Northern Cape pupils compete at provincial and national speaking events.
IT IS ESTIMATED that up to 75% of the world’s population is thought to suffer from glossophobia, more commonly known as a fear of public speaking. At the mere prospect of speaking in front of an audience, some people can feel a little uneasy, while others experience full-on panic and terror.
At school, I was in that 75%. My biggest dread in high school was speaking in front of a large audience. When I spoke in front of people, my mouth would dry up and I would freeze, since I had a bad stutter back then. My cheeks would be flushed, my palms would perspire, and ‘the fear of God’ would overwhelm me.
Knowing this fear, it’s amazing to me that for some people speaking in front of groups of people comes effortlessly; to the point where they actually excel to such a degree that they are even able to compete in provincial and national speaking events.
For a tiny handful of pupils from the Northern Cape, this is the case. The DFA met with two such learners from Kimberley to learn more about how they got their start in public speaking.
The first learner we spoke to, Nicole Greef, attends Northern Cape High School and is a Grade 10 pupil.
Nicole, who attended Newton Primary School as a junior, said that she began participating in arts festivals and developed a lot of confidence during that period.
“I started public speaking in my first year of high school and loved it so much; it brought out something in me that I didn’t know I had in me,” she said.
“I believe that because of my outgoing attitude and ability to make friends with anyone, being an extrovert made it a little simpler for me to talk in front of people. I continued participating in the high school arts festival and earned an A+ this year,” she added.
When questioned about her accomplishments, she proudly remarked that she began public speaking in Grade 8 and had been selected by the South African Literacy Association to compete at the national level. She then participated in two other events in Grade 9.
This year, being in Grade 10, she is preparing for the two national final rounds that will be held in Boksburg and Centurion.
“‘Learners leaving school don’t have to have their job entirely planned out’, this is the subject of my national speech, which I will present in both English and Afrikaans. My future ambitions involve seeing how far I can push my public speaking abilities while still in school because, along with my accomplishments, I also received honour colours on my blazer.”
She added that she learns new things from each tournament she enters and that these lessons may be useful for the course that her life will follow in the future.
Meanwhile, over at Kimberley Boys’ High School, young Carter-blyke McDillion is now in Grade 8 and he has taken to public speaking like a natural.
This is Carter’s first year giving public speeches, he told the DFA. “I won the ‘On the tip of your tongue’ competition with an A+, which led to my selection to represent my school at the nationals in Centurion and Durban,” he said.
Carter then explained how the competition would unfold for him.
“I have a five-minute allotment for my topic, which is ‘The interaction between man and nature’, but I’ll finish it in three minutes,” he said.
The speech, according to Carter, is about how nature and humankind are interdependent, but that humankind is severing this connection and destroying nature. The relationship between humans and nature, he explained, has to be repaired if this planet is to be saved.
“Even though I enjoy socialising with specific individuals and am an extrovert,” he continued, “I value my own time more than socialising.”
When questioned as to why he enjoys alone time more than socialising, Carter explained without hesitation: “When I’m by myself, I can hear God’s voice clearly, and that helps me comprehend myself.”
This year, Carter will participate in two public speaking competitions, and he hopes that if he does well in both, as well as in future competitions, he will be awarded a bursary, which will aid him in making future career decisions.
“Public speaking has taught me how to express my mind and how to think quickly, two skills that I will carry with me into matriculation. Additionally, it’s teaching me how to speak in front of a sizeable audience,” he said.
Carter added that he has also learned to think on his feet, skill that will come in handy in his chosen interest.
“I’ll also be competing in the Nkosi Albert Luthuli Oral History Competition, which is being held in KZN. The Grade 11 class participated in the competition before the provincial competition, which was held on September 3rd. The Grade 11 class and the school wanted me to present their research at the competition, and they told me this at the last minute before the competition. I concurred, but on the day of the competition they did not provide me with the data I needed to present, so I had to conduct my own research and prepare the speech 10 minutes before the competition.
“I was then selected to represent the Frances Baard provincials after winning the district competition.”
He went on to say that he had three days to complete his research report and interview subjects before the provincials. Carter placed first in the Grade 8 division and was then selected to represent the Province at the national competition.
By the looks of things, the Northern Cape can certainly be proud of these and other learners participating in public speaking events and should get behind and support those chosen to represent the Province.
To Carter and Nicole and those headed to the upcoming competitions, we salute you.
