Whether teens are applying for jobs or interviewing for college scholarships, being able to speak in public is a necessary – but often scary! – skill to master. Being a confident public speaker can set you apart.

The internationally renowned Toastmasters organization is offering a six-week workshop this fall for a select group of middle and high school students looking to take their presentation and public speaking skills to the next level.

Sponsored by the local Toastmasters Club, teen participants will practice speaking and listening skills in a positive environment and receive coaching from experienced speakers. By the end of the six-week workshop, teens will be able to speak to groups or individuals with confidence and poise.

In this program, each teen will:

Learn to overcome nervousness when speaking before a group
Learn the basics of preparing and delivering an organized speech
Learn the basics of leadership by serving as the leader of the meeting
Increase confidence by practicing impromptu speaking skills
Learn listening skills by participating as an “ah counter” or “grammarian” or “timer”
Deliver a positive evaluation of a speaker
Each student will need to:

Give at least 2 speeches (an Ice Breaker and one focused on speech organization) during the six-week session. (3 to 4 minutes for each speech)
Participate in the impromptu speaking sessions. (1 to 2 minutes)
Evaluate 1 speech. (2 to 3 minutes) Coaches will evaluate speeches in the beginning, but the students will be given guidelines so that they will be able to provide positive feedback to peers.
The workshop will meet each Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for six weeks, August 17 to September 21, 2019. If you register for this workshop, please be aware that this is a commitment for all six weeks in the series.

Registration opens Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 a.m.