World Speech Day
Capstone communication studies class stresses importance of speech to local students
World Speech Day was celebrated on March 15, 2016.
Monmouth College students in assistant professor Lori Walters-Kramer’s capstone class in communication studies celebrated World Speech Day last month by talking with sixth-grade students at Monmouth’s Central Intermediate School.
World Speech Day is a day dedicated to celebrating speech and holding speaking events in public spaces, including schools. The theme of this year’s World Speech Day was “Unexpected Voices.”
The communication studies class chose to speak with sixth-grade students to show them that their voices and ideas matter to the world and to give them a platform where they could express themselves. The students also wanted the classes to know the importance of the First Amendment, which states, in part, that Congress shall pass no laws that abridge the freedom of speech.
“I think the First Amendment is very, very important because a lot of people don’t have a chance to speak up, but this is one of those days where they have good freedom of speech,” said one of the sixth-grade students about the importance of World Speech Day.
The capstone class showed videos, conducted activities and spoke about famous speakers who were influential throughout history.
“Being able to teach sixth-graders about what we learn everyday was an exciting and unique experience for those in my class,” said Amber Berge ’16 of Port Byron, Ill.
By the end of the day, the capstone class was able to see the confidence of the sixth graders increase.
“They had very thoughtful and important opinions that we were lucky enough to capture,” Berge said.
Said another Central student, “Anybody could be an unexpected voice. It could be the kid that is the quietest, loudest or most athletic. It could be anyone.”
A video created by the College students about the event can be viewed at: bit.ly/monmouth-world-speech.
World Speech Day is a day dedicated to celebrating speech and holding speaking events in public spaces, including schools. The theme of this year’s World Speech Day was “Unexpected Voices.”
The communication studies class chose to speak with sixth-grade students to show them that their voices and ideas matter to the world and to give them a platform where they could express themselves. The students also wanted the classes to know the importance of the First Amendment, which states, in part, that Congress shall pass no laws that abridge the freedom of speech.
“I think the First Amendment is very, very important because a lot of people don’t have a chance to speak up, but this is one of those days where they have good freedom of speech,” said one of the sixth-grade students about the importance of World Speech Day.
The capstone class showed videos, conducted activities and spoke about famous speakers who were influential throughout history.
“Being able to teach sixth-graders about what we learn everyday was an exciting and unique experience for those in my class,” said Amber Berge ’16 of Port Byron, Ill.
By the end of the day, the capstone class was able to see the confidence of the sixth graders increase.
“They had very thoughtful and important opinions that we were lucky enough to capture,” Berge said.
Said another Central student, “Anybody could be an unexpected voice. It could be the kid that is the quietest, loudest or most athletic. It could be anyone.”
A video created by the College students about the event can be viewed at: bit.ly/monmouth-world-speech.
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