Why Middle Schoolers Need Public Speaking
Imagine standing in front of a room full of classmates. Your hands feel sweaty, your knees feel weak, and your heart is beating like a drum. For many young people, the thought of speaking in front of a crowd is terrifying. However, public speaking is one of the most important skills a person can learn. Because communication plays such a massive role in everyday life, middle schools should require all students to take a public speaking course.
First, a public speaking class helps students build confidence and overcome fear. Fear of public speaking is extremely common among both children and adults. When schools require everyone to practice speaking in front of others, it normalizes the experience. Students quickly realize that making a small mistake is not the end of the world. By practicing speech delivery in a safe classroom environment with supportive teachers and peers, students learn how to manage their nerves. Over time, this nervous energy turns into self-assurance that benefits them inside and outside of school.
- terrifying:
- Extremely scary or causing great fear.
- normalizes:
- Makes something seem standard, regular, or normal.
- self-assurance:
- Confidence in oneself and one's own abilities.
- posture:
- The way a person holds their body while standing or sitting.
- elective:
- An optional course that a student can choose to take.
- podium:
- a raised stand with a slanted top that a speaker stands behind to hold notes or papers during a speech
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1According to the author, why should middle schools require all students to take a public speaking course?
- 2What physical reactions does the author describe that people might experience when speaking in front of a crowd?
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About this opinion / argumentative passage for Upper Elementary
“Why Middle Schoolers Need Public Speaking” is a opinion / argumentative reading passage about Public Speaking, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (459 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.