More and more local and national bodies are running or supporting Speech Contest today. Major organisations such as Lions and Rotary, Toastmasters, Schools and their bodies, and some government bodies are all recognizing the contribution that speech contest make to the development of our kids. Some of these bodies offer some major prizes such as overseas travel and scholarships.

One of the more common contests is the Toastmasters Speech Contest. Go to www.toastmasters.org to see contest rules.

The purposes of speech contests are to provide an opportunity for proficient speakers to gain speaking experience, to provide an opportunity to observe and learn from the best speakers.

Tips for contests are to, write a good speech that has all of the qualities of the speeches described in this book, practice and polish the speech in front of a live audience, even if you, the parents and the rest of the family are sick of it. Always practice the timing of the speech, even if you go as far as to know exactly where the wind up point of a speech starts to occur at one minute to go. If there are lights to indicate the stages through a speech, you can determine where to start your wind up at a certain light.

Know the judging sheet. So many good speakers get tripped up by concentrating on a lowly marked area and forgetting to score in highly marked areas. Know the judging sheet, Know the judging sheet, Know the judging sheet!

Include some humor, finish on time, and don't appear to be rushed. Have a very good structure that leaves the judges with no choice but to follow you! See if you can also get some audience participation. This means the audience and maybe the judges will respond to you, making your task a little easier.

Summary

o Razor sharp structure - Opening, body and conclusion. Link back to the Opening fro the close.

o Memorize the closing first, then the body and backwards to the opening.

o Leave them with a really profound statement, quote or some action that is so unusual they will remember your speech.

o Include humor, but not too much that it is a comedy. Get the audience laughing at you.

o Link into the previous speeches if you can by saying "Bob said in the previous speech…", as this shows you are very observant and rally relaxed.

o Act like you are confident and at ease, even if you have the worst nerves, act till you get an Oscar!

o Know where your marks will come from, work the marking sheet.

o Get the audience participating, even if you have to get them to answer a question by putting their hands up. The judges are in the room and will have to participate as well.

o Get to the early.

o Manage the timing perfectly. Know where you are every step of the way.

For more information about Public Speaking for Kids, go to www.publicspeaking4kids.com