Students who enroll in this course will participate in Open Forum and / or the Future of Leadership Symposium to be held in the first and / or second quarters. The following are goals of the course: (1) to obtain basic knowledge regarding oral expression and public speaking; (2) to brush up speech and public speaking skills; (3) to improve critical thinking and analytical skills regarding presentations by writing, rewriting, and rehearsing students' own speeches. Each student will receive personal coaching on their oral expression skills.
Students who have completed this course should exhibit the following: (1) completion of an outline and at least 3 drafts of an original speech on a topic of their interests; (2) two video recordings of their presentations; (3) knowledge and skills in using oral delivery techniques and phrases in English, as taught in the textbook and in class; (4) improved ability to give and receive constructive feedbacks on the speeches and oral presentations of classmates.
speech, presentation, oral communication, English, public speaking
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The following elements will be included in most classes: (1) from the textbook, Dynamic Presentations, learning of useful phrases and techniques related to oral presentation in English, video clip viewing and analysis, oral performative exercises; and (2) preparation of speeches for the contest, including brainstorming topics, outlining, presentation and revisions of multiple speech drafts, detailed feedback from the instructors and students on all elements of speech construction and delivery. (Note: Syllabus is subject to change based on the level, needs, and actual number of students.)
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | 1. Orientation 2. Chapter 1 “Opening and Closing” | orientation to the speech contest and its usefulness to students; watch a speech sample; learn phrases and patterns for speech starts and ends |
Class 2 | 1. Chapter 2 “Smooth Structure” 2. Brainstorm on the topic 3. Plagiarism; References | learn how to organize a speech; learn how to avoid plagiarism; learn how to cite sources properly |
Class 3 | 1. Chapter 5, “Facts and figures” 2. Chapter 9, “Storytelling” 3. Speech outline due | identify examples of effective speech construction techniques; practice phrases for signposting and transitions within oral presentations |
Class 4 | 1. Chapter 9, “Storytelling” 2. First draft due + Peer-critique | recognize the power of narrative in oral presentation; learn verb tense usage in and surrounding narrative; practice direct speech, simile, etc.; students assess each other's first drafts |
Class 5 | 1. Chapter 7, “Rapport Building” 2. Chapter 8, “Impact Techniques” | learn how to build a relationship of trust with the audience; learn empathic speech techniques |
Class 6 | 1. Chapter 8, “Impact Techniques” 2. Second draft due + Peer-critique | learn how to use repetition, rhetorical questions, grouping ideas, and emphatic word choice; students assess each other's second drafts; feedback on structure and content; practice techniques for question and answer sessions |
Class 7 | Final presentation | detailed feedback on speech content and delivery; practice using pauses, stressed words, and inflection in speeches |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Mark Powell, Dynamic Presentations (Cambridge University Press, 2011)
Speeches from previous Tokyo Tech English Speech Contests will be analyzed in class.
Class Participation: 30%
First draft of speech: 15%
Second draft of speech: 30%
Final presentation exam: 25%
upper intermediate English skills
Registration for two consecutive quarters is required for this course.
Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course.