Public speaking is one of the most common fears students face — yet it may also be one of the most useful skills they can develop.
The Bermuda branch of the English-Speaking Union has spent decades encouraging young people to build confidence in front of an audience, not simply for competitions but for life beyond school.
For many students, the first real test comes not in a classroom but in an interview, said Christianna Dakin, an ESU board member and Bermuda Debate Society coach. Scholarships, internships and jobs often require candidates to explain themselves clearly while thinking on the spot.
“So many students are in need of scholarships, and part of that process for many of them involves doing an interview,” she said. “Many people loathe the idea of having to speak in public. It’s terrifying. What if I misspeak, what if I mispronounce the word? What if I forget what I’m saying?”
Practice, she said, changes how students handle those moments.
“The trick is that if you practise the art of public speaking, and all that goes into being a good public speaker, it doesn’t really matter if you forget what you’re going to say, because you’re going to be able to recover.
“You realise that it’s not scary to speak in front of everybody — or actually it is a little scary, but it’s a good scary, because you know that people have chosen to come and listen to you, and what you have to say matters.”
Preparation, she added, is as important as delivery. Public speaking and debate require research, organisation and understanding the audience.
“It’s not just the act of speaking — that is hugely important — but what also important is how you prepare to do that public speaking,” Ms Dakin said.
“You have to structure your notes. You have to synthesise information and figure out what’s the key information.”
She said those skills help students respond thoughtfully in interviews and discussions rather than relying on memorised answers.
The ESU sponsors Bermuda’s annual National Public Speaking and Debate Tournament, with the senior school winner earning the opportunity to compete in the United Kingdom. Students must take part in more than one speaking category, pushing them beyond familiar territory.
“With students who choose to compete, they tend to have one area that they’re really comfortable in,” Ms Dakin said. “But the beauty of this is you have to do at least two, and this forces kids out of their comfort zone. And we all know that when you’re not in your comfort zone, that’s where growth comes.”
Preparing speeches — drafting, revising and receiving feedback — teaches skills that extend beyond the stage, she said.
“You craft and re-craft and practise and tweak, and you seek feedback from your peers, you seek feedback from coaches.
“That’s another key skill that we want our youth to know — that you don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to get it right the first time. That’s the purpose of community.”
Interview panels, she added, often meet applicants with similar grades and activities. The conversation allows students to organise their thoughts and show how they respond under a little pressure.
“Person-to-person communication and being able to listen, being able to respond because you have listened and heard them, rather than just responding because you have a point to say — that is an art form, and I think public speaking helps you hone that art form.”
For students who feel intimidated, she offers reassurance: confidence usually follows preparation.
“Even the people who look like they’re not frightened, they can look like that because they’ve prepared,” Ms Dakin said.
