Closing the Communication Skills Gap Experiencing Improvement from Eight Students' Perspectives

How can middle and high school students be challenged to ratchet up their communication skills by dashing strides—and have fun doing it? A few people find public speaking exhilarating; a considerable number find it petrifying! In fact, public speaking is often listed as one of the top fears of individuals—among other qualms, such as snakes, grave illness, and . . . death. Many circumstances of life and living require the ability to speak up, contribute meaningfully, offer a solution, report progress, influence decisions, facilitate dialogue, or even join in celebration. For the business world, oral communication skills of employees have recently become a leading concern, especially with respect to younger generations and those just entering the workforce. The present communication skills trajectory does not look promising. Recent business studies demonstrate a critical need to improving communication skills, especially in younger generations. Must this path continue? Could it be altered—at least in part—toward a more favorable outcome? Finding ways to decrease fear and increase confidence and competency is now critical to individual and professional success. Are there effective ways to help young people reduce their fear of public speaking and become confident communicators—whether they’re delivering a formal speech, collaborating on a presentation, or contending for a job interview? This research study of real teenagers would suggest a resounding ''yes.'' This qualitative multiple-case study research project draws from the real life experiences of eight young people (ages 14 to 18) who have been in the trenches learning communication skills—intensely. Through personal interviews (among other sources of data), see, hear, feel, and learn what students actually experience along the way. Students give voice to what it’s like to ratchet up their skills in astounding strides. Listen to what they experience, what really helps them improve, and what they ''definitely'' recommend to other students. This study could prove invaluable to: students, parents, educators, community leaders, business sponsors, coaches/mentors, speech club leaders, tournament directors, contest organizers, and anyone interested in helping young people to develop real communication skills. This qualitative, multiple-case study includes: an introduction and background of the topic; a review of other pertinent research literature—including recent business studies; methods used for this particular study; and full research results, which include anxiety scores, student interview reporting, and useful feedback from judges. In addition, the study also includes students’ opinions of whether they actually improved their communication skills (and verified by speech league rankings), students’ perceptions of the value and confidence factor in learning these skills, as well as students’ recommendations for other students. The final Summary and Discussion chapter covers insights and implications for practice, followed by an annotated bibliography of over 30 references. Learn what pre-collegiate students can accomplish—and what other ''average'' students could too.