Teachers are called upon to do all sorts of duties outside the classroom: in the playground, on the sports field, on school trips, at fire drill, even at the school disco. Of course if you’re a PE teacher then all your duties are either outside or in a sports facility. In many of these situations you’ll be trying to make yourself heard and keep control in circumstances that are physically challenging for your voice. 

As your Better Voice develops, its brighter and more focused tone will carry your message more clearly, and you’ll have more volume to use safely when necessary. In the meantime here are some things worth bearing in mind when you have to speak in challenging environments: 

Look after yourself and your voice 

The only person who really cares about your voice is you. Don’t rely on anyone else reminding you not to use it unwisely: stay aware and be the one who decides. Ask yourself: Is what I’m doing worth the damage it might cause? 

Of course you have a duty to your school and your learners, but damaging your voice will have a negative impact on them that will last much longer than your heroic efforts over-enthusiastically encouraging the football team. 

In any challenging environment 

• If you need to gain the class’s initial attention, clap or use another sound such as a whistle rather than shouting. 

• Don’t start speaking until you’re sure you can be seen by everyone and that they’re ready. 

• Look at the spot you want to reach with your voice, and direct and project it there. 

• Make good eye contact with those you are speaking to, so as to keep their attention. 

• Use positive body language to act with authority. The more authoritative you appear the less you should need to raise your voice. 

• Consider using a megaphone or even a microphone to amplify your voice. (But see ‘Be wary of microphones’ in Section 4.5.) 

In large indoor spaces 

• The larger the space and the greater the echo, the more slowly you need to speak. 

• Articulate all consonants super-clearly. Being heard and understood the first time means you avoid having to repeat yourself. 

• In a swimming pool, not only is the noise fearsome but the chlorinated atmosphere is very drying to the voice. Accept that you can’t win, or you may well damage your voice trying. Speak only when those you are addressing are close to you. Use pre-arranged hand signals or whistles the rest of the time. 

When outside 

• Give as many instructions as you can while inside, in a helpful acoustic, before moving outside where there’s no acoustic to help you. 

• Whenever possible, move those to whom you are speaking into a small semi-circle around you. 

• If that’s not possible consider appointing specific members of the class to relay your instructions to others.  

• Speak slowly and with clear consonants, as you would in a large indoor space.  

• If there is background noise, such as traffic, position those you are addressing between yourself and the noise, with their ears facing towards you and the noise behind them.  

• Supplement vocal instructions with pre-arranged non-verbal ones (whistles, arm waving, etc.). 

• If giving instructions on the sports field while running, always speak on the out-breath. 

Q: What changes could you implement to help protect your voice in challenging environments?