英語演講技巧與實戰指南：「行萬里路，寫百篇文—荷蘭交換生的部落格之旅」

今（2025）年2月25日，我獲台大雙語教育中心邀請擔任「英語小聚」演講者，分享自己2023年在荷蘭交換的經驗如何塑造我持續記錄與寫作的習慣，讓我至今依然持續寫作，並於2024年底獲邀加入方格子主題專家。

以下內容包含演講的投影片以及演講稿，並將演講技巧等重點以粗體標示，最後更以這份演講稿為例，詳細製作了一份「英語演講學習指南」。這份指南包含演講主題相關詞彙、實用英語演講句型，以及語調語發音的練習，相信能給大家非常豐富的收穫！

（基於隱私考量，部分照片做了屏蔽處理。）

1. 演講逐字稿

演講主題：Travel the World, Write the Story: My Blog Journey from the Netherlands（行萬里路，寫百篇文：荷蘭交換生的部落格之旅）

Hello everyone! My name is Jill. It's my honor to be here and share my exchange experiences with you.

Before we get started, here's a little information about me. My name is (Chinese name) or you can also call me (English name). I'm from the Department of Foreign languages and literatures and I also double major in Psychology. This is my fifth year of college, and fortunately, I'm graduating this semester! Last year, I went on an exchange program at Leiden University in the Netherlands for one semester, which was a life-changing experience. Now, I'm also a blogger and a topic facilitator on a social media platform called Vocus, and later I will talk about how these two are related.

Here's today's agenda. First, I will talk about my exchange experience at Leiden University. Then, I'll share how I decided to keep writing and eventually became a topic facilitator on Vocus after I returned, concluding by encouraging you to find your own spark.

So, let our journey begin!

When many people heard that I'm going on an exchange, many people may wonder: with so many universities in Europe and around the world, why did I choose the Netherlands? Why Leiden?

For me, there were several reasons. First, Leiden University is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in Europe. It was founded in 1575 as a gift from the king to the people who defended Leiden City against the Spanish invasion. In fact, there's an interesting story behind this university. The king actually let the townspeople choose their reward: a large sum of money or a university. And guess what? They chose the university. Thanks to them, the world now has such a prestigious educational institution. This also shows how much the citizens of Leiden valued the power of knowledge, which really fascinated me when I first heard the story.

In practical terms, Leiden University also ranks high in the QS, and many renowned figures have been to or studied at this university. For example, it has close ties with the Dutch royal family. This is King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, and here he is graduating from the university in 1993. On the right, I don't know if you've watched the movie Oppenheimer, but scientists like Einstein and Oppenheimer both lectured at Leiden! When I saw that scene, I was totally thrilled.

Now, the third part was actually an unexpected outcome. The Netherlands is famous for its artists, including Van Gogh—yes, you have to pronounce it with that strong glottal sound—and Johannes Vermeer. This is one of his most famous paintings. Does anyone recognize it? Yes, it's Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer. So… why do I call this an unexpected outcome? The reason is that it was only after I went to the Netherlands that I truly began to appreciate and learn more about paintings. It opened a window for me to explore art—and even to understand humanity on a deeper level. Therefore, for those interested in either academics or the arts, I highly recommend going on an exchange to the Netherlands.

While I was packing up for my exchange, a simple thought came to me: I wanted to remember all of this, and I was worried that I might forget this journey some day when I'm old. That's why I created an Instagram account called Chilland. If you're wondering about the name, it's a combination of the first word of my Chinese name and the last syllable of "Holland." Well, technically, it should be "the Netherlands," but that would've been too long. Anyway, I've included the QR code here—feel free to follow, but no pressure! Just a recommendation. Also, if you have any question about exchanging, you are welcomed to contact me through this account :)

During my six months abroad, I visited 16 countries and 51 cities (not including places I visited more than once). I also took 4 night trains or night buses and went on 4 couch-surfings, which helped me stay within budget. I documented all of this on Instagram, and these experiences inspired me to write articles about budget travel in Europe as a campus ambassador for Willstudy. For those who want to earn money while on exchange, I highly recommend applying for this role. It's completely virtual, and if you enjoy writing and documenting your experiences, it's one of the best jobs out there. Every semester, they recruit campus ambassadors to share life abroad, which is not restricted to European countries. Therefore, if you're planning an exchange, this is a great opportunity.

This is one of my articles, which is about how to save money and find the most suitable supermarkets for groceries. As you may know, the living costs in Europe are quite high, and dining out is especially expensive. A single meal at a restaurant can cost as much as 4 to 5 days' worth of groceries if you cook for yourself! That's why supermarkets are so important. Many of my exchange friends went from never having cooked before to becoming decent cooks. But... I wouldn't say I became a great cook—I just learned how to turn raw materials into edible food!

Now, let me share some memories from my exchange. On the left, you can see a potluck party. A potluck is where everyone brings a dish and shares it with others. The more people there are, the more it feels like an all-you-can-eat buffet, with dishes from different parts of the world. For example, this friend is from Turkey, who brought authentic Turkish desserts, which were tasty but also really sweet! The girl in front of him is also a close friend of mine. I still remember how she generously let me store my luggage at her place when I had to move out of my dorm.

On the right side is a photo of my bike in the first snowfall on campus. Does anyone want to guess which one is mine? Yeah, the blue one, which happens to be my favorite color! In the background, you can see the library. Most of my classes were in the Lipsius building, which is just across the river from the library.

Here are some of the friends I made during my exchange. This is me with a German and a Japanese friend, and that day, we visited Delft together. Delft is a small town known for its porcelain (瓷器) and a technology university. That day, we walked and talked for hours—in fact, we walked about four kilometers! It remains one of my most cherished memories, because I had never imagined I would have such deep conversations with international friends. Since then, we've called ourselves "The Walking Girls" —inspired by the seriesThe Walking Dead!

On the right, you see two friends I met in Europe—both are Taiwanese, but we didn't know each other before. I guess you could call it serendipity. I met them through a Facebook group called "Taiwanese Exchange Students in Europe," which I highly recommend if you're going on an exchange because you can find almost every Taiwanese student studying in Europe. Whether you’re looking for travel partners or trying to save money through couch surfing, this group is super helpful.

Speaking of couch surfing, it's a way to save money when traveling by staying at another person's place instead of paying for a hotel or hostel. Exchange students or some local Taiwanese may offer their dorms or places to fellow students. Sometimes they may charge a small fee, but many do not. It’s also a great way to make friends. In my case, the guy in the middle was an exchange student in Croatia—the only one from Taiwan! He was also an NTU student, but we had never met before. That day, he cooked a whole pot of beef noodle soup for us—the best Taiwanese food I had during my exchange! The next morning, he even made us egg rolls for our breakfast. You know, Taiwanese hospitality is truly the best.

The girl on the left was also incredibly kind, and we looked after each other during our three-day trip in Croatia. After her exchange in Austria, she stayed in the Netherlands for an internship. Just as I was busy preparing for my master's applications, I received a postcard from her, which was a much-needed comfort during those stressful days.

All stories eventually come to an end, and my exchange is no exception. But after I returned to Taiwan, I realized that writing had become a habit—so why don't I continue? Therefore, I decided to keep writing traveling experiences and guides. After considering several platforms, I chose Vocus because it fosters more interaction and has a larger Taiwanese audience. Soon, I started gaining recognition. I wrote an article about traveling in Budapest, which won a small prize with a little cash as part of the award. This indeed motivated me to keep writing. But I didn't want to be someone who only wrote travel guides—I wanted to explore deeper themes.

That was when I looked back on my daily writing and gradually realized that there is always something to learn and appreciate in our daily lives, even the ordinary or familiar ones. For example, I have been to Amsterdam four times, and each time was either with different people or by myself. Even though it was the same city, I always gained new insights and discovered more hidden beauty each time. That's how I realized that we should learn to embrace our lives and every moment is worth appreciating and writing about.

I also realized that this kind of journey is just like learning, but not the traditional way of learning from textbooks or well-written teaching plans. Instead, it is learning by doing. We may make mistakes or encounter obstacles, but eventually, we overcome them—and that is exactly how we grow. Everything happens for a reason; sometimes, it is for a lesson we haven't learned yet.

That realization led me to write an article about how life is like a journey and how we learn through experiences rather than solely from teachers in a classroom. I really enjoyed writing this article, and the response was amazing. From that moment on, I knew I had found my voice.

Since then, I started writing not only travel guides but also reflections on life. Here are some of the categories I have written about—just for your reference. The key takeaway from my exchange is this: life, like traveling, is an invaluable journey of discovery. Every moment, no matter how ordinary, holds immense value and meaning.

Over time, this became my guiding principle for writing, and I kept writing and writing. Then, unexpectedly, I was invited to be a topic facilitator on this platform, where I now lead weekly discussions on self-growth and travel, which is what I mainly write about. This happened around December last year, and soon later, it was Chinese New Year. And there is one thing Taiwanese people really like to do during Chinese New Year—anyone want to guess?

Yes, it's buying lotteries! So, one day, when I was watching the news with my family, we saw a news about how people were trying to use AI to analyze past lottery numbers to predict future winning numbers. My parents were interested, but when I heard this— if any one of you had studied statistics before, you may think the same as I did— "This doesn't sound impossible. Each draw should be an independent event, which means that the previous numbers won't influence the next ones." That was how I started to write an article and tried to use statistics and psychology to explain this phenomenon. I enjoyed how I could apply what I learned to reality, and I also found that writing helped me think clearly. And what surprised most is that my article was cited by The News Lens and received a lot of attention and feedback.

That was when I truly realized how writing helps me express myself and organize my thoughts. As Paul Graham once said, "To write well, you have to think clearly, and thinking clearly is hard." Through writing, I discovered that I could structure my thoughts more effectively. So, in addition to my first two writing principles, I developed a third: thinking by writing.

What I want to say here is that my exchange was just the beginning—it inspired me to write regularly to document and reflect on my journey. But here, "journey" doesn't have to mean an expensive trip abroad. I don't want to push the idea that going abroad is the only path to growth. While it indeed is one of my best decisions, that may not hold true for you, and everyone may have different preferences and priorities. And that’s totally fine, because life itself is a journey, and everything—no matter how small—is worth learning, appreciating, and thinking about.

The photo here is of a sign I spotted in a café in Leiden, where I went with my brother on my birthday. It said: "If you were waiting for a sign, this is it." I want to use this to encourage you to find your spark—because no experience is ordinary.

Let me conclude with one of my favorite literary quotes from The Odyssey: "A man who has been through bitter experiences and traveled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time." Even though you may be struggling with something right now, all these experiences will become a treasure. One day, when you look back, we will find that even our hardest struggles have become the greatest part of our journey. Thank you very much for your attention. I wish you all the best on your own journeys. Please kindly scan the QR code here and leave your feedback. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you very much.

2. 實用英語演講句型指南

演講開場

• "It's my honor to be here and share my [topic] with you." - 正式開場
• "Before we get started, here's a little information about me." - 過渡到自我介紹
• "Here's today's agenda." - 說明今日演講要點

轉場與連接

• "So, let our journey begin!" - 以有活力、呼應主題的方式，開啟正文
• "Now, let me share..." - 過渡到經驗分享
• "Speaking of..." - 深入某話題
• "That was when..." - 強調轉折或頓悟的時刻

互動與提問

• "Does anyone want to guess...?" - 邀請聽眾參與
• "As you may know..." - 「如你們所知」，是一種比較間接的與觀眾互動的方式
• "I don't know if you've watched..." - 透過共通話題引起興趣，同樣是在時間有限的情況下與觀眾互動的一種方式

反思與總結

• "What I want to say here is..." - 強調核心重點
• "The key takeaway from [my exchange] is this..." - 總結演講的主題
• "Let's conclude with..." - 暗示演講進入尾聲

3. 演講語調與發音技巧

• 強調句："This was a life-changing experience."（was的s發音為/z/，且和a連音；life-changing 兩個字都有重音，要慢慢念、清楚念）
• 對比句："Even though it was the same city, I always gained new insights."（same和new帶重音）
• 結論句："Every moment, no matter how ordinary, holds immense value." （Every和immense帶重音；value語調下降表示句子結束）

Alexandre Pellaes on Unsplash

4. 英文單字大補帖

學術與教育

• exchange program (n.) 交換（計劃）
• double major (v.) 雙主修
• prestigious (a.) 聲譽卓著的
• educational institution (n.) 教育機構
• campus ambassador (n.) 校園大使

旅行與文化體驗

• couch-surfing (n.) 當沙發客
• potluck (n.) 聚餐、百樂餐（每個人帶一道菜，彼此分享）
• serendipity  (n.) 偶然且珍貴的機緣、巧合
• embrace (n.) (v.) 擁抱；欣然接受

個人成長與反思

• life-changing experience (n.) 改變人生的經歷
• invaluable journey (n.) 無價的旅程
• guiding principle (n.) 指導原則
• bitter experience(s) (n.) 艱苦的經歷

5. 難發音詞彙整理

• the Netherlands /ðə ˈneðərləndz/ （兩個interdental sound /ð/不容易發，需多練習讓自己更熟悉）
• Van Gogh /væn ˈɡoʊ/ 或荷蘭發音 /væn ˈxɔx/（強烈喉音）
• serendipity /ˌserənˈdɪpɪti/（重音在第三個音節）
• facilitator /fəˈsɪlɪteɪtər/（重音在第二個音節；此外兩個t需要發清楚）

6. 總結

這次的演講不只讓我回顧這一年來的成長，更反思歷來在台大外文系課內與課外的各種學習、教學經歷，最後經過回饋與檢討之後，彙整出這次的演講精華與實用的用字遣詞，希望能對大家的英語學習有所幫助。