Public speaking is an essential skill that everyone should know. Moreover, it is an incredibly vital skill for young children to have as they reach Middle School-age. Public speaking skills are helpful in all phases of life, but when students reach about 9, they must feel confident. Whether it is to gain confidence, win a debate, or just become a better public speaker, taking a public speaking class has many benefits. Let’s explore some of the top benefits of public speaking.
Confidence
It is important for kids to have confidence in themselves. Not all kids are used to speaking with an audience, so when they feel comfortable with this task, they are a step ahead of their peers. Having confidence to speak in front of large groups gives students a sense of pride and accomplishment. Additionally, becoming comfortable speaking for large groups sets them up for more opportunities than students too nervous or shy to do so.
Critical Thinking
Public speaking requires a lot of fast thinking. Whether it is gauging the audience’s perception, recovering after missing a section of the speech, or adding in a new section on the fly, not all speeches go as planned. Therefore, this is why it is important to learn various public speaking methods, to ensure you are prepared for multiple situations. Overall, public speaking authentically develops critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Social Skills
Another facet of public speaking are the social skills that come along with it. Public speaking can be a very social activity. Through public speaking debate, they are forced to learn how to interact with others who hold different viewpoints appropriately. Additionally, public speaking is a social activity, so they naturally interact with other kids, building many interpersonal skills authentically. It also forces kids to listen to others and build upon their listening and empathy skills so they can formulate a good response.
Opportunities
Public speaking skills are highly valued by educational institutions and ultimately are valued in the future for kids through jobs. It is important that kids learn public speaking, so they are able to take advantage of these opportunities. For instance, many leaders and CEOs have experience with public speaking, and when kids are used to it, they’re less afraid to speak up in impromptu settings and take charge. Public speaking opens up an additional set of career paths that people might not otherwise qualify for based on their demeanor and skillset.
Educational
Public speaking forces kids to research, speak on and learn about topics they might not be familiar with. It also builds their argumentative and writing skills. While doing so, students learn an entirely new set of vocabulary and topics naturally.
Ultimately, it is beneficial for students to take public speaking classes. They will stand out in any situation, learn more, build their confidence, and receive more educational–and eventually, career– opportunities.
