2018 Summer Introduction to Public Speaking Camp
- Description: This camp will introduce public speaking as a creative outlet, means to advocate for oneself, and tool for communication in the modern world. It's a good summer learning experience for 5th-10th graders. Students will learn how to confidently articulate a point of personal interest, while understanding what is and isn’t persuasive with an audience. At the end, students will be able to express themselves clearly and passionately.
Some activities and questions that we will focus on:
√ Why is public speaking scary? How do we overcome that fear?
√ What makes a speaker persuasive?
√ How does audience affect the way we deliver our message?
√ Vocal exercises/improv games
√ Fun speaking drills
√ The art of comedy and drama in speaking
√ Tools for research in speech
√ Public speaking and body language
√ 4-minute originally written oratory to be delivered at the end!
- Instructor: Michael Sprintson
Public Forum, Policy Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, World Schools Debate, and Congressional Debate. Here is what Michael
has to say about his debate experience:
I’ve loved debating ever since I was little, often incessantly arguing with my parents, but Debate allowed me to fulfill my
passion for communicating ideas in a competitive setting. My career in debate began in 2014 with Policy Debate, placing
2nd at UIL District and qualifying for the State Championships. In Policy Debate, I learned how to analyze complex issues
in politics and in policies. I then went on to qualify for the UIL State Championships and TFA State Championships in Policy
Debate during my sophomore year. That summer I decided to branch out, participating in World Schools Debate at the
Cornell International Summer Camp, and placing second. I then joined Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous
Speaking, where I honed my skills as a presenter and researcher, qualifying for the TFA State Championships and the
National Speech and Debate Tournament in my junior year. Debate has been a crucial part of my high school experience,
teaching me to be a creative thinker and communicate in a collaborative manner with my classmates. This generation of
advocacy is fueled by a strong voice, one that forensics brought out in me.
Michael has been volunteering at TAMU math circle for many years and found his passion about teaching there. He is very excited
and confident that he'll make the public speaking and debate camps informative and engaging. Currently Michael is trying to decide
whether if he is going to UC Berkeley or to Rice for his college education. Either way, all around him can tell that he'll do very well
in his college study. Congratulations, Michael!
- Date and Time: This camp is offered from 9am - 12pm during Week June 18 - June 22.
- Maximum Number of students: 10
- Camp Fees, Discounts and Refund Policies
• $200 per student
• A discount of $10 will be applied to all students from the same family.
• A discount of $10 will be applied to the same child if also attending the Debate Camps.
• The above two discounts can be combined.
Refund policy:
Full refund: if you withdraw your student one week before the camp.
Half refund: if you withdraw your student within a week before the camp.
No refund: Once camp is started.