to mitigate the cause or address its effects.

Compare and Contrast

This framework involves comparing two or more ideas, situations, or objects, highlighting similarities and differences. It’s effective for persuasive speeches or when making a choice between options.

Past-Present-Future

Past : Start by discussing the history or background of your topic. Present : Describe the current state or relevance of the topic. Future : Predict future trends or implications related to the topic.

Three-Point Structure

Choose three main points you want to make about your topic. This straightforward structure is flexible and can be adapted to most topics, providing clarity and depth without overwhelming the audience.

Impromptu Speech Samples

• Impromptu Speech for Students
• Impromptu Speech for Kids
• Impromptu Speech for Beginners
• Impromptu Speech for Grade 10
• Impromptu Speech for Love
• Impromptu Speech for Family
• Impromptu Speech for Bullying
• Impromptu Speech for Public Speaking
• Impromptu Speech for Education
• Impromptu Speech for Events
• Impromptu Speech for Political Rallies
• Impromptu Speech for Social Media Influencers
• Impromptu Speech for Educational Leaders
• Impromptu Speech for Health And Wellness Coaches
• Impromptu Speech for Technological Innovations
• Impromptu Speech for Corporate Success
• Impromptu Speech for Graduates

Assignment Impromptu Speech Example

Evaluation Impromptu Speech Example

One-Minute Elevator Impromptu Speech Example

Preparing an Impromptu Speech

Presentation Program Impromptu Speech Example

Strategies Impromptu Speech

Topics Impromptu Speech Example

Situations You’d Likely Deliver an Impromptu Speech

As mentioned above, the moments you’d be asked to deliver an impromptu speech is unexpected but there are certain moments and events wherein you would most likely be asked to deliver one. With that, we have listed down some of the situations that you would most likely get asked an impromptu speech:

• The scheduled speaker had informed that he or she would not be able to make it at the last minute and you have been asked to fill in for him or her.
• When you are one of the panelists in a contest, a report or status update, or a project presentation and when you are the one doing the project presentation or a status update and that one of the panelists would ask you questions.
• When you would initiate a question-and-answer session after your prepared speech (the answers you reply to the questions thrown at you by the audience is considered as an impromptu speaking).
• When you would be asked to be interviewed, be it on television, radio, seminars or webinars, or even phone interviews.
• When you would be asked to say a few words or a toast at any kind of gathering, be it among your friends, family members, colleagues, or company.
• When you would join a debate in school or even in your workplace or even when your teacher in class would decide that he or she is going to hold a debate on the spot.

Winning Tips and Strategies for Creating and Delivering Impromptu Speeches

If there is one thing you cannot do with impromptu speeches, it’s the fact that you can never prepare them. However, you can always prepare yourself for when you would be encountering such moments. With that, we have listed down some tips and strategies you can use when you would be asked to deliver a speech right on the spot:

Anticipate the possible situations where you might be called upon to deliver an impromptu speech. We have already listed down the possible and common situations and events above and you could also add on some more situations especially if you have already countless experiences when you would just be caught off guard because you are, again, asked to deliver an impromptu speech. Even though you can never prepare an impromptu speech because you can never know what would happen in a situation, having the knowledge of these situations will enable you to at least prepare and compose yourself.

If you are a prominent person or an individual people have high regard for, just expect that you will always be asked to speak even if you know it yourself that you are not good at public speaking, especially if it is an impromptu one. This is why you should make it a point to have a personal impromptu speech structure that can serve as your default template, framework, or guide when you are asked to deliver an impromptu speech. Having such structure decreases the chances of you rambling in front of your audience since you would already have something to follow in your head.

If you could not think of any personal impromptu speech structure, you could make use or get inspired with some of this easy impromptu speech structure or framework:

• P.R.E.P. which stands for Point, Reason, Example, Point. This structure is easy to follow: you can start off by clearly stating your points, followed by sharing the reasons or your defense as to why you have these points, followed by examples that would illustrate and explain to the audience why you made those points and the reasons for those points, and lastly, end your impromptu speech with the summary of your central point again.
• Issue, Pros vs. Cons, Conclusions.  Here is another easy structure that you can follow. You start off by talking about the issue. Then, you follow it by talking about the benefits people can get from it, followed by talking about its drawbacks, and finally end it with your recommendations.
• Answering the 5Ws and 1H.  This structure is centralized in addressing and answering the 5Ws and 1H questions or the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How elements or questions.

Turn your impromptu session into a question-and-answer session. Having a Q and A session always works wonders especially when you are only tasked to fill in for the absence of a scheduled speaker. Most of the time, a scheduled speaker would be given at least 30- to 45-minute speech but in your case where you are only given the task to fill in his or her time without preparation, it would not be wise to dive into having a 30- to 45-minute impromptu speech. Even if you are fully aware and knowledgeable about the topic that you will be making an impromptu speech out of, it is still not easy to prepare a speech about it right on this spot. If you would re-frame the time with a Q and A session, you would be able to easily break up the given time into a series of very small but extremely manageable impromptu speeches which makes it easier for you to answer and generate an impromptu speech out of. The best part of it is that the questions would come directly from the audience, which means that the answers you give to them is something they wanted to hear.

Using your personal stories also works wonders as well because even if you are not really a good speaker to begin with, you would suddenly be an expert at it especially if you would be creating an impromptu speech using your emotional, real, and interesting personal stories. This is because it is much easier for you to speak about the things that happened based on personal experiences.

Most of all, just go easy on yourself. You may be a good speaker but if you are too tensed and you put so much pressure on yourself, you can still go downhill. Don’t aim too much for perfection and just strive to deliver a message that your audience will get insights from. Your audience could probably recognize that you are only asked to give a speech right on the spot and they will surely understand.

Do you feel like you could take on every moment that you’d be asked to deliver an impromptu speech after reading this article? You may also be interested in  Commercial Speech Examples in PDF.

Benefits and Opportunities of Impromptu Speech

• Enhanced Communication Skills : Regular practice of impromptu speaking sharpens your ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely, improving overall communication skills.
• Quick Thinking : Impromptu speaking fosters quick thinking and mental agility, enabling you to formulate and articulate ideas on the spot.
• Confidence Building : Facing the challenge of speaking without preparation builds self-confidence, not just in public speaking situations but in everyday interactions as well.
• Adaptability : It teaches adaptability, allowing you to adjust your message based on the audience, setting, or feedback you receive in real-time.
• Listening Skills : Effective impromptu speaking often requires active listening, especially when responding to questions or comments, thus enhancing your listening abilities.
• Persuasion Skills : As you learn to construct arguments and convey messages spontaneously, your ability to persuade and influence others improves.
• Stress Management : Over time, engaging in impromptu speaking can help you manage stress and anxiety associated with public speaking and other high-pressure situations.
• Creativity and Innovation : The need to think on your feet can boost creativity, encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Opportunities

• Leadership : Strong impromptu speaking skills are invaluable in leadership roles, where the ability to communicate effectively and make decisive comments is crucial.
• Career Advancement : Effective communication is a key competency in the workplace. Proficiency in impromptu speaking can open doors to promotions and other career opportunities.
• Networking : Impromptu speaking skills can enhance your networking abilities, making it easier to engage in conversations, make connections, and leave a positive impression.
• Public Speaking : For those interested in public speaking, debate, or politics, impromptu speaking serves as a foundational skill that can lead to more formal speaking engagements and opportunities.
• Educational Benefits : Students can benefit significantly from impromptu speaking, improving their academic presentations, classroom participation, and overall learning experience.
• Social Interactions : On a personal level, the confidence and skills gained from impromptu speaking can enrich social interactions, making you a more engaging and persuasive communicator in social settings.
• Crisis Management : In professional settings, the ability to speak eloquently and calmly during unexpected situations is invaluable, especially in crisis management roles.
• Personal Satisfaction : Mastering impromptu speaking can bring a deep sense of personal achievement and satisfaction, knowing you can handle spontaneous speaking challenges with poise.

How to Build Impromptu Speaking Skills

Building impromptu speaking skills is a valuable endeavor that can enhance your communication abilities across many areas of life. Here are steps and strategies to improve your impromptu speaking skills:

1. Understand the Basics

• Familiarize yourself with the structure of impromptu speeches and common frameworks, such as PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point) or the 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How).

2. Practice Regularly

• Engage in daily practice by giving short, impromptu speeches on random topics. Use a list of prompts or have someone suggest topics.
• Join clubs or groups that practice public speaking, such as Toastmasters International, where you can practice impromptu speaking in a supportive environment.

3. Embrace Opportunities to Speak

• Seize every opportunity to speak in public, whether it’s answering questions in a meeting, giving a toast, or participating in discussions. The more you practice in real situations, the more comfortable you’ll become.

4. Read Widely and Stay Informed

• A broad knowledge base will give you more material to draw from during impromptu speeches. Stay informed about current events, and read widely across different subjects.

5. Listen and Observe

• Pay attention to effective speakers and analyze what makes their impromptu speeches work. Notice their structure, how they engage their audience, and how they handle unexpected questions.

6. Think on Your Feet

• Practice thinking on your feet by putting yourself in situations that require quick thinking. Activities like debating or even improvisational comedy can improve your ability to come up with ideas quickly.

7. Focus on Clear Structure

• Even in impromptu situations, strive to have a clear beginning, middle, and end to your speeches. A clear structure helps keep your thoughts organized and makes your speech more coherent to your audience.

8. Develop Your Listening Skills

• Good impromptu speaking often involves responding to others. By developing your listening skills, you can more effectively tailor your responses to what has been said.

9. Work on Delivery

• Practice using effective body language, making eye contact, and modulating your voice to add interest and emphasis to your speeches.

10. Record and Review

• Record your practice speeches and review them to identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to your ums and ahs, pacing, clarity, and how well you stick to your structure.

11. Seek Feedback

• Get feedback from peers, mentors, or through public speaking groups. Constructive criticism can help you identify strengths and areas for improvement.

12. Embrace Mistakes

• Understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Each mistake is an opportunity to improve. Reflect on what went wrong and how you can do better next time.

13. Challenge Yourself

• Gradually increase the complexity of your speech topics or the pressure of your speaking situations to continue pushing your boundaries.

14. Stay Positive

• Maintain a positive attitude toward impromptu speaking. View it as an opportunity to improve and showcase your skills rather than something to fear.

15. Reflect and Adjust

• After each impromptu speech, take a moment to reflect on what went well and what didn’t. Use these insights to adjust and improve for next time.

How to Give a Great Impromptu Speech

• Listen and Understand the Topic
• Structure Your Speech
• Use a Familiar Framework
• Open Strong
• Focus on Key Points
• Use Personal Experiences
• Engage Your Audience
• Conclude with Impact
• Practice Active Listening
• Embrace Pauses
• Learn from Every Experience
• Stay Informed
• Practice Regularly

How Do You Prepare for Impromptu Speaking?

To prepare for impromptu speaking, regularly practice speaking on random topics, stay informed about various subjects, and improve your quick thinking and listening skills. Familiarizing yourself with speech structures like PREP can also help.

What Are the Three Parts of an Impromptu Speech?

The three parts of an impromptu speech include the introduction, where you present your main idea, the body, where you expand on your idea with details or examples, and the conclusion, where you summarize and reinforce your main points.

Are Impromptu Speeches Short?

Yes, impromptu speeches are typically short, often ranging from two to five minutes. Their brevity requires the speaker to convey their message concisely and effectively within a limited timeframe.

Why Is Impromptu Speech Difficult?

Impromptu speech is difficult because it requires quick thinking, the ability to organize thoughts rapidly, and confidence in speaking without preparation. The challenge lies in delivering a coherent and engaging speech on the spot.

Is Impromptu Speech a Talent?

While some individuals may naturally excel at impromptu speaking, it is more accurately described as a skill that can be developed and refined with practice, rather than a talent. Continuous practice and learning can significantly improve impromptu speaking abilities.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Create a speech on the importance of teamwork in school projects

Generate a speech encouraging students to participate in school sports.

Deliver an Impromptu Speech on the Benefits of Reading Books over Watching TV.

Create an Impromptu Speech discussing the Pros and Cons of Remote Work.

Generate an Impromptu Speech on Ways to Reduce Environmental Pollution.

Deliver an Impromptu Speech on the Role of Technology in Education.

Create an Impromptu Speech about the Value of Traveling and Experiencing Different Cultures.

Generate an Impromptu Speech on How Volunteering Benefits Both the Volunteer and the Community

Deliver an Impromptu Speech on the Importance of Mental Health Awareness

Create an Impromptu Speech discussing the Future of Renewable Energy Sources.

50 Topics for Impromptu Student Speeches

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

• Homework Tips
• Learning Styles & Skills
• Study Methods
• Time Management
• Private School
• College Admissions
• College Life
• Graduate School
• Business School
• Distance Learning
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

For the many people who break out in a sweat at the very idea of speaking in front of an audience , the prospect of speaking on an unknown topic with little to no preparation is likely terrifying. But you don't have to be afraid of impromptu speeches. As it turns out, the secret even to off-the-cuff speeches is preparation.

Impromptu Speech Tips

• Decide on your topic
• Come up with three supportive statements related to your topic
• Prepare a strong conclusion

Use this list of impromptu speech topics to practice making a quick speech outline in your head. For each of the topics below, just think of three main points you'd like to make. For example, if your speech topic is "Your least favorite chores," you could quickly come up with three statements:

• I don't know anybody who likes to fold laundry, so the first task on my list of unhappy chores is folding laundry.
• Taking out the trash is another chore that most people dread, and I'm no different.
• The worst chore in the entire household has to be cleaning the toilet.

If you go into your speech with these statements in your head, you can spend the rest of your time thinking up supporting statements as you speak. When you've identified your three main points, think of a great finishing statement. If you end with a great closer, you'll really impress your audience.

Start Practicing With This List

• My three favorite animals.
• What you would find in my closet. Make something up.
• What you'd find under my bed.
• The best letter of the alphabet.
• Why your mom/dad is special.
• A day that stands out.
• The best surprise ever.
• If I had a million dollars to give away.
• If cats/dogs ruled the world.
• A trip to remember.
• My favorite day of the year.
• If I could only eat three foods forever.
• If I could design a school.
• Why books are important.
• Three surprising facts about me .
• How to impress your parents.
• How to plan a party.
• A job I'd love to have.
• A day in my life.
• If I could have dinner with anyone.
• If I could travel through time.
• My favorite book.
• An important lesson I've learned.
• What I've learned from cartoons.
• The smartest cartoon character.
• Three things I'd change if I ruled the world.
• Why sports are important.
• The worst chores at home.
• Why I deserve an allowance.
• If I were in charge of school lunches.
• If I had invented school.
• The best theme park rides.
• Whom do you admire most?
• What is your favorite animal?
• How to achieve your dreams.
• Why you need a baby brother.
• How to annoy an older sister.
• How to save money.
• Three things that scare me.
• Great things about snow days.
• Things you can make out of snow.
• How to spend a rainy day.
• How to walk a dog.
• Great things about the ocean.
• Things I'll never eat.
• How to be a slacker.
• Why I like my town.
• The best parts of a parade.
• Interesting things you see in the sky.
• Things to remember when you're camping.
• An experience with a bully.
• How to Give an Impromptu Speech
• 100 Persuasive Speech Topics for Students
• Controversial Speech Topics
• Mock Election Ideas For Students
• 5 Tips on How to Write a Speech Essay
• How to Write a Graduation Speech as Valedictorian
• Questions to Ask a College Representative
• What Is a Blue Book?
• Benefits of Participating in High School Debate
• Tips to Write a Great Letter to the Editor
• Homework Guidelines for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
• How to Write and Structure a Persuasive Speech
• Writing a Paper about an Environmental Issue
• College School Supplies List
• The Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives
• Nonverbal Communication Activities

Practice Impromptu Speaking

Practice your impromptu speaking skills by talking about a series of random slides for 30 seconds each. Receive feedback on your performance.

About the Exercise

You never know when you might be called upon to deliver an impromptu speech, and most people fear just such an occasion. In this exercise, you'll practice the improv skills you need to become an expert impromptu speaker.

This practice exercise gets you speaking about a series of random slides for 30 seconds each. You'll then receive automated feedback on your performance.

Topics covered

• Impromptu Skills.
• Quick Thinking.

Accessibility

The presentation environments can be accessed from your web browser, no installation or download is required. You can also access the scenarios from virtual reality, if you have a VR headset.

Exercise Features

Screenshots.

Speaking about random photos

Speaking about random AI images

Impromptu Training

Start learning today.

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• Blogging Aloud
• About me/contact
• Impromptu public speaking topics

-200 first-rate impromptu speech topics 

By:  Susan Dugdale  

• 50 impromptu topics
• Yet another 50 random speech topics
• Then 50 more good impromptu speech topics
• And finally, 50 funny impromptu speech topics.
• Plus links to more impromptu speech topics and activities.

The topics cover a broad cross section of subject matter. Use them for table topics at your Toastmaster's Club, with your high school public speaking class as practice for debate competitions or, by yourself.

Some of them are quirky and funny.

Many are deliberately provocative to stimulate a response from both you, the speaker and, your audience!

Others are open-ended or neutral to allow whatever occurs in your mind to fit the topic. You could use those ones to tell a true story; a personal experience, share your personal bloopers, or talk about the meaning of life!

Any one of the 200 will make a good subject for an excellent impromptu speech.

These types of speeches, off the cuff and without much time to prepare, are a great way to polish communication skills. And, most importantly, they're fun!

Are you in a hurry & needing impromptu speech topics ready for use now?

Solve your problem in 5 minutes. Get the first list of 50 impromptu speech topics on this page plus 48 more in an instantly available print-and-go pdf. 50 + 48 = 98 impromptu speech topics!

Quick tips for practicing by yourself:

• Choose a good topic, one that appeals to you from any one of the lists below.
• Give yourself a strictly monitored preparation time of no more than one minute in which to note an opening, a couple of main points with examples and, a conclusion.
• Deliver your speech while timing and, if possible, recording it. Aim to speak for a couple of minutes.
• When you play the recording back, listen for speech structure, (Is there one?), content and fluency. Each of these combine to create the overall impact of your speech.

If you're using these impromptu speaking topics with a friend or in front of an audience in a classroom, use the same method but skip the recording.

Be sure though to allow enough time to give and receive feedback. Along with regular practice, it's a vital part of improving!

Ideally once you or your class has become more confident, you'll allow less preparation time.

The ultimate goal is to be given a speech topic, do some quick thinking and to begin speaking on the subject coherently and easily, almost immediately.

Literally, you get given the topic, the green light, timer or stop watch is flicked on, you open your mouth and go!

Get help with impromptu speaking formats

If you've arrived at this page on impromptu public speaking topics without having seen my impromptu speaking tips page, pay a visit there too.

You'll get really useful information on structural patterns as well as delivery tips.

If you're new to making this kind of short duration speech, both will help a great deal.

The 7 patterns, in particular, are invaluable. They'll stop you from blundering aimlessly around blurting whatever occurs to you first! Something I remember doing quite frequently before I found them. ☺

Return to Top

50 impromptu public speaking topics

• My biggest concern for the future is...
• Real wealth is never measured in money or possessions.
• Conservation is survival.
• Real love is not the stuff of pop songs.
• If I were an animal I'd be a...
• Plants have feelings too.
• Junk food's popularity relies on marketing.
• To err is human. To forgive is divine. Discuss.
• The world is a smaller place these days.
• The more we communicate, the less we really say.
• When I grow up...
• The best letter of the alphabet is...
• Goals are good for you.
• The most important lesson of my life so far...
• Intelligence is not enough.
• If I ruled the world...
• Color affects the way people feel.
• Ill health begins in the mind.
• Team sports build strong individuals.
• Laughter is the best medicine.
• Fools and their money are easily parted.
• Discipline is not a dirty word.
• Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
• Children learn what they live with.
• My favorite day of the year is...
• What characteristics make an ideal hero and why?
• What and who is an average person?
• Being young is over-rated.
• In what situation is lying a good idea?
• Does money make the world go round?
• What human quality do we need more of and why?
• Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
• How we look is unimportant. It's who we are on the inside that counts.
• Fashion victims I have known.
• Pets are for people who don't have children.
• Summer is the best and worst of times. Why?
• The media controls how and what we think.
• Advertising targeting children is immoral.
• Talking to someone and talking with someone are two different activities.
• Real learning doesn't occur in a classroom.
• What would you rather be - wise or intelligent?
• True wisdom comes from experience.
• A sense of humor is essential.
• Uniforms stifle individuality.
• What is normal is decided by the society we live in.
• Manners matter.
• Children should not watch television.
• Art is essential to life.
• Cities are for people not cars.
• Peace is possible.   

Grab 'n go for busy people - Printable Speech Topics

Impromptu Speech Topics on the RUN

Get the first 50 topics on this page PLUS 48 more. It's a Serendipity (little-bit-of everything) Selection in an instantly available printable format: 14 topics per A4 page.

Preview an extract. See the 14 topics on page 5 of 7.

98 printable impromptu speech topics

Select, print, cut-and-GO!

50 excellent random impromptu speech topics

Here's the second list of 50. If a topic ends with an ellipsis, (...), replace it with a word or phrase of your choice.

E.g. 'I wish I was...' might become 'I wish I was sitting on a beach with my best friend.', or 'I wish I was more courageous.'

• What has more impact? Being beautiful or being kind?
• I wish I was...
• The color yellow reminds of...
• Swear words are satisfying to say.
• Share one important memory.
• What have you said that you immediately regretted?
• Explain how to withstand peer group pressure.
• The only certainties in life are death and taxes.
• Nationalism fuels wars.
• Doing what you want, when you want, does not build character.
• Every woman needs a husband.
• Love is exploited by manufacturers and shopkeepers.
• The Christmas season has been hijacked for profit.
• Vital medicines should be free.
• Social service should be compulsory.
• Being poor is not a crime.
• Love is not always the answer.
• What does it mean to be in a black mood?
• We should have Thanksgiving every day.
• When is stealing necessary?
• What is unforgivable?
• Being wrong is good for us.
• Who is the enemy? Why?
• Ignorance is a root cause of violence.
• What I loved doing most as a kid.
• A saying I’ll never forget is...
• The most important lesson I learned from my mother.
• What foreign language should we learn.
• If you could be a famous person for a day who would you be?
• The silliest thing I ever saw.
• An idea is never original.
• Copying other people is not bad. It’s the way we learn.
• Social media is both good and bad.
• The item I value most.
• We procrastinate because we are fearful of being wrong.
• Learning not to pre-judge a person is very difficult.
• The last book I read.
• My favorite time of the day.
• If I changed my name I’d change it to...
• People in my family never...
• Something I want to believe in but can’t.
• Becoming educated is a life-long mission.
• Learning to be grateful for what we have makes us happier.
• Sexual predation is never acceptable.
• Real friends love us, despite our faults.
• How to tell the difference between real and fake news.
• Describe an everyday miracle.
• Being different makes the world a richer place.
• Green washing is a modern crime.
• The contents of my bathroom cupboard.

Another 50 good impromptu speech topics

And here's the third list!

• Comfort food: what is the food that makes you feel good.
• How I got my name and what it means.
• What would happen if I had to be without my phone.
• An everyday hero.
• What qualities makes a person a leader?
• It’s OK to be wrong and it’s OK to fail.
• My favorite clothes: what are they, and why have you chosen them.
• My favorite song: what it is, and why is it your favorite.
• My favorite place: the place where I feel best.
• The worst food I’ve ever eaten.
• My favorite season of the year.
• How being locked down over Covid has changed how we learn.
• How the Covid pandemic changed my life.
• What country I want to visit and why.
• How to break a bad habit.
• The best trick I ever played.
• A skill I want to learn.
• The difference between liking and loving someone.
• Why keeping up with national and international news is important.
• The sport that seems strangest to me.
• Cars reflect their owners.
• The clouds in the sky sometimes remind me of...
• We need to take cyber-security seriously.
• How can you tell if someone is telling a lie.
• Trees communicate with each other.
• What I collect, and why.
• Curiosity underpins inventions.
• I wish someone would explain to me why...
• What I am most proud of about myself.
• If you could go back in time, what time and event would you return to?
• Three convincing reasons for not completing your homework.
• Tell two truths and one lie. Ask the audience to pick the lie.
• Why is it important to look someone in the eye?
• What is the absolutely best way to relax?
• Is there truth in the saying: “Clothes make the man”?
• In what ways can sport be seen as a religion?
• The three most annoying habits of people in my family.
• How to sound and act like an expert.
• Is it immoral for the immensely wealthy not to use their money to help people living in poverty?
• Is there any truth in the saying: “Fake it until you make it”?
• Why do some people behave as if they are superior to others?
• My secret ambition is to become...
• Name three words setting your peer group and generation apart from your parent’s generation? Eg. GOAT, dope, sick. What do they mean? How are they used?
• Why girls should be allowed to play contact sports.
• Why vaping should be banned along with cigarettes.
• Why is it important to vote?
• Who is the best person you have ever met? Why are they the best?
• What would you do if you could do anything?
• Explain these sayings: “take a chill pill” and “all that glitters is not gold”.
• In what major ways has the world changed in the last 20 years?

Finally, 50 funny impromptu speech topics

• What I wish I'd said. Responses I would have given if I was quick enough.
• If you could choose a theme song, what would yours be and why?
• If my pet could talk, this is what they'd say about me.
• If you ran the news outlets, what would your top headlines for today be?
• Tell us about the worst hair cut you ever had.
• What clothing choices have you made in the past that you now regret?
• If you were a hero for the day, what would you do?
• Why does Murphy's Law (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong) kick in when we're under pressure? 
• What kinds of things are you a secret snob about?
• Three reasons why I decided to take up extreme knitting.
• Why sports cars should only be driven by young beautiful people.
• What are the worst chores you've ever had to do around your home.
• What is the funniest personal habit you've witnessed in your friends or family?
• Three funny facts about your home country.
• What's wrong with saving the best for last?
• The best trick that's ever been played on me.
• The real reasons why I decided to become a pop star.
• Which celebrity would you invite to dinner?
• What 'funny story' gets told over and over again in your family?
• What food did you dislike the most as a child and why?
• What's the silliest situation you've even been in?
• Share an amusing situation where you read someone's body language wrongly.
• What eccentric habits are you going to adopt?
• If you could become someone else, who would you be and why?
• What three things bore you the most?
• What personal habit has caused you the most trouble?
• Why is your daily horoscope always right?
• What is the best day of the week, and why?
• How to become an expert procrastinator.
• Three things I wish my mother had told me.
• Fascinating trivia - the useless facts I know.
• How to recover from embarrassing yourself publicly. 
• What's the real story behind the saying: "to beat around the bush" or "to take the cake"?
• What would you invent if you could?
• If you could meet a person from the past, who would it be, and why? 
• What's your three top tips for living well?
• If you could only have the same food every day, what would you choose?
• What happened on your best 'worst' date?
• The top ways to make people like you. 
• The real reasons why people do not talk to each other on public transport.
• The reasons why I will bequeath my fortune to my cat.
• What item of clothing do you own that makes you feel good?
• If you had a personal logo, what would it be? 
• What words or phrases do people use that let us know who they mix with, and how old they are?
• What is the silliest or most trivial problem you currently have?
• If 'looks can kill', who would you most like to see in front of you and why? 
• What thing have you kept for sentimental reasons? Why?
• What words do people frequently use that annoy you immensely?
• What is something you've misplaced or lost that had inconvenient consequences?
• What online sites frequently cause you to lose track of time?   

EVEN MORE good impromptu speech topics!

10+ themed sets of fun impromptu speech topics fresh from the creative, wild and wacky department! 

If you're looking for inspiration for your public speaking class or you need table topics for Toastmasters, these are contagiously silly subjects:  lighthearted and nonsensical. (Like the bumper sticker wisdom quote illustrated below.)

Fun Impromptu Speech Topics   to get them laughing - the best way to learn ☺

Here's four themed sets of 20 table topic questions : Christmas, music, life-lessons and thought-provoking topic ideas. There's a printable for each set, plus an overview of table topics: its benefits, how a Toastmasters table topics session is run, what makes a good topic, the value of feedback, and more. 

Another option are these 150 1 minute speech topics . They are split into 3 groups of 50: those suitable for kids, 50 work/career themed suggestions and another 50 just for fun. You'll also find 3 sample speech outlines and example speeches: text and audio. Plus a free printable speech outline.                

See example impromptu speech outlines

Click for example impromptu speech outlines . See how to take a topic and develop it into an outline for a speech. You'll find e xamples of seven different structural patterns: PREP, Problem - Solution, Cause - Effect - Remedy, Before - The Event - The Result, Past - Present - Future, and two more.

Each comes with a printable outline for your own use, which seems like an oxymoron doesn't it? In the same league as 'lead balloon' and 'civil war'. When did war become civil, or balloons filled with lead actually fly? They didn't.

Impromptu speaking and completing an outline only makes sense if you regard the outline as tool to help you commit the pattern to memory. Once you've got it, you'll no longer need to write your key points and their transitions out.

Go to impromptu speech outline patterns .

Fun activities for practicing impromptu speaking

For more impromptu speaking practice ideas visit this page of public speaking games . 

While some of these activities are drama based you'll find all 10 of them useful and FUN! They are especially good if you're a teacher looking for ideas to help you plan impromptu public speaking lessons for your class.

The One Minute Speeches activity featured below is included in the collection however it's minus the pdf of instructions, game variations and printable topics.

One minute speeches - 368 topics + instructions!

368 topics, instructions for introducing and running a session on One Minute Speeches, plus activity variations in an instantly available format. A great reusable impromptu speaking resource for busy teachers! Have a look: One Minute Speeches

Impromptu speech activities bundle

And for those of you who want more than one activity check out this  comprehensive bundle of   17 proven fun and effective impromptu speech activities , complete with full guidelines and printables. 

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Welcome speech
• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Farewell speeches
• Phrases for welcome speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

25+ Impromptu Speech Ideas to Spark Your Creativity

• The Speaker Lab
• August 2, 2024

Table of Contents

Impromptu speeches can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re put on the spot with little to no preparation. But fear not! With the right mindset and a collection of go-to impromptu speech ideas , you’ll be ready to tackle any speaking challenge that comes your way. That’s what we’re here for—to share inspiring themes that are perfect for firing up your imagination and turning your next speech into something unforgettable. In addition, we’ll share practical tips for choosing the perfect topic and structuring your speech for maximum impact. Get ready to level up your public speaking game and become a master of impromptu speaking!

What Is an Impromptu Speech?

An impromptu speech is a speech that’s given without much preparation time. Since you have only a few minutes to prepare your speech, impromptu speeches are short and simple. Typically, an impromptu speaker will receive a speech topic, do some quick thinking, and almost immediately begin speaking on the subject coherently and easily.

This genre of speech is a great way of testing the speakers’ public speaking , creativity, and communication skills. And, most importantly, they pose a fun challenge.

Benefits of Impromptu Speaking

Practicing impromptu speaking can help you build confidence for all types of speeches and conversations. Whether you’re talking to someone at a business networking event or speaking at a wedding , being able to think on your feet and speak eloquently is a valuable skill.

Impromptu speeches also give you the opportunity to practice organizing your thoughts quickly and delivering a clear message under pressure. This can translate to better performance in job interviews, meetings, and other high-stakes situations.

Key Elements of an Impromptu Speech

Even in this shorter form of speech, you still need to have a structure to what you are saying to ensure your message is understood by everyone. A good impromptu speech should have:

• A clear introduction that grabs the audience’s attention and states your main point
• 2-3 supporting points or examples to back up your main idea
• A conclusion that summarizes your key points and leaves a lasting impression

Remember, the key is to speak naturally and let your personality shine through, even if you’re feeling nervous. The more you practice speaking impromptu, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become.

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person! 

Tips for Choosing the Best Impromptu Speech Topics

Before choosing a topic for an impromptu speech, it’s important to consider your audience as well as the message you want to share. Let’s explore some of these considerations together.

Consider Your Audience

When selecting an impromptu speech topic, always keep your audience in mind. What are their interests, backgrounds, and expectations? Choosing a topic that resonates with your audience will help you connect with them and make your speech more engaging.

Choose a Familiar Topic

If possible, pick a topic you are already knowledgeable about. This will make it easier to come up with supporting points and examples on the spot. Personal experience on the topic is a bonus, as you’ll be able to speak more naturally about it.

Select a Topic You’re Passionate About

When you’re passionate about a topic, it shows in your delivery. Your enthusiasm will be contagious and draw the audience in. In addition, it’s much easier to speak off the cuff about something you genuinely care about.

Avoid Controversial Subjects

Unless you’re specifically asked to speak about a controversial issue, it’s generally best to avoid topics that are likely to polarize your audience. Stick to safer subjects that won’t alienate or offend anyone in the room.

Remember, the topics you choose don’t have to be groundbreaking or complex. Sometimes the simplest ideas can lead to the most interesting and engaging impromptu speeches. The most important thing is to select something you feel comfortable speaking about with minimal preparation.

Engaging Impromptu Speech Topics

There are a huge number of impromptu speech topics to choose from. To make things easier for you, we have compiled a starter list of topics just for you to consider. Any topic below will make a good subject for an excellent impromptu speech.

The topics cover a broad cross section of subject matter. Use them for table topics at your Toastmaster’s Club, with your public speaking class as practice, or by yourself. Many are deliberately provocative to stimulate a response from both you, the speaker and, your audience. Others are open-ended or neutral to allow whatever occurs in your mind to fit the topic. You could use those ones to tell a true story, whether it’s a personal experience or unique insight. Others are specific, and some topics are light-hearted to allow you to insert some humor into your speech.

Some of the impromptu speaking topics include:

• What is your favorite book and how did it impact you?
• How would you describe an average person?
• What is your favorite meal and why?
• What is your favorite animal and why?
• What is your biggest concern for the future?
• Are social customs a waste of time?
• Is climate change a natural occurrence?
• Does poor health begin in the mind?
• Can anyone be a millionaire if they work hard enough?
• Does a food’s popularity rely on marketing?

Besides these, there are so many more great impromptu speech topics. The key is finding one that sparks your interest and gets your creative juices flowing, even with only a minute or two to prepare. So go ahead, pick a topic and start practicing your impromptu speaking skills today.

Impromptu Speech Topics for Students

If you’re a student looking to sharpen your public speaking skills, impromptu speeches are a great place to start. Not only do these off-the-cuff talks force you to think on your feet, but they also help you practice communicating clearly under pressure. That said, coming up with impromptu speech topics on the spot can be daunting.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of engaging impromptu speech ideas tailored to students from elementary school to college. With a little practice and preparation, you’ll be acing those impromptu speeches in no time.

Elementary School

For younger students, focus on fun, relatable topics that encourage storytelling and creativity. Think along the lines of “If I could have any superpower…” or “My favorite family vacation was….” The key is to choose subjects that spark their imagination and get them excited to share.

Remember, at this age it’s all about building confidence and getting comfortable with public speaking. Keep the speech structure simple and the time limit short—aim for 1-2 minutes tops.

Middle School

As students enter middle school, you can start introducing more complex impromptu speech topics that encourage critical thinking and opinion-sharing. “Should students wear uniforms?” or “Is technology making us smarter?” are great options to get those young minds engaged.

This is also a good time to start incorporating basic speech elements like an introduction, body, and conclusion. Aim for speeches around 2-3 minutes in length, with a bit more preparation time beforehand.

High School

High school is where impromptu speaking skills can really start to shine. Students at this level can tackle meatier subjects like current events, social issues, and personal philosophies. “Should the voting age be lowered?” or “Does social media do more harm than good?” are sure to spark some lively discussions.

Encourage students to use more advanced speech structures and rhetorical devices in their impromptu talks. Speeches should be around 4-5 minutes, with a focus on clear arguments and smooth delivery.

College and University

At the college level, impromptu speaking becomes a true art form. Students should be able to tackle complex, nuanced topics with ease and deliver polished, persuasive speeches at the drop of a hat. For example, “Should college athletes be paid?” and “Is capitalism sustainable?” are just two questions that demonstrate the kind of thought-provoking subjects they might encounter.

College-level impromptu speeches often have strict time limits (around 5 minutes) and little to no preparation time, so students need to be able to think fast and speak eloquently under pressure. Participating in speech events and competitions can be a great way to hone these skills.

Persuasive Impromptu Speech Topics

If you want to kick your impromptu speaking skills up a notch, try tackling a persuasive topic. These speeches are all about convincing your audience to see things from your perspective. But you’ll need to think fast and make a compelling argument in just a few minutes.

Some hot-button persuasive topics you might encounter include “Should the minimum wage be raised?”, “Is social media a net positive or negative?”, and “Are violent video games contributing to youth violence?” These subjects are sure to get your audience engaged and spark some lively debate.

When crafting your persuasive impromptu speech, focus on building a clear, logical argument with plenty of evidence to back it up. Use rhetorical devices like emotional appeals and counterarguments to strengthen your case. Additionally, don’t be afraid to inject some personality and passion into your delivery.

Other thought-provoking persuasive topics to consider: “Is space exploration worth the cost?”, “Should meat consumption be reduced for environmental reasons?”, and “Do team sports build strong individuals?” The key is to choose a subject you’re knowledgeable and passionate about, so you can speak with confidence and conviction.

Funny Impromptu Speech Topics to Engage Your Audience

Impromptu speaking doesn’t always have to be serious business. In some instances, a little humor is just what the doctor ordered. Injecting some levity into your speech can help put your audience at ease and make your message more memorable. In addition, it’s a great way to show off your quick wit and creativity.

Some funny impromptu speech topics to try out: “Why the human race should never watch reality television,” “How to survive a zombie apocalypse using only items from your backpack,” or “The secret life of your favorite cartoon character.” These silly subjects are sure to get some laughs and keep your audience engaged.

When delivering a humorous impromptu speech, timing and delivery are everything. Use exaggeration, irony, and unexpected twists to keep your audience on their toes. And don’t be afraid to poke a little fun at yourself. After all, self-deprecating humor can be a great way to connect with your listeners.

Just remember, even funny speeches should have a point. Use humor to highlight your main message or argument, not distract from it. And always keep your audience in mind because what might be hilarious to one group could fall flat with another.

Other amusing impromptu speech ideas include “Why snooker should be an Olympic sport,” “The pros and cons of having a talking pet,” and “How to win a mock trial using only your charm and wit.” With a little creativity and a lot of confidence, you’ll have your audience in stitches in no time.

Creative and Informative Impromptu Speech Topics

If you’d rather not go the persuasive or humorous route, don’t sweat it. As luck would have it, there are plenty of other speech topics you can use for your impromptu. Below, we’ve compiled a variety of creative and interesting impromptu speech ideas. Let’s take a look.

Creative Impromptu Speech Ideas

These types of quirky, thought-provoking topics can lead to fascinating impromptu speeches. Creative impromptu speech ideas include:

• Is it better to be a jack of all trades or a master of one?
• Do we rely too heavily on technology in our daily lives?
• Should public transportation be free for everyone?
• Is social media making us less social in real life?
• Are humans inherently good or evil?

The key is to select a topic that you find genuinely interesting and that you can speak about with passion and conviction. When you’re excited about your impromptu speech topic, that enthusiasm will shine through and captivate your audience.

Informative Impromptu Speech Ideas

In addition to creative topics, informative impromptu speech ideas can also be highly engaging. You could discuss the history of a fascinating invention, explain how a complex machine works, or share surprising facts about a well-known historical figure.

Some informative impromptu speech topics to consider:

• The science behind why we dream
• How recycling actually works (and why it’s important)
• The history and cultural significance of tattoos
• Surprising ways animals communicate with each other
• The psychology of why we procrastinate

When tackling an informative impromptu speech, focus on conveying your message in a clear, concise way. Use relatable examples and analogies to help your audience grasp complex concepts. And don’t be afraid to inject some humor and personality into your delivery.

Whether you opt for a creative or informative impromptu speech topic, the most important thing is to choose something that resonates with you. When you speak about a subject you’re truly passionate about, your words will flow more naturally and your message will be more impactful.

So don’t be afraid to think outside the box and select an impromptu speech topic that excites and inspires you. With a little creativity and enthusiasm, you’ll be well on your way to delivering a memorable, engaging impromptu speech.

Ready to Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig?

Download our free 26-page guide and get the 14 exact steps you can follow to book a paid speaking gig right now!

FAQs on Impromptu Speech Ideas

What is a good impromptu speech.

A solid impromptu speech feels natural, engages the audience, and clearly conveys its message in a concise manner.

What is a random topic for impromptu speech?

“If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?” fits the bill.

What are examples of impromptu speeches?

Talks on “The role of social media in our lives” or “How to stay motivated during tough times” serve as prime examples.

Which topic is best for 1 minute speech?

“The importance of staying hydrated” nails it by being specific yet universally relevant. It’s easy to discuss briefly too.

Jumping into an impromptu speech really lets you flex those quick-wit muscles, along with showing off how creative and comfortable you are speaking on the fly. Keeping a mixed bag of spontaneous speech ideas ready means you’re always set to impress, no matter the speaking task thrown your way.

A great spontaneous talk starts by selecting a theme that means something important to both you and your audience. Whether you opt for a thought-provoking question, a relatable experience, or a lighthearted anecdote, make sure your topic allows you to speak from the heart and connect with your listeners.

So go ahead, embrace the thrill of impromptu speaking, and let your unique voice shine through. With these speech ideas and practical tips, you’re well on your way to becoming a master of the impromptu speech. Your audience awaits, ready to be inspired by your words and captivated by your presence.

• Last Updated: July 26, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

60 Impromptu Speech Topics to Choose From For Your Next Speech

So, you’ve found yourself in a situation where you need to find impromptu speech topics and give a presentation on the spot. Don’t panic! 

Welcome to the world of impromptu speaking, where quick thinking, adaptability, and creativity take center stage.

So pause, take a deep breath, and remember that with the right impromptu speech topic, speaking to an audience will be a breeze (and over before you know it!).

Whether it’s a last-minute presentation at school, a spontaneous debate with friends, or a class competition, the ability to speak confidently at a moment’s notice is a valuable skill in today’s fast-paced world. 

In this article, we’ll explore a variety of impromptu speech topics, so you can find the best topic for you to deliver. From informative to persuasive, entertaining to motivational, these impromptu speech topic ideas can help you jumpstart your creativity and deliver an impromptu speech that feels effortless. 

• What’s an impromptu speech?

Benefits of impromptu speaking

Must-have elements of an effective impromptu speech.

• Tips for choosing an impromptu speech topic
• Informative
• Entertaining

What’s an impromptu speech? 

But first, what exactly is impromptu speaking, you ask? Well, it’s the art of speaking off-the-cuff, without any prior preparation. 

Imagine this: You’re given a topic or question, and you have to respond on the spot, with virtually little to no time to prepare your speech. Sounds daunting, right? But don’t have fear at having to speak . Remember, impromptu speaking is a skill that can be honed and mastered over time. And it can get easier the more you do it!

One of the key characteristics of impromptu speaking is spontaneity. You don’t have the luxury of planning out every word or rehearsing your delivery. Instead, you have to trust in your ability to think on your feet and respond in real time.

Adaptability is another crucial aspect of impromptu speaking. You might be asked to speak on a wide range of impromptu speech topics, from current events to personal experiences. Being able to adapt your message to fit the context and audience is essential for effective impromptu speaking.

Now, let’s talk about the benefits of mastering impromptu speaking skills. First, it boosts your confidence. When you can confidently tackle any speaking situation that comes your way, you’ll feel more self-assured in your abilities.

Improving your impromptu speaking skills also enhances your overall communication abilities . You’ll become more adept at articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, even under pressure. Plus, you’ll learn to think quickly and respond thoughtfully in any situation – a valuable skill in both professional and personal settings.

Lastly, mastering impromptu speaking can sharpen your problem-solving skills. You’ll become better at analyzing situations, synthesizing information, and coming up with creative solutions quickly.

Impromptu speaking may seem intimidating at first, but with practice, it can become a valuable asset in your communication toolkit. 

Although you won’t have much time to prepare for an impromptu speech, you should be aware of the main factors to include in your speech, even if it’s as short as one minute. 

Here are some elements that make an impromptu speech effective:

• Speech Topic: The foundation of your speech will center on the topic you’re discussing. That’s why it’s critical for you to choose an effective impromptu speech topic (read on for a list of ideas!). 
• Clear Purpose: An effective speech begins with a clear understanding of the purpose or objective. Whether it’s to inform, persuade, entertain, or inspire, knowing your purpose guides the content and structure of your speech.
• Engaging Opening: Grabbing the audience’s attention from the start is crucial. An engaging opening can include a compelling story, a thought-provoking question, a startling fact , or a relevant quote that piques curiosity and sets the tone for the rest of the speech.
• Strong Structure: A well-structured speech follows a logical progression, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section flows seamlessly into the next, making it easy for the audience to follow along and understand the main points.
• Effective Delivery: Delivery encompasses various aspects, including vocal delivery, body language, and stage presence. Speak clearly and confidently, vary your tone and pace to maintain interest, and use gestures and facial expressions to enhance your message. Maintain good posture and eye contact to connect with the audience.
• Memorable Conclusion: The conclusion of the speech should leave a lasting impression on the audience. Summarize the main points, reiterate the key message, and leave the audience with a call to action, a memorable quote, or a thought-provoking takeaway that resonates with them.
• Authenticity: Authenticity improves your credibility and connection with the audience. Be genuine, sincere, and true to yourself in your speech, and let your enthusiasm for the topic shine through.

By incorporating these elements into your impromptu speech, you can create a compelling and memorable presentation – no matter the topic or length!

Now, let’s explore some effective impromptu speech topics so you can get started!

Tips for choosing a speech topic

Choosing the right impromptu speech topic can make or break your presentation. But with the right approach, you can choose a topic that you’re comfortable with and can speak confidently about.

Here are some tips to help you choose an impromptu speech topic:

• Draw from Personal Experience: Consider topics that you’re knowledgeable about or have personal experience with, so you have ready-to-go experience or prior knowledge to pull into your speech material. This will make it easier to generate ideas and speak fluently on the topic without needing additional preparation or research.
• Consider Your Interests: Think about your hobbies, passions, and interests. Choosing a topic that you’re passionate about can make the speech more engaging and enjoyable for both you and your audience.
• Stay Current: Keep up with current events, trends, and topics of interest. Being aware of what’s happening in the world can provide you with a pool of relevant and timely impromptu speech topics to choose from.
• Consider the format: Think of how to effectively organize your speech content. Choose a topic that lends itself well to having an introduction, 2-3 key body points, and a closing statement. 
• Keep It Simple: Opt for topics that are straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid overly complex topics that may be difficult to explain or engage the audience with in a short impromptu speech.
• Consider the Audience: Take into account the interests, preferences, and demographics of your audience when selecting a topic. Choose a topic that’s relevant and meaningful to your audience to ensure their engagement and interest.
• Be Flexible: Be prepared to adapt your topic based on the specific requirements or constraints of the situation. Stay open to new ideas and be willing to adjust your topic as needed to fit the context and audience.

By following these tips, you can select an impromptu speech topic that you feel confident and comfortable speaking about, allowing you to deliver a spontaneous and engaging speech with ease.

List of Impromptu Speech Topics

When faced with the challenge of delivering an impromptu speech, you may find yourself searching for the perfect topic that will captivate your audience.

Imagine having a list of diverse and engaging topics at your disposal, ready to spark thoughtful conversations and showcase your speaking skills.

From exploring the power of gratitude to discussing sustainable living practices, each topic offers a unique opportunity to share your insights and leave a lasting impact on your listeners.

Check out the list of impromptu speech topics below, which are organized based on the type: informative, persuasive, entertaining, or motivating. 

When choosing a topic or category, always remember to keep your audience in mind!

Informative Speech Topics

An informative speech is a type of presentation that aims to educate the audience about a specific topic, idea, concept, or process .

The primary purpose of an informative speech is to provide the audience with new information, facts, or insights about the chosen subject matter.

Unlike persuasive speeches, which try to influence the audience’s beliefs or behaviors, informative speeches focus solely on presenting objective information in a clear, organized, and engaging manner.

Here are some informative impromptu speech topics to choose from:

• The life and legacy of a historical figure you admire.
• The process of climate change and its effects on the environment.
• The benefits of regular exercise for physical and mental health.
• The origins and cultural significance of a traditional holiday.
• The basics of personal finance and budgeting for young adults.
• The impact of social media on interpersonal relationships.
• The history and evolution of your favorite hobby or pastime.
• The science behind renewable energy sources like solar power.
• The importance of proper nutrition and healthy eating habits.
• The role of technology in shaping the future of education.
• The benefits and drawbacks of remote work and telecommuting.
• The process of starting a small business and entrepreneurship.
• The impact of technology on various industries.
• The history and significance of a famous landmark or monument.
• The basics of a process you’re familiar with, such as providing first aid and/or being prepared for an emergency.

Persuasive Speech Topics

A persuasive speech is one in which the speaker attempts to convince the audience to adopt or support a particular viewpoint, belief, or course of action.

The primary purpose of a persuasive speech is to influence the audience’s attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors by presenting arguments, evidence, and appeals to logic, emotion, or ethics. 

Unlike informative speeches, which focus on presenting objective information, persuasive speeches aim to sway the audience’s opinions or inspire them to take action based on the speaker’s persuasive arguments.

Here are some persuasive impromptu speech topics to choose from:

• Should we implement stricter gun control laws?
• Should recycling be made mandatory in every household?
• Is adopting a plant-based diet beneficial for personal health and the environment?
• Should schools include comprehensive sex education in their curriculum?
• Should there be stricter penalties for texting while driving?
• Is voting in local elections as important as voting in national elections?
• Should countries make energy-saving a priority?
• Should everyone consider becoming an organ donor?
• Is raising awareness about mental health and reducing stigma important?
• Is access to affordable healthcare a fundamental human right?
• Should there be stricter regulations on fast food advertising aimed at children?
• Should the minimum wage be raised to a living wage?
• Should students be allowed to use advanced technology like AI in school?
• Should schools have healthier lunch options?
• Should standardized testing be abolished in schools?

Entertaining Speech Topics

An entertaining speech is a type of presentation that aims to captivate, engage, and amuse the audience through humor, storytelling, anecdotes, or engaging content.

The primary purpose of an entertaining speech is to entertain and uplift the audience, providing them with moments of laughter, enjoyment, or inspiration.

Unlike informative or persuasive speeches, which focus on presenting information or persuading the audience to take action, entertaining speeches prioritize entertainment value and emotional engagement.

Here are some entertaining impromptu speech topics to choose from:

• The art of telling hilarious jokes and making people laugh.
• The adventures of your favorite fictional character.
• The joys and challenges of being a pet owner.
• The funniest moments from your childhood.
• The quirks and idiosyncrasies of your hometown.
• The most embarrassing moments you’ve experienced.
• The evolution of fashion throughout history.
• The secrets to mastering a magic trick.
• The best pranks to pull on a friend.
• The weirdest and wackiest sport.
• The dos and don’ts of surviving a family holiday gathering.
• The biggest lesson you’ve learned so far.
• The most interesting fashion trend right now.
• The funniest viral videos on the internet right now.
• The best comedy movies of all time and why they’re worth watching.

Motivating Speech Topics

A motivating speech is a type of presentation that aims to inspire, uplift, and empower the audience to take action, overcome obstacles, or achieve their goals.

The primary purpose of a motivating speech is to motivate and energize the audience, instilling them with a sense of purpose, determination, and enthusiasm.

Here are some motivating impromptu speech topics to choose from:

• The power of setting and achieving goals in life.
• Overcoming adversity and finding strength in difficult times.
• The importance of embracing failure as a stepping stone to success.
• Finding your passion and pursuing it with determination.
• The benefits of a positive mindset and resilience in facing challenges.
• The impact of small acts of kindness on others and the world.
• Embracing change and seizing growth opportunities.
• The importance of self-care and prioritizing mental health.
• Cultivating gratitude and appreciating the blessings in your life.
• The value of perseverance and never giving up on your dreams.
• The role of mentors and role models in inspiring personal growth.
• The power of forgiveness and letting go of resentment.
• Overcoming self-doubt and building self-confidence.
• Finding purpose and meaning in your life’s journey.
• The ripple effect of positivity and spreading joy to others.

With these topics in mind, you’ll be able to confidently speak on a variety of subjects and engage your audience with thought-provoking discussions.

So the next time you find yourself in need of an impromptu speech topic, review these ideas and jumpstart your brainstorming.

Whether you’re discussing gratitude, overcoming adversity, or the future of work, there’s always something important to talk about!

And by keeping these topics handy, you’ll be ready to tackle your next impromptu speech.

Check out more great articles from the Thought-Leader Blog covering TEDx Talks, success mindsets, and everything else in between

How to Get a TED Talk

How to prepare a ted talk, how to market yourself effectively, how to become a keynote speaker, how to speak professionally.