ICC training events offer advanced training for communicators of all levels. Join us at one of this year's conferences to practice skill-building techniques, grow your leadership skills, discover unique communication opportunities, and gain insight as a Christian communicator!
General:
Q: What is a "cultural communicator"?
Q: What does the ICC do to foster cultural diversity?
Q. I am completely new to ICC. What is the best way to get started?
Q. What if I want my child to learn public speaking skills, but we are not planning on participating in competition?
Q: What if I can't attend the conference with my child?
Q. Can ICC bring a Conference to my area?
Beginning Public Speaking:
Q. My child is 10 and her communication skills are advanced for her age. Can I register her for the 3 day Conference?
Q. My child is 12 years old. Can he still come to the Beginning Public Speaking workshop?
Returning/Experienced Students:
Q. My student is a nationally ranked competitor. Will he still benefit from attending a conference?
Q: What does a Conference offer experienced students?
Conference Specifics:
Q. What is available for parents at the Conference?
Q. Can my younger children come with me while my older children participate in a Conference?
Q. Can ICC bring a Conference to my area?
Q. Do you have a place where I can share a testimonial of my experiences with ICC?
Curriculum:
Q. I am interested in the Beginning Public Speaking Curriculum, but I have older students too. What should I use to teach them?
General:
Q: What is a "cultural communicator"?
A: We believe that good communication skills are crucial success in the home, workplace, church and community. We want to train communicators who will go out into their communities and deliver their message in a way that is engaging, persuasive, thoughtful, entertaining and truthful. We want our students to become communicators for Christ who make an impact on today's culture.
Q: What does the ICC do to foster cultural diversity?
A: We believe thoughtful, authentic communication can and should help people from different cultures speak to, understand, respect, and support one other. Much of what we regularly teach and model at our training events provides students with an outlook that is inclusive and supportive of diverse cultures. Cultural diversity should be a natural fruit of training in public speaking on various community platforms, apologetics, audience analysis, and critical thinking. Even though we are far from where we would like to be right now, the skills we teach do foster awareness, which goes a long way toward this goal.
Q. I am completely new to ICC. What is the best way to get started?
A. For a jump-start into developing communication skills, we suggest you attend an ICC training event near you. If that isn't possible, check our book store which is full of helpful resources to get you started.
Q. What if I want my child to learn public speaking skills, but we are not planning on participating in competition?
A. We believe that competition is an opportunity to sharpen skills, but not the end goal of communication skills. That's why ICC's training programs are designed with an emphasis on real-world communication for real platforms given in real time. ICC's Forensics Society offers opportunities for students to practice the same speeches that they would prepare for real life platforms.
Q: What if I can't attend the conference with my child?
A: All participants are required to attend the conference with either a parent or chaperone. Parents and designated chaperones must remain at the conference site during the conference, and chaperones must be in possession of a medical release form at all times.
Q. Can ICC bring a Conference to my area?
A. If you are interested in hosting an ICC training event, please email your Area Coordinator. You can locate your Area Coordinator's contact information here: /chapters/find-a-chapter
Beginning Public Speaking:
Q. My child is 10 and her communication skills are advanced for her age. Can I register her for the 3 day Conference?
A. We regret that we cannot accommodate students younger than 11 years of age in our 2 or 3-day training programs. We do strongly recommend BPS+. Our instructors are adding new challenges to BPS+ all the time.
Q. My child is 12 years old. Can he still come to the Beginning Public Speaking workshop?
A. Our experience has shown that the one-day workshop is too simplified for the maturity and abilities of most 12 year olds. Unless your child has learning disabilities that prevent him from functioning at his age level, then the Beginning Public Speaking Workshop would probably be frustrating, because it will feel juvenile and not provide enough challenges. We recommend the 2 and 3 day conferences for 12-year olds.
Returning/Experienced Students:
Q. My student is a nationally ranked competitor will he still benefit from attending a conference?
A. Definitely. Whether you're a novice or reigning national champion, there is always something new to learn by participating in a conference. ICC believes that communication should impact our communities after students practice in competition. Part of ICC's mission is to "coach, develop and guide cultural communicators." Our interns demonstrate outstanding performance in a broad range of competition events and in their communities, creating a learning experience (and peer-mentoring framework) for students of all levels.
Q: What does a Conference offer experienced students?
A: ICC's training events, conferences, and camps offer networking and practicum opportunities, practical skill-building workshops and drills, and a vision for meaningfully applying Christian communication in exciting, real-life settings. Conferences help successful and experienced communicators take the next step by attending new workshops, participating in critique sessions with instructors, and discovering new venues for their communication skills. Even professional speakers have told us they learned new tips and ideas at our conferences!
Conference Specifics:
Q. What can parents do at the Conference? Q. What is available for parents at the conference?
A. We strongly encourage parents to attend the conference with their children. We offer a specialized track just for parents and coaches that provide insight into communications training and education, answer questions, and provide teaching and coaching assistance and tips.
Q. Can my younger children come with me while my older children participate in a Conference?
A. Non-participating children cannot attend the workshops. As we do not offer child care, we ask that you make other arrangements for non-participating children.
Q. Can ICC bring a Conference to my area?
A. If you are interested in bringing an ICC training event to your area, please v and email the Area Coordinator in your Area. Please visit our training events page.
Q. Do you have a place where I can share a testimonial of my experiences with ICC?
A. Yes! We love reading about how participants use the skills they've learned through ICC, and we also enjoy hearing your thoughts on the conference. Please share your experiences here!
Curriculum:
Q. I am interested in the Beginning Public Speaking Curriculum, but I have older students too. What should I use to teach them?
A. Our BPS curriculum is directed toward 5-10 year olds, or students in grades K-5, and designed to be used as a set which includes the DVDs, the Student Workpack, and the Teacher's Edition. For older students, we have resources for middle school and high school students available in our bookstore.