Why I Joined Public Speaking: An Interview With A Recent Graduate

By Ruoro kairu

When you think of addressing a crowd, you may want to hide away in a corner where nobody can find you. Sometimes, the fear does not have to come from something so drastic; it can be from addressing a team of coworkers, or even speaking up in public.

If you have trouble speaking your ideas or making a presentation, you don’t have to worry. First, an independent research shows over 70% of people are afraid of speaking in public. Secondly, with proper practice, you can greatly improve your public speaking skills.

I took some time to speak with Judith. She recently graduated from the 7-week Public Speaking Course we offer.

Judith is a corporate lawyer. She works with one of the largest telecommunication organizations in the region. While Judith is a great and reputable lawyer, she says she finds it hard to communicate in social gatherings.

“In court, I know what I’m supposed to do, and when I ought to do it. The same goes for most formal setups. But when it comes to a social gathering, I don’t know what to do. Should I apply the same principles as I do in the court?”

Below is the interview I had with Judith.

1. Why did you want to join the Public Speaking Training?

When it comes to non-formal events, I found it hard to speak or even express myself correctly. Even when I was talking to one or two people, if the occasion was not formal, I’d get stuck on what to do.

I joined the class to learn how to address an informal setting. Secondly, I heard the class was majorly practical. I wanted a place where I could not only learn new material but get a platform to practice it – an aspect that was missing in the other places I tried.

2. What was your perception before the class? Did you have any fears?

Read on to see how you too can benefit from the public speaking class.