Blog

12th February 2019

Skill #5 Public Speaking Skills

What is Public Speaking?

Public speaking is the process of communicating information to an audience. It is usually done before a large audience, like in school, the workplace and even in our personal lives. The benefits of knowing how to communicate to an audience include sharpening critical thinking and verbal/non-verbal communication skills. It differs from other types of speaking, such as videos, which may be recorded. It's also different from online presentations, which are created and then uploaded to the Internet. Public speaking skills can be a hassle if you are insecure or introvert. However, a little bit of practice and a confident outlook can help you to be a fantastic public speaker. You may think effective speakers are born that way. You'd be wrong! Public speaking is a skill that can be learned.

Why is it necessary?

Being able to speak persuasively is a vital skill, and not just for politicians, business leaders and teachers. It is important for everyone because almost everyone will, at some point in their lives, have to persuade others. And yet these crucial skills are often overlooked and underdeveloped in schools and at a stage of life where students are often most responsive. The fear of public speaking is incredibly common, which means that only a handful of students in any given classroom will feel comfortable enough to voice their true opinions, let alone give a full-scale persuasive speech. But as the world becomes increasingly more complex, students that take a public speaking course will find they are far better prepared for life than those who don’t. The skills acquired through public speaking naturally provide a boost in all other areas of life. The confidence to convey your opinion, backed up by solid evidence, can do wonders when seeking to influence others for good and make a positive impact. Public speaking gives students the confidence to stand before their peers and deliver persuasive prose with conviction. Being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation, boost your self-confidence and open up countless opportunities.

Every child has a dream, every child has a message and every child is our future. Slowly holding their hands, we guide them to speak confidently and express themselves on stage. When they are on stage, they share with us their dreams, they share with us their message and share with us their future.

Our EduDrama programme helps children develop as public speakers, and we think we can work wonders for children in terms of boosting their self-confidence levels and teaching them new skills. Register now: +91-9321333323 | admin@helenogrady.co.in

10 tips to build your Public Speaking Skills?

  1. Practice with Peers: Create a group of children about the same age to hone their presentation skills, because every speaker needs an audience. Have your kid practice speaking, and then listen to feedback from fellow participants and their parents.
  2. Stay on Schedule: Your child’s group should meet regularly, about twice a month, for hourly meetings. Your kid’s improvement may be slow initially, but after six or more mock presentations, you’ll notice she’s speaking more loudly and clearly, standing up straight, and presenting work with confidence.
  3. Reward Hard Work: Create a list of goals for the children of the group, and reward them appropriately when they complete each milestone.
  4. Develop a Definite Program: Each group assignment should require at least one objective that the children must meet. This way, your kid and their peers will become familiar with the elements of a speaking presentation before they address a crowd.
  5. Give Feedback: While learning to give and receive constructive criticism is an important life skill. Show the group to critique using a positive tone this can be given orally or written, whichever the kids feel most comfortable with.
  6. Take Advantage of Technology: Between smartphones and laptops, kids today have near-constant access to the Internet—so take advantage of it! Encourage your child to use gadgets to prep for her presentations. Researching ideas online, watching videos, are just a handful of ways your kid’s tech-savvy nature can help improve their speaking skills.
  7. Observe Public Speakers: Sit down with your kid and watch the President recite a speech to the nation on TV, beauty pageant contestants answer questions, or other public figures address the masses.
  8. Take Notes: Don’t stress that your child memorizes their speech. Jotting down main points on index cards can be helpful if they freeze in the spotlight, or begins to ramble away from the main objectives.
  9. Visualize confidence: Ask your child to visualize themselves confidently before delivering their speech. Visualization is a powerful tool for changing the way that you feel.
  10. Organize your talk: Every speech should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Structure your talk so that the other students know what to expect
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