Specialized Workshops
We offer a series of public speaking workshops open to the Barnard/Columbia community. The workshops are one or two hours and draw on knowledge and activities from a variety of fields (including intersectional feminist theory, meditation, and tips from Career Development). They aim to help you practice, improve, and experiment with your speaking style. In all workshops, you can expect to be on your feet, trying out activities and engaging in meaningful discussions with the support of a Speaking Fellow and a small group of peer participants.
Below is a list of workshops we've offered in the past.
Having trouble with a concept in class? Big paper coming up? Want to get to know your professors better but haven't made it to office hours yet? Come to our workshop and learn how to set effective goals, organize thoughts, and have productive and fulfilling conversations with professors.
This workshop on class participation for visiting students focuses on useful tools and strategies to meaningfully engage with peers and professors in classroom discussions. Students will have the chance to work in pairs or small groups and practice speaking and listening skills in a space free of negative judgement or pressure.
Giving a presentation on a topic you care about can be an incredibly rewarding and empowering experience. This workshop provides an opportunity for students whose first language is not English to learn some effective tools and strategies in developing and delivering presentations in and outside the classroom. Students will have the chance to practice their speaking skills and receive meaningful feedback in a space free of negative judgement or pressure.
What does it mean to be an active listener? How does an audience's active listening impact us as speakers? In this workshop, we will explore how listening skills can change our experience as speakers and audience members in various contexts. We will cover both the theoretical aspects as well as practical tools of active listening to enhance our everyday interactions.
Advocating for yourself can be an overwhelming and nerve-wracking experience, but it's an essential skill for establishing boundaries and ensuring that your needs are recognized. In this workshop, we'll go over the root of our fears, the importance of creating a support system, and how to prepare for advocating for yourself (both impromptu and planned). These skills could be beneficial for relationships, the classroom experience, and engaging with institutions!
Do you struggle to speak with confidence? Do you like telling jokes? Do you believe that humor can be an avenue through which to explore speaking confidently? Come to this workshop to learn more about crafting comedic presentations! We will talk about the barriers that prevent us from speaking confidently and the ways that we can use humor to overcome these barriers. We will explore personal writing, speeches, and stand-up comedy as a way of learning to speak confidently in a variety of settings! Bring your best jokes, ideas, speeches, and a willingness to work with your peers!