Introduction

This guide is designed for students, parents, and teachers seeking practical strategies to build public speaking confidence and effectiveness. Whether you’re preparing for a class talk, assembly, or competition, you’ll find step-by-step advice and resources to help you succeed. Public speaking is a learnable skill, not a natural talent—students of any age can improve rapidly with the right structure and consistent practice. Successful public speaking hinges on preparation, audience connection, and confident delivery. This comprehensive guide covers essential skills, proven strategies, and curated resources to help young speakers thrive in any setting.

Key Takeaways

• Public speaking is a learnable skill, not a natural talent—students of any age can improve rapidly with the right structure and consistent practice.
• This guide covers managing nerves, planning and structuring speeches, delivery techniques, and practice strategies tailored for school contexts, including class talks, assemblies and competitions.
• Small, regular steps at home, at school and in holiday programs are far more effective than last-minute cramming the night before a speech is due.
• Anxious speakers and their parents can take heart—every confident speaker you admire started exactly where you are now.

What Is Public Speaking and Why Does It Matter for Students?

Public speaking is the practice of delivering a message to a live audience, whether that audience is three classmates during a group presentation or three hundred people at a school assembly. The main objective of public speaking is to inform or change the audience’s thoughts and actions. For Australian students, this skill shows up constantly: oral assessments in English, science presentations, leadership speeches, SRC elections, debating rounds and even casual show-and-tell in primary school. Public speaking remains a highly valued skill in various sectors, including government, industry, and advocacy.

While the ancient Greeks and Romans formalised the study of rhetoric—with Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion and Cicero’s five canons still taught today—the real value for 21st-century students lies in practical, everyday communication. Speaking publicly builds the ability to share ideas clearly, connect with others and advocate for yourself.

Here are some concrete benefits for young speakers:

If you’re also interested in structured argumentation, check out our Ultimate Guide to Debating. Debating and public speaking complement each other beautifully—debating sharpens your logical reasoning, while public speaking develops your presentation skills and personal voice.

The sections that follow will provide step-by-step help for both beginners tackling a Year 3 oral and more advanced speakers preparing a Year 10 persuasive speech or entering public speaking competitions.

Understanding Nerves: Why Public Speaking Feels Scary (and How to Manage It)

If your heart races and your hands start trembling before a speech, you’re in excellent company. Research suggests that around 85% of adults experience some level of glossophobia—fear of public speaking—making it one of the most common anxieties in the world. For a student standing in front of their 2025 English class, those three minutes can feel like an eternity.

Here’s what’s actually happening in your body: when you perceive a threat (even a friendly audience), your brain triggers a “fight or flight” response. Adrenaline floods your system, causing a racing heart, sweaty palms, a shaky voice and sometimes trembling hands. This is your body preparing to protect you—it’s a normal physiological reaction, not a sign that you’re failing or weak.

Practical Strategies to Manage Anxiety

Use these strategies to help manage nerves before and during your speech:

• Slow breathing (or box breathing): Take three to five deep breaths before speaking—inhaling for four counts, holding for four, exhaling for four. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system and calms the stress response.
• Positive self-talk: Replace “I’m going to mess this up” with “I’ve prepared well, and I know my material.” Write a short script of encouraging phrases and rehearse them before your talk.
• Visualisation: Spend a few minutes imagining yourself delivering the speech successfully—see the audience’s attention, feel your confident posture, hear your clear voice.
• Realistic preparation timelines: Nerves often spike when we feel underprepared. Starting early gives your brain time to feel secure with the material.

Toastmasters International, a global public speaking organisation with over 15,000 clubs worldwide, offers supportive environments for adult speakers to practise. Younger speakers often begin in school programs or specialist workshops designed for their age group. For more strategies on overcoming public speaking anxiety, see these tips for helping children overcome their fear of public speaking.

Now that you know how to manage nerves, let’s explore how to build a strong speech from the ground up.

Core Building Blocks: Content, Structure and Manner Tools

Great speeches rest on three pillars: what you say (content), how you organise it (structure), and how you say it (speaking manner). Understanding these building blocks helps students move from scattered ideas to a polished, engaging presentation.

Purpose and Audience

Before writing anything, students should clarify their purpose. Ask: Am I trying to inform, persuade, entertain or inspire? A science demonstration explaining photosynthesis requires different choices than a persuasive speech arguing for later school start times. Common school examples include:

• To inform: A research talk on Australian endangered species
• To persuade: An SRC election speech asking for votes
• To inspire: An ANZAC Day memorial speech
• To entertain: A creative writing presentation or humorous class talk

Speech Structure

Structure gives both the speaker and the audience a roadmap in public speaking. Australian curriculum expectations typically call for:

1. An engaging introduction that hooks the audience
2. Two to three logical body points, each supported with evidence
3. A powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression

For a step-by-step guide to building your speech, see our detailed article on how to structure a speech for kids.

Persuasion Tools

School curricula aside, Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion—ethos, pathos and logos—remain essential tools:

• Ethos (credibility): A Year 9 prefect speaking about school culture draws on their experience and role to establish credibility.
• Pathos (emotion): A charity assembly speech might share a personal story to connect emotionally with listeners.
• Logos (logic): A debater uses statistics and reasoned arguments to build a logical case.

These tools work together. The strongest speeches combine a credible speaker’s ideas with emotional connection and solid evidence.

Planning and Researching Your Speech

Good preparation transforms a daunting assignment into a manageable process. Here’s a practical approach for a real task—say, a 4-to-5-minute persuasive speech due in Term 2:

Step 1: Unpack the task sheet

• What’s the required length?
• Is there a set topic, or can you choose?
• What are the assessment criteria? (Often structure, content, delivery)

Step 2: Analyse your audience

• Who will listen? Your teacher, classmates, and parents at the assembly?
• What do they already know about your topic?
• What might interest or surprise them?

Step 3: Brainstorm ideas

• Write freely for 5-10 minutes without judging
• Consider personal experiences, current events, and topics you genuinely care about
• Stuck for inspiration? Browse our 101 incredible speech topics for kids or learn how to come up with the perfect speech topic.

Step 4: Narrow to one clear angle

• A focused message is easier to develop and more memorable than a speech that tries to cover everything

Step 5: Research effectively

• Use credible websites (government sources, established news outlets, academic institutions, or reputable public speaking and debating competitions)
• Remember that logic, examples, hypotheticals and stories are more effective at getting audiences onside than facts and details—they are more interesting and more relatable
• Where you do want to back things up with data, look for studies or statistics with dates—“In 2024, 1.2 million Australian teenagers…” is more powerful than vague claims
• Use local Australian examples where possible

Use a simple planning template or outline rather than scripting every word at first draft stage. This keeps your thinking flexible and your speech more natural.

Structuring Speeches for Maximum Impact

Structure isn’t just for the audience’s benefit—it helps nervous speakers feel more secure. When you know exactly where you’re headed, you’re less likely to lose your place or freeze mid-sentence. Events focused on public speaking can further help build confidence and showcase these crucial skills.

Opening Hook (First 20-30 Seconds)

Your introduction needs to capture the audience’s attention immediately. Stories and questions are usually the most effective hooks:

• Story: “Last summer, I volunteered at a local animal shelter and saw firsthand how a little kindness can change lives.”
• Question: “Have you ever wondered what it takes to rescue and care for abandoned pets?”

These approaches draw listeners in and create curiosity about what comes next. For more techniques on crafting memorable openings, explore our guide on how to start a speech.

Body: 2-3 Main Points

Signpost your main points clearly so the audience can follow along:

• “My first point is…”
• “This leads me to my second argument…”
• “Finally, let’s consider…”

For more guidance on effective debating techniques and public speaking, consider learning from experts.

Order your arguments logically. For a speech on the importance of community volunteering, you might structure it as:

1. The benefits of volunteering for individuals (skills, friendships, sense of purpose)
2. How volunteering helps local communities (supporting vulnerable groups, improving services)
3. Ways students can get involved (school programs, weekend opportunities, online platforms)
4. Encouragement to start small and build commitment over time

Memorable Conclusion

End with impact. Options include:

• A call-to-action: “This weekend, find a local cause and take your first step toward making a difference.”
• Link back to your opening story: “Just like the animals I met at the shelter, many in our community need a helping hand.”
• A concise summary line the audience will remember: “Volunteering isn’t just about giving; it’s about growing together.”

Now that you understand the building blocks of a great speech, let’s focus on how to deliver your message with confidence and impact.

Finding Your Voice: Delivery Skills That Keep Audiences Engaged

Content is only half the equation. Delivery—your voice, body language and presence—determines whether your message lands or falls flat. Even a well-researched speech can lose the audience’s attention if delivered in a monotone while staring at the floor.

Key Delivery Elements

Avoid reading full scripts. From mid-primary school onwards, students should practise using palm cards that utilise dot point outlines. This encourages natural speaking techniques and allows genuine connection with the audience. A speaker who looks up and engages is far more persuasive than one who reads word-for-word.

For more practical tips on confident delivery, see our seven public speaking tips for kids.

Practical School Scenarios

• School Assembly: Stand slightly to one side of the lectern, so you’re not hidden; project your voice to the back row, a key tip for public speaking.
• Year 8 speech night on stage: Use the whole space with purposeful movement between sections of your speech.
• Classroom talk: Make eye contact around the entire room, not just the teacher.

Using Stories, Humour and Visual Aids

Personal Anecdotes

Share experiences that illustrate your larger point without oversharing. For example:

“On my first day of high school, I got so lost I ended up in the Year 12 common room. That moment taught me something about asking for help…”

The key is connecting your story to both your audience and your message—it should act as a bridge between the two. A personal anecdote builds your credibility (ethos) and creates an emotional connection (pathos).

Age-Appropriate Humour

Humour works when it:

• Supports your message rather than distracting from it
• Is inclusive (no jokes at others’ expense)
• Feels natural to your speaking style

Forced jokes often fall flat. A light, genuine comment about shared experiences usually lands better than rehearsed one-liners.

Visual Aids and Audiovisual Aids

When using slides, props or other presentation materials:

Visual aids should enhance your words, not compete with them. If your audience is reading your slides, they’re not listening to you.

Now that you know how to deliver your speech with confidence, let’s look at how to practise effectively and turn preparation into performance.

Practice That Works: From Bedroom Rehearsals to Competitions

Here’s a truth that separates confident speakers from nervous ones: deliberate practice over days or weeks beats cramming the night before. Your brain needs time to internalise the material so you can focus on delivery rather than desperately trying to remember what comes next.

Sample 7-10 Day Preparation Timeline

Effective Practice Methods

• Mirror practice: Watch your body language, gestures and facial expressions—making sure you’re looking at yourself means you’re not looking at your palm cards, helping eye contact.
• Phone recording: Review your voice, pace and filler words (e.g. ‘um’, ‘like’, ‘you know’).
• Family audience: Ask parents or siblings to listen and give feedback.
• Classroom run-throughs: Take every opportunity for low-stakes practice in front of peers, teachers or coaches.

For students wanting extra challenge, consider school public speaking competitions, Rostrum events, Eisteddfods or online speaking opportunities. Rostrum is another public speaking organisation that aims to help people become better communicators. Speaking Schools Australasia also offers Rising Voices competitions designed specifically for young speakers ready to stretch themselves.

Our guide on how to train for your next public speaking competition offers specific preparation strategies.

Getting and Using Feedback

Feedback is the engine of improvement. Students who actively seek input from teachers, coaches, parents and peers improve faster than those who practise in isolation.

What Constructive Feedback Looks Like

Good feedback is:

• Specific: “Your opening story really grabbed my attention” is more useful than “Good job”
• Kind: Delivered with encouragement, not criticism
• Focused: Highlights 1-2 areas for improvement alongside strengths

A Simple Peer Feedback Model

When giving feedback to classmates, try this structure:

1. One positive: “I loved how you made eye contact during your main point about climate action.”
2. One suggestion: “Maybe slow down a little in the middle section—your anecdote was great, but it was a little hard to absorb properly.”
3. One question: “What made you choose that closing line?”

With practice and feedback in place, let’s see how public speaking skills adapt to different ages and contexts.

Public Speaking for Different Ages and Contexts

A Year 3 show-and-tell, a Year 9 persuasive speech and a Year 11 leadership address all require different approaches. Understanding how expectations shift helps students prepare appropriately for their level.

Primary School (Years 1-6)

At this stage, speeches are typically shorter (1-3 minutes) and more informal. Teachers look for:

• Clear, simple structure
• Appropriate volume and eye contact
• Genuine enthusiasm about the topic

Younger speakers benefit more from personal stories. The focus is on building comfort with speaking publicly rather than sophisticated argumentation.

Lower Secondary (Years 7-10)

Expectations increase significantly:

• Longer speeches (4-6 minutes typically)
• Stronger evidence and logical structure
• More polished delivery with vocal variety
• Introduction to persuasive techniques and rhetorical devices

Common scenarios include NSW and VIC curriculum oral tasks, SRC election speeches, and subject-specific presentations.

Upper Secondary (Years 11-12)

At this level, students are expected to: To support these expectations, Speaking Schools offers relevant public speaking and debating programs as well as coaching opportunities.

• Develop complex, nuanced arguments
• Demonstrate sophisticated communication skills
• Adapt style to different audiences and purposes
• Speak with authority and self-confidence

Leadership addresses, formal assessments and community events demand higher standards of preparation and delivery.

Online and Hybrid Public Speaking

Since 2020, presenting on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet has become a standard skill. Virtual assemblies, online competitions and remote learning all require adapting traditional speaking techniques for the screen.

Technical Setup Matters

• Camera position: Eye level, with your face well-framed (head and shoulders visible)
• Lighting: Face a window or lamp; avoid backlighting that turns you into a silhouette
• Microphone: Test audio beforehand; use headphones with a mic if possible
• Background: Tidy and non-distracting

Adapting Your Delivery

• Look into the camera (not at faces on screen) to simulate eye contact, especially if you’re preparing for public speaking competitions
• Keep gestures closer to your body so they stay in frame
• Speak slightly slower and pause more frequently
• Use your voice and facial expressions, since large gestures may not translate well

Practice Ideas for Online Presenting

If you’re preparing for a public speaking competition, it’s important to not only know how to interpret topic areas for public speaking competitions, but also how to craft more engaging and relevant presentations. Some good ways to work on this are:

• Record trial runs and watch them back
• Test slide sharing and screen transitions before the real event
• Ask a family member to join a practice video call and give feedback on your presence and clarity

With these adaptations, you can excel in any speaking environment. Next, let’s see how parents and teachers can support young speakers on their journey.

How Parents and Teachers Can Support Young Speakers

Parents and educators play a crucial role in building speaking confidence. The way adults respond to a child’s early attempts shapes their relationship with public speaking for years to come.

If you’re wondering whether your child will enjoy it, our surveys show overwhelmingly positive results—see how students really feel about public speaking.

Simple At-Home Activities

• Two-minute talk at dinner: Each person shares something from their day, and builds comfort speaking to a group
• Family storytelling nights: Take turns telling stories; develops narrative skills
• Mock speeches: Practise upcoming presentations with parents as a supportive audience
• Book or game reviews: Children explain why they love (or dislike) something; builds argument skills

Classroom Strategies for Teachers

• Create low-stakes speaking opportunities (pair sharing before whole-class discussion)
• Provide clear rubrics so students understand expectations
• Model good speaking—demonstrate what you’re asking students to do
• Celebrate effort and improvement, not just polished performance
• Allow students to use notes rather than demanding memorisation

Responding Helpfully

When your child or student delivers a speech, respond with calm, specific praise:

• “Your opening question really made me curious to hear more.”
• “I noticed you made eye contact with the whole room—that took courage.”

Avoid the temptation to rewrite their script the night before it’s due. Gentle guidance (“What if you tried starting with that story instead?”) empowers students to develop their own voice.

When to Consider Extra Support or Coaching

Some students benefit from structured coaching, particularly if:

• Anxiety significantly impacts their school performance
• They want to stretch themselves in competitions
• They’re preparing for significant speaking opportunities (school captain elections, scholarship interviews etc)

Types of support available include:

• School-based public speaking clubs
• External workshops during school holidays (such as Speaking Skills Bumblebees, Presentation Skills Tabby Cats or Tigers, Speaking Camp Koalas or Kangaroos, and Public Speaking Honeyeaters or Polar Bears)
• Weekly term-time classes (such as Speaking Skills Butterflies, Presentation Skills Leopards or Lions, and Public Speaking Wombats or Penguins)
• Online coaching sessions
• Private coaching

Small-group programs provide safe environments to practise with expert feedback. When choosing a program, look for evidence-based, child-centred approaches rather than purely performance-driven training.

With the right support, every young speaker can grow in confidence and skill. Let’s bring all these strategies together for your next steps.

Bringing It All Together: Your Next Steps in Public Speaking

You’ve now explored the full journey: understanding nerves, planning content, structuring speeches, developing delivery skills, practising effectively and seeking feedback. The question is—what will you do with this knowledge?

Your Action Checklist

1. Choose one upcoming speaking opportunity (a class talk, assembly, competition or family event)
2. Pick a topic you genuinely care about
3. Create a simple outline with a hook, 2-3 main points and a strong conclusion
4. Rehearse 3-4 times using different practice methods
5. Ask for specific feedback from someone you trust
6. Reflect after the speech: What worked? What would you change?

Effective public speaking is a lifelong skill that opens doors—in school, in careers, in community involvement. And here’s the encouraging truth: it gets easier every single time you step up to speak.

Whether you’re a student preparing for your first oral assessment, a parent supporting an anxious child, or a teacher looking to build classroom confidence, the strategies in this guide will serve you well. Explore the linked resources throughout for deeper dives into persuasive speeches, storytelling, managing anxiety and more.

The most important step is the next one. Find your opportunity, prepare thoughtfully, and speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it realistically take to become a confident speaker?

Many students notice significant improvement within a term of regular, deliberate practice—even just one speech per week with focused feedback. Confidence builds incrementally with each successful experience. Some students develop comfortable public speaking skills within a single school term or school holiday period, while others benefit from ongoing practice across a year. The key is consistency rather than intensity; regular, small steps matter more than occasional marathon sessions.

What if my child refuses to speak in front of the class?

Start by reducing the stakes. Encourage speaking at home first—family dinner conversations, explaining a game to a sibling, recording a video just for themselves. Gradually increase the audience size: one trusted friend, then a small group, then a classroom. Avoid forcing participation in high-pressure situations, which can deepen anxiety. If avoidance persists, consider whether underlying factors (perfectionism, past negative experiences, social anxiety) need addressing. A supportive speaking course with others at similar confidence levels can also provide a safe stepping stone.

How much should a speech be memorised versus read from notes?

The sweet spot is “familiar but not memorised word-for-word.” Students should know their material well enough to speak naturally while glancing at palm cards for key points, transitions and any quotes or statistics. Fully memorised speeches often sound robotic and leave speakers stranded if they forget a phrase. Reading directly from a script breaks eye contact and connection. For most school speeches, bullet-point notes that prompt the speaker’s ideas work best.

How can I help with my child’s homework speeches without taking over?

Your role is to support, not to write or rewrite. Helpful actions include: asking questions that help them clarify their thinking (“What’s the one thing you most want your audience to remember?”), being a practice audience and giving specific feedback, and helping with logistics like timing and palm card preparation. Resist the urge to rewrite sentences in your voice—the speech needs to sound like your child. If they’re struggling significantly, consider whether they need skill-building through a course rather than parent intervention on each assignment.

How do I balance being authentic with meeting formal school requirements like word counts and appropriate topics?

Authenticity and meeting requirements aren’t mutually exclusive. Within set word counts, students can still choose angles that genuinely interest them and use their natural speaking style. For topic restrictions, the skill is finding the overlap between what’s permitted and what you care about—there’s almost always room for a personal perspective. When using notes, focus on key points rather than scripted sentences to maintain natural delivery while staying within guidelines. If in doubt about topic appropriateness, check with the teacher early rather than discovering issues the night before.

The acquisition of general knowledge is an important aspect of growing up. The things kids learn about the world can help them to engage in it in a more meaningful way. For us, building tomorrow’s well-rounded humans is all about fostering the confidence to have curiosity and think critically about world issues. 

How Do Debating and Public Speaking Help?

Debating and public speaking are both wonderful platforms for building these skills, as they ask kids to think deeply about their views of the world and to present these in an engaging way to their audience.

Investigating a Current Affairs Topic in Debating

Both Debating and Public Speaking often require students to investigate and analyse a topic from the real world. When debating, the students will discover the topic 1 hour (or some other pre-disclosed window of time) prior to the debate. Within this ‘prep time’, debaters are required to brainstorm and come up with arguments for or against that topic.

For example, on the topic, “That exams should be replaced with assessment tasks,” students might come up with ideas about the impact exams have on mental health, the way that grades affect students’ career paths, and more. They may also draw upon things they have heard in the news, such as the fact that more and more universities are offering early entry before the HSC exam period. 

Receiving the topic in this manner, and needing to come up with ideas quickly without access to the internet, is amazing for the development of critical thinking skills.

Investigating a Topic in Public Speaking

Public speaking is often a very personalised experience. Many students receive a prompt or brief to meet and are free to select their own topic to talk about. One of the wonderful things about public speaking is that the process of selecting a topic often encourages introspection from kids about what really matters to them, and what they find interesting in the real world.

We encourage students to find a topic they are really passionate about. The speech becomes a wonderful platform for critically thinking about an issue that impacts their own life or the lives of those around them. Whether the speech is written to entertain, inform, or persuade, a lot of students become inspired to discover interesting facts about their topic through deeper research.

The knowledge building habits that can help kids improve at debating and public speaking

We know that general knowledge is intertwined with both debating and public speaking and is often the ‘x-factor’ that can make kids stand out in competitions. So how can kids improve their general knowledge?

1. Listen to and discuss the news

Make a habit of tuning in to a kid’s news (or adult news) program at least once per week! Try having conversations about what is happening in the world by asking questions. “How do you feel about ‘x’?” and, “What was the most interesting thing you saw on the news today?”

2. Keep a general knowledge book

Grab an exercise book, and create some headings under which to collect some general knowledge. Some good headings include:

• Environment
• Law and Order
• Politics
• Sports
• Education
• Social Justice
• Science and Technology
• General / Miscellaneous

Whenever you hear something interesting, such as a fact or statistic that will be relevant for a long time, write it down in the general knowledge book! You will be surprised how fun it can be to collect knowledge in this way.

3. Get some advice from a passionate coach

Sometimes it can be wonderful to learn from those who have already done debating and public speaking. By joining a public speaking or debating course, you can chat with a passionate coach about which ideas and arguments from the real world would be well-suited to your speech.

General knowledge acquisition is a huge part of debating and public speaking, and a great reason to become involved in these activities. The critical thinkers of tomorrow all start from somewhere, so try out one of our general knowledge acquisition tips today!

Looking to craft a convincing speech to effectively persuade your audience and grab their attention?

This blog will run through how children can master persuasive speaking by choosing the right topics, structuring your speech effectively, and delivering it with impact.

Key Takeaways

• Master the three pillars of persuasion – ethos, pathos, and logos – to create compelling arguments that resonate with your audience and appeal to the audience’s emotions.

• Choose topics you are passionate about and tailor your presentation to your audience’s interests, enhancing engagement and effectiveness.

• Deliver your speech with confidence, using strong body language and purposeful pacing, while ensuring a clear, impactful conclusion with a call to action.

Understanding Persuasive Speeches

A persuasive speech is more than just a talk; it is an argument or set of arguments presented to convince an audience believe, feel, or do something.

Persuasive speeches differ from informative speeches in their core objective. While an informative speech aims to convey information, a persuasive speech seeks to change someone’s mind or inspire action. However, a persuasive speech can also inform if it helps achieve the goal of persuasion.

Understanding the true essence of a persuasive speech sets the stage for crafting one. It is about creating a message that resonates, engages, and ultimately convinces your audience. Mastering public speaking allows you to influence others in debates, speeches, or even casual conversations with friends.

Crafting a Persuasive Speech Outline

Crafting a detailed outline is a crucial step in delivering a successful persuasive speech, especially for children. A well-structured outline helps you organise your thoughts, ensure a logical flow of ideas, and effectively convey your message to the audience.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting a persuasive speech outline:

1. Define Your Goal: Clearly define the purpose of your presentation and what you want to achieve. What action do you want your audience to take? Having a clear goal will guide the rest of your speech preparation.

2. Choose a Topic: Select a topic that resonates with your audience and is relevant to the occasion. Make sure you’re passionate about the topic, as it will make your speech more engaging and authentic. Good persuasive speech topics are those that spark interest and discussion.

3. Conduct Research: Where relevant, gather credible sources to support your argument. Use objective research to build a strong foundation for your speech. This will help solidify your understanding of the topic, enhancing your credibility and providing solid evidence to back up your key arguments.

4. Develop a Thesis Statement: Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that summarises your main argument. This will serve as the foundation of your speech and keep you focused on your primary message. Don’t overcomplicate things – your central thesis should be a simple statement or question. Make sure you refer back to it regularly – all of your main points and ideas should flow back to your central thesis and bolster it.

5. Organise Your Main Points: Identify the key arguments that support your thesis statement. Use logical arguments, emotional appeals and concrete evidence to build a strong case. Aim for two or three main points to keep your audience engaged without overwhelming them. Does each point back up your thesis? If not, you should scrap it and look into other ideas.

6. Address Counterarguments: Anticipate potential counterarguments and address them in your main points. This will show that you’ve done your research and are prepared to respond to opposing views, enhancing your credibility.

7. Create an Attention-Grabbing Introduction: Craft an introduction that grabs the audience’s attention and sets the tone for your speech. Use a hook, such as a story, a joke or a rhetorical question, to engage your audience right from the start. You should usually avoid startling facts, statistics and quotes – these generally don’t engage anyone.

8. Develop a Strong Conclusion: Summarise your main ideasand reiterate your thesis statement. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. A strong closing statement can motivate your audience to act on your message.

Understanding Your Audience

Understanding your audience is crucial in delivering a successful speech. Knowing your audience’s demographics, interests, and concerns will help you tailor your message and increase its effectiveness. Here are some tips to help you understand your audience:

1. Research Your Audience: Gather information about your audience’s demographics, interests, and concerns. Use this information to tailor your message and make it more relatable. Understanding who your audience members are will help you connect with them on a deeper level. Speaking to your class or your teacher? You should already know them pretty well!

2. Consider Their Values and Beliefs: Understand what your audience values and believes in. This will help you appeal to their emotions and values, making your speech more persuasive. Aligning your message with their core beliefs can significantly enhance your persuasive power.

3. Identify Their Needs and Concerns: Identify your audience’s needs and concerns. Address these concerns in your speech and provide solutions that resonate with them. Showing empathy and understanding can build trust and make your message more compelling.

4. Use Language They Understand: Use language that your audience understands. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may confuse them. Clear and simple language ensures that your message is accessible to everyone, but especially other children. This may change depending on the audience – a room full of scientists will know the word ‘osmosis’, but your any school-aged student who tunes out in biology or an audience of lawyers probably doesn’t.

5. Make It Relevant: Make your message relevant to your audience’s lives. Use examples and anecdotes that they can relate to. Personal stories or real-life examples can make your speech more engaging and memorable.

Key Elements of a Successful Persuasive Speech

Crafting a successful presentation involves mastering the three pillars of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos involves building trust and demonstrating authority on the subject matter, which can be achieved by showcasing your credibility and expertise. When your audience believes in you, they are more likely to be persuaded by your arguments. You can also utilise other things to build a sense of competence – think of politicians standing in front of flags or principals behind lecterns with the school logo. Ethos isn’t just the speech itself, but is also determined by the context you give it in.

Pathos, or emotional appeal, plays a significant role in persuasion. It can invoke a range of emotional responses, from humor to love, which enhances the persuasive impact and gets your audience onside. Humans are better with emotions than facts because they use a different, simpler part of the brain. Emotions can be a powerful motivator, and connecting with your audience on an emotional level can make your message more impactful. Use storytelling, anecdotes, and vivid language to appeal to your audience’s emotional core. Creating an emotional connection makes your message more relatable and compelling.

Logos refers to the logical appeal of the speech. Use facts, statistics, and evidence to build a strong case and effectively persuade your audience. Logical ideas provide a solid foundation for your message and help convince your audience through reason. But don’t rely too heavily on this – people tune out when things become too factual, and you need to remember to emphasise the Pathos of your speech as well!

By effectively combining ethos, pathos, and logos, you can create a persuasive speech that resonates with your audience and inspires them to take action.

Choosing Persuasive Speech Topics

Choosing the right persuasive speech topic is crucial for a successful presentation. Understanding your audience enables you to tailor your speech effectively. This will help it resonate with their interests and concerns. Selecting topics that align with your personal interests can also enhance the engagement level of your speech.

Good examples of persuasive speech topics are interesting, relevant to the audience, and can spark controversy and discussion (but not too much controversy and discussion). Remember, audiences have limited time and attention, so the best persuasive speech examples are simple yet impactful.

As always, the question you should be asking yourself is: ‘What is the one thing you want your audience to walk away with?’ Everything in your presentation should be targeted towards achieving this goal.

Passion is Key

Passion is the driving force behind an effective persuasive speech. When you choose a point of view you are passionate about, it significantly improves the effectiveness of your speech. Your enthusiasm can drive the audience toward embracing your viewpoint.

A speaker’s passion enhances their credibility and makes their arguments more compelling. A passionate delivery can increase audience engagement and retention of the message. Whether it is the main character of your favourite game, sports teams, or your political opinion on current affairs, your passion will shine through when speaking on a topic you’re passionate about.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Choosing the right topic is essential for persuading your audience effectively and ensuring a favourable reception. A point of view that resonates with your audience’s interests and values (but doesn’t simply mirror them back) will increase engagement and help persuade your listeners.

Avoiding overly controversial topics minimises the risk of alienating your audience and detracting from your main argument. That said, some controversy is still necessary – dull topics can lead to disengagement, whilst ensuring your subject is dynamic and stimulating keeps your audience invested. Incorporating interesting anecdotes or relevant examples related to your point of view can enhance audience connection and retention.

Structuring Your Persuasive Speech

A clear goal and outline are the foundation of a successful presentation. Begin by identifying and structuring your key arguments, ensuring each is supported by solid evidence to enhance credibility. Whilst you may be sure that something is correct, you should also always check your facts. Tailor your presentation to the audience’s age, gender, culture, and shared interests to ensure engagement.

Use smooth but distinct transitions between points to help maintain a logical flow, making your opinion more coherent. Make sure that there is only one main goal or question that you are answering. If you aim to achieve more than one thing, choose what is most important, as the other goals are secondary to your main goal, particularly at this particular point.

This leads to the three components of an effective presentation tailored to persuade others.

Strong Introduction

A strong opening is crucial as it grabs the audience’s attention and sets a positive first impression. An engaging introduction starts with something to engage your audience. Stories, jokes, and rhetorical questions often work well as an attention-grabbing statement, but facts, statistics, and quotes usually make an audience yawn, so you should avoid them.

Make sure to choose your catchy opening based on the audience. A joke might land great with your peers but may be completely inappropriate for parents and teachers. Remember who you are talking to!

Presenting Key Arguments

Logic (Logos) serves as the foundation of your arguments, guiding the audience toward a necessary idea. Select two or three main arguments (with your strongest argument coming first) to maintain audience interest and effectively support your stance. Try to avoid four or more arguments, as the more arguments you choose, the more likely your audience is to switch off. Three is usually the magic number.

Use objective research and examples to support your arguments in a persuasive speech, as this showcases logic and credibility. But do not stop there. Logic is critical, but humans do not necessarily listen to it. Emotion is a far better way to get people onside. Pull at their heartstrings, make them laugh, and then relate the anecdote back to the logical point you are trying to make, effectively appealing to the audience’s emotions. That is a far more persuasive way to get an audience onside.

Addressing Counter Arguments

Speakers often assume that the audience already believes them, which can lead to complacency in their presentations. Acknowledging disputes and counter arguments demonstrates a thorough understanding of the concepts and addresses potential audience concerns. Speakers should proactively address their audience’s beliefs and encourage engagement throughout their presentation.

When addressing something that doesn’t quite align with your thesis, make sure you’re not dismissive – give the opposing views the respect they deserve, as some in the audience may agree with them and be similarly dismissive of your presentation.

Crafting Your Conclusion

A persuasive conclusion should summarise key ideas and restate the thesis clearly. Reinforce your main concepts and include a call to action, especially if you want the audience to do something differently. The purpose of the conclusion in a persuasive speech is to leave a lasting impression and ensure the audience understands the message.

Ending with a strong call to action motivates the audience to act. Effective conclusions can either appeal gently or challenge the audience to take immediate action, serving as a powerful closing argument. Whichever it is, ensure that the closing line is both impactful and relevant to what you want your audience to take away.

Delivering Your Persuasive Speech

We’ve spoken volumes in other blogs about effective speaking manner – you can check them out here!

That said, you should remember the following:

1. Confident Body Language: Stand tall with an open posture to convey confidence. Use purposeful gestures to emphasise key points and engage the audience.

2. Eye Contact: Make eye contact with different sections of the audience to create a connection and build trust. This helps maintain their attention and shows that you are sincere.

3. Vocal Variety: Use a range of tones and pitches to keep the audience interested. Varying your voice can emphasize important points and convey emotions effectively.

4. Pacing: Maintain a steady pace to ensure clarity. Avoid speaking too quickly, which can cause confusion, or too slowly, which may lose the audience’s interest.

5. Pausing: Use pauses strategically to allow the audience to absorb information and to emphasise critical points. Well-timed pauses can add dramatic effect and enhance understanding.

6. Enthusiasm: Show passion for your topic through your voice and expressions. An enthusiastic delivery can be infectious and motivate your audience to share your opinion.

7. Clear Articulation: Pronounce words clearly and avoid mumbling. Clear articulation ensures that your message is understood by the audience.

8. Engaging Storytelling: Incorporate stories or anecdotes to illustrate your opinions. Engaging storytelling can make your speech more relatable and memorable.

9. Adaptability: Be prepared to adjust your delivery based on audience feedback. If you notice signs of confusion or disengagement, modify your approach to recapture their attention.

10. Practice: Rehearse your speech multiple times to become familiar with the content and delivery. Practice helps build confidence and reduces anxiety during the actual presentation.

By incorporating these techniques, students can deliver persuasive speeches that effectively engage and convince their audience.

Utilising Persuasive Skills

Persuasive speech skills are applicable in various contexts, including school speeches, student elections, and life generally. Fields such as politics, advertising, education, and activism highlight the importance of persuasive speech when the goal is to change someone’s mind. Practising persuasive speeches is crucial, as it benefits individuals in job interviews, business negotiations, and public policy discussions.

Writing persuasive speeches helps achieve success in university, career advancements, and personal life. Mastering persuasive speaking requires time and practice to enhance skills.

Summary

Let’s recap the key concepts covered.

We started by understanding what a persuasive speech is and the importance of convincing the audience. We then delved into the key elements that make a persuasive speech successful, including ethos, pathos, and logos. Choosing the right topic and structuring your speech effectively were highlighted as critical steps.

Delivering your speech with confidence, passion, and engaging storytelling techniques can significantly enhance your persuasive power. Crafting a strong conclusion that reinforces your message and includes a call to action is essential. Enhancing your persuasion skills through practice and application in various contexts will make you a more effective speaker. Now, go forth and persuade with confidence!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a speech meant to persuade?

A persuasive speech aims to convince the audience to adopt a specific viewpoint or take action. Whether it’s about voting or environmental initiatives, your words can inspire change!

What is the best persuasive speech topic?

A great persuasive speech topic is one that you’re passionate about. Choosing a relevant and impactful topic that you personally care about can genuinely engage your audience and spark meaningful discussions!

How do I write a persuasive speech?

To write a persuasive speech, focus on clarity and a strong introduction while supporting your points with solid evidence. By knowing your audience and anticipating counter arguments, you can craft a compelling message that resonates deeply.

Why do students love debating and public speaking so much?

Though some may see debating and public speaking as nerve-wracking experiences, many students love participating in these activities. In fact, there are many advantages to debate and public speaking for students. By encouraging participation in these activities, through enrolling in a course or a school program, parents and educators can help students develop important skills that will last a lifetime.

The surprising truth we learn from student feedback

At Speaking Schools Australasia, we work with thousands of students each year across various debating and public-speaking courses. With a strong focus on having fun and learning practical skills, we often see a lot of smiling faces in our programs. We run an in-depth survey with students who attend our programs. The resultant student feedback is a ‘guiding light’ for the many improvements we are constantly making to each unique program. The results we get are overwhelmingly positive and shed light on the much-asked question: why do students love debating and public speaking so much?

If you, like many other parents we work with, grew up without learning public speaking skills in a fun and encouraging environment, the answers might surprise you.

What are the benefits of engaging in debating and public speaking?

Confidence Boosting

Many students lack confidence, especially in front of large groups of people. Participating in a course about debate or public speaking can help students overcome this hurdle by gradually building up their confidence over time. Through real-life experience, they’ll learn how to project their voices, make eye contact, and speak with conviction—all important skills for success in school, university, and the workplace context.

Thinking On Your Feet

When you’re in a debate, you can’t always take lots of time to consult your notes or think about your next argument—you have to be able to think on your feet and come up with a response on the spot. This is an extremely valuable skill that will come in handy in all aspects of life, from job interviews to difficult conversations with friends or family members. While the search for an argument or point on the spot can be difficult at times, it strengthens our ability to deliver arguments that contradict the other side of an issue at a moment’s notice.

Persuasive Writing

One of the key components of successful debating and public speaking is being able to write persuasive arguments that are easily understood. This involves doing extensive preparation on a topic so that you can anticipate your opponent’s arguments and counter them effectively. By honing their persuasive writing skills through debating, students will be better prepared for persuasive assignments such as essays and expositions.

While all of these advantages make sense to us, they are not always the reasons that students have such a great time learning the skills of debating and public speaking.

What did our students have to say?

We asked our 2025 students how they really felt about debating and public speaking at SSA. The evidence we collected showed that the quality of education that our courses offer has been paying off for our young speakers. We measure the data and calculate the percentage of students who agree with certain statements in the survey. You can see some examples of the results from 2025 (so far) below!

Did you enjoy the programs?

Over 97% of students said ‘YES’! This is a big part of why kids love these activities – speaking in front of an audience and sharing their opinions can be a lot of fun. In fact, when we frame debating and public speaking as an opportunity rather than a chore (as many schools, unfortunately, portray these skills), we notice a lot of students experiencing a newfound enjoyment while speaking in front of a group.

Do you feel more confident about debating/public speaking after completing the program?

94% of students said ‘YES’! This is an amazing result, and one we’re very proud of. We put a lot of emphasis on having fun while learning practical skills, so it’s great to know that this comes across in the way our students feel about themselves.

Do you think that you can structure your speech better now than when you started?

Over 94% of students said ‘YES’!  This is another indication that our programs are successfully teaching students practical skills that they can use in their everyday lives. Learning structure can really demystify the task of writing a speech, allowing students to spend more time thinking about the fun things they want to talk about. This is true for debate speeches as well as public speaking.

Do you think that your speaking manner has improved?

Over 93% of students said ‘YES’! Speaking manner is how you speak. It encompasses elements such as pace, pitch, posture, hand gestures, and eye contact. Sometimes the reason students are not having a good time in debating and public speaking is because they perceive themselves as ‘bad’ at public speaking. Learning the elements of speaking manner and simple tricks to improve through our courses is often a huge confidence booster that makes speaking more fun.

Would you like to come back again and have another go next time?

Over 93% of students said ‘YES’! Nothing reveals how children feel about their extra-curricular activities as much as asking them whether they want to go back and do it all again.  We’re thrilled that so many students want to come back and continue learning with us.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of joining a debating or public speaking program?

‘Just do it!’ was the overwhelming conclusion of our surveys. You are far more likely to have a great time in one of our courses than you might think.

Our students understand that the skills they’re learning are valuable and that the best way to learn is by getting out there and giving it a go.

We hope this gives you a better idea of what our debating and public speaking courses are all about, and why kids of all ages love them so much.

Debating and public speaking courses offer many advantages for students, from boosting confidence to teaching important life skills such as thinking on your feet and persuasive writing. If you’re looking for ways to help your child thrive both inside and outside the classroom, encourage them to participate in these activities!

So you’ve signed up for a public speaking competition or you’ve received a speech assignment at school, and you’ve been given a ‘topic area’ that your speech needs to be related to. But what exactly is a topic area and how do you interpret it?

Topic areas are the broad themes that public speaking competitions will use to guide their contestants in writing a speech. These topics can be anything from sports, to current affairs, to history and culture. It’s up to the individual speaker to take these topics and make them personalised and meaningful to them.

When it comes to public speaking competitions, one of the most important things you need to do is interpret the topic area into a personalised topic that has meaning to you. This can be a tricky task, but don’t worry, we’re here to help!

This blog post will teach you everything you need to turn a topic area into an amazing personalised speech that you and your audience will love.

The first step is to understand what the topic area is used for. In most cases, the topic area will be a broad theme that the competition organisers want you to speak about. For example, common topic areas include simple phrases that capture a common human experience.

Examples of Public Speaking Topic Areas

Some speech topic areas may include:

• Real wealth is never measured by money
• The world is a smaller place these days
• If I could change the world
• The meaning of belonging
• The process of discovery
• The importance of leadership

Once you know what the topic area is about, it’s time to start thinking about how you can personalise it to become the perfect speech topic for you. This is where you can get creative!

Turning a broader speech topic area into a speech topic that you love to talk about is an important step that makes the process of giving a speech fun and rewarding. Most topic areas lend themselves to a whole variety of interesting speech topics. You could write a funny speech, a persuasive speech, an informative research-based speech, or one that is tailored to your audience!

Here are some tips to help you personalise your topic:

• Think about your own experiences and how they relate to the topic area.
• Identify a problem that you feel passionately about and how the topic area can help address it.
• Come up with an original angle or perspective on the topic area.
• Think about how the topic area can be interpreted in a unique way.

If nothing jumps out at you straight away, there are a few strategies you can use to distil the broader topic of the competition into a clever interpretation that suits you perfectly. Keep reading to find out what to do to come up with interesting speech topics for your speech competition.

Strategy #1: Analyse the topic

The first step is to break down the topic area into smaller parts. For example, if the topic area is “The world is a smaller place these days”, you could break it down into the following subtopics:

• How technology has made the world smaller
• The pros and cons of a smaller world
• How to adjust to a smaller world

Strategy #2: Get personal

Think about how the topic area affects you personally. For example, if the topic area is “The process of discovery helps us to meet ourselves”, you could interpret it as follows:

• How the discovery process has helped me to understand myself better
• What I have learned about myself through discovery
• How the discovery process can help others to understand themselves better

Strategy #3: Think abstractly

If you’re struggling to come up with a personalised topic, it can be helpful to think about the topic area in an abstract way.

Once you have a personalised topic, the next step is to make the link between your topic and the topic area clear to the judge. This can be done by using keywords from the topic area in your speech. For example, if the topic area is “The world is a smaller place these days”, you could use keywords such as “globalisation”, “connectivity” or “interconnectedness” in your speech. This will help the judge understand how your topic is relevant to the topic area.

Strategy #4: Mindmapping

Mind mapping can be a wonderful tool for coming up with a unique idea for your speech. Mind mapping is a creative process where you map out all your ideas on paper. It can help you brainstorm and make connections between different topics and ideas. So how do you mind map your way towards a great speech idea?

Start by writing down the topic area at the centre of a page. Then draw lines radiating outwards, and start jotting down ideas related to the topic area as they come to you. You can also draw arrows connecting different ideas together to create a network of related topics. This process can help you uncover unexpected connections between different aspects of the public speaking competition topic area and generate unique ideas for your speech.

Strategy #5: Start with an Anecdote

Storytelling is a huge part of human communication. When we tell stories, we can teach lessons and pass on our wisdom in an interesting way that engages all of our listeners in an immersive learning process. When you get assigned a topic area for a public speaking competition, a great strategy is to start telling an anecdote about the topic and see where it takes you. An anecdote is a personal experience that offers an interesting perspective on the topic area. To come up with an anecdote,  think about your own experiences that are related to the public speaking competition topic area. Then when you are writing, try to focus on the emotions and details that will help bring the story to life.

Strategy #6: Creative Writing

If you want to go down a creative route and come up with an original interpretation of the public speaking competition topic area, then creative writing can be a great way to do this. Start by brainstorming as many ideas related to the public speaking competition topic area as possible. Then take one idea and write it in the form of a story or poem. This will help you to come up with a unique and creative take on the public speaking competition topic area that can then be used as the basis of your speech.

Strategy #7: Read the news with the topic area in mind

It can be helpful to read the news with public speaking competition topics in mind. This will help you stay up to date with current events, and find inspiration for public speaking ideas. For example, if the public speaking competition topic area is “The benefits and drawbacks of technology”, then you could search for stories on how technology has impacted different people’s lives. Reading stories like this can help you find evidence and personal examples to use in your public speaking competition speech.

How to Interpret Impromptu Speaking Prompts

Finally, it’s essential to be prepared for impromptu speech topics. These are topics that you will be given at the start of the competition, with no prior warning. While they may seem daunting, they are actually a great opportunity to show off your public speaking skills! You can be prepared for this by coming up with potential interpretations of different public speaking topics before the day of the competition. You can do this by breaking the public speaking topics down into their basic components and exploring different meanings that could be found within them. This will help you come up with creative ways to interpret public speaking prompts when they are presented to you so that you can confidently crack the impromptu speech topic on the day.

We hope that this blog post has given you some helpful tips on how to interpret topic areas for public speaking competitions. Good luck!

Public speaking can be daunting for anyone, but for children, it can be especially challenging.

Over the coming few weeks, students from public primary schools across New South Wales will be preparing for and presenting their submissions for the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition. This is one of the biggest public speaking competitions in Australia, and is run by the Arts Unit (which forms part of the NSW Department of Education), with around 2,000 students representing NSW Government Primary Schools each year in the finals series.

Given many primary schools would have dozens of students clamouring for this opportunity, most hold their own internal public speaking competition to select four representatives – one from each of Year 3 to Year 6 – to represent them in the finals series.

This can be quite an experience, especially for primary school students who only have minimal experience with public speaking – but it also represents a great way for students to build confidence, develop communication skills, and learn about different cultures.

If your child is planning to participate in the NSW Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition, here are some tips on how they can approach preparing their speech.

What is the format for the Multicultural Public Speaking Competition?

Formally, there are two elements to the NSW Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition – a prepared speech and an impromptu speech.

That said, for the preliminary public speaking competition at most schools, students are limited to just the prepared speech.

In terms of rules for the public speaking competition, they are generally quite simple. Whilst schools are entitled to set their own, all the students are generally required to:

1. Choose one of the set topics for the public speaking competition (see below), which will form the basis of their speech;
2. Ensure their speech conveys a message that relates to ‘multiculturalism’, ‘multicultural themes’ or ‘multicultural perspectives’;
3. Reach the speaking time (which can also be seen below), making sure to stop before the warning bell; and
4. Only use themselves and any prompts (like palm cards) – props and external aids are not allowed in the public speaking competition, nor can they use a lectern or microphone.

The time periods are also spelled out quite clearly, with students:

• In Years 3 & 4 being expected to reach 3 minutes (with a warning bell at 2 minutes, and a continuous bell at 4 minutes); and
• In Years 5 & 6 being expected to make 4 minutes (with a warning bell at 3 minutes, and a continuous bell at 5 minutes).

For those four primary school students who are selected to represent their public school, they will then move on to three levels of finals:

• A local final, which will be open to around 2,000 primary school students from across New South Wales, with the winners progressing to…
• A regional final, which will be whittled down to the best primary school students in each region, with the winners progressing further to…
• A state final, which will be open to the top public speakers in the state.

The local final, regional final and state final are held across the year – you can find out more about the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition on the NSW Arts Unit website here.

What are the topics for 2025?

Each year, the topics for the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition change – some topics from past years have included ‘In my language‘, ‘Australia on the screen‘ and phrases as simple as ‘Healing‘.

For 2025, there are separate topic lists for the two different age groups in the public speaking competition, each centring around different multicultural themes.

For Years 3 & 4, the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition topics are:

• Learning together
• Sport brings people together
• What makes a good leader?
• The same but different
• Watch your language!
• Colour matters
• When does a migrant become an Australian?
• Welcome!
• Learning from the past
• No hate – just mates
• How far have we come in 30 years?

Whilst the Year 5 & 6 Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition topics are:

• Learning together
• Diversity and inclusion
• Multiculturalism and politics
• Sport – welcome to the club!
• Peace and trust
• Names matter
• Everyone has a story
• What happens there matters here
• Technology and multiculturalism
• Rebuilding
• How far have we come in 30 years?

How should I prepare?

Great question – there are lots of ways to help give yourself an edge!

Check out the below to learn more about how to use your public speaking skills to their best advantage in the Multicultural Perspectives Competition.

Tip #1 – Check the official marking rubrics

A good place to start is to give some thought to what your judges might be looking for.

The Arts Unit has prepared a handy guide that can be found online here that looks at their advice for speakers and the public speaking skills they’re looking for – but in summary, students should:

• make sure that they speak to time, but don’t reach the continuous bell;
• put a strong emphasis on natural, conversational and relaxed speaking manner (so students can properly show off their public speaking skills);
• pick a public speaking topic from the provided lists (please see above), and ensure that their speech centres around multicultural themes or multicultural perspectives relating to that topic;
• make sure that their speech has an opinion or perspective on the topic that they are using to persuade their audience;
• present a balanced approach to public speaking, with a mix of things like big picture and personal, emotions and facts, and humour and sincerity; and
• follow, at least in part, a relatively standard speech structure – a catchy introduction, a body that explains 2-3 points and a conclusion that leaves audiences with a clear idea of what should happen next.

Many schools will also publish their own marking rubrics for the public speaking competition as well, which will give a better understanding of what your teachers are looking for when deciding who to put through to the finals. The public speaking skills each primary school is looking for will vary, but will generally involve some balance between the 3 M’s – Matter (the content), Method (the structure) and Manner (the way it’s presented).

Please keep an eye out for one of these if your public school has distributed it!

Tip #2 – Picking the right speech topic

One of the nice parts of the NSW Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is the number of topics that the primary school students are provided with – whilst everyone must speak about multicultural themes or multicultural perspectives in some way, the variation and range of topics make it much easier for all the students to pick one that suits them!

We’ve pulled together a blog that focuses solely on this point which you can access here, but in summary:

• Have a look at the topics provided by the Arts Unit, and give each of them some thought about what they might mean;
• Brainstorm a list of topics that interest you and explore ideas related to those topics;
• Narrow down your list to a few speech topics that you feel passionate about;
• Decide on the purpose of your speech (do I want to inform, entertain or persuade my audience);
• Choose the topic for the public speaking competition that you can talk about most confidently and convincingly and use to show off your public speaking skills; and
• Do research on the topic to make sure your information is up-to-date, accurate and serves the aims of your speech!

Importantly, whilst some of the topics can have general meanings – think ‘Privilege‘ or ‘Voyages‘, it’s important to remember that the central concept needs to revolve around multicultural perspectives or multicultural themes – it is crucial to ensure that your message relates to this!

If you’re having difficulty coming up with a topic that suits you for the public speaking competitions, we’ve also put together a range of strategies that can help – you can check out a blog on interpreting speech topics here!

Tip #3 – Pull together your speech body

Whilst you always begin with an introduction when presenting, this isn’t actually how you should start your preparation for a public speaking competition.

Instead, it is almost always better to begin writing the body paragraphs of your speech first.

There are lots of ways that you can explore ideas and pull together points for a speech for a public speaking competition, but the main ideas you should keep in mind are:

• Body paragraphs are the heart and soul of a speech, typically comprised of three paragraphs.
• PEEL is a popular structure for body paragraphs; Point, Explain, Example and Link.
• Writing for speeches should keep in mind that its purpose is to be read aloud (which will have an impact on word choice and sentence length).

Rather than writing long lists of tips and tricks, the best way to learn more about preparing your speech paragraphs is to check out the below videos from our YouTube channel!

Tip #4 – Capture your audience’s attention

A good speech should have a clear and engaging introduction that captures the audience’s attention and shows off your public speaking skills.

Encourage your child to start with a strong hook – something that grabs the attention of their audience – rather than simply starting with their name and topic (which comes later).

We’ve got a detailed blog on how to start speeches for kids, but in summary:

• Many people feel anxious when they have to speak in front of an audience, especially in public speaking competitions where there is something at stake.
• Introductions are key – they should be engaging and excite the audience, especially children.
• Using a structure like CATS – Catchy Opening, Address the Audience, Topic and Signposting – can make a real difference.
• Starting with a personal anecdote or rhetorical question can be effective in grabbing attention.
• Bold statements, statistics and quotes may also work, but are often done poorly.
• When writing the introduction, keep it simple and focus on just one idea (which can be backed up by multiple arguments).

Finally, given audiences will make a strong first impression based on your introduction, it is very important to get things right – make sure that you practice it multiple times, so you sound confident and coherent when presenting!

Tip #5 – Conclude your speech with a strong call to action

Similarly, a good conclusion should summarise the main points of your speech and leave the audience with a lasting impression.

Encouraging your child to conclude with a call to action or thought-provoking question can help them to improve their speechwriting skills and their ability to communicate effectively. Not only can this make their speech more engaging and persuasive, but it can also encourage their audience to take action or think more deeply about the topic at hand.

One common structure for conclusions is ‘ESC’, which stands for:

• E: Ending Phrase – Use a short, easily understood phrase to let the audience know you’re concluding your speech (e.g. ‘In conclusion’).
• S: Summarise – Summarise the main ideas in your speech – this could be a list, but it is often more effective to summarise the key idea.
• C: Call to Action – Give a call to action or a thought-provoking question that leaves the audience understanding what you want their next step to be.

By developing this skill at a young age, your child will be better equipped to succeed not just in any presentation they may need to give, but in all areas of their life where communication is key.

Tip #6 – Practice, practice, practice

Preparing a speech doesn’t end once it’s been written.

Practice is key to delivering a confident and effective speech. Encourage your child to practice their speech in front of a mirror, family members, and friends.

Whilst speaking manner is viewed holistically by judges, it is important to pay attention to its elemental parts that build into the whole. The types of things that judges will often be looking for might include:

• Stance – how you hold yourself (ideally with a confident stature)
• Body language & gestures – how you use your body to convey meaning
• Eye contact – how often you look up at the audience
• Enunciation – how easily your words are understood
• Pace – the speed with which you talk, and the pauses that you take
• Tone & Expression – where you place emphasis and emotion in your voice

For each of these things, the most important thing is to be natural – you don’t need lots of hand gestures, and you shouldn’t be artificially looking up at the end of every sentence with a cursory glance. Try to make each of these things appear as conversational and natural as possible, and you’ll be a long way to presenting an engaging speech.

Whilst there are plenty more things that you can focus on, the most important thing is not to try conquering everything in one go – pick something, work on it, and then move on to the next thing. It’s impossible to focus on everything at once, which is why we use habits – actions we don’t really have to think about, but just do instinctively. The aim of practising is to ingrain at least some of these habits to make the actual presentation better.

One last thing to note is that the NSW Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition encourages students not to memorise their speech – even if they’ve reached the local final or even state final – but instead use dot points on their palm cards. This means that you don’t need to learn it word for word – which, especially in younger people, often ends up with a relatively mechanical display. Instead, you are able to present as naturally as possible with the aid of prompts if you get stuck.

If you’re looking for suggestions on how to improve your speaking manner, check out one of our Speak to Inspire videos below!

Tip #7 – Get feedback and revise

Finally, encourage your child to get feedback on their speech and revise it for the public speaking competition accordingly.

Speechwriting doesn’t end when you’re ready to start practising – instead, you should ask for feedback from teachers, coaches, or anyone who can provide constructive criticism. Having received this feedback, you should consider any suggestions for improvement and make revisions as needed.

If you reach a local final, or end up going even further to the regional or state final, make sure to keep in mind that your speech isn’t static – you are welcome (and even encouraged) to continue to refine it as you progress!

Keep in mind that the goal of the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is not just to win, but also to learn and grow as a speaker.

Dealing with nerves

It’s entirely natural to feel anxious before delivering a speech or presentation, especially when it involves a public speaking competition.

However, it’s important to stay positive and to try some calming techniques. Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself that you’ve prepared for this. Trust yourself and your instincts and try to maintain a calm and confident demeanour throughout the presentation.

With a clear head, you can deliver your message with conviction and poise, impressing your audience and persuading them to your perspective with ease. Remember, everyone in the public speaking competition is in the same boat – they’ve either just given a speech, or will need to give one soon. The audience is on your side.

The worst thing that can really happen is forgetting what comes next, and even then, that’s okay – take a breath, make sure you’ve got your cards numbered, find your place and keep on going. You’ve got this.

Was some more information on how to deal with stage fright? Check out our blogs on beating the fear of public speaking and overcoming stage fright, or the below Speak to Inspire video!

What about impromptu speeches?

So, you’re one of the local finals speakers, or heading to the regional finals of the public speaking competition. You’ve crafted a magnificent speech using all the tips we’ve provided, but wait, there’s more!

Following the prepared speeches, you’ll need to deliver an impromptu speech – a compulsory part of the Multicultural Public Speaking Competition weighted equally to the prepared speech once you reach the finals series.

Whilst this doesn’t always appear at preliminary school rounds, some schools do use it as a tie-breaker when the teacher can’t decide between the prepared speeches, so it’s worth knowing how it all functions!

What’s going to happen?

At the public speaking competition, you’ll be ushered into a quiet room, seated at a desk and presented with an ostensibly random topic. And then the clock starts ticking! You’ll have a mere five minutes to build a brief presentation. No notes or plans can be worked on beforehand – just blank paper and palm cards to guide you.

The topic will be generic enough to leave plenty of room for interpretation, but rest assured, everyone at the public speaking competition will get the same one! It might seem daunting, but we promise, it’s not as scary as it sounds!

What are the rules?

The rules are set out by the Arts Unit, but can be summarised as follows.

First up is timing. All primary school students will receive the same five minutes of preparation time, with the following speaking times for each division:

• For Years 3 & 4, students should aim to reach 1 minute (with a warning bell at 30 seconds, and a continuous bell at 1:30); and
• For Years 5 & 6, students are expected to reach 2 minutes (with a warning bell at 90 seconds, and a continuous bell at 2:30).

It is important to not just fill the time with rambling, though – just like a prepared speech, the content you’re providing should be as concise as possible!

Second is the topic.

In 2023, the state finals impromptu speeches centred on ‘Impossible‘ for Years 3 – 4 and ‘Under Pressure‘ for Years 5 – 6.

Whilst you could explore ideas relating to multicultural themes or multicultural perspectives for either of these topics, it’s important to remember that this is not only unnecessary but is in fact actively discouraged. Judges are looking for fresh expressions that distinguish impromptu presentations from prepared ones. Using content from prepared speeches, whether your own or someone else’s, is not recommended, so it’s generally better to simply avoid multicultural themes altogether.

Third and finally is how the impromptu presentations are judged.

The rules of what makes a good impromptu speech are exactly the same as for the prepared section of the public speaking competition:

• Matter – It’s best to choose a single focal point to present instead of a jumble of ideas that lack direction. After all, you want the audience to remember something unique and interesting, not a rundown of mundane details. With that said, always aim to differentiate yourself from the other competitors by discussing a topic that’s captivating and a little bit different.
• Manner – It’s important to present your impromptu speech with the same poise and confidence as your prepared speech.
• Method – Just because it’s an impromptu speech doesn’t mean it should lack structure. You still need an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

Preparing for unprepared speeches

Despite limited preparation time in the actual public speaking competition, it is actually possible to prepare for an unseen topic – the best way to prepare for an impromptu speech is three-fold.

First, familiarise yourself with different speech structures you might be able to use in a pinch. Given impromptu speeches are substantially shorter than prepared speeches, the structures will often be different and only involve presenting one point.

Second, prepare a range of engaging and interesting anecdotes that you can bend to the topic. These may be from your own lived experience, or otherwise be things that you find engaging and can speak passionately about.

Third, practice with a list of impromptu speaking topics – whilst you can source these yourself, you can also look at some topics we’ve collated here.

Still not sure how to prepare? Check out some of our Speak to Inspire videos below to learn more!

Preparing for the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition can be a rewarding experience for primary school students across New South Wales.

By choosing a topic they are passionate about, researching it thoroughly, writing an engaging introduction and conclusion, practising their delivery, and getting feedback and revising, they can develop valuable communication skills and confidence.

Encourage your child to approach the NSW Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and grow.

Good luck!

Over the past two months, students at SSA have been hard at work preparing, practising and presenting their speeches for the our third public speaking competition, the Rising Voices Public Speaking Championship.

Last weekend saw the culmination of the Championship, with 24 participants vying for a trophy across four age divisions.

This year, the theme of the competition was ‘Empowerment’, where all speakers were asked to devise and deliver a speech on a topic that relates to this theme. Each age group had five topics they could choose from, ranging from ‘How can I be a leader’ for Stage #1 students to ‘Equal opportunity = equal respect’ for Stage #4 students.

Our three judges – Luisa, Cassidy and Rani – had a huge task determining only four champions across the four divisions. Despite having an incredibly tough time deciding between all the exceptional presentations – which took twice as long as we had scheduled, given the difficulty of the decision – they eventually emerged with four champions:

• Stage #1 – Ashlyn
• Stage #2 – Samouel
• Stage #3 – Mar
• Stage #4 – Rohan

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who joined us in showing support for these remarkable young speakers.

Finally, a big congratulations to all the winners and finalists – we feel empowered by the remarkable skill, effort and charisma you showed throughout the competition!

What is the Rising Voices Championship?

The Rising Voices Public Speaking Championship is an exciting competition that encourages students to hone their speaking skills and share their ideas with others.

Building off previous iterations of the SSA Cup in 2022 and the Sydney Speaking Competition in 2021, this year’s theme was “Empowerment,” providing contestants with a chance to discover how their voices can make a positive impact on themselves and those around them.

The competition was divided into four divisions: Stage #1 (Years 1 & 2), Stage #2 (Years 3 & 4), Stage #3 (Years 5 & 6) and Stage #4 (Years 7 – 9), each with a different set of topics that they could choose from.

All participants were judged on three primary criteria: manner (body language, eye contact, vocal variety and overall delivery), matter (the content of their speech) and method (speech structure).

Stage #3 and Stage #4 students were also judged in an Impromptu Category, in which they were given 5 minutes to prepare a speech on the topics “Courage” and “Kindness” respectively.

While there can only be three champions in each division, every participant delivered remarkable speeches that truly stood out. Keep reading to discover the complete lists of finalists and winners from this year’s competition!

The Empowering Qualities of Public Speaking

Public speaking is an important skill that empowers students in a variety of ways.

Firstly, it helps students develop confidence and self-esteem. By speaking in front of an audience, students are forced to confront their fears and overcome them. This makes them more confident and self-assured in their day-to-day lives, empowering them to seek out positive changes they can make in the world.

Secondly, public speaking is a great way to improve critical and creative thinking skills. When students are given a topic to speak about, they are forced to research and think critically in order to develop a compelling argument. This not only improves their critical thinking abilities, but also their creativity. By presenting new and innovative ideas to an audience, students are empowered to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems.

Finally, public speaking is an important tool for leadership development. Effective leaders are able to communicate their vision and inspire their teams. Public speaking provides an opportunity for students to develop these leadership skills by presenting their ideas to a group of people. By learning how to engage and persuade an audience, students are empowered to become future leaders in their communities and careers.

Finalists & Winners at Rising Voices 2023

Division #1 (Years 1 & 2)

Congratulations to the six finalists selected for the Stage #1 Division of the Rising Voices Championship 2023!

Ashlyn – First Place

William – Second Place

Ridhi – Third Place

Jasper – Special Award

Chloe – Finalist

Pia – Finalist

Division #2 (Years 3 & 4)

Our heartfelt congratulations to the six finalists chosen for the Stage #2 Division of the Rising Voices Championship 2023!

Samouel – First Place

William – Second Place

Hugo – Third Place

Brian – Special Award

Joanna – Finalist

Rocky – Finalist

A particular congratulations to Samouel, who was also the first-placed participant in the Stage #2 division of the SSA Cup in 2022!

Division #3 (Years 5 & 6)

We extend our warmest congratulations to the six extraordinary finalists selected for the Stage #3 Division of the Rising Voices Championship 2023!

Mar – First Place

Kiara – Second Place

Brian – Third Place

Lachlan – Special Award

Ishaq – Finalist

Sumin – Finalist

Special congratulations to Mar, who also achieved the first-place position in the Stage #3 division of the SSA Cup in 2022!

Division #4 (Years 7 – 9)

We extend our warmest congratulations to the six extraordinary finalists selected for the Stage #3 Division of the Rising Voices Championship 2023!

Rohan – First Place

Anna – Second Place

Layla – Third Place

Giorgia – Special Award

Dawsen – Finalist

Gurkiret – Finalist

Public speaking has the remarkable ability to empower students, fostering real change within ourselves and our communities.

While it demands hard work and dedication, the potential rewards, on a personal and professional level, are immense.

At Speaking Schools Australasia, we believe that every child should have access to public speaking education as part of their schooling so that they can be empowered to be confident communicators who can advocate for meaningful contributions within their communities.

Congratulations once again to our esteemed winners Ashlyn, Samouel, Mar, and Rohan. May this experience leave a lasting impression on all our finalists, instilling them with invaluable lessons and cherished memories!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported us throughout this event and look forward to more competitions to come – thank you for being a part of our journey!

Are you looking for some incredible speech topics for kids?

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this blog post, we’ll give you 101 amazing ideas for speech topics that will have your young public speaker feeling confident and excited to take the stage for their next presentation. From discussing their favourite sports team to sharing a personal story, there will surely be a topic on this list that resonates with every child.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

Looking for some fun debating topics? Check out our blog on debate topics here!

What makes a good public speaking topic?

Finding good speech topics, especially as a kid, can be an intimidating task.

As children, our interests tend to change, and it may be difficult to find speech topics that we can expand upon and still engage the audience.

It is important to remember that kids should aim to give presentations on any topic they are passionate about. Ideally, when looking for successful kids’ speech topics, school students should pick a particular topic:

• they know well, as this will help them give a good speech without too much extra research;
• that has enough content, which will help with speech length; and
• is interesting and relevant to the audience they’ll be presenting to.

Taking some time to consider all of these factors will go far in making sure kids create informative, valuable presentations that make their parents proud!

The three different kinds of speeches

Whether your child is a budding public speaker or simply looking to bolster their confidence in front of an audience, it’s important to be aware of the three main types of speeches they can give: Informative, Entertaining, and Persuasive speeches.

1. An informative speech teaches people something as they explain a process, inform about a topic, or share information with an audience.
2. An entertaining speech is more light-hearted and focuses on entertaining an audience with a story, joke, or anecdote.
3. A persuasive speech aims to convince an audience of a particular viewpoint. In these types of speeches, it’s important for the speaker to have strong topic knowledge as well as supporting evidence to back up their argument.

By understanding these three speech styles, young public speakers can choose the speaking style that makes them feel the most comfortable and excited about the task of public speaking.

We have provided a range of topics that fit into each of these three speech types and therefore will be perfect for any young public speaker, regardless of their personal preference!

Remember: you can always put a spin on any speech topic to make it more informative, persuasive, or entertaining. Feel free to challenge yourself by turning one of our persuasive speech topics into a comedic presentation or taking an entertaining topic and using it to build a persuasive speech – there is usually no need to restrict yourself to one particular style of expression!

Informative Speech Topics

At our public speaking courses for kids, we know how important it is to find the perfect informative speech topic. We want your young public speakers to explore ideas and topics that resonate with their interests and spark their passion for presenting!

From urban bees to sports nutrition, science experiments to art history, the possibilities are endless!

Our list of kid-friendly speech topics provides a great starting point for creating an informative, engaging presentation. Whether they choose a familiar subject or something new and exciting, our goal is to support student excellence in every way possible.

Check out these informative speech ideas:

1. Exploring the Benefits of Outdoor Play
2. The History of Video Games
3. How to Become an Eco-Friendly Consumer
4. The Positive Impact of Music Education
5. What Makes a Great Leader?
6. The Science Behind Climate Change
7. Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
8. Understanding the International Space Station
9. Discovering Ancient Civilizations
10. Exploring Different Cultures Through Dance and Music
11. Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
12. The Art and Science of Computer Programming
13. Every Day Victories
14. The Harms of Violent Video Games
15. Types of Alternative Energy Sources
16. Exploring Different Types of Art
17. The Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep
18. Ancient Mythology and Folklore
19. The Science Behind the Human Brain
20. Famous Scientists in History
21. The Most Delicious Meal of All Time
22. Recycling and Waste Management Solutions
23. Global Warming vs Climate Change
24. Robotics: Past, Present, and Future
25. Understanding the Solar System
26. The Biggest Social Issues of our Times
27. The Secret Life of…
28. Investigating Animal Habitats in Nature
29. Why E-Books are the Future
30. Exploring the Wonders of Chemistry

Entertaining Speech Topics

Figuring out entertaining topics for public speaking can be a challenge, especially when the speaker is young.

However, the right topic can be the key to making a great impression on your audience.

Whether you are interested in discussing robotics or telling stories of your own life experiences, there is bound to be an entertaining speech topic suitable for everyone!

Our rich variety of topics ensures that young public speakers have plenty of choices when it comes to finding what will make for a captivating performance.

Check out these 30 fun topic ideas that can humour, shock, or entertain the audience:

1. Proof that We Live in a Computer Game
2. The Best Jokes for Kids
3. My Imaginary Friend
4. My Crazy Summer Vacation
5. How I Got In Trouble With My Parents
6. Weird Foods Around the World
7. Fun Facts About Dinosaurs
8. Frighteningly Funny Ghost Stories
9. If I Were a Cartoon Character…
10. Embarrassing Moments We’d Rather Forget!
11. Epic Pranks I’ve Pulled off So Far
12. Interesting Reasons Why We Laugh
13. Life Through a Dog’s Eyes
14. My Favourite Outdoor Activity
15. If I had One Superpower…
16. Superheroes and Their Amazing Powers
17. The Best Thing About Dragons
18. Why Too Much TV is a Good Thing
19. Funny Things I’ve Heard on the Bus
20. Unusual Hobbies Around the World
21. Weird Etiquette Rules That Don’t Make Any Sense
22. How to Make Your Own Board Game
23. Mysteries of the Deep Sea
24. Exploring Outer Space: Astronomy for Kids
25. Fantastic Fables from Other Countries
26. Bizarre Traditions From Around the World
27. The Art of Storytelling: Creative Writing Ideas
28. Fun Facts About Animals
29. Learning with Lego: Building a Better Future
30. The Power of Imagination: Mindful Meditation Techniques

Persuasive Speech Topics

Writing a persuasive speech can be intimidating for kids, but it doesn’t have to be.

Not sure where to start? No problem! We have plenty of kid-friendly persuasive speech topics to get students’ creative juices flowing.

From discussing the importance of friendship and relationship building to spurring environmental awareness, we have the perfect persuasive speech topics for any young public speaker.

Become confident and display your power of persuasion with our helpful advice and engaging list of topics.

Have a look at these 30 persuasive speech topics that can help kids call others to action:

1. The Benefits of Social Media
2. How to Become a Responsible Citizen
3. The Value of Having Good Manners
4. Taking Care of the Environment: Reducing Pollution and Waste
5. The One Thing I Know About Eating Healthy Foods
6. Exercise for Kids: Why It Is Important
7. The Impact of Technology on Education
8. Building Better Communities Through Community Service
9. Developing Self-Discipline for Success in Life
10. Argumentative Strategies That Can Be Used In Everyday Life
11. The Power of Positive Thinking
12. Creating Lasting Memories with Family Time
13. Exploring Different Cultures with Travel and Adventure
14. The Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration
15. My Favourite Restaurant
16. Why I Learned a Second Language (and You Should Too)
17. Exploring Causes for Climate Change and Possible Solutions
18. Learning the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure
19. Making Wise Choices When Shopping Responsibly
20. Understanding Cyberbullying and Taking Action Against It
21. Finding Success in Failure: Reframing the Mindset
22. Learning About Money Management through Financial Literacy Programs
23. Practising Compassion, Kindness, and Respect For Others
24. Building Self-Confidence Through Leadership Activities
25. Using Creativity to Solve Everyday Problems
26. Exploring Ways to Balance School and Extracurricular Activities
27. Making Healthy Choices Through Positive Leadership
28. The Wisdom of Being a Young Person
29. Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Schools
30. Learning How To Analyze Fake News with Critical Thinking Skills

Classic Speech Topics for Kids

Not sure if you want to do an informative, persuasive, or entertaining speech?

Are you looking for classic topics that have been done time and time again but are popular topics for a reason?

Look no further than these classic speech topics:

1. My Favorite Book
2. What I Learned From My Pet
3. How to Have Fun Without Technology
4. The Place That Inspires Me the Most
5. The Power of Music
6. What It Means To Be A Good Friend
7. My Best Day Ever
8. If I had Three Wishes…
9. Living a Simple But Fulfilling Life
10. Celebrating Diversity in Our Community
11. My Hero: The Person Who Inspires Me the Most

Impromptu and Abstract Speaking Topics

Whilst approaching impromptu and abstract speech topics can be daunting, there actually isn’t much difference between them and normal speech topics.

Impromptu speech topics are usually more generic, providing students with the opportunity to reflect on their own lived experiences and share that with their audience. Rather than spending time finding the perfect content to fit impromptu speech topics, the better approach is generally to bend the topic to something that you’re familiar with and comfortable speaking about, whether it be knitting being the best part of your day or a conversation you had with a friend about time travel.

Being prepared will give your child the confidence necessary to make their presentation successful – so if you’re not sure what speech topic you’re likely to get, make sure to think up plenty of anecdotes before the presentation!

Picking the perfect speech topics for kids

Now that you have a fantastic speech idea, it’s time to get writing!

Let our resources help guide you through the speech crafting process (we’ve got plenty of blogs and videos to help) and give your child the opportunity to shine on the stage. Don’t forget to practice your speaking manner either, including your tone of voice and body language!

Moreover, our in-person and online courses provide step-by-step instruction and guidance throughout each program so kids learn exactly how real-world speaking works – all tailored specifically for your own future speaker.

You can also visit our YouTube Channel for advice to guide you through the entire speech writing process, as well as expert tips for practising your performance!

So don’t wait – take advantage today and get ready to stand out from the crowd with an amazing speech!

The task of writing a speech can be especially daunting. For young public speakers, often it is the first time that kids have ever had to write a piece that is intended to be listened to rather than read by their audience. On top of this, the task of finding a topic and turning it into a speech that your child feels comfortable presenting can be very overwhelming (especially when tackled all at once).

That’s why one of the best things a young public speaker can learn is how to structure their speech. As parents, knowing how to structure a speech for kids can take the task of speech writing from overwhelming and intimidating to fun and enjoyable. All you need to know is the purpose of a speech structure, the different parts of a speech, and ways to use a speech structure for kids. Luckily, all of these aspects are covered in today’s blog, so be sure to read on!

Want to learn more ways to improve at public speaking? Check out our seven key tips here! 

The purpose of speech structure for kids

There are a few important reasons why we structure our speeches as public speakers.

It makes it easier for the audience (and ourselves) to listen and understand

Writing something that is meant to be presented and listened to is very different to writing something for your class teacher to read. The main reason why kids need to know how to structure their speeches is to ensure that the speech is clear and easy to follow for the audience. With a well-structured speech, the audience can more easily follow along and understand its key points.

Why do audiences prefer to hear a structured speech?

Well, it’s all about flow. If the speech has a clear structure and transitions between each of its major points that are easy to follow, then this creates a ‘flow’ effect for the audience which can keep them engaged in what you have to say.

Furthermore, if your speech is structured correctly then it can be more convincing, as it will make your main points appear even stronger and more impactful.

It helps us focus our content

When you’re writing a speech, knowing how to structure it can help you to stay focused on the key messages that you want to communicate. Having an effective structure in place means that you can break your speech down into its major points, and then develop these in further detail.

This takes the guesswork out of deciding what details to include and which points should be omitted. With an effective structure in place, it can also help you to determine how long each section of your speech should be.

It can reduce procrastination and make speech writing easier to begin

Sometimes the most disappointing experiences for kids in public speaking come from the feeling that they were not fully prepared or wrote their speech too late to practice.

If you can relate to this – don’t worry! It’s a more common issue than you may think.

A lot of the time, the task of sitting down to write a speech is overwhelming because there are so many elements. The tasks involved include brainstorming ideas, researching, writing, checking the length, rehearsing, adding hand gestures, and even editing! If you add the fact that lots of kids are full of ideas to include in their speech, or struggling to come up with any ideas at all, you have the perfect storm for putting off the job of writing the speech altogether! So – how can having a speech structure in mind help this?

Want to learn more about coming up with exciting topics? Check out our blogs on picking the perfect speech topic and 101 incredible public speaking topics to see how to use your passion to make your next presentation even more engaging!

It makes speech writing faster

This is because having a structure to follow is like having a recipe. It reduces the feeling of having to come up with all the elements from scratch and can allow kids to focus on filling in the blanks with content that they’ve gathered while researching.

It also reduces anxiety. Having a structure can be helpful in reducing the anxieties of public speaking. It can help the speaker to know where they’re going in their speech, instead of feeling like they’re “winging it”.

It also makes it faster because it allows kids to work on one part of the speech at a time – if they are really stuck on their introduction they can move on to a body paragraph instead!

Now that we understand the purpose of speech structure for kids, let’s look at the different parts of a speech and how to go about structuring them.

The different parts of a speech

The first step towards having an excellent speech structure is to understand the different parts of a speech. Lots of people know that speeches can be broken down into their introduction, body, and conclusion. But did you know that each of these three parts can be further broken down as well? That’s why it’s important to know that there are two main types of structure in a speech: macrostructure and microstructure.

What is a macrostructure?

A macrostructure is the broader framework of a speech. This is the structure that most people are familiar with: the introduction, body, and conclusion.

An example of speech macrostructure for kids could be:

1. Introduction
2. Body Paragraph 1
3. Body Paragraph 2
4. Body Paragraph 3
5. Conclusion

What is a microstructure?

A microstructure is an individual scaffold or framework that can be used for each of the main parts of the speech. It is a smaller structure for each individual part. The microstructure includes all the elements like evidence, examples, explanations, and links to your main topic. You can have a microstructure for your introduction, a microstructure for your body paragraph, and a microstructure for your conclusion!

How to structure a speech introduction for kids

The introduction of a speech is one of the most important parts. It sets the tone for the rest of your content and should be memorable. An effective introduction will pique the audience’s interest, give them an idea of what the speech will be about, and provide a roadmap for them to follow. It should also give an overview of the main points that you’ll cover in the body paragraphs.

There are a couple of different ways to structure an introduction for kids’ speeches. One great structure you can use is ‘CATS’.

C: Catchy Opening

A: Address the Audience

T: Introduce the Topic

S: Summary of Points

This four-step recipe for an introduction covers all the important bases that are needed in a presentation. It’s also great because it reminds kids to grab the audience’s attention with something catchy before starting their other introductory work!

How to structure a speech body paragraph for kids

Body paragraphs are the heart and soul of a speech. They allow each individual idea to be neatly and thoroughly explored in a way that makes sense to the audience before you move on to the next idea. Typically, kids will have three body paragraphs in their speech, but this number can change depending on age and topic area!

A great structure for body paragraphs is PEEL.

P: Point – Introduce the main point you are discussing

E: Explain – Explain and expand on your point

E: Example – Provide an example to support your explanation

L: Link – Link the point back to the main topic

PEEL is a much-loved structure that is used in lots of different writing tasks for kids. It’s important to remember when using this structure for a speech that your overall purpose is to write something for people to listen to, not to be read on a page. This can influence our word choices and sentence length – so make sure to keep in mind that you want your speech to be engaging and exciting!

If you want to learn how to use PEEL for a kid’s presentation, you can check out our video below.

How to structure a speech conclusion for kids

Structuring a speech conclusion can be difficult, especially because there is lots of confusing advice out there! Have you ever heard that a conclusion should be your introduction restated? Or that a conclusion should be 50% of the instruction plus a call to action? It can be hard to know which tips are right, but luckily there is one easy-to-remember structure that will help kids to get their conclusion just right.

The ‘ESC’ Structure is perfect for kids’ speech conclusions.

E: Ending Phrase – Use a strong, memorable closing phrase

S: Summarise – Summarise the main points of your speech

C: Call to Action – Give a call to action or thought-provoking question

The ESC Structure is great because it is easy to remember and can be adapted to different speech topics.

If you want to learn more about ESC, check out our videos below.

How to use a speech structure for kids

Now that you know exactly what a speech structure for kids looks like – how should you use it?

Take time to understand the structures

The best way is to help your child learn about these structures and what they mean. The most meaningful part of the experience of using a speech structure for kids is helping your child to understand why each individual element is important and what it should look like when it is completed.

Practice, practice, practice!

The best way to make sure that your child is ready to use their speech structure when they give their presentation is to practice, practice, practice!

When they are practising, make sure that they use the PEEL and ESC structures as a guide. This will help them to understand how their individual points fit into the bigger picture and give them the confidence they need to deliver an effective speech.

Want to learn more about how to make an amazing presentation? Check out our blog to find out how!

Ask someone for guidance

It’s okay if your child doesn’t understand the structure on the first try! There are lots of ways to learn, and the process of practising is the best way. It may take a few practice runs to understand how to use the structure.

One of the best ways for kids to learn how to use a speech structure is to have them work with a teacher or coach who is experienced with the structure and knows how it works. Our public speaking courses are specially designed to introduce these structures at a level that is appropriate for your child’s age and experience level.

Kids are able to join our public speaking coaches online via Zoom or in person both after school and during the school holidays to learn all about public speaking, including how to structure a speech. Our classes all come with handy materials and workbooks that clearly have the structures laid out for kids to use with worked examples to help their understanding.

Check out our video below to find out more about our public speaking classes and how they can help your child.

Having a structure for kids to use when they are writing and delivering their speech is an important tool that will help them to communicate effectively. The CATS, PEEL and ESC Structures are some of the most popular structures used today, and it is easy to teach your child how to use these tools with practice and the guidance of experienced public speaking coaches. With these structures, your children will be able to deliver a memorable and impactful speech!

Remember: practice makes perfect. So grab a workbook, sit down with your child and get ready to explore the world of public speaking! Good luck!

Ready to help your child unleash their inner speaker? Check out our public speaking courses and get started today!

Find Out More!

It’s only natural that as a parent, you want your children to grow into confident adults who can express their thoughts and ideas in front of an audience without any fear.

Getting the better of this anxiety also has positive ramifications for other areas in life, such as school, social situations, and eventually life after school.

But for shy children, public speaking can be really hard, and standing up in front of a crowd could be one of the scariest experiences they can imagine. Thankfully, there are lots of ways you can help your child overcome their fear of public speaking.

Let’s explore eight effective tips and strategies to help kids find their inner confidence.

Whilst reading, make sure to keep in mind that everyone is different, so your child may resonate with some of these public speaking tips more than others!

1. Pick a topic that shows off your public speaking skills

Before implementing different strategies, it is important to ascertain what your goals are and what you are hoping to achieve. Ask yourself:

What are my child’s strengths?

What are my child’s interests?

How can they translate into an effective and engaging presentation?

Your child can start by pretending to be talking to a friend about a shared passion or interest, ideally as if they were in everyday conversation. Most people in an audience identify with a speaker who is interested in the material they are discussing as part of the speech – and has the body language and passion to speak up about it in an engaging manner – so a fantastic way to start is to ensure that kids speak about topics that interest them.

You can learn more about picking the perfect topic and how to start speeches in our other blogs!

2. Start small in a comfortable environment

Once your child has chosen their topic material, start small and build up their public speaking capabilities over time.

Your child can practice speaking in front of a small audience before tackling a larger crowd – the fewer faces (and the friendlier the faces), the less daunting it is to practice your public speaking skills in front of a crowd, no matter the size.

Invite a few family members or friends for dinner and discuss things that actively interest your child – pick an idea and focus the discussion on it, giving them lots of opportunities to speak. If they’re feeling shy, actively encourage them to talk with questions that stay on point.

Alternatively, you can also use things like board games (Articulate for Kids is a good one) where children are required to engage with spoken language at home and are forced to speak up to participate in the activity.

Not only will these give your child the opportunity to practice without any added pressure in a relatively stress-free environment, but they will also give them the opportunity to practice their social skills and help overcome any shyness they may have in that department as well!

Finally, you will also potentially want to debrief later on, and mention quietly to them how well they did, or that you enjoyed listening to them express themselves, or how glad you are they got involved in the discussion – this positive reinforcement, especially if they get a sense that you’re being genuine about it, can make a massive difference to their confidence levels and can go a long way to overcoming shyness.

3. Discuss Their Fears of Public Speaking

Talking about fears and anxieties is often the first step toward overcoming them. This might range from simple stage fright to glossophobia more generally.

You may potentially want to ask your child what makes them nervous about speaking in public and encourage them to talk through their worries with you and other members of the family.

Reassure them that everyone gets scared sometimes – even you – but by facing their fears head-on, they can become more confident in their abilities as a speaker. As we’ll look at below, regularly practising your public speaking skills can make a real difference to your confidence levels, especially for someone who is innately quite shy.

You can also take this further, and discuss what they think will happen when they get up to present – what is their worst-case scenario? Most of the time, it involves their audience laughing at them – if this is the case, remind them that most people in the crowd, especially other kids, understand what it’s like to feel nervous (and many know what it feels like to be shy) and that they are almost always on the speaker’s side!

During these discussions, it is important to empathise and show your child that even a shy person can be confident when public speaking. Nervous energy can be advantageous when overcoming shyness, especially when redirecting that energy into a heartfelt speech – public speakers are much more engaging to watch someone speak with animated body language and power behind their words!

4. Lots and lots of practice

Like almost anything and everything in life, practice makes perfect. There’s a good reason it’s an age-old saying!

The more your shy child practices and refines their public speaking skills, the more they grow used to it, even if it isn’t something that comes naturally to them. Like any skill, practising once or twice isn’t going to make a huge difference, especially for shy people. Instead, the focus should be on presenting to a group regularly, receiving feedback, and then giving the speech another go. It is only once students have a significant amount of public speaking practice that it becomes second nature and instils a newfound self-confidence.

That said, speeches often pop up in our lives when we least suspect, and you may not feel ready to give a talk to your peers – what should your child do then?

Set aside time to have them practice in front of a small group (ideally family members and a friend – people they’re comfortable with). If their shyness prevents even this, you may want to offer them a mirror (which is less effective) or to film themselves (which is more effective, as they can look back on it later).

The important thing is to ensure they deliver their presentation to you several times before they go public. When practising with you or another family member (or even reflecting on a video they took of themselves), it is an excellent opportunity for them to refine things like eye contact, voice volume, body language, and even nonverbal communication – it can even provide a chance to add more advanced elements to their speech, such as inclusive language and rhetorical questions.

You can even get them to run through their presentation without palm cards or notes in a conversational tone – not only is this an example of how to improve speaking manner, but it also means that they will learn how to keep on message even if they forget elements of their speech.

Make sure that your child has plenty of time to prepare for any presentations thoroughly, so they feel more comfortable when it comes time to deliver them in front of a less familiar audience. Speak with them about the ideas and topics they would like to include in their speech, and the message they want to convey so that they know their material almost (but never totally) by heart. This is a valuable tactic so that they can maintain a conversational tone instead of reading off palm cards word for word.

Remember, practice makes perfect!

5. Visualise Success

Visualisation is one of the most powerful tools we have for calming our nerves before speaking in public. Whilst this may not work for younger kids, it is an increasingly effective technique as students grow older.

Have your child close their eyes and visualise themselves delivering a fantastic speech that elicits applause from the audience afterwards. Sit with it for a few moments. How does it make them feel?

This technique, which derives from mindfulness practice, is a proven method for helping to build confidence and reduce feelings of anxiety and shyness before speaking publicly. Believe it or not, your child is more likely to deliver an engaging presentation when they imagine being happy while speaking – putting on a smile can make you smile naturally!

One part of visualising success is remembering that the audience is not judging but instead listening intently to the speaker’s ideas and message. Many children (and even adults) start off feeling nervous when they first give presentations, so most of those in the crowd will know precisely what it feels like to be shy.

But what if your child makes a mistake or uses the wrong words? Most of the time, the audience won’t even notice. Think about a concert pianist playing a brand new piece of music the audience has never heard. What would happen if they played the wrong note? Unless they drew attention to it and insisted that they start again, almost certainly nothing – they just continue as if nothing went wrong, and the audience is none the wiser. It is the same for public speaking – particular words don’t matter if you stay on message!

6. Slow Down & Breathe

Often it isn’t just the words that matter when you speak – it is also the negative space and where one takes a rest that makes a massive difference to how speeches are perceived.

Remind your child not to rush through their presentation – pausing between sentences (and especially after an important point) helps break it up into smaller chunks which will make it easier for them to manage (and for their audience to understand).

Additionally, breaking up the flow allows your child to present a clearer message, allowing the audience to focus more on an important idea and follow the presentation better.

You and your child can practice dividing your speech into sections bit by bit. One helpful way of doing this is to use a coloured marker and leave dots wherever you want to take a breath – this can also act as an opportunity to look up when you talk, allowing you to focus in on your audience as they watch your speech.

Additionally, taking deep breaths throughout (and especially just before your begin your talk) will help regulate your breathing patterns and lower your heart rate, which can reduce feelings of panic or anxiety during the speech itself.

One way you can work on this is by practising breathing exercises before public speaking – watch the video below for some specific techniques they might be able to use to help with your pausing! Whilst it seems very simple, a few deep breaths can allow better focus and keep the anxiety away.

7. Celebrate Small Victories

Every small victory should be celebrated!

Encourage your child whenever they take on new challenges or experience success when overcoming obstacles within their journey towards becoming a confident public speaker.

For example, did they put up their hand in class today? Fantastic! Did they speak with a person they wouldn’t normally? Brilliant! Did they express their opinion even though they were feeling nervous? Awesome!

Acknowledging these victories lets them know that you are proud of how far they’ve come already and serves as motivation for pushing forward further still. Positive reinforcement is imperative to ensure that your child can gain a sense of satisfaction from their speaking ability, and in turn, will give them the push to continue their journey in becoming confident speakers.

But what if they didn’t do any of those things? Negative reinforcement – even subtle negative reinforcement – won’t get near the same results as constructive and supportive feedback. Rather than criticising, it is much more important to be understanding of what happened, discussing why that was the case, and encouraging them with proactive strategies to ensure that they’re just that little more comfortable when they’re next talking to a person or in front of an audience.

Positivity in these circumstances will not only help your child when they make their next speech, but also boost their confidence in their school life and social life as well.

8. Take advantage of resources available to shy people

Public speaking is, thankfully, a skill that can be taught.

Participating in programs (for example, those offered by Speaking Schools Australasia) is a great way for introverts to receive guidance on how best to tackle public speaking tasks, as well as gain support from their peers in the same situation.

These types of courses are tailored towards people who may be feeling uncomfortable when public speaking and can help to build confidence by providing an environment and audience where everyone is supported regardless of their background or communication skills.

By providing tips, tricks and a welcoming audience for all speakers, speakers of all ages can take a stand and create speeches that have a strong message and can be delivered with power.

You can hear more about the programs Speaking Schools Australasia offers (and how they help speakers develop their communication and speech-crafting skills) on our website.

Putting public speaking plans into action

Public speaking can be a daunting prospect for young people who are new to it.

But with patience, determination, and practice, even shy people can gradually grow to overcome fear and anxiety, and become confident public speakers when they next need to give a speech to an audience.

So what are you waiting for? You never know, public speaking could even become one of your child’s favourite activities.

Want more public speaking tips and tricks?

SSA is on a mission to raise awareness on how to deliver effective and engaging speeches to an audience of any size.

We believe that every child has an inner speaker, that great communication skills can be taught and that any student – regardless of how shy – can find their voice and create a speech that shares their feelings on any given topic.

For further public speaking tips, make sure to check out the other blog pages on our website or videos on our YouTube – you can learn even more about overcoming stage fright in the below video!