This course invites learners into the expressive and rhetorical world of William Shakespeare—while building their own voice and presence on stage. Structured around six interactive modules, students will explore speech techniques, character work, rhetorical analysis, and dramatic performance. With a strong foundation in public speaking and classical storytelling, learners will interpret Shakespearean texts, connect them to modern ideas, and build original monologues or scenes. The course ends with a final showcase where students demonstrate growth in performance and communication.

Key Benefits:

• Boosts public speaking skills with strong voice, posture, and presence
• Builds confidence in performing complex texts and original pieces
• Deepens understanding of Shakespeare’s language, characters, and themes
• Encourages creative thinking, emotional expression, and peer collaboration
• Culminates in a performance showcase for family, peers, or school

What You’ll Learn:

Foundations of Public Speaking

• Voice projection, pacing, and articulation techniques

• Nonverbal communication: eye contact, gestures, posture

• Strategies to overcome stage fright and speak with confidence

Introduction to Shakespeare

• Life and legacy of William Shakespeare

• Understanding Elizabethan English, dramatic structure, and recurring themes

• Key characters and scenes from selected plays (e.g., Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Speech & Rhetoric Skills

• Identifying rhetorical devices (repetition, antithesis, metaphor, etc.)

• Analyzing Shakespearean speeches (e.g., “Friends, Romans, countrymen…”)

• Writing and delivering original speeches inspired by Shakespearean themes

Performance Techniques

• Scene work and character analysis

• Using voice and body to bring text to life

• Rehearsing and performing monologues or duologues

Creative Expression & Critical Thinking

• Interpreting scenes for tone, mood, and emotional impact

• Drawing connections between Shakespeare’s ideas and modern life

• Reflective journaling, peer feedback, and performance critique

Final Presentation

• Students perform selected Shakespearean scenes and original speeches

• Opportunity to demonstrate growth in clarity, confidence, and creativity

• Showcase event for peers, parents, or school community