Speaking Camp Koalas

Our Speaking Camp Koalas workshop is an introductory level program and is designed to be completed once.

In short, anyone who is in Years 3 & 4 who hasn’t received formal public speaking or debating coaching would benefit from undertaking this course.  The program is designed to cater to various abilities and confidence levels.  Whether shy or outgoing, naturally talented or needing some direction, students almost always come out of the program having learned something new and feeling more confident in their speaking ability.

We would also recommend this program for students who have completed our Year 1 & 2 programs (including our Tabby Cats and Tigers holiday programs, and Leopards and Lions weekly term programs) – our Speaking Camp Koalas program looks at public speaking in a different light to our early primary programs, and introduces kids to the world of debating, so still has plenty to offer these students.

That said, if your child has formal coaching in both public speaking and debating from another provider, has already completed one of our Year 3 & 4 programs (like our Public Speaking Wombats or Debating Wallabies weekly programs) or simply isn’t available on the dates when Koalas is running, they may be better suited to our mixed-experience Speaking Camp Kangaroos workshop – please get in touch if you’d like to discuss your personal circumstances in more depth!

Alternatively, please check out our video below to see how our holiday workshops function!

Over the course of the Speaking Camp Koalas workshop, students will have the opportunity to:

• learn the essential building blocks that form persuasive speeches;
• be introduced to the fundamentals of debating, with a particular focus on ‘comparative’ debates;
• participate in a wide range of speaking-based activities, both as individuals and as part of small groups, which seek to make them more comfortable presenting to an audience; and
• enjoy a positive, fun and welcoming environment where they can develop their newfound skills with confidence.

Connecting with Audiences

The first part of the workshop focuses on relationships.

The program starts by creating solid relationships between the students, as well as the students and their coach, in order to create a welcoming class atmosphere.  Students are then taken through the importance of connecting with their audiences, and how speeches essentially represent a relationship between the speaker and those listening to the presentation.

Developing Persuasive Speeches

As students progress, they will look at how their own opinions and experiences can supply the bedrock of a good speech.  Students will have various opportunities to share and justify their opinions as presentations to their peers, as well as receive plenty of individual feedback from their coaches to help them develop.

Dipping into Debating

Students will, on their second day, be given the opportunity to delve further into the world of debating – whilst not covered in too much depth, students are exposed to the rules and fundamental concepts involved in debating, with the hope that it will pique their interest and form the basis of a lifelong passion.

Final Presentations

On the final day, students will finalise and give their presentations to the class, and parents are invited to sit in and watch. This is an excellent opportunity for students to present to a fuller audience, which not only helps them develop their confidence but also represents an opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned over the program!

Our classes vary in size every holiday depending on how many bookings we receive – however, the maximum size of our Speaking Camp Koalas class is 9 students per coach, with a maximum of 16 students in a class with two coaches.

If there aren’t any spots left, it’s usually because we’ve hit capacity – please get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do about either opening an extra class, fitting your child into the existing class, or putting you on a waitlist in case any students pull out!

After each program, students will get to keep:

• a personal feedback sheet prepared by their coach (which will be emailed to parents) that goes through what they’ve improved on, and what still needs some work;
• a certificate recognising their completion of Speaking Camp Koalas;
• a booklet that they’ve completed, which contains the essential concepts covered during the workshop; and
• hopefully a more positive perspective on both public speaking and debating!

As an introductory program, our Speaking Camp Koalas class is designed to be completed once, and it remains the same every holiday.

Once completed, it’s recommended that students:

• give our Speaking Camp Kangaroos workshop a try – the program changes every holiday, so students will always have something new they can take away; or
• give one of our term programs a try, such as Public Speaking Wombats or Debating Wallabies (depending on which presentation style they prefer!), which will build on the skills learned here.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or get in touch using our contact form to learn more!