Talk Master: Public Speaking Competition
This year we held our first ever Talk Master Competition. Why have such a competition, we hear you ask, well there are innumerable benefits of Public Speaking skills when it comes to children:-
- Builds confidence: Engaging in public speaking encourages children to step out of their comfort zones, share their opinions, and adeptly handle feedback from their audience. The experience boosts their confidence, enabling them to communicate smoothly and effectively without fumbling or stumbling.
- Enhances communication skills: Improving communication skills can benefit children academically and personally. Public speaking can enhance their articulation, pronunciation, and clarity of thought. They become more effective at expressing their ideas and thoughts as they practice. Additionally, public speaking can improve children’s listening skills, allowing them to understand their audience’s expectations better. It can also enhance students’ persuasive communication abilities, which can benefit them in their future academic and professional pursuits.
- Develop critical thinking skills: Organising thoughts logically helps in effective communication and quick thinking, fostering improved problem-solving skills and the ability to respond adeptly to unexpected questions or challenges.
- Improves memory and concentration: Speaking in front of an audience can improve children’s focus, memory, and recall skills. Preparing speeches requires organising notes and delivering a clear message, thus enhancing their ability to concentrate. Children actively listening to their audience are likelier to pay attention, retain information, and respond appropriately.
- Fosters leadership skills: Leadership encompasses qualities such as self-confidence, assertiveness, accountability, effective communication, strategic thinking, empathy, integrity, adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Great leaders often excel in oratory skills, captivating crowds, altering perceptions, and achieving much more. Engaging in public speaking equips children with the ability to convey ideas persuasively, fostering self-assurance and responsibility for their messages. Moreover, it enhances their interpersonal skills, including teamwork, active listening, and empathy, contributing to their overall leadership development.
- Overcome stage fright: Public speaking can be daunting, causing fear, anxiety, and nervousness, especially for those not exposed to speaking in front of large audiences. However, those who learn and practice public speaking can overcome these fears, develop coping mechanisms, and regulate their emotions, body language, and speed. Furthermore, public speaking cultivates resilience, imparting a sense of accomplishment in children that elevates their confidence and self-esteem.
Through public speaking, children can develop self-confidence, communication skills, critical thinking abilities, memory, focus, leadership qualities, and the ability to overcome fear and anxiety. So with this in mind we are launching our Talk Master Competition.
Please see the video below of our finalists performing in our Talk Master Final.