这是亲子英语启蒙小Tips系列（九），

此系列所有文章，

均由I CAN READ新加坡学术团队原创撰写。

英语原版可以下拉查看哦～

如今，无论是升学考试、等级测评，还是学生会竞选、职场晋升，都需要通过大大小小的演讲来进行选拔。演讲，也可以说是大部分人通往成功路上不可或缺的武器。

绝大部分父母早就意识到，孩子仅仅拥有出色的阅读和写作能力，已经远远不够，社会对演讲能力的要求也越来越高。但是，连成年人都会感到惧怕的公开演讲，对于孩子而言，让他们在同学或老师面前演讲，更是一项极大的挑战。

我们都知道，无论是大人还是孩子，公开演讲对于我们而言，不仅是一项极其重要的技能，更有着巨大的好处。然而，并非每个人都是天生的演说家。即便是成年人，要在观众面前演讲也有可能紧张得说不出话，更何况孩子呢？

优秀的公开演讲能力并不是一蹴而就的事情，如果可以从小开始培养孩子的演讲能力，那么他将能更好地在公开场合演讲而不会感到焦虑，因此越早开始培养孩子公开演讲技能越好。

在I CAN READ爱可睿英语的课程中，学生从3岁开始就有机会进行公开演讲，而且他们会很享受在同学面前演讲的过程。我们非常希望能让你知道，尽早培养孩子的演讲能力有多重要，这不仅可以让你的孩子尽早建立起公开演讲的自信心，还可以令他具备成为令人信服的演讲者所需的全部技能。

那么从家长的角度来看，怎样做才能帮助孩子更清晰且自信地在观众面前演讲呢？以下我们准备了一些实用的方法建议。

为“公开演讲”改个昵称

对于孩子而言，“公开演讲”这个词语可能会吓到他们，那我们何尝不试着将演讲变成一件有趣的事情，并尽力消除他们的恐惧呢？我们可以改个昵称，不再将其称为“公开演讲”，那么演讲就不再会是一件充满压力的事情，而是意味着更多地去交流。

在I CAN READ，我们会将演讲称为“分享时刻”。每个学生都有机会与老师和同学分享对他们来说很重要的事情。在他们分享的时候，老师和其他同学都会给他们一些掌声以作鼓励，他们也很喜欢在“分享时刻”时发言。即便是安静、不想要分享的演讲者，也会在这个时刻敞开心扉畅所欲言，与大家分享自己的心得体会。

练习，练习，再练习！

孩子会对演讲产生恐惧，大多数其实是对“不熟悉”的恐惧。如果孩子从小就能通过迷你的戏剧或表演，获得更多的演讲练习机会，那么演讲对他们来说早已习惯成自然，他们对自己的演讲思维和英语水平也会有足够的把握和自信，就不至于因过度紧张而害怕公开演讲。

对于提高公开演讲能力，不需要过多地学习技巧，而是要更多地实践演讲。如果你的孩子已经是I CAN READ的学生，家长可以让孩子为我们的“分享时刻”做练习准备，或者可以每周在家再来一次家庭版的“分享时刻”，让孩子在家也能通过英文演讲分享自己的所见所闻。久而久之，你将会亲眼见证他们的自信心不断提高。

给孩子更多的正向反馈

在孩子刚开始进行演讲训练的时候，出现一些错误是很常见的。如果家长总是抓着孩子的错误不放，孩子从心理上会更害怕说错，以至于不能自信地表达。因此家长可以先将心态放松，原谅孩子演讲时的不完美，让孩子首先学会自信地演讲。

同时，我们不能低估正向反馈的重要性，当孩子演讲时感到焦虑不安，我们可以为他们加油鼓气。随着孩子更多的积累和锻炼后，孩子的演讲水平将会逐渐提高，更重要的是在一次又一次的演讲积累中，他们能锻炼出自信，在未来的某一天，你将会发现，公开演讲对他们来说是一件很容易的事。

Help Your Child Become A Better Public Speaker

In recent years curriculum developers and exam practitioners have started placing more significance on spoken English and it’s about time. It is no longer enough to just have excellent reading and writing skills, the bar has been set high for speaking too.  

This means that increasingly your child will have to speak in front of peers and teachers. This is not bad thing by any means, but it can be a daunting and scary prospect for some children. 

We all know the benefits of public speaking are huge, it is an extremely important skill for both adults and children alike. However not everyone is a natural born orator. Having to speak in front of an audience scares most people. Most adults are likely to say it scares them and they wish they had acquired the necessary skills earlier. Imagine how it may be for a child? Especially if they are inclined towards being shy. However if this crucial skill is learned in childhood you can help children avoid anxiety about speaking in public. Thus, the sooner you start teaching your child public speaking skills the better. 

At I Can Read we absolutely reinforce the idea you start early to ensure your child can build their confidence over time and develop the skills they need to become an eloquent speaker. We start our public speaking sessions with learners as young as three years old and they love it. From your own perspective though you are most probably wondering what you can do to help your child to speak clearly and with confidence? We are here to happy to help with some tips. 

For Starters, Don’t call it “Public Speaking” 

The words “Public Speaking” can scare children, so why not remove the fear and make it fun? Call it something else and it becomes less about stress and more about communicating. For example at I Can Read we call it “Talk Time”. Each student takes an opportunity to share something that’s important to them with their teacher and classmates. They are encouraged and applauded and they relish in this time to speak. Even the quietest and most reluctant of speakers opens up, speaks and shares. 

Practise, Practise, Practise. 

When it comes to public speaking it’s a case of less study and more practise. Let’s get them actually speaking. By doing less study and by more practical application they will build more confidence and the fear will melt away. Have mini-plays or performances. If your child is already enrolled in I Can Read get them to practise for “Talk Time” or better yet recreate it after their weekly trip to I Can Read. You’ll watch their confidence soar right before your eyes. 

Give Your Child lots of Positive Feedback 

Hesitation and anxiety is not uncommon as your child may find it unnerving to voice his or her opinions in front of others, but if they know they have someone cheering them along it really helps. We cannot underestimate the importance of positive feedback and you’ll see that public speaking will get easier for them over time.