The need for profiles to include new skills such as public speaking is becoming increasingly apparent. According to research conducted by LinkedIn, only 25% of the population is comfortable speaking in public — an essential skill that is increasingly valued by businesses. Knowing how to communicate not only demonstrates confidence and self-assurance, but is also effective when presenting projects and leading teams.

 

At The British School of Barcelona, we place particular emphasis on students being able to speak in public with confidence and assurance. At Pre-University, the Leadership Programme is a key element of our curriculum and is central to our commitment to preparing students for a changing world. The programme focuses on inspiring students and giving them the confidence to lead, manage and communicate the success of their projects. Each year, all Year 12 students have the opportunity to apply for a place on the programme, which is delivered by external coach Ben Walden.

 

Success story: Audrey, winner of the 4Voices International Competition

Audrey is a Year 12 student at BSB and a participant in the Leadership Programme. In March 2023, she was crowned the winner of the 4Voices International competition, which rewards young people for the best speech and public speaking.

 

As Audrey says, ‘Public speaking has allowed me to be more confident in myself and my opinions, which is a luxury that most teenagers don’t have. Having a platform where young people’s opinions are not just tolerated but actively listened to is key to giving us the tools we need to succeed. In my case, I have always enjoyed public speaking, but I started to train seriously through the school’s Leadership Programme. This gave me the opportunity to enter the competition and to develop my skills further with the support of 4Voices. These resources have allowed me to share my message about the academic pressures on students and make an impact on my community’.

 

Listen to Audrey’s full speech here.

 

León, a student not afraid of speaking in public

León, a Year 12 student, is also taking part in the Leadership Programme. Recently interviewed by none other than Cadena COPE, a national radio station, he explains that he didn’t hesitate for a moment when he was offered the opportunity: ‘All my life I have been very afraid to give a presentation in front of people; my legs would shake and I would start sweating’. In the programme, they helped him to lose his fear through a series of guidelines, teaching him, for example, the importance of making eye contact with the audience, how to project his voice with the right tone and even where to stand.

 

León is aware that public speaking is essential to succeed in today’s world. ‘I have an advantage over other young people because it is a skill that most people are not taught. I think it’s important to know how to speak well in order to communicate and be successful,’ he adds. ‘There will always be nervousness and that’s natural, but with time it will get better. You have to have confidence in yourself’.

 

Listen to León’s interview here.

 

James Petrie: Tips for improving public speaking

James Petrie, Head of Secondary and Pre-University at BSB Nexus, runs a public speaking course. ‘In general, public speaking is often nerve-wracking, no matter how much experience we have. That is why it is so important for students to understand that not only can they speak well and hold an audience’s attention, but that they can also overcome their nerves and anxiety. If we teach them to master this skill from an early age, it will be a great skill to take with them when they leave school and will help them enormously in their further studies and careers’.

 

In a recent interview for Telemadrid’s Madrid Trabaja programme, James offers a number of key tips on how to successfully develop this skill and overcome the fear of speaking in public.

  • Make students feel that their voice matters: Trust is key. Pupils who have a space in which to present and share their interests, thoughts, beliefs and points of view, with the necessary communication tools and skills, will have a competitive advantage in the future. To this end, it is advisable to promote the use of discussion techniques in the classroom that encourage them to go beyond short, simple answers and instead challenge them to develop and articulate their ideas in greater depth.
  • Put students in real situations: Public speaking training necessarily involves practising these skills in front of an audience, so it is very useful to encourage students to communicate something real to a specific audience. We regularly invite them to give presentations to families and other students of different ages, and to take part in special events aimed at a wider, sometimes external, audience. We also encourage them to apply to be ambassadors for the school, which puts them in new situations and enables them to handle them with confidence.
  • Design a specific programme: For example, using drama to develop presentation skills, organising debating clubs, offering workshops on public speaking techniques, etc. These are all tools we use at BSB to help students build their confidence. At BSB we have a Leadership Programme for Year 12 students, run by Ben Walden, an external coach, which places particular emphasis on public speaking skills. Students have to lead their projects and be able to communicate their achievements to the rest of the school.

 

Listen to James’ interview here.