Why Is Public Speaking Class Important?
Even with the email and the Internet slowly usurping many of humanity's day-to-day communications, solid public-speaking skills are incredibly crucial to success in both personal and professional arenas. Because of this, classes that teach the art of public speaking are of paramount importance to students because of the advantages it gives those who excel at public speaking later in life.
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Importance
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Marc Antony's rousing eulogy at the funeral of Julius Caesar as written by William Shakespeare. Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. All of these are prime examples of the importance of public speaking as a communication skill. These speeches, given to grand audiences at important moments in history, are part of the very fabric of human culture and still stir the emotions of mankind to this day. While all speeches need not be as epic, these examples show the power of public speaking as a tool of communication.
Definition
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Of course, not all instances of public speaking are quite as epic. According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, public speaking is defined as "the art of effective oral communication with an audience." [Reference 1]. This audience could be a stadium stuffed to the brim with listeners, a classroom full of students or even a small group of friends and family.
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Applications
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While it could be argued that blast emails and web pages are equally valid as tools of mass communication, there are still instances where technology can't make up for the expression of thought through voice. For instance, take the classroom. In brick-and-mortar schools, teachers can't simply give lectures through the Internet. Educators must be adept at speaking in front of groups of people and conveying ideas in a concise and understandable way. Teachers in public-speaking classes are essentially practicing what they preach every day. Other instances where public speaking is necessary include giving toasts at weddings and special events, acting as a lawyer or attorney in a court room and giving a presentation at work or school.
Significance
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So, why is public-speaking class important? It gives students the opportunity to become skilled at verbal mass communication and sets them up for success later in life. According to a study by the University of Arizona and The Lefkoe Institute entitled "Eliminating Fears: An Intervention that Permanently Eliminates the Fear of Public Speaking," fear of public speaking is one of the most widespread neuroses among people of all backgrounds. The study also goes on to state that, with a certain amount of practice, this fear can be curbed and even eliminated. Public-speaking class gives students this opportunity and, in turn, makes participating students stronger in this aspect than their peers.
Other benefits
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According to Toastmasters International, a worldwide public-speaking club, becoming a better speaker also teaches people to listen more effectively and become better leaders, as well as increasing their self-confidence and giving them the ability to motivate others. These benefits, which go hand in hand with effective speech, can thus be gleaned from a public-speaking class.
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References
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