5 Easy and Effective Ways To Improve Public Speaking For Kids

When we listen to any speech, either we get bored or inspiration/ motivation surges through our veins. Every day, we listen to influential speakers on various social media platforms. The power of their words not only influences many lives but also can change a country's future. Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekanand, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, what do they have in common? Yes, all these great leaders are exceptional orators/speakers who have made an impact in this world through their speeches. When we work on improving our public speaking skills, an ordinary man can also deliver an inspiring speech. With the help of useful tips to improve public speaking skills, we can reshape our personality and build confidence within.

Public speaking skills mainly focus on communicating purposeful information to the audience through face-to-face in a more formal set-up. The main aim of the speaker is to influence the audience or the listeners.

If we check the history of the art of public speaking, we can find its origin 2,500 years ago, right from the time of Aristotle. Even though public speaking tips & techniques have evolved in the last few decades, we still like to study historical speeches even today.

In today's globalized era, the most valuable skill is to communicate clearly & effectively to achieve success in the real world. Delivering customized information along with passion helps you in mastering the art of persuasion.

Many of us deal with speech challenges like fear of forgetting, fear of rejection, fear of failure, etc., but with the help of public speaking tips, we can overcome the challenge and feel empowered.

Public speaking skills are categorized into three groups depending on the purpose- Informative, Persuasive, and Entertaining.

In informative speaking, new learning or knowledge on a particular subject is shared with the audience. The speaker shares his learning journey, whereas the audience develops their understanding of a subject/discovery.
The motto behind persuasive speech is to motivate, reinforce or convince people to take action.
Entertaining speeches are curated as per the need of the occasion, like weddings, dialogues, award speeches, etc.

Speaking any language is a practising art and one needs to refine & keep updating. To drive a car, first we need to learn to drive, and after learning, we need to practice it daily so that we can drive on the road carefully without any mishaps. Similarly, English has become a universal language, and everybody wants to excel in spoken communication. To enhance the English language skills- fluency, pronunciation, accuracy, and communication skills are the most challenging factors one needs to polish and refine.

Here a few English-speaking skills tips one can keep in mind: -

Having knowledge of grammar and vocabulary is insufficient; practising & improving English skills is crucial.
To quickly learn the skill and language, it's essential to grow the network of people with whom one can talk in English comfortably. The more you interact with different people, the more confidently you learn to articulate.
Listening to our own voice recording is also an effective way to notice the flaws in the speech and highlight the areas of improvement.
Listening to various English series, films, and audio for podcasts helps learn new words, phrases, intonation and pronunciation.
Apart from all these, positive feedback from people around you helps build confidence related to public speaking skills.

Public speaking is not a mysterious/gifted skill that is bestowed to only selected ones. The skill can be enhanced with regular practice and with time, it gets better. In today's time, too many sources are available to help people overcome this shortcoming. Public speaking has become the most demanded skill around the world. Public speaking coaches, classes, mentors, and online public speaking classes are available in every part of the world.

Due to the digital connectivity while sitting at home, we listen to real-life examples of successful political speeches, inspirational speeches, TED talks, YouTube broadcasting, interviews, etc., that educate, entertain, and inspire people.

TED Talks speakers motivate and inspire their audience in a limited time. They share their personal growth stories or inventions through personal anecdotes and experiences. It helps speakers to share their discovery of a complex concept in a more precise way. These talks also highlight the importance of practice & preparation of speech with the help of enhanced public speaking skills.

In Toastmasters Club, members freely deliver speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and receive constructive feedback from senior associates. The encouraging experience helps members to discover their self-limitations, build leadership qualities and improve public speaking skills. The members connect with others through online or in person.

In today's world, where competition has increased in all spheres of life, confidence & personality are paramount. Hence, it is equally important to nurture public speaking skills among kids. Many parents remain unaware of the nervousness or the fear that resides within a child regarding facing the audience. With the support of multiple practical and manageable strategies, we can develop public speaking skills in kids.

Role-playing is essential for children to feel comfortable in the public speaking area. Role-play is one strategy that allows them to enact different scenarios when giving a speech or presentation. This way, the kids become habitual in speaking and preparing in public, enabling them to handle situations that may arise in the future.

Reading or narrating stories enables children to learn new words and expand their lexicon store. Many TED Talks speeches are comprised of personal anecdotes and experiences. Storytelling has many aspects that can appeal to the audience emotionally or to the senses, convey a moral lesson or motivate them. If we refer to historical speeches, all great public speakers narrate stories rather than give speeches.

Online English classes offer public speaking as part of the course/program. Because gaining knowledge it's easy, but the execution of the learning is always tricky. Hence, it is crucial after acquiring the proficiency, one needs to put it into action. These online public speaking classes provide a safe and secure environment for a child to develop communication skills.

Extra co-curricular activities like Turncoat, Debates, Elocutions, Jam sessions, Extempore, Drama, performing arts, etc., help to enhance & encourage public speaking skills among pupils. These activities and workshops are conducted by schools or aid in the holistic development of students.

Public speaking clubs or classes: Becoming members of social groups or clubs like Toastmasters that give inputs, suggestions, and guidance to learned speakers on delivering an effective speech. One can look for public speaking classes near their locality.

Children who learn public speaking skills at an early age benefit in their professional lives. It is essential to understand, analyze, structure, listen to and deliver the point of view in an organized manner to the audience. These are a few of the critical skills a child needs to develop. Many online public speaking classes are available that are becoming popular by the day.

TedMasterclass- to enhance communication skills, a variety of public speaking courses are available through YouTube programs.

English language course by British Council

Skills for life – Online workshop by British Council

Udemy, Coursera, edx, and Speaker Hub are a few learning platforms where one can learn & enhance public speaking skills at one's own pace.

FAQ

Q.1 How can I look confident while speaking in public?

Do practice & rehearse your speech, maintain eye contact, use hand gestures, and move around the stage. Feeling anxious before or during the speech is very common, but we can overcome this shortcoming with regular practice.

Q.2 Why is making eye contact with the audience while delivering a speech vital?

Eye contact helps us maintain focus and allows us to remain connected with the audience.

Q.3 Does public speaking skills inculcate organizational skills?

Public speaking makes a person more organized and a better planner. Advance planning develops analytical skills and ensures that all the raised questions can be answered effectively.

Q.4 How do public speaking courses benefit?

With the help of public speaking courses, one learns to speak confidently in front of an audience & execute leadership skills when needed. These newly acquired skills further help in career success.

At Bambinos public speaking coaches or experts provide one-to-one classes for learners customised as per the learner's goals and learning needs. The public speaking instructors are assigned according to the areas of need and availability of the learner. The dynamic Young Communicator Program is well tailored according to the different age groups like smallies, biggies, and super biggies. The entire curriculum is customized as per the individual learning preferences. Variety of learning aids, constructive feedback, tailored speaking practice assignments, along with a master class where a learner gets a chance to perform along with his peers in events like jam sessions, poetry recitation and elocution.

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Article Author

Karuna Sinh

Karuna Sinh competent professional with over 20 years of experience in sectors ranging from Teaching, Hospitality, Freelancing content writing, Administration & Management.

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