Public Speaking Classes | Potomac Debate Academy

Speak to the public.
Empower yourself.

Our online and in-person public speaking classes meet weekly and are taught by award-winning public speaking coaches. Students learn a wide variety of public speaking skills, including how to speak extemporaneously, how to bolster arguments with well-sourced research, and how to effectively use tactics like gestures and voice projection.

Fall 2024

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Class Level Descriptions

Intro to Communication

Intro to Communication is designed for students grades 2nd through 12th who are seeking to learn foundational communication skills. Students are separated into age-appropriate groups where they will learn speech principles and communication theory. During class, students will gain a variety of foundational skills including overcoming public speaking anxiety, mastering the speech writing process, and practicing speech delivery. All students will have the opportunity to work both individually and as a group on class speaking projects.
Competition Speech Team

These courses are aimed at students who have taken our Introduction to Communication course. It is a course for students who are interested in taking their newfound public speaking skills and competing in national speech tournaments across various events. Our primary speech events include: Extemporaneous, Impromptu, Original Oratory, and Storytelling. Students will receive instruction from their class coach in whichever event they would like to compete. Regular attendance or interest in speech competitions is necessary to join this class, as the curriculum is focused completely around tournament attendance.

● Limited Preparation Events. Students will focus on limited preparation events including Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking, where they will deliver a speech that they have crafted on the spot or with a limited amount of time. Students will be challenged to think on their feet, research effectively, and expand their knowledge of world issues.

● Interpretation Events. Students will focus on interpretation events
including Dramatic Interpretation and Humorous Interpretation, where they will act
out a speech that was written by someone else. In interpretive events, students will learn to
perform published materials to make stories come alive by using only their body and voice.

● Public Address. Students will focus on speech events known as “Original Oratory” or “Informative Speaking”. In Original Oratory, students will create, rehearse, and memorize a 7-10 minute persuasive speech with the purpose of changing the audience’s mind. In Informative Speaking, students will create similar speeches, with the purpose of the speech being to educate the audience.