More reasons to enroll early: Save $250 on tuition + 50% off your deposit. Enroll by Oct 31.
Find your voice through speech and debate practice in this 2-week program for middle school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Course Description
An idea becomes easier to share when you know where to begin. Find a point worth making, then give an audience a reason to listen.
In this course your student will choose topics, organize ideas, and practice writing and delivering speeches in a supportive setting. Guided exercises connect the words on the page with voice, pace, posture, and other delivery choices. They’ll prepare speaking prompts and consider when presentation technology helps an audience follow along.
For a persuasive speaking assignment, your student will select an issue, learn about it, and build a position with reasons behind it. Presenting to an audience gives them a chance to see how the message lands. Feedback and reflection help them adjust the explanation and delivery. They’ll discover that speaking well also involves watching and listening, useful practice for the next time they have something to say in class.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What You Will 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 ideas to suit a speech’s purpose and audience
• Support an opinion with clear reasons and relevant information
• Explain how voice, body language, and presentation choices affect an audience
You’ll leave with your completed persuasive speech and a certificate of completion.
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?
For students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.
Your student doesn’t have to arrive as a confident speaker. This course welcomes students who want more practice sharing an idea in class, making a case, or speaking to a group. An interest in theater, writing, media, or debate can offer a way in, but no previous public-speaking or debate experience is required. They’ll try ideas aloud and use feedback to make the message their own.
Your Summer at Georgetown University
Studying on Georgetown University’s campus 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.
The program 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, the program 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.
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