Beginning Public Speaking Conferences (ages 6-10) - Institute for Cultural Communicators

What is Beginning Public Speaking?

Do you know children too shy to look an adult in the eye when introduced? Or do you have kids that enjoy talking to people—all the time? Regardless of your child’s experience level- or personality type, the CFC Beginning Public Speaking workshop will help your student improve his or her communication.

Reluctant and first-time speakers leave the workshop with a new level of confidence after working with instructors, and experienced children who have effectively taken the platform in the past will receive critique and have the opportunity to practice their skills further.

What will my children learn?

Students in the Beginning Public Speaking track are mentored and instructed in a small-group environment with different student instructors who provide feedback to their homework assignments. Each session is packed with activities designed to highlight different public speaking tips and guidelines in a fun and interactive way. By the end of the day, students find that they have given anywhere from 4 to 6 different presentations – and are begging to come back the next day! From reciting Bible verses to telling jokes to giving speeches about their favorite things, students leave the conference ready to give speeches without a fear of public speaking.

What must they prepare?

Download the BPS Homework

Favorite Bible Verse

Students are asked to find their favorite Bible verse and prepare to present it to the group during the conference. Prepare one or two verses in a passage- maximum of six verses.

Recitation

Students are asked to prepare a reading or recitation. This may be a poem, or prose selection, 30 - 60 seconds in length. Examples: Aesop’s Fables, Pledge of Allegiance. Be sure to time your piece to make sure it fits into the time limit!

Joke

Students are asked to prepare a joke. The joke should be told in the form of a story, not a riddle or knock-knock. Jokes told in the form of a story are most effective for learning how to incorporate humor into public speaking. Please use appropriate humor that will not be offensive. Refrain from jokes and stories where God or Jesus are the main character; where race and religion are mocked; and where people with certain physical features (e.g. blondes) are made fun of.

BPS Learning Objectives

Download and print the objectives here

To cultivate an excitement for communication
To expose students to the foundations of communication
To give students practical experience and guidance in public speaking
To practice giving different kinds of speeches

More questions?

See the Beginning Public Speaking FAQs

What is Beginning Public Speaking Plus! (BPS+)?

Last year, CFC launched BPS Plus, a program where “alumni” BPS students are able to enhance their speaking skills by jumping deeper into the realm of public speaking. These returning 9-10 year old students will participate in more advanced activities, as well as assist the first time students in other activities. Not only will these students gain additional public speaking skills, but assisting their peers will also expand the skills they have already acquired.

What others are saying about Beginning Public Speaking:

“On the way to the one-day conference, my normally outgoing 8-year-old son told me that ‘speaking made his stomach hurt.’ Being the compassionate mother I am, I told him, ‘We’ve already paid for the conference! You have to go anyway!’ But by the end of the day, he had volunteered to stand up in front of 150 parents and students and give a short speech about paper airplanes. When I asked him what changed, he said that the instructors had convinced him that he had to communicate for Christ and think more about others than his own fear. What more could I ask for?”
– Georgia parent and coach