話の内容もさることながら、表現力と言うか、講演の仕方がとても上手な方々がいる。聞く人を惹きつけるテクニック。ある意味では演技者と言えるのかもしれない。しかしそれが演技かどうかは、講演が進むうちに段々と分かってくることが多いように思う。ただの上手なお芝居を見ているのか、それとも本物が命がけで語っているのかは、聞く側が自然と違いを感じていくものだろう。

 　思い出したくもないような苦い経験やそこから得た学びを語る時、本物は輝く。眩いほどに神々しい。そんな時、講演者には恐らく神さまが乗り移っているのだろう。それは上手いとか下手とかというレベルを超越している。たとえ語り口がたどたどしかったとしても、伝えようとする熱意が伝わり、聞く人の心を打つのであれば、その人は本物であろう。社会的な地位や出自も関係がない。その人だけの経験がその人の言葉で語られるとき、私は感動する。

　感動は年齢さえも超越して伝わるもののようだ。私たち大人は若者たちのスピーチからも学ぶチャンスが大いにある。彼らは我々よりも遥かに感受性が鋭い。若いからという理由だけで見下しているようでは己の成長はない。スマホを覗き込んでゲームばかりしているバカ者が異常に多いが、その中にもその年齢なりの本物はいることだろう。
　若者を未熟であると判断して、切り捨てることは簡単だ。真剣に「どう生きるべきか」を常に求めているような本物に出会えることは難しい。しかしその難しさ、面倒臭さの先に新しい出会い・学びがあるのであって、若者の成長を「待つ」ことを諦めてはいけない。実際、大人が捉えている以上に、しっかりしている高校生などは多いと感じる。
　それぞれの経験を言葉にできるようになるまで見守る責任は、大人にはあるのかもしれない。それに若い人たちを育てる一翼を担う覚悟が私たち一人一人に芽生えたとしたら、何と素晴らしい事だろう。いずれにしても若者たちのスピーチには、私たちが忘れている純粋な要素がたくさん含まれていて、感動できる場合がある。謙虚に彼らの言葉に耳を傾けられたのなら、演技の講演を聞くよりも遥かに貴重な、強く生きるヒントをもらえると思う。

　さて、私が話をしなければならない場合を想定してみる。人前で酷く緊張を覚える私には、少々重荷だ。聞く人の人数が多い程、緊張が増すだろう。そんな精神状況で他者の心に訴えられるような内容を語るのは、改めてとても難しい作業だと思う。声が上ずってしまうかもしれない。緊張で汗や咳が止まらなくなってしまうかも。しかしたとえそういう見苦しい状況に陥ってしまったとしても、そういう自分を晒せば良いのだと思う。自分の経験を心を込めてゆっくり話せば良い。感動させようなんて思う必要はない。自分の言葉で誠実に。それで充分だと思う。
　話を聞くことは、私は非常に大切なことだと思う。聞いて、想像し、自分の経験に落とし込んでゆく。そうすることで、あくまでも仮想ではあるが、話し手の経験を追体験できる。自分の人生を豊かにする学びは、ずっと続くのだと思う。

　演技講演は、要らないな

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Speech

　There are people who are very good not only at what they talk about, but also at how they express themselves, or rather, how they deliver their lectures. Techniques that attract listeners. In a sense, they could be called performers. However, whether or not it is an act or not, I think that one often gradually comes to understand as the lecture progresses. The listeners will naturally sense the difference between whether they are watching just a good play or a real person speaking for his/her life.

　The real thing shines when he talks about bitter experiences that he does not want to recall and the lessons he has learned from them. They are dazzlingly divine. At such times, the speaker is probably possessed by God. This transcends the level of good or bad. Even if the speaker’s speech is slurred, if the enthusiasm with which he or she tries to convey the message is conveyed and strikes a chord with the listeners, he or she is the real thing. Social status and origin have nothing to do with it. I am moved when a person shares his or her unique experience in his or her own words.

　It seems that emotion transcends even age. We adults have a great opportunity to learn from the speeches of young people. They are far more sensitive than we are. If we look down on them only because they are young, we will never grow. There are an unusually large number of idiots who look into their cell phones and play games all the time, but I am sure that there are real people of their age among them.
　It is easy to judge and dismiss young people as immature. It is difficult to meet a genuine person who is always earnestly seeking “how to live. But beyond that difficulty and tediousness lies new encounters and learning, and we should not give up “waiting” for young people to grow. In fact, I feel that there are many high school students and others who are more solid than adults perceive them to be.
　Perhaps adults have a responsibility to watch over them until they are able to put their respective experiences into words. And what a wonderful thing it would be if each of us were prepared to play a part in nurturing young people. In any case, the speeches of young people can be inspiring because they contain many pure elements that we have forgotten. If we could listen to their words with humility, I believe we would receive hints for living strong, far more valuable than listening to a lecture on acting.

　Now, let’s assume that I have to give a talk. I get terribly nervous in public, and it is a bit of a burden for me. The more people who listen to me, the more nervous I will be. I think it is once again a very difficult task to speak about something that appeals to the hearts of others in such a mental situation. My voice may become hoarse. You may sweat or cough from the strain. But even if you find yourself in such an unsightly situation, I think it’s okay to expose yourself like that. Speak slowly and wholeheartedly about your experiences. There is no need to try to impress people. Speak sincerely in your own words. I think that is enough.
　I think it is very important to listen. Listen, imagine, and incorporate into your own experience. By doing so, we can relive the speaker’s experience, albeit only virtually. I believe that the learning that enriches one’s life will continue for a long time.

　I don’t need a lecture where the speaker is acting.