Public Speaking Summer Course 19-25 | Oxford Royale Summer Schools

Course Summary

During this course, students will become adept at planning speeches and use them to deliver compelling arguments. Students will analyse techniques used in famous speeches throughout history, including right up to the present day.

This course provides a supportive and welcoming environment in which to develop confidence, structure and eloquence when speaking in public. Individuals will become skilled at researching, delivering and defending a speech in front of a range of audience types. Throughout the course, practical development sessions will ensure that students have ample opportunity to test and refine their skills as they go, providing an effective and comprehensive skill set by the end of the programme.

The Oxford Royale Summer Schools experience for adults

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Shami Chakrabati speaking to ORA students in a guest lecture

World-renowned guest speakers

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ORA's expert tutoring faculty

A group of ORA students posing for a group photograph in the quad of Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, at the end of their course

Our alumni network and community

Extracurriculars and enrichment

Our teaching philosophy

What to expect from Public Speaking for the Modern World and Workplace

The course will start with an exploration of the skills required to be a great public speaker, and learning the theory and methodology of public speaking. The history of public speaking will be examined, and students will analyse famous historical speeches and the methods that famous and contemporary speakers, such as Former President Barack Obama, employ. Students will then examine the reasoning and means by which speakers overcome anxiety when speaking in front of a crowd.

Using universally recognised theoretical approaches to public speaking and reasoning such as the Toulmin method of argumentation (developed by Stephen Toulmin) and Aristotle’s philosophical approach to speaking, students will enhance their understanding of how to construct both a persuasive speech and an informative one, and explore the importance of research and preparation when constructing an effective speech.

How will the Public Speaking for the Modern World and Workplace course help me?

Students will receive a full day of classical voice coaching which will emphasise the importance of language, tone, style, body language and more. Students will be able to put this training to the test as they give a talk on a topic of interest to all other 19+ students present at Oxford Royale. However, public speaking is not just about delivery; the end of a speech can sometimes be more tricky than the beginning.

Students will consider the importance of being able to think on their feet, and learn that preparation is the key when it comes to confidently responding to questions, managing audience reactions to speeches, and being a self-assured debater. Being well versed in all aspects of your speech’s subject matter is crucial: expecting the unexpected ensures that you are not questioned on unrehearsed topics. Also explored will be the pros and cons of using visual aids such as PowerPoints. The course concludes with a competitive debate.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have:

Explored what makes a speech (and a speaker) riveting to their audience
Learned how to handle their public speaking nerves
Received a full day of classical voice coaching which will emphasise the importance of language, tone, style and body language
Discussed different types of speeches and when they should be used
Discovered the importance of planning speeches
Given several speeches to their peers, and participated in a debate, to refine their skills
A better understanding of how to construct both a persuasive speech and an informative one
Learned how to think on their feet

Day	Week 1 (Scroll right for week 2)	Week 2
Monday	Lesson 1: Introduction to Public Speaking Lesson 2: The world’s best speakers & famous speeches	Lesson 11: From written to spoken language Lesson 12: Listening and feedback
Tuesday	Lesson 3: Managing anxiety about public speaking Lesson 4: Different types of public speaking and the core speech Lesson 5: Narrative Lesson 6: Types of speech	Field trip or educational event
Wednesday	Lesson 7: Writing a speech Lesson 8: Metaphor	Lesson 13: Analysing the audience Lesson 14: Questions and Answers; preparation and responses
Thursday	Field Trip or educational event	Lesson 15: The Toulmin Model Lesson 16: Aristotle’s Rhetoric Lesson 17: Visual Aids and PowerPoint Lesson 18: Fallacies
Friday	Lesson 9: Recap and peroration Lesson 10: Giving a speech Group tutorial	Lesson 19: Preparing for debate Lesson 20: Debating Lesson 21: Tutorial

Take this course if...

Take this course if you would like to be able to deliver high quality, impactful presentations and would like to better understand how to captivate an audience like the great orators of history.

Welcome to the City of Oxford - your home this summer

Oxford is a city like no other, combining startlingly beautiful architecture with a buzzing, modern city centre, with superb shopping, restaurants, cafés and more. With the colleges of Oxford University at its heart, some almost 800 years old, it is a city steeped in history and academia.

Students on Oxford Royale's Oxford summer courses will have the chance to live, dine and study in this stunning city, exploring all of its major sites and discovering its hidden secrets. Through both organised trips to key landmarks and free time in the evenings, students will become acquainted with all that Oxford has to offer.

As students walk the cobbled streets and gaze up at the spires, gargoyles and honey-coloured stone buildings, they will be walking in the footsteps of some of the most influential figures in history, including prime ministers, presidents, Nobel prize-winning scientists, authors and more.

Top reasons to choose ORA's Oxford Summer School 2020

Sample Timetable

Click to view Interactive Timetable

Useful information for students

Accommodation

Students will be accommodated in comfortable single rooms in either Merton or University College, depending on the course chosen - please contact our registrations team if you would like more information. Accommodation is the standard accommodation for university undergraduates who study at the university, so students are able to get a flavour for what being an undergraduate at the university might be like. Bathrooms are typically shared between students of the same gender, though in some cases en-suite facilities are available.

Programme Staff

The programme is overseen by the Programme Director, who implements the day-to-day running of the programme. The Director is assisted by a team of Counsellors who very often are current members of the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge and are able to provide an insight into life at these prestigious institutions.

Eligibility & pre-requisites

Students on this course:

Must conform to our age policy.
Must be fluent or near-fluent English language speakers – if you are unsure whether your English level is suitable for this programme, please contact our Registrations Team on [email protected] and they will be able to assist you.
Must be able to fulfil the basic requirements of the programme, in terms of attendance at lessons, meals and events. Please contact our Registrations Team for more detailed information.

Our Teaching Faculty

At Oxford Royale Academy we are committed to providing our students with the most qualified and high-calibre teaching faculty available. All Oxford Royale Academy teachers are passionate about their subjects, and are looking forward to passing their knowledge on to their students this summer! For full details of last summer’s teaching faculty, please click here

Guest Lectures & Debates

At ORA, we go the extra mile to enhance the study abroad experience of our students. As part of this, every year our dedicated Events Team organises a series of fascinating guest lectures. Guest speakers come from a wide range of backgrounds and specialisms, including the worlds of online media, television and academia. Our students also have the opportunity to watch and participate in a number of debates, which take place on campus. These range from formal Panel Debates, involving teaching faculty and other staff, to informal discussions about current “hot topics” led by Counsellors.

Extra-curricular Activities

At ORA, we never forget that our students are on vacation and seeking new experiences outside of the classroom as well as in lessons. Included with every ORA course is an extra-curricular timetable, carefully designed by our dedicated Events Team to ensure our adult students have fun, network, and get the most out of their time with us.