As a parent, you want the best for your child’s education. Public speaking is an important aspect not only for academic success but also for future career opportunities.
Here are some tips on how to improve your child’s public speaking skills.
Encourage Practice
The more they practice, the more confident they will become. Encourage them to speak up in class or participate in extracurricular activities such as debate or drama clubs. You can also create opportunities for them to practice at home by having them present something to the family or record themselves giving a speech. If your child is enrolled in an International Baccalaureate program, developing their public speaking skills is essential.
Provide Feedback
When your child does practice, provide constructive feedback. Help them identify areas where they can improve and give specific examples of what they did well. This will help build their confidence and encourage them to continue practising.
Watch and Learn
Watching other speakers can be a great way for your child to learn from others’ techniques and styles. Even top secondary schools in Singapore organise events and workshops on public speaking skills.Attend speeches or presentations together, watch TED talks online, or even watch recordings of famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Focus on Body Language
Body language plays a significant role in public speaking. Encourage your child to stand tall with good posture, make eye contact with the audience, and use hand gestures when appropriate. Practising these skills will help them appear confident and engaging.
Use Technology
In today’s digital age, there are many apps and tools available that can help improve public speaking skills. For example, some apps analyse voice pitch and tone, providing feedback on how to sound more confident and engaging.
Conclusion
Improving public speaking skills takes time and dedication. However, with consistent practice, enrolling your kid in the best school, and support, your child can develop this valuable skill that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and beyond.
