Getting the gift of the gab

How many school-leavers walk out of the school gate for the last time with the confidence to stand up and address an audience with an air of authority? Precious few, though participants in high profile competitions such as Young Enterprise and Mini European Assembly have showcased more than a handful of budding orators.

Some people are natural smooth talkers, others are not. It's a fact up to a point, because glib operators are likely to be bred, not merely born. No doubt, facing an audience is a daunting experience and can turn heavyweight machos into a quivering wreck if they do not know the ropes. It takes a particular combo of self-confidence, voice projection and appropriate body language to deliver a speech. Moreover, a meaningful speech has articulation join forces with substance.

Now many students may argue that they do not seek a career which involves hogging the limelight on a podium. Yet opening up children to the opportunity of participating in school debates boosts the "I'm looking you straight in the eye" type of self-confidence that no amount of drama, dance or sports lessons can match. It is the kind of confidence they will eventually need in many mundane situations on both the home and work front while builiding a good rapport with people they deal with. Situations where they need to overcome nerves; lose anxiety/fear; and speak with style and impact. Situations which will earn them the respect of family and colleagues.

Encouraging kids to have their say not only goads them to share their views, but also gives them the space to be themselves and allow initial stumbling and stammering disasters at public speaking to turn into fodder for competent speakers. Furthermore, school debates show students that there are people who are willing to listen to them. Yes, students piping up to have a discussion instead of a lesson points to a perfectly hackneyed way of throwing the time-table out of the window. This old hat tactic, however, is often a plea to give vent to pent-up frustration, rather than an itch to waste time.

It is easy to be cynical and note how once openly demonstrating and clamouring students grow up into embodiments of the establishment. And yet coming to grips with the art of debate boosts the kind of confidence that is not just a prerequisite for aspiring politicians, lawyers, senior managers, CEOs and scholars. Apart from winning over audiences, championing and/or challenging an opinion spurs on questioning acquired beliefs particularly those regarding sensitive and controversial issues.

This nurtures thinking rather than cluttered brains - the very kind that is crucial to spark a sense of outrage and surge against stifling complacency or bigotry. Learning to stand up and be counted shows that you are not part of the swarm that is simply content with a tick on a voting document every five years as the definition of democracy.