Prep Talk
Public Speaking Classes: Learning Skills and Building Confidence
Posted December 24th, 2015
Two years ago, St. Augustine Prep introduced three new required courses for all students graduating after 2016: Lifetime Fitness Skills, Computer Coding, and Public Speaking. The purpose for requiring each course is to provide students with skills that will serve them well throughout their lives— both in and out of the workplace.
The one-semester public speaking course provides many benefits for our young men. As Malcolm Gladwell theorized in his book, Outliers, it takes ten thousand hours to master a particular skill. With this in mind the Academics Office, with the help of veteran Public Speaking teacher, Mrs. Asselta, created a one-semester public speaking course. The goal of the course is to ensure that our students are confident when presenting themselves and their ideas to others, and that they do so competently. Confidence is a powerful quality for anyone to possess, and to instill confidence in a young man takes many hours. Hence, it is required that students take this semester course as a freshman or sophomore, so that each student can practice and perfect how to speak with assurance early in his Prep career. After completing this course, students are expected to utilize their newly acquired public speaking talents as they present themselves in various settings and occasions over the next four years. A St. Augustine Prep student might not reach ten-thousand hours during his high school years, but learning to communicate effectively at a young age helps build confidence that lasts a lifetime.
Photo 1: Tyler Turpin ’19 interviews Mr. Broomell, Assistant Athletic Director in his Public Speaking Class and Photo 2: Mr. Burke, Dean of Academics, was recently a guest speaker in Mrs. Chapman’s Public Speaking Class.
Course Description from Course Catalog:
Public Speaking (One Semester linked with one semester of Computer Coding)
One Semester Required (Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors)
In this one semester required course, the students will improve their writing and speaking skills. The four major types of speeches will be reviewed and delivered: extemporaneous, manuscript, impromptu and memorized. The course will also cover the craft of writing a speech (grammar and mechanics), as well as proper outlining, note preparation, and bibliographical resourcing. The techniques of public speaking including effective delivery and overcoming stage fright will be incorporated. Rules of the job interview, effective sales techniques, art of persuasion, the craft of inspirational speaking and informational speaking will be included. The goal is to give students experience in the art of delivery and the craft of writing formal speeches in addition to improving overall communication skills both formal and informal.