Just before the end of the spring term,  Miss Gordon, our Head of Public Speaking, held a one-hour session for Year 12 titled ‘Speaking Out Without Freaking Out.’

The session included games and scenario-based activities such as giving an impromptu speech. We discussed what hold us back from answering questions in class or asking a question in a lecture, or introducing a speaker or networking with unfamiliar people. Most helpfully, how looked at how we can re-frame our nerves – all with the aim of building our confidence.

Miss Gordon demonstrated that every one of us has views to share; input to give; ideas to spread. We all have value. But if we allow anxiety to get in the way of that, we miss out, your classmates miss out; society misses out. We lose valuable, diverse voices.

We worked through various scenarios,  including this classroom one: 

• You are in a lesson and one of your classmates has just made a point.
• The teacher has asked her for an example, but she can’t seem to think of one on the spot.
• Bit of an awkward silence.
• You’ve thought of an example. You’re not sure if it is relevant, but you want to help your classmate feel more comfortable.
• What might you say?

We also practised eye contact and clear enunciation among the groups with individuals being asked to introduce a guest speaker for the Tuesday lecture slot at the last minute. ‘Guest speakers’ included the likes of JK Rowling, Greta Thunberg, Beyoncé, a parent/relative or a Form Tutor!  Other games included giving an impromptu ‘toast’ to your best friend at their 18th birthday,  

The group also looked at business scenarios including networking with people we did not know, giving an ‘elevator pitch’ and ‘speaking out in a business meeting:’

• You are in a meeting about marketing your new product.
• Everyone’s been discussing posters and flyers, but these don’t seem environmentally friendly.
• You think radio adverts or an online campaign might be more effective.
• What might you say?

Encouraging active listening was another useful exercise where we had to imagine we were stopped by a BBC reporter for the one show wanting opinions:

• You are stopped in the street by a BBC reporter.
• They are trying to gauge public opinion about whether it should be compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets in London.
• They ask you to give your gut reaction. Go!

Despite our best efforts, nerves can still creep in, so we spent time on managing symptoms and nerves:

We can manage the symptoms of feeling nervous with tactics such as taking a deep breath, holding something cold (your pen), making grand gestures, moving around and being succinct.

It can, however, feel difficult to ‘get rid of’ anxiety and nerves.  But why try? We looked at how we can manage anxiety, but not get rid of it, re-framing how we feel to viewing those nerves as being helpful. If can manage this, then they can give us energy and Adrenalin, which tells us that what we are doing is important – whether it’s making an important point, or suggestion, or helping us grow and progress in our communication skills and self-confidence. Miss Gordon spoke about allowing ourselves to feel nervous and so giving ourselves a sense of agency. 

The key message throughout was ‘practice makes progress, not perfect.’ 

This term, DebSoc is back up and running remotely. We are meeting every Monday lunch for 1/2hr and playing speaking out games designed to hone our pace, clarity and engagement with audience. We will especially be focusing on how to deliver clear arguments in a virtual world.

Miss Gordon is also running a competition called ‘Speaking Out’: Speaking Society: students in any year invited to write and record a prepared speech (3 mins = KS3, 5 mins KS4, 7mins KS5) on one of a range of topics. Entries to be sent electronically to Miss Gordon, who will judge alongside the Debating Leads. Deadline for entries is 4 pm Fri 29th May.