Some of you may have heard of the course titled “Talking The Talk: Effective Presentation Skills” from peers, teachers, or friends, or noticed it while casually scrolling through the course catalog when crafting your yearly schedule (which I’m sure we all do). But what is it really all about?
Before I explain the true appeal of the class, I believe a brief introduction is in order. Taught by Ms. McCabe, who is passionate and enthusiastic about the course, Talking The Talk is now beginning its fourth semester in its run at Chatham High School, so it is a relatively new option for CHS students. Although not technically misleading, the title “Talking The Talk” may not paint the clearest picture of the class; its ultimate goal is actually, over the course of the semester, to teach and prepare students for delivery of a Ted Talk. Yes, a Ted Talk like the ones you see on the internet. Granted, the class offers much more, such as placing an emphasis on public speaking skills and clear communication, as well as offering an outlet for self-discovery and deep thinking, but the biggest part (and, in my opinion, the coolest) is the Ted Talk you learn to give throughout the whole semester. It has already been the host of several amazing events and projects that have received recognition far and wide, which includes hundreds of views on the internet, and it is events like these that I intend to focus on.
You may recall last year’s TedxYouth@Chatham Event, which was hosted in the CHS auditorium and drew over five hundred spectators to watch the eight student and adult talks given. The talks all fell under the same theme: “the power of connection” and, although the event was independently organized from the Ted Ed company, they were given in proper “Ted Talk” format and sounded stoutly professional. This year, on Friday, May 8th, they will host a second TedxYouth@Chatham event in our auditorium, so be sure to attend. A handful of students who have taken the course this year will apply and then be given the opportunity to present their Ted Talk on the grand stage, so be sure to check out this awesome event, and maybe even consider participating. To get you excited about the student Ted Talks that are at the upcoming event, check out a few of last semester’s final talks. The best of the best will be chosen to perform.
Last semester’s final talks include:
- “How Concerts Can Change the World” – Jacob Matthews
- “Putting Yourself Out There” – Bridget Eveleth
- “Seeing the Invisible” – Maddy Boland
- “The Effect of Listening on Those Around Us” – Ben Stern
- “Our Lives Are Too Cluttered” – Anna Paskalidis
… and many more!These are just a few of the fabulous talks from last semester, and, as a note, you can check out all the videos on Youtube, where they are posted on the same channel as The Pulse in a playlist titled “CHS Ted Talks.” In addition, if you would like to revisit last year’s talks, you can find them on the CEF website.