Public speaking is a critical skill that every student should acquire, as it strengthens their communication skills and boosts their confidence in various aspects of life. However, most students struggle with public speaking as they might lack confidence or feel nervous about expressing their thoughts.
Fortunately, with the right guidance, IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) curriculum, and practice, students can build confidence and speaking skills and become accomplished public speakers.
In this blog post, we will go over useful tips for developing students’ confidence and public speaking skills. These insights are specifically designed to help educators and parents support and encourage their kids as they hone their public speaking abilities.
Let’s start!
1. Encourage Active Participation in Classroom Discussions
Encouraging active participation is highly prioritized by some of the best KG schools in Riyadh.
By providing a safe and supportive classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, teachers can help students develop their communication skills and learn to express themselves clearly and articulately.
Teachers can also provide opportunities for students to speak in front of the class through presentations, debates, and other activities that require public speaking. These experiences can help students overcome their fear of public speaking.
As students actively participate in classroom discussions, they will feel more comfortable and confident in sharing their thoughts and ideas. Their critical thinking skills will also develop, making them more engaged in learning.
2. Provide Opportunities to Practice Speaking in Front of Others
Teachers often incorporate public speaking exercises and activities like debates or dramatic performances, etc., into their lesson plans. If a student partakes in these activities and exercises, their public speaking skills will improve. Additionally, constructive feedback and encouragement from teachers and peers can enhance their skills and help them overcome any fear or anxiety about public speaking.
3. Provide Constructive Feedback and Praise for Improvement
Education is a consistent process that involves identifying areas for improvement and working on them. In good international schools, teachers provide constructive feedback to students that helps them identify and work on their weak areas.
Also, teachers praise students’ progress and achievements toward their goals. However, teachers should provide feedback in a positive way, focusing on constructive rather than negative criticism.
This approach helps students build their self-esteem and encourages them to continue improving their skills.
4. Incorporate Fun and Engaging Activities
Students having fun while learning is more likely to participate and be engaged and motivated. Some of the best schools in Riyadh use interactive and hands-on activities to help students build a growth mindset and self-confidence.
For example, interactive speaking games like “Simon Says” and “Storytelling Circle” can help students practice their communication skills in a supportive and playful environment.
Drama and theater activities can also be great tools for building confidence and public speaking skills. They can allow students to express themselves creatively while developing their presentation skills.
Conclusion
Being confident and having good public speaking are crucial skills for students to succeed in the future.
However, building these skills takes time and effort. Students can gain the confidence to effectively communicate their ideas and become successful public speakers with practice.