Tuesday, 10 June 2025Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: Insights from the S4 English Gifted Programme;
4J Miley Wu & 4L Cathy Chan
Public speaking plays an important role in our English learning journey. It’s a skill that teaches you how to communicate and leave an impression on others. In the S4 English Gifted Programme, we were taught how to improve this crucial skill and how to use it wisely.
The programme started with an emphasis on organizational techniques in speaking, particularly the concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos. These three distinct yet interconnected appeals are essential for persuading an audience: ethos relies on the speaker’s credibility and authority; pathos engages the audience’s emotions; and logos employs logic and reason to support arguments. With these tools, we learned to construct stronger arguments tailored to various situations.
Beyond speaking techniques, we recognized that confidence is a crucial yet challenging aspect of public speaking. The program imparted a vital lesson: you cannot convince others if you do not first convince yourself. If a speaker struggles to compose themselves and act naturally in front of an audience, their message may fall flat. Consequently, the program began with strategies for calming nerves before a speech and adjusting body language to convey confidence.
Public speaking is not just about talking to a group of people; it’s about connecting, convincing, and resonating. To speak convincingly requires practice and discovery. We need to incorporate our observations and experiences and take all opportunities for impromptu speeches to get to the top of the game.
Other points we needed to pay attention to were the delivery of the speech and the importance of body language, confidence, and pace. Emotional connection with the audience and engagement were as important as, if not more important than, the content. We learned to allow ourselves moments to breathe and to give the audience time to digest what we have said.
The programme was definitely worth my busy Wednesday afternoons, giving me a brand-new perspective on the art of public speaking.