A summarised version of this blog first appeared on the Education Australia website.

The global pandemic has had a significant impact on confidence levels in children and young people. The sudden transition to online learning, without the opportunity to socialise with classmates, had been tough for many students.

At Speaking Schools Australasia, where we deal with over 500+ students each term, we had seen a resultant decline in confidence levels for some students, particularly when it comes to speaking up in class.

However, there are things that teachers can do to help their students regain confidence post-pandemic, which are still vital a few years out of Covid.

 

 

Why kids need incremental exposure to build up their speaking confidence

A big reason why confidence is low in the post-pandemic classroom is that it’s built through a process of incremental exposure. The more we do something, the more confidence we have in our ability to do it.

This is especially relevant when it comes to social confidence. If students are repeatedly put in situations where they feel uncomfortable or unsure, they will gradually become more confident in their ability to cope with these situations, building their resilience when dealing with novel circumstances.

This is especially true in social situations and presentations (both big and small), where a fear of failure can be compounded by the pressure of talking to a group.

 

 

How live feedback from the audience helps to build a child’s speaking ability

One of the best ways to help students regain confidence post-pandemic is to provide opportunities for them to practice speaking in front of an audience. This doesn’t need to be a formal speech and could be a class presentation, group work, or even a simple curriculum-aligned discussion.

Live feedback from the audience is essential for helping students to develop their speaking ability and was sadly lacking when students were able to simply turn their cameras off in an online classroom.

Being able to see the facial cues, body language, and real-time responses of the class is an invaluable source of information that helps develop a child’s style of speaking.

This feedback can aid them in subconsciously identifying communication tactics that work well and building empathic instincts. Taken together, these can allow students to adjust their public speaking strategies according to the room they are in.

This skill builds both ways – practising being an audience member also builds public speaking confidence. When students practice active listening during presentations from their peers, they similarly gain a deeper understanding of communication strategies and what engages an audience.

Hearing from peers also helps to make education fun, allowing children to engage with each other and guide each other through the process of hands-on learning through trial and error together.

 

 

How can an educational public speaking and debating school incursion help?

Boosting self-confidence to deal with social anxiety concerns post-pandemic is essential for helping students thrive in the classroom. Teachers can help their students to regain confidence by providing opportunities for them to practice speaking in front of an audience.

We offer a range of different programs, seminars, and incursions that can help kids build their confidence when communicating with others, as well as workshops to equip teachers with everything they need to help bring out the best in their students. Making speaking up in class fun can genuinely transform a child’s confidence in the classroom.

 

 

Skills-based workshops to inspire students

Debating and public speaking workshops are a great way to get kids inspired to build their confidence whilst having fun. These workshops are curriculum aligned and educational, but they also engage children in fun games that inspire them to be confident in themselves. By participating in these workshops, kids will learn how to think on their feet, how to communicate effectively, and how to build persuasive arguments.

These skills will help not only in the classroom but also in their everyday lives. As students gain more confidence in themselves, they will be more likely to take risks and try new things.

So if you’re looking for a way to inspire your students’ confidence, sign them up for a fun day of debating or public speaking with an engaging school camp, workshop or incursion!

 

 

What are the pros of running a school incursion?

Incursions are a great option for teachers looking to expand their students’ skills and confidence. They offer a different way of learning that is both fun and engaging. Incursions are also relatively easy to organise, making them a convenient option for busy teachers.

Primary and secondary schools can both get involved, and there is a wide range of different workshops to choose from. This means that there is something to suit every class. Experienced coaches will work with the students for the day, providing them with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. This makes incursions an ideal way to improve student outcomes.

 

 

Why choose a debating or public speaking incursion?

There are many reasons why public speaking and debating skills are important for students’ futures. In particular, learning debating and public speaking can help students:

• develop critical thinking skills, where they learn how to take complex ideas and break them down into understandable arguments;

• Build their soft skills such as teamwork and communication.
• Develop their confidence and advocacy skills; and
• Finding their voice and assisting with their own character development as they grow up.

Teachers should consider these benefits when choosing an incursion for their students. Public speaking and debating offer a unique opportunity for students to gain the skills they need for success in the real world.

The Australian Curriculum does require students to learn some elements of public speaking – but often leaves educators in the dark as to the best way to do this. Often, there is a lot of flexibility between schools’ approaches to public speaking and debating. This is due to the Australian Curriculum leaving a lot of elements of how we approach public speaking education largely up to the school or individual teacher. When nobody within a school community is empowered with knowledge or experience in teaching debating and public speaking, the future generation can be deprived of learning some of life’s most important skills.

Educational speaking workshops are an excellent way to fill this gap in the Australian Curriculum at your school. A program in debating or public speaking can be transformative not only for the class but also for the teacher looking after them.

 

 

One of the biggest things that an incursion can offer your school is that it makes public speaking and debating fun. Children are in a formative stage when they try speaking in front of a group for the first time. Our aim is to make this formative experience as exciting and fun as possible.

Associating debating and public speaking with fun can be absolutely transformative for children’s confidence. Often, they start to see the task of speaking in a different way and avoid developing fearful associations and phobias of presenting to a group. Getting children involved in exciting, fun, educational programs and school incursions can make a world of difference to their attitudes towards public speaking. Many students become very passionate about improving their speaking ability and discover the importance of finding the courage to speak up in front of a group.

 

What makes school incursions with SSA Different?

With our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to find their voice and be empowered, we provide students with fun environments where they can develop skills necessary for success. We focus on developing critical thinking whilst encouraging communication through debating or public speaking classes in order to give children confidence and build up resilience as well!

Here at SSA, we believe that every child has the potential to be a great public speaker and debater. That’s why we offer a range of programs designed to develop these skills in kids of all ages. Our incursion programs are a great way to give kids a taste of what public speaking and debating are all about. It’s also lots of fun!

We tailor our programs to suit the needs of your school, so whether you’re interested in a one-off workshop or an ongoing series of classes, we can accommodate your needs and the needs of your students. We’re confident that your kids will love learning with us, and we hope that they’ll be inspired to use their new skills in exciting and innovative ways.

As experts in public speaking and debating who have taught over 15,000+ students both locally and abroad, SSA is perfectly placed to run a memorable, exciting and inspiring incursion in your school.

 

 

School Incursions – Sydney and New South Wales

Are you looking for a school incursion or for school activities based in Sydney and greater New South Wales? We can help you out! We are passionate about bringing speaking education to the next generation all around Sydney and the rest of New South Wales.

Every school’s needs are different – whether you are looking for an online option your students can participate in via Zoom, or for engaging school incursions in-person, we pride ourselves on creating interactive events that are well suited to each individual school.

 

 

What can you expect from an SSA School Incursion?

• Hands-on learning
• Hands-on activities
• Learning fun
• A fun day designed to inspire children
• A unique experience in building speaking confidence
• Creative games to play
• Engaging and interactive content modules
• Team building activities
• Opportunities for students to build creativity and imagination
• Tailored programs and workshop options
• Events that suit all ages
• Developed to suit a variety of school and class sizes

If you’d like to find out more about what we do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, or visit our School Incursions page to learn more!

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