Caption: First grade students, in Mrs. Jennifer Schimenes 1A class, learn to make origami. [by Elisa Oliveira]
by Manuela Medeiros
Speech students at PACA are given many opportunities to practice their public speaking skills both inside and outside of their classroom. On September 18 through 20, the students of this year’s high school speech class were given the opportunity to give demonstration speeches to elementary classes.
Speech class is a high school elective that is taught by Dr. Cristina Meier. This is her second year of teaching Speech at PACA, but she has taught speech class at another school. Although the class is available to ninth and tenth grade students, only freshmen selected the class this year.
“Speech class is where we learn how to deliver a speech in public,” says Isabella Kim, a freshman in speech class who is learning how to make good speeches, deliver information to an audience and basic conversation skills.
Freshman Joyce Choi joined speech class for similar reasons and she is enjoying the class.
“I like it because it helps me a lot on how I can improve my posture when speaking and to practice speaking in public,” says Choi.
According to Meier, the purpose of the speech class is more than just taking and passing a class. It provides skills that help students for life. It improves the way they speak, as well as their posture, and helps them feel more confident.
In speech class, they do a lot of different types of presentations to the class. These different exercises prepare each student for any situation to speak.
As they were learning how to do demonstration speeches, which is when a speaker shows their audience how to do something, the students had the opportunity to prepare a speech for an elementary class. After making enquiries with all the elementary teachers from kindergarten to fifth grade, the fourth grade and both sections of first and second grade signed up to participate.
Freshmen Choi and Karina Lee were one of the duos of the project. Their presentation took place on Thursday, Sept. 18. They taught first grade (1A) how to do an origami jumping frog. Although they faced a few technical difficulties, they were able to enjoy the experience. What affected Lee the most was the reaction of the students in the class.
“The best part of teaching the kids was seeing their happiness, appreciation, and enthusiasm to do things,” says Lee.
That same day, two other groups visited both of the third grade classes to teach them how to make home-made bubble solution and slime. Another group visited the fourth grade class on Wednesday, Sept. 18 to teach them how to make friendship bracelets and another group visited the 1B class on Friday, Sept. 20 to teach them how to read the musical staff.
As the class grows, Meier hopes that more students and elementary classes will be able to take advantage of this fun and useful learning exchange between them.
“What I love most about teaching Speech class is being able to provide a practical and useful class that will help students with a skill they can use their whole lives,” said Meier. “I can see them growing and learning so much. They become more confident people by the end of the class.”
