A semester-long elective, Public Speaking has been taught by Mrs. Kennedy since 2014. This year also marks Mr. Kranch’s first year teaching the elective. The class focuses on body language, enunciation, tone and eye contact while presenting in front of an audience. Throughout the class, students have the opportunity to do multiple speeches and learn techniques for speaking and memorization.
Kennedy’s favorite part of teaching is having a front row seat to the growth of her students.
“Ability goes up, skill levels go up, self-esteem goes up,” she said. “Some students win money, but everyone is able to walk away with new skills that can be used everywhere.”
Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects around 75% of the population. Facing your fears is hard, but taking the class will allow you to learn the art of public speaking and find your confidence in front of an audience.
“Overall [public speaking] helped a lot because I am a part of Model UN where it is imperative to have those skills and be able to articulate my opinion,” said junior Samuel Tennison, who took the class last year. “I believe the benefits of the class far outweigh the beginning uncomfortableness.”
While public speaking is daunting to many, there are many benefits to learning how to become relaxed and assured in front of an audience. The skills learned throughout the class are applicable to both personal and professional aspects of life.
In the workforce, especially in competitive job markets, being an effective communicator can differentiate you from your peers. The skills needed for public speaking translate to everyday tasks, whether it is leading a meeting or conversation, delivering a presentation or networking. Having the ability to command the attention of an audience, articulate your thoughts and be confident in your words is highly sought after by employers and can lead to career advancing opportunities.
Public speaking skills also enhance daily life. One of the main focuses of the public speaking elective is eliminating the use of filler words such as “like” and “um” and instead practice taking a pause and gathering your thoughts. The use of excessive filler words decrease the speaker’s credibility and can cause the audience’s attention to drift away.
If you are looking for a class to replace a study hall next semester, I urge you to step out of your comfort zone and take public speaking. The skills learned are extremely valuable, as the growth you undergo throughout the elective instills confidence in yourself and your ability to overcome fears.
