If there’s one thing that still strikes fear in the hearts of people of all ages, it’s public speaking. Whether you’re 7 or 70, chances are the act of getting up in front of people and reading or reciting something is absolutely petrifying.
Nonetheless, instructing kids on the teaching strategies necessary for public speaking are essential. Even in this age, when electronic means of communications makes for an easy method of sharing thoughts and ideas, there’s something that much more powerful about live interaction with another person. Think about it: Live concerts are more moving that recordings, and live comedians at a comedy club are far superior to watching them on TV.
With that in mind, today on TeachHUB.com, frequent contributing writer Jordan Catapano, himself a seasoned English teacher in the Chicago suburbs, offers up some of the key components that may help educators design a system for getting your students to meet the goal of becoming more comfortable and confident with speaking in front of a group.
Jordan’s tips include:
- Discuss the benefits and the detriments of public speaking
- Give samples of speeches
- Offer ample time for preparation
- And more!
Likewise, Jordan offers up some during- and post-speech tips for additional learning and public speech polishing. His during-speech tips include:
- Emphasize respect
- No reading
- No poster boards
- And more!
All in all, public speaking is as old as democracy itself, and teaching, perfecting, and administering it are paramount to surviving in many college and career environments.
Was this helpful? What else do you wonder about teaching speeches in your class? What else would you add to this playbook?
