Did you know there was such a thing as a World Championships for Public Speaking? There is. I’ve competed in it three times. To date, no one from Africa has ever won it. And unless our schools catch up with the modern world, no one from Africa ever will...

I started noticing the problems with school-level speaking when a judge, who was asked to provide the criteria for a winning school speech, refused. ...And then insisted the contest should begin. It was sort of like saying, “We’re going to see who’s the best,” and when asked, “At what?” Answering, “I’m not telling you!” (Or perhaps she simply felt uncomfortable speaking in public...)

The closer I looked, the bigger the problem grew. Schools are teaching arcane techniques. ...Not all schools, mind you; some are quite progressive. But the vast majority are perpetuating an antiquated style of speaking that will harm our children’s prospects, both in academic contests and in real-world business presenting. Put simply: If you learn public speaking in a public school, then go to a Western nation and present using those techniques, you will be laughed at.

Two worlds collide:

Let’s paint two separate pictures. We’ll start with a sneak-peak into the World Championships of Public Speaking, held each year in the United States:
The lights in the auditorium dim. Three thousand people cheer in anticipation of the magic to come. This is no lifeless academic debate; this is the World Championships of a tradition spanning back to ancient times; the art of moving hearts and minds with words. The audience knows that the next few hours will be legendary...!
Ten speakers from across the globe contest. They have graduated through five previous rounds, and all are top-notch. In their allotted seven minutes, they must so rouse the audience’s minds and emotions as to prove themselves the best speakers in the world.

They engage every device available to them: ranging movement across the stage, emphatic gestures that pull on heartstrings, vocal cadences that would melt stone and language that connects in a profound yet conversational way. Their goal is to appeal to both head and heart, and to this end they use stories, humour, facts, props, varied vocal delivery, facial expressions...every imaginable resource.

You will never see a cue-card in their hands, because that would destroy the perception that they are engaging with you on a personal level.  And once each speaker is done, the audience feel they know him. They have connected in a way that elicits that mother of all compliments: “I felt he was speaking directly to me!”
 
Meanwhile back in South Africa:

It’s early afternoon in a sleepy staff-room. A group of nervous kids have gathered for a speaking contest. Curiously, they have never received any criteria. Their judges don’t know that there is such a thing as a World Championships for Public Speaking and have never seen a video of a reigning world champion. Yet somehow, they settle in to judge the kids’ speeches.

Intuitively, the students know to bring gestures and stories to the mix. They feel that movement will bring their words to life. They are vibrant and funny and do the best they can.

This is the report card they receive for their efforts:

- Don’t use gestures when you speak. Keep your hands at your sides.
- Always remain behind the lectern. Don’t step forward.
- Eye-contact should be directed to the back of the room. Stop looking around.
- This is not the time or place for humour. Keep it proper.
- Stand still when delivering your speech. Your movement is distracting. 
- Your sentences were very informal. Use formal language.
- Why did you tell a story? This was supposed to be a speech.
- You forgot to use cue-cards.

The child, because he or she is younger, believes that teacher knows best. Teacher doesn’t. Heaven help the child who takes these teachings to heart. They will effectively have accepted a handicap that will plague them any time they present in the real world.

Whence this weirdness?

I have a mental image of a dusty English teacher, who never smiles when ‘addressing’ her children, filling to the brim with inner radiance any time she views a war-time newsreel of the King addressing the Empire, ala Colin Firth’s new masterpiece. But she’s never seen Obama speak. She’s never seen Steve Jobs launch a billion-dollar product. She’ll have none of that modern television nonsense.
‘Why, the King never once stoops to gesturing with his hands,” she sighs, swooning at the sterility of it all. It’s so safe, so tidy, so completely and wonderfully asexual.
She has no idea of the effect of modern delivery, the thrill of human conviction, animated by urgency, brimming with that offensive stuff called ‘Life.’ And we need to overthrow her, if we ever hope to raise orators who might, in turn, raise the nation.

Globally competitive?

I’ve seen what they’re taught oversees. American kids are being taught how to drift in V8 Corvettes, while in South Africa, we’re insisting they learn to ride a Penny Farthing. When the day finally comes that our progeny must race against theirs, ours will be annihilated. Worse, they’ll be laughed at. Either we need to provide academia with a swift punt to that petrified posterior, or we must simply entrust our kids’ oratory futures to more relevant institutions.

Storm in a tea-cup?

Think about it this way: Public Speaking is the basis of leadership. It is the basis of sales. It is the basis of education and persuasion and it is a fundamental life skill. It matters greatly to anyone who wants to advance in their industry. They take it very seriously in the Middle East, Japan, North America and Europe...

Let’s get practical:

So, rather than just leave the issue up in the air, what modern guidelines can we provide for more up-to-date Public Speaking in our schools? Here they are:
o Use stories to illustrate points; they are the single greatest medium of human communication
o Use humour and emotion to hold audience interest (As per the National Speakers Association’s mantra: Question: Do I have to use humour in my speeches? Answer: Only if you want to get paid!).
o Use movement when telling stories. Stand in one place when making points. Step forward when giving a point greater emphasis
o Use gestures that add meaningful emphasis to your points
o Vary your voice-tone to create musicality
o Use pauses and silence to add drama and impact
o Abandon cue-cards and memorise your speech
o Move away from the lectern so that you create a visual connection with your audience
o Make eye-contact all around the room for a greater human connection
o Speak in the sort of language you would use when chatting with a friend
o Be passionate!

And when it comes to judging speech contests, winning criterion number 1 should always be: Rapport with the audience. In this is contained all the law and the prophets.
These guidelines do not take the dignity out of Public Speaking. Instead, they inject life into it. We all know that to sell an idea, you must first sell yourself. Let’s teach our kids to be compelling. They don’t have to jump around the room like the caffeine-infused daytime TV presenters who want to sell us electronic cheese-graters (“But wait! There’s more...!”); Authenticity is important. But understand that a frigid delivery does not equate to authenticity.

It is something fake. And we don’t need it.

Circulate this around, and let’s create a culture of excellence in our schools’ public speaking. It will determine the South Africa of tomorrow.
Stand up and speak with passion. You will move hearts and minds...!

Douglas Kruger is a professional speaker and trainer, and author of 50 Ways to Become a Better Speaker. See him in action, or review his books and articles, at: www.douglaskruger.co.za, email: kruger@compute.co.za, or follow him on Twitter @douglaskruger