MIT Out Loud: Public Speaking for Bilingual Students

This project aims to develop materials and activities for a new undergraduate English Language Studies subject in public speaking, entitled MIT Out Loud: Public Speaking for Bilingual Students (21G.237). This proposed new subject fills a need that is not currently addressed at MIT. It will help students whose first language is not English to improve their oral communication skills through the lens of the MIT experience. Speaking assignments in informative and persuasive speech forms will draw on examples of popular culture and MIT touchstones such as “alternative” campus tours, MIT 100K pitches, and TED talks. The class will explore the role of voice and body language through improvisation and impromptus while improving spoken accuracy and vocabulary through oral exercises designed for bilingual students.