Speech and Debating
It is well recognised that the ability to speak confidently and with conviction is a valuable skill in many areas of our lives.
Good communication skills support clear thinking and allow us to connect with others in meaningful and rewarding ways.
Some may think that public speaking is a skill required by a rare few who speak to a mass audience on a regular basis, with a microphone and camera in front of them. However, there are very few moments and situations where good, clear communication skills would not help us to succeed in study, work or relationships, all of which require good, clear and confident communication.
GSG offers a variety of opportunities for students to develop speaking skills in school, interschool, state, national and international competitions, such as:
- House Debating
- Western Australian Debating League Interschool Competition
- Kojonup Speech and Drama Festival
- Shout Out! Great Southern Speech and Drama Festival.
- Country Week
- Australian Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition.
- World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition.
We now have three major school awards to honour good speaking.
- The Hugh Manning Award is presented to a Year Twelve student who has participated in public speaking at a high level, has achieved success and helped to build public speaking in the school.
- The Katie McAllister Best Speaker Award is presented to the outstanding speaker in Middle or Senior School at the Shout Out! Great Southern Speech and Drama Festival
- The Andie Holborn Best Speaker Award is presented to the outstanding speaker for the same event in Junior School.
As well as earning Wave Awards and earning points towards colours, public speaking engages our young people, develops self confidence and equips them to meet the challenges of life beyond school.
Students are actively encouraged to join a team as a speaker or simply to help and learn from the sidelines until the great orator within is ready to step up and be heard!