The following classes which include TV Newsreading and Story Telling provide students with the experience of addressing the public using their own words, rather than performing the works of established writers.  They can learn to express their opinions with confidence, to persuade other people of their ability to create a structured argument and to use their imagination. They can learn the importance of appearance and presentation as well as developing their communication skills, valuable in future life, in interviews and possible careers.

Public Speaking

Two forms of public speaking are available, one as an individual and one as a member of a team.  Both provide the opportunity for presenting an argument in a persuasive way on a subject of their choice or, in the case of the solo class, on a set topic.

Bearing in mind the success of the BBC programme, The Speaker, we offer two classes, one for students 12-14 years and one for 15-18 years.

The second form is one that is used in competitions round the country, often run by local Rotary groups.  Students can therefore use existing work if they are already involved in such a scheme.  Each team consists of a Chairman who welcomes the audience, introduces the Speaker and the subject of the talk and finally closes the meeting.  The Speaker has the hardest preparatory task in providing the largest contribution.  But the member of the team who gives the Vote of Thanks has a tricky role in persuading the audience that the talk has not been heard before and that the ‘Thank you’ speech has been prepared during the talk

Teamwork is important in this class whereas in the solo class all is dependent on the individual.  Both these opportunities are valuable in building confidence and perhaps providing us with future orators, leaders of protest groups, even politicians!

Open to all ages

Youth Debate

This class also requires teamwork with some features similar to the Public Speaking Class.  This class was set up originally in memory of Robert Sparkes, a member of the local farming community who had been concerned about the lack of understanding between the communities in town and country.  This is the reason for the requirement that the topic for debate should reflect this subject in some way.

As with the previous class the team consists of three members, the Chairman who controls the proceedings and two Speakers, one to speak for the motion (ie the subject for discussion) and one to speak against.  The subject chosen therefore needs to be controversial.  Once again part of the art is to make the audience believe that each speaker has not heard the other’s argument.  Sometimes it is possible for the Chairman to persuade members of the audience to contribute to the debate before the vote is taken and the meeting closed.

Many students will have had experience of debating in school as part of the English curriculum and again there are local competitions run by the English Speaking Union.  This class provides valuable experience for those intending to involve themselves in student life at university or those thinking of entering a profession that requires public speaking e.g. law or politics.

18 years and under

TV Newsreading

These classes could be seen as a training ground for future broadcasters although we cannot provide the full studio atmosphere with cameras and autocue.

However we provide a script for the three age groups and in the two younger groups the opportunity to create part of the script with a news item of their own choice.  The scripts for these two classes are provided in advance so that practice and advice is possible.  The older competitors have a more challenging task as the script is provided only 5 minutes before the ‘programme’.

The techniques required in these classes are different from those in the previous classes because a newscaster has to be unbiased in delivery as information not opinion is being given.  Appearance and presentation are especially important in this class.

10 and 11 years

12 and 13 years

14-18 years

Story Telling

This class will appeal to those who enjoy writing or telling stories. Competitors are required to use their imagination in creating a short story stimulated by an object which will have been given five minutes before the competition.   The story should arise spontaneously and competitors should not be tempted to prepare a story beforehand and then hope that it will somehow fit the subject on the day.  Over the years we have had some amusing and heartrending stories.  Some competitors have difficulty in sustaining their theme while others do not know how to stop.  A bit of practice with younger children or sympathetic friends would be an advantage.

11 and under 15 years

15 and under 19 years

Please see syllabus for appropriate class number and time limit