Fast Track - Institute for Cultural Communicators

If you’re coming out to your first ICC event, but you’re 16 years or older, jump right into the excitement by joining us in the Fast Track. Here, you will practice presenting yourself on the public platform, using critical thinking in your day-to-day life, and communicating your convictions effectively. This is much more than a crash course in public speaking! You’ll be challenged to re-examine the way you view communication and your reasons for speaking, as we delve into the value of being an authentic cultural communicator. Carefully read and follow the assignments so you will be prepared to take full advantage of your Communicators for Christ Conference experience.

What should I prepare?

Download the homework here or check out the track homework below:

Speakers are welcome to revise longer speeches to fit within the conference time requirements or prepare new speeches. The shorter speaking times will enable you to participate in more conference speeches and activities.

While memorization is preferred, notes are acceptable. The more comfortable you are with your selection the more enjoyable you will find your speaking experience. Prepare to present each of the following:

Bible Verse with Explanation

Prepare a presentation including your favorite Bible verse with an explanation. The speech should be approximately 1-2 minutes in length. A few ideas to talk about are:

A situation in your life that this verse particularly applied.
You especially appreciate this verse when you are feeling…
You have shared this verse with…
This verse affects the decisions you make such as…
The verse affects the way I…

Prose Interpretation

Select your favorite bible passage; poem; or scene from a book, or play. Prepare your speech using your voice and body to convey the meaning of the selection. The speech should be approximately 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length.

Current Issue

Bring one recent news article. It can be from the local newspaper, God’s World, World magazine, Newsweek, or your favorite news source. Somewhere on the article be sure to record the author (if available), date of publication, and magazine or newspaper that you found it in. Prepare a one minute evaluation based on an article you have read in which you describe the social relevance of a recent issue or event (within one year). This could be about: a book or movie; musical group or artist; sports team or event; political event; a humanitarian issue.

Debate Topical Analysis

Bring a one minute analysis on the following debate topic: Resolved: Catastrophic cyber attacks against a government should be considered an act of war justifying military action.

Along with your analysis, bring two articles that affirm the pro side and two articles that affirm the con side of the resolution. Check out some helpful information about Public Forum debate

Learning Objectives for Fast Track

Download and print the objectives here

Objectives

To understand the vision of ICC as a framework for their communication
To dive in to communication training alongside other students their age
To discuss and interact with advanced concepts within a short amount of time
To apply real-world communication to influence their community

Literary Interpretive “Story time with Avery”

To explore the purpose of stories
To understand basic principles of interpretation
To practice telling stories in conversations
To learn to use stories on on the public platform

Homework applied: Prose Interpretation homework

Platform speaking “So What?”

To cultivate appreciation for creative platform speeches
To construct a platform speech
To discover different styles of platform speaking

Homework applied: Bible Verse with Explanation homework

Voice projection and inflection “The Megaphone Symphony”

To expand on and perfect various vocal abilities.
To gain an understanding of how to use one's voice properly on and off the platform.

Current Issues Analysis and Limited Preparation, “Eyes Open and Mind Clear”

To broaden understanding of current issues
To organize issues and details in a short amount of time
To effectively explain current events
To appreciate awareness of current events to engage culture and local community

Homework applied: Current Issue homework

Public Forum Prep and Debate

To appreciate the purpose of public forum
To discuss real-world applications of skills learned through debate
To analyze a public forum resolution
To brainstorm numerous sides to an issue
To learn the format of a public forum round

Homework applied: Debate Topical Analysis homework

Understanding Faith “Rainbows, Ponies, and Superheroes”

To discover the purpose of Apologetics
To spark a desire to communicate your faith with love
To cultivate tools for discussing personal and general beliefs

“The End is Not the End”

To equip students to bring the skills they learned back to their communities
To discuss how they grew through the event
To record the experience of the conference

To prepare for the presentation in the closing program