Martin and Brendan, representatives from Speakers Trust and the Jack Petchey Foundation, led the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge with our year 10 English learners. This program, running since 2006, has had a significant impact on young individuals, empowering them to find their voices and showcase their abilities to their peers and communities.
The workshop began with discussions about the value of effective communication, particularly in contexts such as job interviews and business pitches. Learners evaluated their own communication skills and reflected on areas for improvement. An engaging warm-up activity encouraged learners to introduce themselves to one another, sharing details about their interests, dislikes, and ambitions. This discussion and warm up activity set the tone for the rest of the session, as learners engaged in a range of practical activities to enhance various areas of their communication skills.
Throughout the session, learners explored the art of storytelling and acquired the essential skills required to become effective storytellers. They learned about crafting engaging openings and endings, such as using rhetorical questions to captivate the audience's attention and providing valuable takeaways from their speeches. In a practical exercise, learners expressed their opinions on the spot, following a structured format: stating their position, explaining it, and reinforcing it. Their classmates then provided feedback, following the WIN (wonderful, improve, notice) approach, highlighting positive aspects, suggesting areas of improvement, and providing examples.
Our course coordinators ensured that the valuable lessons during this session were reinforced with practical and engaging activities. By guiding learners through the process of crafting personal speeches, they provided a platform for self-expression and personal growth. At the end of the session, each learner had the opportunity to present a speech about their unique experiences, allowing them to develop their communication skills and gain confidence.
English teacher Sara shared, ‘It was amazing to see how much the learners' confidence grew throughout the session. They had the chance to delve into the importance of body language, interview skills, and making a great first impression. The practical exercises were so useful, and I know they'll make a real difference to our learners' future aspirations.’
By providing a supportive environment and practical guidance, this program has empowered our students to find their voices, articulate their thoughts, and make a lasting impression. We are grateful to Speakers Trust and The Jack Petchey Foundation for their commitment to transforming young lives through effective communication.