Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, affects 40% percent of people globally. On Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, The Speech Collective led the first Poly significant experience of the year at Hastings Branch Library to address this issue by teaching children public speaking skills.
Seventeen Polytechnic student volunteers met with children ranging from age five to twelve and guided the kids in games and activities designed to help them communicate more confidently. The workshops included a game of two truths and a lie as an icebreaker activity, presenting items as a mock advertisement and telling stories to the larger group with randomly assigned photos.
Sophomore Audrey Ma, a volunteer at the event, shared, “It was a really great experience to get to know people I haven’t gotten to know before, to meet new people, and to share different stories. It was a small group of kids which I think was really great to get to know them on a deeper level.”
Another volunteer, sophomore Casey Gmelich, described the event as a very fun and lively experience. “It was great meeting all the little kids,” he said. “They were just excited to meet everyone and I found it really fun to play games with them because they were just really creative and imaginative.” Both volunteers agreed that the most memorable moment of the event was when they observed students grow comfortable in the class and start to speak in front of everyone. A highlight was the final activity, where each group of children and volunteers shared the story they had generated.
The Speech Collective is a student-run community engagement club, founded in 2023 by junior Madeleine Delbridge. Their aim is to provide support for children wanting to develop their public speaking and communication skills by offering free and accessible workshops within the community. Delbridge, who is passionate about the performing arts, created the club to share her passion and knowledge with the larger community.
Regarding future work, Student Community Engagement Coordinator Renée Larios said, “She’ll do more events this year. Now that she’s gotten all of the volunteers excited, I think she’ll want to keep on providing those opportunities.”
