Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Find your voice through speech and debate practice in this 2-week program for middle school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Course Description
How do speakers turn an idea into a message people can follow? Students learn key concepts in public speaking and oratory communication while practicing speech making in a supportive setting. They examine topic selection, organization, speech writing, argument, and the relationship between a speaker and an audience.
Guided practice helps students connect words with delivery. They work on verbal and nonverbal communication, prepare prompts, and consider how technology can support a presentation. Discussion and short exercises ask them to think before speaking, build knowledge about a topic, and choose an approach that fits the purpose.
A persuasive speaking assignment brings the skills together. Students select an issue, organize a position, support it, and present to an audience. Feedback and reflection help them improve clarity and confidence while recognizing that effective speaking is interactive: good speakers also watch, listen, and adjust.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic exploration with campus life, growing confidence and independence, and clearer direction about interests students may want to explore next. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What Will You Do?
• Select a focused topic for a speech
• Organize ideas into a clear beginning, middle, and conclusion
• Develop reasons and support for a persuasive claim
• Practice verbal and nonverbal delivery techniques
• Use presentation technology to support a message
• Deliver a persuasive speech and respond to feedback
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Organize and deliver a speech for a specific purpose and audience
• Support a persuasive claim with clear reasons and relevant information
• Use verbal, nonverbal, and presentation choices to improve delivery
Students leave with a completed persuasive speech and greater confidence communicating ideas to an audience.
Why Public Speaking Skills Matter
Public speaking helps students organize thinking before asking others to follow it. A clear structure, relevant support, and audience awareness can make classroom presentations and discussions more effective. Delivery practice builds control over pace, voice, posture, and other choices that influence understanding.
Persuasion also strengthens critical thinking. Students must decide what they believe, why the claim matters, and which information supports it. Listening to responses teaches them that communication is a two-way process. These skills transfer across middle school subjects and future leadership opportunities.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for middle school students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and want to become more comfortable speaking in class, presenting ideas, or building persuasive arguments. It fits interests in debate, theater, leadership, writing, media, or civic discussion.
Participants should be ready to choose topics, practice aloud, listen to classmates, and use feedback to revise. No previous public-speaking or debate experience is required. Students do not need to begin as confident speakers; a willingness to participate and improve is the most important fit.
Why Georgetown?
Summer Discovery at Georgetown gives middle-school students a memorable place to learn, have fun, and experience campus life in Washington, D.C. The historic campus sits near embassies, institutions, and public conversations that make the wider world feel close, even when the course itself is not connected to government or policy.
Summer Discovery combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students navigate a new environment. Students can try unfamiliar subjects, share ideas with peers, and build confidence through a structured summer experience. For families, Summer Discovery offers an engaging balance of learning and fun, with the community and guidance younger students need as they develop independence and discover what they may want to explore next.
The program is developed by Georgetown in partnership with Summer Discovery.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive