英語即興演講

時間：2023-06-18 17:04:32 演講我要投稿

英語即興演講(通用15篇)

英語即興演講1

親愛的朋友們：

英語即興演講(通用15篇)

　　今天，我想談?wù)剷r間。我演講的題目是時間是我們的生命。每個人都知道時間每時每刻都在流逝。它沒有。不要等你。如何利用時間是我們生活中的一個問題。在這里，我想告訴你一句話：不要浪費時間。

　　人們常說：時間就是金錢。對我來說，時間就是知識。時間對每個人都是公平的。如果我能適當利用時間，我會是一個好的學習者。作為一個好的學習者，我會獲得更多的知識。有了更多的知識，我將有一個更光明的未來。那我就有理想的生活了。

　　經(jīng)常聽到有人說：時間過得真快。也許吧。但是朋友們，如果你有時間抱怨時間過得太快，為什么不呢？你沒有利用這段時間做一些有用的事情嗎？我讀過一本書。那本書的作者說：老了不要后悔。所以我們必須做我們想做的事情，這樣當我們老了的時候，我們就贏了。感覺不到

　　親愛的朋友們，我們必須明智地利用時間，我們才能有一個更光明的未來，我們的國家才能更加強大和美麗。

　　那是。僅此而已。謝謝大家的傾聽。

　　小學生英語即興演講：短文3眾所周知，英語在今天非常重要。世界各地都在使用它。它已經(jīng)成為互聯(lián)網(wǎng)和國際貿(mào)易中最常用的語言。如果我們能說好英語，我們將有更多的機會成功。因為越來越多的人注意到了這一點，所以去學英語的`人數(shù)以高速增長。

　　但是對我自己來說，我學習英語不僅僅是因為它的重要性和實用性，還因為我對它的熱愛。當我學習英語時，我能感受到一種不同的思維方式，這給了我更多接觸世界的空間。當我讀英語小說時，我可以從書中感受到不同于閱讀翻譯的樂趣。當我說英語時，我可以從我的話語中感受到自信。當我寫英語時，我能看到和我們中國人不一樣的美......

　　我喜歡英語，它給了我一個多彩的夢。我希望有一天我能環(huán)游世界。憑借我良好的英語，我可以和許多來自不同國家的人交朋友。我可以看到許多名勝古跡。我夢想我能去倫敦，因為它是英語的發(fā)源地。

　　我也想用我良好的英語向說英語的人介紹我們偉大的地方，我希望他們能像我們一樣熱愛我們的國家。

　　我知道，羅馬不是一天建成的。我相信經(jīng)過不斷的努力學習，總有一天我會把英語說得很好。

　　想要被愛，就要學會去愛，去討喜。所以我相信當我每天熱愛英語時，它也會愛我。

　　我相信有一天我會實現(xiàn)我的夢想！

英語即興演講2

　　The vast historical tide, some successful, some failure; Some a fair death honors the whole life, some thing never dies. Ebb and flow, raise a number of "Confucius", which is mixed with many "qin GUI", carried away, that he wants to succeed by hook or by crook to get success, desire to have at the end of the day is celebrated, and find the right choice, but achievements generation of celebrities. Success, there are many paths, seeking a shortcut, tend to be at the end of the day to understand gave up a optimal choice and effort was not to make choices as it landed at all costs.

　　Reese, a desire for success, but "achievement" his "disease xian can envy", he should have been a generation of names, for the emperor should share, from a desire for success, by hook or by crook, he hit the han fei, creates the tragedy of burying Confucian. History is suppressed, the trend of the development of culture is suppressed, qin, Reese also destroyed, people took down the emperor, also remember the lis.

　　And qu yuan, created a new genre of Chinese literature, in a new way to the right interpretation of Chinese culture. Mr Yu optimal such a sentence: "the era of cultural celebrities, the more often not compatible with his age." Qu yuan is no exception, he king, dragon's loyal due diligence, was shangguan doctor again and again of slander, and king huai, in the adulation of again and again to please blinds, unexpectedly also close, far from xian. Qu yuan to get the release time of exile, destroyed, chu qu yuan died also. Can he live in people's hearts, the spirit of eternal. "World-wide all muddy I alone, public all drunk I wake up alone, 500 - word article 15 and successful composition

英語即興演講3

　　honorable judges, fellow students: good afternoon!

　　recently, ther is a heated debate in our society. the college students are the beneficiaries of a rare privilege, who receive exceptional education at extraordinary places. but will we be able to face the challenge and support ourselves against all odds? will we be able to better the lives of others? will we be able to accept the responsibility of building the future of our country?

　　the cynics say the college students are the pampered lost generation, which would cringe at the slightest discomfort. but the cynics are wrong. the college students i see are eagerly learning about how to live independently. we help each other clean the dormitory, go shopping and bargain together, and take part time jobs to supplement our pocket money.

　　the cynics say we care for nothing other than grades; and we neglect the need for character cultivation. but again, the cynics are wrong. we care deeply for each other, we cherish freedom, we treasure justice, and we seek truth. last week, thousands of my fellow students had their blood type tested in order to make a contribution for the children who suffer from blood cancer.

　　as college students, we are adolescents at the critical turning point in our lives. we all face a fundamental choice: cynicism or faith, each will profoundly impact our future, or even the future of our country. i believe in all my fellow classmates. though we are still inexperienced and even a little bit childish. i believe that we have the courage and faith to meet any challenge and take on our responsibilities. we are preparing to assume new responsibilities and tasks, and to use the education we have received to make our world a better place. i believein our future.

英語即興演講4

　　Only the ideal but no effort is useless. If you want to be a teacher, you should to study hard. If you want to be a player, you should do more exercises. If you want to become a businessman, he should learn to get along with people. For example, my wish is to be a famous writer grew up, because I really love writing, so from now on, I should read more, more accumulate knowledge, and strive to improve writing level. No pains, no gains, because my efforts, so my article was punished in many newspapers , and in many composition contest, I see the success I'm happy, so, struggle is the bridge to the ideal.

　　Yes, my dream. to give my famliy a warm, give my friend happy. Yes, my dream. The podium from the first station began his love this place, started from the first published an article looking forward to the world of words, decided to stay here from the beginning, stick to bottom of my heart desire.

　　Years in our faces no matter how many additional traces, no matter how much things to us across the chest wounds, as long as we have the right to breathe, to have a passion for remodeling dreams! Oxygen to survive as long as we have to have the courage to create a passion!

　　Choose to continue, select the value, select the achievements of the passion of life, the brave hearts of the initial dream of success!

英語即興演講5

　　There is a wisdom called to let go, there is a kind of learning is called choice, there is a kind of victory is called a successful selection and composition of 500 15 choice and successful composition 500 words article 15. Some give up, choose more suitable for their goals, may success closer.

　　Materials thinkers in stork say; "The ability of survival needs more than one! Rabbit cannot learn swimming in school make hole, squirrel learn swimming in school to climb trees!" I think this is right. The swimming may really not suitable for a rabbit if give up swimming, choose to make hole maybe it could be a hole experts; Pine swim, climb a tree, I believe it will do very well.

　　Ancient find today, up and down five thousand years, nine miles, how many great experience of success is not to give up, to choose process. Tao yuanming abandoned him, not for the bureau count, chose seclusion, will become the place in landscape pastoral poet; Lin xiangru's abandoned their own self-interest, chose the interests of the country, and become a much-told tale; Su Wu give up splendor, chose to remain national moral integrity, so he never go down in history; Romantic poet li bai gave up at the king's officer, chose the grizzled troubadour, then write a lot of historic tion, became the "god".

英語即興演講6

尊敬的評委，同學們:

　　下午好！

　　最近，在我們的社會中有一場激烈的辯論。大學生是一種罕見特權(quán)的受益者，他們在特殊的地方接受特殊的教育。但是，我們能夠面對挑戰(zhàn)，戰(zhàn)勝一切困難嗎？我們能夠改善他人的生活嗎？我們能接受建設(shè)國家未來的責任嗎？

　　憤世嫉俗者說，大學生是嬌生慣養(yǎng)的失落的.一代，他們會對最輕微的不適感到畏縮。但是憤世嫉俗者錯了。我看到的大學生都在急切地學習如何獨立生活。我們互相幫忙打掃宿舍，一起逛街砍價，兼職補充零花錢。

　　憤世嫉俗者說我們只關(guān)心成績；我們忽視了性格培養(yǎng)的需要。但憤世嫉俗者又錯了。我們彼此深切關(guān)懷，我們珍惜自由，我們珍惜正義，我們追求真理。上周，我的數(shù)千名同學進行了血型測試，以便為患有血癌的兒童做出貢獻。

　　作為大學生，我們是處在人生關(guān)鍵轉(zhuǎn)折點的青少年。我們都面臨著一個根本性的選擇:犬儒主義還是信仰，每一個都將深刻地影響我們的未來，甚至我們國家的未來。我相信我所有的同學。雖然我們?nèi)匀粵]有經(jīng)驗，甚至有點幼稚。我相信我們有勇氣和信念去迎接任何挑戰(zhàn)，承擔我們的責任。我們正準備承擔新的責任和任務(wù)，并利用我們接受的教育使我們的世界變得更美好。我相信我們的未來。

英語即興演講7

　　people’ hopes and ideals.

　　different people have different ideas about success; cause people’s hopes and ideas vary from one another. but i am sure every success is dear to everybody, cause it is not easy to come by, cause in the process of our striving for success, we got both our body and soul tempted, meanwhile we are enlightened by the most valuable qualities of human beings: love, patient, courage and sense of responsibility. these are the best treasures. so now i am very proud that i have this opportunity to stand here speaking to all of you. it is my success, cause i raise up to challenge my hope.

　　what is success? everyone has his own interpretation as i do. but i am sure

　　every success leads to an ever-brighter future. so ladies and gentlemen, believe in our hopes, believe in ourselves, we, every one of us, can make a

　　successful life! wish you all good success!

英語即興演講8

　　英語即興演講是一種快速思考的過程，其中即興和英語演講是根據(jù)周圍環(huán)境進行的，沒有任何準備。以下是3分鐘大學生英語即興演講三篇匯編，希望對你有所幫助。

　　大學生英語即興演講3分鐘1中日問題一直是一個敏感話題，一個導火索，可以引發(fā)一系列爆炸。一些所謂的愛國者認為購買國內(nèi)產(chǎn)品是愛國主義，并宣稱特別是所有中國人都應該拒絕標有“日本制造。

　　比較偏激的可能會砸或者搶一家賣日本產(chǎn)品的店，或者在大街上燒任何一輛日本車，不管是誰的。

　　那么，發(fā)動一場對日戰(zhàn)爭，這樣我們就可以消滅那個侵略我們祖國的惡毒的令人作嘔的民族，然后肆無忌憚地否認白紙黑字寫下的歷史，怎么樣？

　　如果一個人，一方面是徹頭徹尾的愛國者，如果日本敢對中國發(fā)動戰(zhàn)爭(如果可能的話)，愿意為國犧牲生命，而另一方面又是日本文化禿鷹呢？

　　暴民砸的店是一個勤勞的中國商人開的怎么辦？他們犯了罪嗎？群眾只是在發(fā)泄因現(xiàn)實中駭人聽聞的不公平而日益積累的不滿嗎？

　　是不是我們只是把日本或者國際貿(mào)易作為一個出口？

　　愛國不是民族主義熱，不是激烈的民族情緒。我們需要冷靜下來，區(qū)分民族狂熱和適度清醒的愛國主義。

　　此外，忽視真正的問題總是有危險的，如政治腐敗、學術(shù)剽竊、教育不公平和社會階層分化，這些問題迫切需要我們的關(guān)注，應該是我們的優(yōu)先事項。

　　用最響亮的聲音呼喚的，通常是最缺乏的。電影中的漫談怒吼“第一滴血”-我為我的國家做了一切，我的國家為我做了什么？！如今，我們迫切需要一個肯尼迪的重寫版本。中國有句名言“不僅要問你能為你的國家做些什么，還要問你的國家能為你做些什么。”

　　大學生即興英語演講3分鐘2我們與生活節(jié)奏的合拍程度如何？在我們忙碌的日常生活中，我們不。不要經(jīng)常停下來問自己這個問題。至少我沒有。但事實并非如此。直到我參加了一項競技體育賽事，我才學到了最重要的一課& ndash為了成功，我們必須讓我們的思想與事物的自然規(guī)律相協(xié)調(diào)。

　　讓我告訴你發(fā)生了什么。去年我決定在我的家鄉(xiāng)參加一場國際馬拉松賽。作為一個雄心勃勃的人，我希望在和我一起訓練過的朋友的陪同下，在5小時內(nèi)完成它。大日子終于到了�！皉eady …set …bang ”我們離開了。

　　起初，我們保持著快速的步伐，不停地奔跑。以這樣的速度，我們在兩小時內(nèi)跑完了前20公里，我認為跑馬拉松是小菜一碟。然后我的競選伙伴開始放慢速度。我敦促他繼續(xù)以同樣的速度跑步，但他說不，他想保存體力。我覺得我和一個錯誤的人搭檔了，因此，我向前沖刺，把他拋在了后面。

　　幾公里后，我開始理解他的策略，因為我的速度慢下來，先是慢跑，然后是散步。從那以后，我再也走不動了。隨著越來越多的人從我身邊跑過，我感到很丟臉。我不止一次想過“也許我應該退出�！蔽议_始懷疑自己完成這場比賽的能力。

　　這時，我的競選伙伴追上了我，在我背上拍了一下。“跟我來。他喊道。他已經(jīng)平衡了馬拉松的配速，并鼓勵我也這樣做。在接下來的激烈比賽中，我們步行、慢跑、跑了幾英里，然后又走了一遍。慢慢地，痛苦地，但希望這一次，我們在我們身體能力的自然流動中建立了最合適的速度。

　　最終，我們在4個半小時內(nèi)完成了第一次42公里的馬拉松。我問自己，這場馬拉松對我來說意味著什么？我的馬拉松經(jīng)歷成了我生活中一個有影響力的隱喻，關(guān)于我們必須學會如何在每件事情上調(diào)整自己的節(jié)奏，通過與生活的節(jié)奏保持一致。

　　就像潮起潮落一樣，我們必須聽取建議，但要做出自己的決定。就像黎明和黃昏的表演一樣，我們必須學會平衡驕傲和謙虛。從風既能呼喊又能低語的方式中，我們必須學會何時變得強大，何時變得溫柔，因為萬物都有自己的節(jié)奏和陰陽元素。正是這些互補的極端的相互作用產(chǎn)生了和諧，正如老子所說，極端相遇。自從馬拉松比賽以來，這種兩種對立力量協(xié)同工作的想法可以說是我的跑步伙伴。陰陽無處不在，不斷地相互作用，永遠不會以絕對的狀態(tài)存在。

　　女士們，先生們，生活就像跑馬拉松，讓我們發(fā)現(xiàn)、定義和發(fā)展一種自然的生活節(jié)奏，以實現(xiàn)和諧與成功。

　　謝謝大家的傾聽。

　　大學生即興英語演講3分鐘3大家早上好，請注意。我很高興能夠在這個教室里講課。這一次，我想談?wù)動⒄Z。我的.談話主題是我愛英語。

　　眾所周知，今天英語非常重要。世界各地都在使用它。它已經(jīng)成為互聯(lián)網(wǎng)和國際貿(mào)易中最常用的語言。如果我們能說英語，我們將有更多的機會成功。因為越來越多的人注意到了這一點，所以去學英語的人數(shù)以高速增長。

　　但是對我自己來說，我學習英語不僅僅是因為它的重要性和實用性，還因為我對它的熱愛。當我學習英語時，我能感受到一種不同的思維方式，這給了我更多接觸世界的空間。當我讀英語小說時，我可以從書中感受到不同于閱讀翻譯的樂趣。當我說英語時，我可以從我的話語中感受到自信。當我寫英語時，我可以看到與我們中國不同的美。

　　我也想用我良好的英語向說英語的人介紹我們偉大的地方，我希望他們能像我們一樣熱愛我們的國家。

　　我知道，羅馬不是一天建成的。我相信經(jīng)過不斷的努力學習，總有一天我會把英語說得很好。

　　想要被愛，就要學會去愛，去討喜。所以我相信當我每天熱愛英語時，它也會愛我。

　　我相信有一天我會實現(xiàn)我的夢想！

　　謝謝！

英語即興演講9

　　英語輸出能力是英語教育工作者和英語學習者共同關(guān)注的一個問題。然而輸出能力的培養(yǎng)并不容易，尤其是有些地方的英語基礎(chǔ)教育還是以啞巴英語為主，這極大地阻礙了輸出能力的培養(yǎng)。對于進入英語專業(yè)的學生來說，提高他們的英語輸出能力迫在眉睫。英語即興演講因其快速分析、反應和表述能力等諸方面的要求，使其成為提高輸出能力的一個有力武器。

　　一、英語即興演講

　　即興演講，是在事先并沒有做任何準備的情況下，自發(fā)或被要求立即進行的當眾演講，是一種不憑借文稿來表情達意的口語交際活動。英語即興演講的成功與否主要取決于以下幾個方面：

　　1、演講者知識儲備及心理素質(zhì)

　　演講者平時要注意廣泛閱讀，擴大知識面，同時，加強心理素質(zhì)的準備，加強思想道德、情感信心等各方面的修養(yǎng)。英語即興演講對英語能力的要求是比較高的，要求具備較大的詞匯量、較強的英語語音和口語能力。

　　2、快速思維技巧

　　即興演講者必須具有較強的快速思維能力，這實際上就是一個快速創(chuàng)作、打腹稿的過程，具體說來，要經(jīng)過觀察、抓話題、確定觀點、通篇構(gòu)思（形成框架）、確定關(guān)鍵詞、組織語言、表達等一系列的思維過程。

　　即興演講的框架可以按照如下模式來展開：時間模式（以歷史—現(xiàn)實—未來為線索展開）；以小見大模式（從具體事件入手，最后得出結(jié)論）；以大見小模式（從事件的大背景和大道理入手，揭露事物的實質(zhì)）；比較模式（對兩事物進行對比論述）；總分模式（將事物分成不同方面加以論述）。

　　3、英語語言方面的要求

　　在英語的運用方面，要求用詞準確、語法正確、語言組織有序、語音語調(diào)正確合理、節(jié)奏與停頓到位、語言流暢、交際能力強。交際能力強是指在遇到不會的生詞時，可以繞過它用不同的方式表達出來。

　　二、英語即興演講訓練對英語輸出能力的作用

　　krashen（1981）指出，可理解輸入是語言習得的關(guān)鍵，它強調(diào)語言輸入（i）的意義必須為習得者所理解，同時輸入的語言形式或功能應超出現(xiàn)有水平（i+1）。swain（1985）在輸入假設(shè)的基礎(chǔ)上提出了“輸出假設(shè)”，該假設(shè)認為，除了必要的可理解輸入外，學習者必須有機會使用所學的語言，這樣才有可能達到流利、類似母語者的水平。此外，教師的推動（push）可以促使學生進一步分析目的語的語法、結(jié)構(gòu)以及用法，因而能產(chǎn)生超越目前語言能力（i）的效果，即“i+1”的輸出，也就是可理解輸出。英語即興演講訓練就是一個說寫結(jié)合的可理解輸出過程。

　　英語即興演講訓練是在老師的組織引導下進行的。筆者將這個訓練放在英語專業(yè)精讀課的前5分鐘。首先由老師給出即興演講的題目，然后給學生2-3分鐘的準備時間，這期間要求學生仔細審題、確定觀點，之后進行框架構(gòu)思，可以用關(guān)鍵詞記錄整個演講的提綱，但不可以用完整的句子。時間一到馬上停止，老師隨機點名上臺演講。

　　英語即興演講訓練實質(zhì)上是兩種輸出能力，即說和寫的結(jié)合。我們直接看到的是學生的口語表達，但在口語表達的背后，隱匿著作文構(gòu)思的全過程。學生在兩三分鐘的時間里進行了快速構(gòu)思訓練，這是一個思維非常高效的運轉(zhuǎn)過程，課后學生要馬上把提綱擴充成一篇作文，進行筆頭輸出訓練。畢竟即興演講的`限時性決定了說出來的內(nèi)容還不那么精細，結(jié)構(gòu)也不太嚴密，語言也不可能十分準確，所以在經(jīng)過書面作文之后，學生把要說的話變成文稿，對腹稿進行加工潤色，寫出來的演講稿會比之前的腹稿提升很多。這種先說后寫的即興演講訓練方式鍛煉了學生的快速構(gòu)思能力、快速語言組織能力，英語交際能力。同時，這種即興演講的超短時準備和訓練為學生提供了一個英語強化輸出的環(huán)境和場所，同學們還可以從別人那里學到自己所欠缺的思想、語言、自信等等；另外，每個人演講過后，老師都會對該生的各方面表現(xiàn)進行評價，對語言輸出中的問題會著重點評，對寫出來的演講稿老師也會精心批改點評。老師的有力推動更加促進了學生i+1的語言輸出能力。

　　三、結(jié)語

　　英語即興演講訓練作為一種口筆頭并重的語言輸出方式，為學生提供了很好的輸出平臺，在老師的推動下更加促進了學生的語言輸出質(zhì)量。

英語即興演講10

　　So many people underestimate the power and importance of a smile, that simple little facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth.

　　A smile has many meanings: pleasure, friendliness, welcome, amusement, and many more; and it is part of a universal body language that doesn’t need any extra interpretation.

　　Plus a smile, with all its simplcity and beauty, can be a very important factor in many aspects of our lives:

　　You fall in love with a new country you visit because its people greet you with a welcoming smile everywhere you go; other countries you just don’t like even though they might have more history, nature, entertainment and whatnot because their people don’t seem so friendly or accepting.

　　You feel like buying from a certain store when the vendor welcomes you in with a smile, sometimes even if you wouldn’t intially have bought anything; and in other stores, even though they have exactly what you need or better, you decide to walk away because the vendor doesn’t look welcoming at all.

　　You want to give a waiter a good tip when he serves you with a smile, even if the food turns out not that good; on the other hand, sometimes you’ll have some of the best food ever, but you won’t feel like giving the waiter a tip, even if you do, because he was grumpy.

　　More and more examples from our everyday life show how much a simple smile can change everything.

　　Forever engraved in my mind will be the smiling faces of the people of Thailand, the friendly pizza delivery boy, the welcoming supermarket vendor, the nice cashier at the bank, …etc.

　　It is these smiles that keep me wanting to go back, and that keep us all wanting to go back; looking at it from another view, if we break it down using business sense, a smile is one of the most effective means to generate sales and develop customer loyalty.

　　On top of all that, a smile is a very simple and easy thing to do, so it amazes why no one bothers to do it, it not only makes the person in front of you better, but it also makes you feel better as well, and I’m not making this up, it has been psychologically proven.

　　Personally, I’d like to see more smiling faces in this world; in the airports when I enter a new country, in companies, government agencies, restaurants, hotels, banks, everywhere; and I think it is up to governments to campaign about this, and even make it obligatory in certain important places like airports, hospitals, hotels…etc.

　　Let’s all simply smile.

英語即興演講11

　　who are regarded as the successful. and the most obvious characteristics of hem are money, high position and luxurious life. so most people believe that s success and all that they do is for this purpose. but the problem is wether it is real success. we all know there are always more money, higher position and better condition in front of us. if we keep chasing them, where is the end? what will satisfy us at last? therefore, we can see, to get the real success we must need something inside, which is the realization of

　　people’ hopes and ideals.

　　what is success? everyone has his own interpretation as i do. but i am sure

　　every success leads to an ever-brighter future. so ladies and gentlemen, believe in our hopes, believe in ourselves, we, every one of us, can make a

　　successful life! wish you all good success!

英語即興演講12

　　Hello, everyone, I’m Liu Dongdong. I’m a student. There are three people in my family—my father, mother and I.

　　My father is 40 years old. He is a worker. I think he is a good worker. Because he works very hard. He gets up very early every day and he works for more than 10 hours a day. So he is always busy, he looks very tired when he gets 小學 home. He likes reading newspapers. He usually reads it after supper. So he gets lots of news.

　　My mother is 38 years old. She is a worker too. She works in a very small factory. She is not tall and she has two big eyes. She loves me and she is good for me. She always buys some books for me. She wants me to be a top student. She also cares for my diet and life.

　　I’ m 15 years old. I wear glasses. I like reading. I always read books after school. I like singing, too. My favorite singer is Jay Chou. His music is very nice. What do you think of him? I also like making friends. If you want to meet me, please write to me.

　　Oh, my parents love me and I love them, too. My family is a happy family.

英語即興演講13

　　good afternoon!

英語即興演講14

　　now in fact, some of our transformative leaders in history have been introverts. i'll give you some examples. eleanor roosevelt, rosa parks, gandhi -- all these peopled described themselves as quiet and soft-spoken and even shy. and they all took the spotlight, even though every bone in their bodies was telling them not to. and this turns out to have a special power all its own, because people could feel that these leaders were at the helm, not because they enjoyed directing others and not out of the pleasure of being looked at; they were there because they had no choice, because they were driven to do what they thought was right.

　　now i think at this point it's important for me to say that i actually love extroverts. i always like to say some of my best friends are extroverts, including my beloved husband. and we all fall at different points, of course, along the introvert/extrovert spectrum. even carl jung, the psychologist who first popularized these terms, said that there's no such thing as a pure introvert or a pure extrovert. he said that such a man would be in a lunatic asylum, if he existed at all. and some people fall smack in the middle of the introvert/extrovert spectrum, and we call these people ambiverts. and i often think that they have the best of all worlds. but many of us do recognize ourselves as one type or the other.

　　and what i'm saying is that culturally we need a much better balance. we need more of a yin and yang between these two types. this is especially important when it comes to creativity and to productivity, because when psychologists look at the lives of the most creative people, what they find are people who are very good at exchanging ideas and advancing ideas, but who also have a serious streak of introversion in them.