It was 11 years ago that I joined the Toastmasters Club in Singapore. I was comfortable chatting with friends and even giving presentations for projects in school. Little did I know that when I had to give a speech to strangers, I froze. I startled and my heart thumped so hard that I thought I would die of a heart attack.
Many adults fear public speaking and even after delivering the speech, we are our worst critic. This fear could definitely be overcome with practice and skills. How I wished I had learnt the skills of public speaking when I was young.
Hence, I started giving workshops on public speaking and presentation skills targetting at children. Children learn best when they have FUN! It’s not about the grammar, neither is it about the vocabulary. It’s about communication and whether the other party or parties understand you, whether they caught your message, and whether they will act upon your call.
My first workshop, “Electrify or Electrocute Your Audience”, was well received by the children. It was loaded with activities that build their confidence and the children had a whale of good time. I discovered that our children learn in schools how to handle oral examinations and very often, there were templates for them to follow. When it comes to extemporaneous speeches, they were lost. For example, when I gave them a “blue” giraffe and asked them to give a speech about that, the children all started describing the giraffe. “This is a blue giraffe. It has spots on its body…” I’m not saying that this is bad, but if we want to interest our audience, we have to be more creative, we have to be able to “spin” tales and draw our audience in with our speeches.
Recently, I ran a workshop on public speaking and storytelling in a Primary School. The final session is a speech contest and all these students were so excited when I arrived. They showed me their scripts and asked if they could refer to their notes when they deliver their speeches. Their speeches were well written but when it comes to their delivery, they need more encouragement and practice. It’s heartwarming to see their excited faces, their eagerness to deliver their speeches, and their courage to overcome their nervousness.
My personal conviction is that our children do not need lessons on how to speak. They do not need templates on good speeches. They need our encouragement. They need coaching. They need to build their confidence, knowing that they can deliver speeches that are sincere, speeches that can impact others, and speeches that make a difference.
Adults, parents, teachers, coaches, can play key roles to identify the strengths of our children, suggest ways to make their speeches more impactful, and help launch them on this wonderful journey of public speaking.
http://publicspeaking.nsk.sg/changi/storytelling-at-changi/
Update 9 May 2013
Dear Parents,
- Thank you for your interest in public speaking courses & workshops for children.
- Enquiries on courses, workshops for children are forwarded to trainers directly. I forward comments to trainers manually.
- All parents have been contacted via emails. If you have not received a reply, kindly contact us again.
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– webmaster eskay
I am looking for public speaking for my 12 years old. Is there a gravel club for kids that is ourside of secondary school system? Tks
Keen to find out if you have any public speaking courses or speech craft courses for my 13 years old son.
Thank you.
I would like my two girls to learn publuc speaking.
Any courses for them? They ate 12 yrs old and 10 yrs old.
Thank you.
Rdgards, anna
Let me know if you are conducting any public speaking course for p1 kids.
Hi
I am keen to find out more about the public speaking courses for my 6 year old. Please send me some info.
Thanks!
Hi, I am interested in the public speaking for my primary 1 daughter. Txs
Hi
I have a 4 and a 6 years old.
Are there any toastmasters or public speaking classes available for them?
Pls email me.
Thx.
I would like my 2 sons, 11 and 12 to learn public speaking. Do you know of any class for them?
Hi
I want to enroll my daughter, 11 years old in the children’s Toast master club.
I live in Bedok. Pls let me know how to go about this.
Regards
Shipra
I would love for my daughter,aged ten this year, to take up public speaking. Pls advise on available courses details. thank u.
I would like to enroll my 2 boys (aged 13 and 15) to learn public speaking. Any suitable class for them?
Rgds,
Cheryl
I had left so many messages on this comment box but have yet to receive any reply from you.
Hi Lynn, Thank you for your interest. I do not reply to enquiries or comments on public speaking for children.
All enquiries are forwarded to the trainers. Your first email was sent on 21 Jun 2013. You should have received their broadcast in Dec 2013. In any case, I am forwarding this feedback to the trainers.
I would like to enrol my 8 yrs old son for public speaking course at Marine Parade. Kindly advise details.
Hi. Where can I send my 14 yr old for public speaking in the east area
I would like to enrol my 11 yrs old son for public speaking course . We are residing at Hougang Ave 1. Kindly advise details.
Hello, I am interested in public speaking courses for children. Kindly email me if there are any upcoming ones in the holidays. Thanks,
Julie
I would like to enrol my 10 yrs old son & 7 year old daughter for public speaking course at Telok Kurau Lor G/ Marine Parade. Kindly provide details
Hi, I’m considering getting my son to attend public speaking courses to build up his confidence. We stay west side. Is there any such classes available?
Hi Any speech /public speaking programmes for kids this Sept/Nov 2014 hols? My 9 year old is very keen. We stay in the east of SG.
Hi i would like my son to join public speaking,11year old ..hope u can help me to overcome his fear to communicate to people..thnjs
Hi, I am interested in signing up my 9 and 7 year old boys. Thanks.
Hi
I would like to enrol for my daughter.she is 8 years old . Please send me you up coming tranning course details
Hi,
I am keen to find out more about your public speaking courses for P1 children.
Thanks.
Hi, I would like to enrol my son, 5 years old, in a public speaking class / toastmaster’s club. Kindly send me more information. Thanks.
Hi i would like to enrol my kids in the public speaking course or toast master club.
Thank you.
Again, I want to thank my club members for alayws patient, tolerant, cheering me up, helping me grow and develop in every aspects of my life. Whoever wants to be a better person and enjoys better life, joining a toastmasters club and more important, being more proactive would be the top option.
I would like to enrol my 12 year old son in the toastmasters program or in public speaking classes,I stay in the Tanjong Katong area.
Hi..My daughter is studying SEC 2 and we are living in Choa Chu Kang ..I would like to put her Public speaking / children’s toastmasters program. Could you pls send the details. Thanks
Hi Team,
I would like to find out about June programme for public speaking for my daughter.
She in Primary 3, what are the cost/ duration/ location and no of classes.
Thank you for your prompt response.
Haslinda
Hi,
My name is Nikhil Rao and my son Shaunak Rao is interested in public speaking courses at the toast masters club. Could you let me know if there are any that you conduct as he has his holidays beginning in June? It will be great help if you can let me know if there is someone else you know of who is conducting for 9 year old kids in case you don’t?
Best Regards
Nikhil Rao
90058530
Hi,
I am looking for public speaking programs for my children aged 11 and 9. Please contact me if there are any programs.
Thanks
Shruthi
HP 94520756
i would like my son to enroll in public speaking
I would like my son to enroll to public speaking club
thank you
96620443
Pls send me more details on children public speaking. My twins are 12 years old.
I want to enroll my son for public speaking for oct nov dec, please advise your course dates and fees, pls call me at 97806829, Kajal
Looking for public speaking program for kids 15 n 13 this holiday. Any recommended courses?
Hi,
I am interested in enrolling my sons age 15 and 12 in public speaking course during the Nov holidays.
Is there a number I can call to enquire further?
I am residing in Simei.
Thank you
Lili
Hi, my son is 4yrs old this yr. is he suitable to attent toastmaster?
Hi, I’d like to enrol 3 kids for toastmasters. presently for 2015, youngest being pri 1, second is pri 6 and oldest is sec 2. where can they go to? we are staying in serangoon. thanks!
Hi Team,
I would like to find out about June programme for public speaking for my 2 kids.
1) Daughter, 13 year old, secondary 1
2) Son, 111 years old, primary 5
Can you let me know the course schedule, outline and course fee?
Hp: 9025 3890
Thank you.
From Maybel
Hi ,
I would like to find out about June programme for public speaking for my son.
He is in Primary 4, what are the cost/ duration/ location and no of classes.
Thank you for your prompt response.
Rogayah
My children are age 11 & 13. Pls let me know if you are conducting any public speaking course for their age group, thanks.
Hi,
I would like to find out public speaking programme for my 8 yrs old son in primary 2 this year.
Thanks.
Hi, I am keen to send my 2 daughters to public speaking classes. They are 12 and 7 yrs old. Can you please let me know if there are any? We live in Potong Pasir.
TKs
Elena