Many parents getting in touch with me wonder whether it would be beneficial to enrol their child in a group class or whether they should opt for one-to-one LAMDA lessons.
My answer is always that it depends on what you’re hoping your child will achieve. If you’re looking for your child to develop team working skills, then learning LAMDA or drama in a group setting is the way to go.
However, if you’re looking for your child to develop confidence and self-belief, then a nurturing one-to-one environment is best.
The Sea of Eyes
You might think that the ‘shock therapy’ of just getting up and speaking in front of a sea of eyes might help your child to develop confidence in their public speaking skills. However, if your child already has a fear of public speaking, facing a sea of eyes could have a lasting negative impact on how your child feels about public speaking for years.
It’s imperative that your child develops their public speaking skills in a supportive, nurturing environment before going in front of an audience. It’s equally important that they work with a teacher who takes their responsibility of teaching public speaking skills seriously. After all, 61 percent of 18-24 year olds list public speaking as a top fear, according to YouGov.
Confidence in public speaking, or any skill for that matter, develops when the individual regularly builds on the positive experience of practice. We can all feel self-conscious about our voices and self-expression so it’s crucial that these skills are built in an environment which feels safe and free from the fear of failure.
Free from the Comparison of Others
Many young students can struggle to develop their ability to speak up in a group lesson because they compare their abilities to more confident students within the group. This might mean that they shrink even further back from involving themselves in the group dynamic. A one-to-one environment therefore gives these students a safe platform where they can develop a more confident version of themselves.
When teaching group drama, the facilitator’s approach is to cater to the demands of the group. There is little time to focus solely on one student and this in turn could slow down your child’s development of their confidence and self-belief.
There is also usually a one size fits all approach when it comes to choosing which course of study students work towards and which pieces they perform. This might disenfranchise students who are looking to build their confidence as they work on material with which they have no emotional connection.
Each of my lessons is completely tailored to the individual needs of each of my students. I empower my students by giving them the choice of the exam they wish to study and ensure that they choose and work on material which they are passionate about performing. This in turn gives my students complete ownership over their LAMDA journey, so they’re more likely to stay the course and develop a mastery of their confidence in communication.
Do you want your child to develop masterful public speaking skills in a nurturing one-to-one environment? Get in touch or call +44 (0)20 8064 0549 to book an initial lesson.
