We all know that good public speaking skills are an asset. Just as we know that public speaking consistently ranks as one of people’s biggest fears. It’s no wonder we want our children to harness the power of public speaking as they move toward adulthood.
We just started our seventh year of Green Mountain Youth Speakers, a program that Sharon Koenig and I have designed and grown. This fall, about half of our group is returning students. The others are brand new. As always, we’re excited for the semester ahead.
Why We Keep Doing This
Sharon and I collaborate well together. With her years experience in organizational consulting, training, and public speaking and mine in video production, on-camera talent directing, and homeschooling, we make a good team. Plus, we get along really well!
Beyond that though, there are three main reasons we continue with Green Mountain Youth Speakers.
- We keep it fresh. Sharon and I change up the program with a different theme and new activities every semester, as much for the returning students as for ourselves.
- The students, whether they’re new to the group or veterans, continue to inspire us as they share their interests, adventures, and unique outlooks on life. It’s a gift to watch them progress and grow.
- Above all, we know that we help these students achieve some real power. The power to organize and effectively present their thoughts. The power to persuade, educate, or entertain – whether it’s for an audience of one or many.
Why Our Students Participate
Students aren’t in Green Mountain Youth Speakers because their parents are making them do it. In fact, that’s the first question I ask when parents inquire about the group –
“Does your child want to do this?”
The student has to want to work on public speaking. Some of our newcomers might be nervous and unsure. They may not have any public speaking experience. Yet they all recognize the power of public speaking. They’re motivated.
We work to keep that motivation high in a few different ways:
- Students choose their speech topics. We want them to talk about what they’re interested in.
- They lead the meetings and choose the theme for each one. At every meeting, about half of the students take on a leadership role while the other half present prepared speeches.
- We keep our feedback positive. Always.
Along that vein, we ask parents to simply encourage their children as they practice their speeches at home. We’ve seen amazing results through fostering this positive atmosphere.
When to Work on Public Speaking
The students in Green Mountain Youth Speakers are in middle and high school. We’ve found this is the best age range for what we offer.
Younger students should certainly be encouraged to work on public speaking when opportunities arise (like our National History Day performance). But what about children – young or old – who shy away from organized public speaking opportunities?
It helps to recognize that there are all forms of public speaking. Making phone calls, asking for assistance, helping others, and more – all of these require organizing your thoughts and vocalizing them. There are many alternative routes to developing confidence and skill.
Which brings me to this – don’t forget that you (the parent) can always work on your public speaking skills too. There’s nothing like modeling the behavior you want your child to pursue.
Related Posts:
Celebrating Six Years of Youth Public Speaking
Two Ways to Learn History (National History Day performance information)