- 50 topics for impromptu speeches
By:Susan Dugdale| Last modified: 10-23-2021
There are 50 impromptu public speaking topics here, covering 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.
Many of them 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 about a personal experience, share your personal bloopers, or talk about the meaning of life!
Any one of the 50 will make a good subject for an excellent impromptu speech.
These types of speeches, off the cuff and with little time to prepare, are a great way to polish communication skills. And, they're fun!
Are you in a hurry & needing impromptu speech topics ready for use now?
Solve your problem in 5 minutes. Get the list of 50 impromptu speech topics on this page plus 48 more in an instantly available print-and-go pdf.
If you're practicing by yourself:
- Choose a good topic from the list 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 fluency, structure and content. Each of those 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 make time to give and receive feedback. Along with practice it's a vital part of improving!
The goal
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 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.
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 anaverageperson?
- 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.
- Talkingtosomeone and talkingwithsomeone 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
Speech topics on the RUN
Get the 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!
Get your own topics
To generate more impromptu public speaking topics:
- Ask your friends/family/class to write down three per person.
- Listen to the radio or scan the newspapers for local/national/international issues.
Possibilities are everywhere once you consciously look.
MORE impromptu speech topics
10+ themed sets of funny 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 fun.
Impromptu Speech Topicsto get them laughing - the best way to learn
Another option are these 150 1 minute speech topics. plus 3 sample speech outlines and speeches. The topics are split into 3 groups of 50: those suitable for kids, 50 work/career themed suggestions and and 50 just for fun. You'll also find 3 sample speech outlines and example speeches: text and audio.
Fun games 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