 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Speech, speech!
By DONNA WINCHESTER © St. Petersburg Times, published December 27, 2000 ST. PETERSBURG -- Ten-year-old Chynna Jones was nervous. She had practiced her speech until she'd almost memorized it, but she still had butterflies. She looked around the room, flashed her classmates a quick smile, and launched into the story of Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph. In less than five minutes, Chynna was back in her seat, bathed in relief and a sense of accomplishment. She knew from her classmates' applause that she'd done a good job. In the past two months she'd learned the difference between successful and unsuccessful speeches. Chynna was one of 12 students in Darlene McLean's class for gifted fifth-graders at Bay Point Elementary School, 2051 62nd Ave. S, who participated in the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program. For nine weeks, the students honed their public speaking skills under the instruction of toastmaster Paul Rauch. The program is the Toastmasters' outreach to students in fifth through 12th grades. According to Rauch, 46, an insurance adjuster who belongs to Southeast Regional Toastmasters in Tampa, the students learned organizational, listening and leadership skills in addition to speechmaking. He explained that the students were responsible for running the 90-minute sessions, which were structured like adult Toastmasters meetings. "The kids learned Robert's Rules of Order, how to organize their thoughts on a particular topic, and how to communicate them to somebody," he said. "They also acquired the listening skills necessary to respond to other speakers and evaluate them." Rauch introduced the students to leadership principles at the first session, Oct. 5. They elected a president, a vice president and a secretary for the meetings. Students began sharing the responsibility of videotaping each other's speeches and presiding over the timing box, a pacing device that flashed green, yellow and red lights as the speeches progressed. During the next three weeks, the students introduced themselves to each other by giving "icebreaker" speeches of three to five minutes. "They found out how short a time that is," he said. "They learned they would have to organize their thoughts in order to use the time wisely and to make an effective speech within the time limit." The students also learned about table topics. Rauch threw out topics, and gave them 10 seconds to think and a minute or two to present. One student talked about why the color blue is important to him; another explained how to make pineapple upside-down cake. Rauch said the extemporaneous exercises help students become critical and creative thinkers. As their listening skills improved, Rauch said, their evaluations became more effective. "They were told up front that the point of evaluating is not to make them feel bad," he said. "The point is to let them know what they did well and what they could have done better." During the second half of the program, he introduced them to the importance of gestures. Toastmaster April Genter visited the classroom twice to instruct them on body language. They concentrated on gestures in their second speeches, where they were encouraged to speak on topics of interest to them. Genter was impressed with the progress the students made when she observed their final speeches Dec. 9. "I was just amazed," she said. "Some were strong on preparation, some with gestures, some with props. I was really surprised at how smart they are." Their teacher, Mrs. McLean, arranged the program last spring with Genter, who is a Toastmasters area officer. She had several expectations for her students. "I wanted them to feel more comfortable standing up in front of people and to make better eye contact," she said. "I wanted then to organize their thoughts more clearly so they would be able to make a speech long enough but not run over. And I wanted them to learn to do research." She said all her expectations were met in their final speeches. They incorporated everything they'd learned into three- to five-minute presentations on subjects of their choice. Kaeley Dawson, 11, called the last meeting to order. After asking Michael Scherer, 10, for the secretary's report, she introduced the first speaker, Justin Gray, 9. Glancing occasionally at his note cards, he made a speech about Australian Olympic swimmer Kieren Perkins. Nick Vargas, 11, talked about what he likes best about the gifted program. Stephanie Mendez, 10, talked about why she likes table topics. Kaeley introduced herself and gave a speech about growing up in Vina del Mar. Devin Perkins, 10, talked about soccer. Michael, class secretary for the second half of the program, talked about technology. He was pleased with his performance. "I'm usually comfortable with speaking," he said, adding that for him, the hardest part is the research. Rebecca Wright, 10, used visuals she'd taped on the wall behind her to illustrate her presentation on Olympic swimmer Brooke Bennett. Rebecca wrapped up her speech as the timer box's yellow light came on and thanked the audience for listening just as the red light appeared. Ohmar Wynn, 10, engaged his audience by asking questions during his speech on practice and preparation. Appropriate gestures and facial expressions earned enthusiastic applause from his classmates. Ohmar, the only student in the class with public speaking experience, entered ministry school two years ago at Jehovah's Witnesses Bayway Congregation. He gives weekly Bible presentations. "I practice and practice over and over again until it's just there. I just remember it," he said, adding that he doesn't find it hard to speak in front of people he doesn't know. "I just read over my notes. When I'm up there, I just do the best I can." He said he isn't sure how long he practiced for his final speech, but his mother, Sandra, said he worked on it for about three weeks. She said that Ohmar, who has been in the gifted program at Bay Point since second grade, practices his speeches in front of her. Rauch praised all the students at the conclusion of the program and presented each of them with a diploma. The students gave him a book filled with letters detailing what they'd learned to thank him for volunteering his time. Rauch said the best thanks is seeing their improvement. "I was so overwhelmed with how they learned," he said. "It was like a small miracle. If they can get better than you, that's the ultimate compliment."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
