If you assign public speaking, oral presentations, debate, or any type of speaking in your classroom, I can bet that you are met with opposition from some shy students. Even our best writers, readers, and thinkers can be intimidated by a presentation assignment. The pressure not to mess up can be paralyzing for students. Why not precede presentation day with a few tips from a World Champion Public Speaker? Yes, that is a real title! I recommend checking out Dananjaya Hettiarachchi (that is his name) on You Tube. He is a multiple-time world champion of public speaking. Students can watch his award-winning presentations, and learn from his tips – much more than “make eye contact with your audience.” I showed this clip to college freshmen and they were impressed and learned a lot . We then discussed other speakers from pop culture and watched for what worked and what didn’t. It’s a fun lesson, and gives the students a confidence boost. Hope you find this helpful! Enjoy.
