Some of our top competitors were afraid to speak outside of their family when they started competitive speech. Public speaking is a skill that anyone can learn! It just takes practice.
Our high school graduates share they are well-prepared for college and career interviews with many interviewers commenting during the process that our former students stand out from other candidates.
Confidence can grow from tackling a new skill and/or getting through a difficult experience - such as your first tournament!
Those who are uncomfortable speaking in front of others learn to conquer their fears.
Students encourage one another and pray for each other at tournaments. They celebrate every victory - from being able to give a first speech to winning an event!
Learning how to not take corrective criticism personally is a skill that transfers to all areas of life.
Students leave a tournament with ballots from judges with suggestions of how they can better communicate in the future. They learn how to analyze these ballots and make changes to their speeches and presentation. Through this process, students begin to understand corrective criticism is helpful advice, not a personal attack.
Students grow from studying the Bible for speeches, listening to other students' speeches, and relying on God to help them participate in this new competitive activity.
Many former students share that watching the Lord help other competitor's gain confidence in speaking is a highlight of their time in competitive speech.
Grit is one of the differences between a speech class and competitive speech. While a speech class is helpful for learning basic public speaking techniques, competitive speech takes it to the next level!
Students pour their hearts and souls into creating a speeches they love. Then, after competing at a tournament, they take the judges feedback and make changes to their beloved speeches. It's a difficult process!
Over and over students have to set aside their feelings and make edits, eventually creating an even more powerful and treasured speech.
You'll meet other like-minded Christian families from around the state. These new friendships can be cultivated by seeing each other three times a year at tournaments!