Speakers League develops:
- Presentation Techniques
- Mental Agility
- Meeting Management Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Leadership
- Organizational Skills
- Speech Writing Skills
Speakers League youth public speaking clubs are a fun, supportive environment where kids can become more comfortable and confident with public speaking. Members have opportunities for impromptu speaking, prepared speeches, peer-to-peer evaluation, and more. Enrollment accepted year-round, as long as there is space in the club.
Our goal with our Speakers League clubs is to develop the public speaking and leadership skills of kids aged 10 and up. (Serious-minded younger ones are welcome too. Click here to find out if your child is ready.) Everyone is welcome as long as they can agree to our code of conduct.
Practical, hands-on experience is where real learning happens. In Speakers League, members jump in almost immediately to manage the meetings and present before the group.
Join Any Time!
All clubs meet exclusively through Zoom video-conferencing.
Monday Club
1st & 3rd Mondays
7pm-8:30pm Eastern
(enrollment accepted year round)
Meets September through May
Friday Club
1st & 3rd Fridays
6:30pm-8pm Eastern
(enrollment accepted year round)
Meets September through May
You can arrange to visit a club meeting by contacting Julia Morgan at julia@readysetresources.com,
or call or text 214-972-8046.
(You can visit up to two times at no cost.)
Read our FAQ section at the bottom of this page for more information about visiting.
Pricing to join
There is a one-time, non-refundable, $95 registration/materials fee per child when you join our Speakers League club. Dues are paid on a month-to-month arrangement of $40 per month, year-round, until you withdraw from the club. If you wish, at some point, to transfer from one club to another, there is a $25 transfer fee to cover admin expenses.
Monthly dues are deducted automatically from the card you use to enroll. There are no refunds on registration fees or dues once paid.
Why are monthly dues collected during the summer when the club doesn’t meet? There are three reasons:
- We found that parents like the flexibility of a paying a smaller month-to-month figure.
- We found that stability in our membership and scheduling was enhanced by a year-round arrangement.
- We are able to keep our dues lower because there is less paperwork, staffing, and marketing involved in managing membership.
Contact julia@readysetresources or 214-972-8046 to begin your enrollment, or let us know if you have any questions.
Bypassing or conquering a fear of public speaking can position children to succeed on many levels in life.
What happens at a typical Speakers League meeting?
Skim through this 23-minute, annotated, meeting-highlight video, featuring kids in the South Bay (Southern California) club from May 2015. They range in age from 8 – 14. You’ll see how Speakers League provides training not only in presentation techniques, but also in leadership, meeting management, mental agility, critical thinking, and organization. Online meetings are essentially the same, but without the lectern and handshaking. Also, members only stand for Impromptu answers and to give speeches.
What else should we expect?
Speakers League clubs meet for an hour and a half, twice per month, between September and May (plus our annual conference held in early June). Members receive a member handbook with details on meetings and how to do the club roles. There are also training videos. Members are scheduled in advance for meeting roles and newer members start with easier roles like Timekeeper and Humorist, as they familiarize themselves with the club. There is an adult supervisor, but the kids essentially run the meetings themselves.
As space permits, we accept new members throughout the year.
Scroll down for answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Join our mailing list, below, or at this link, to receive even more details. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
By deciding to join a Speakers League Club you are giving a gift to your child, positioning him or her to become a confident and poised leader of the future.
"Thanks for starting and building Speakers League and Debate League. Hands down the best homeschooling education my boys had."
Speakers League FAQs
Can I visit the club before I decide about joining?
Yes, we welcome, and encourage, visitors to the group to “check us out.” To arrange for a visit, call or text us at 214-972-8046, or email julia@readysetresources.com.
If I visit, do I have to speak?
Guests are considered a part of the meeting along with the members, and are usually given the opportunity to answer an off-the-cuff question during the Impromptu segment of the meeting. Guests have the option to say, “I pass,” if they would rather just observe the meeting. Guests do vote after the major segments of the meeting, so should pay attention to determine who did the best job during each segment (Impromptus, Prepared Speeches, and Evaluations). Sometimes guests are offered a small role at the meeting.
What happens at a typical meeting?
Online meetings begin with a short business session where we acknowledge guests and run through any housekeeping items.
The meeting is then turned over to the day’s MC (Master of Ceremonies) who is in charge of introducing segments of the meeting and key participants.
During the first segment of the meeting, called “Impromptus,” members and guests have the opportunity to think on their feet and talk on a topic, off-the-cuff, within a 2-minute time limit. Guests have the option to pass.
Following Impromptus the prepared speeches segment begins, during which the scheduled speakers make their presentations. Most of the speakers are giving specific types of speeches to complete requirements for level promotion.
During the final major segment of the meeting, each member who gave a speech is evaluated by a fellow club member, following club guidelines for evaluation.
After each segment, club members (and guest students) cast votes for the winner of each segment – Best Impromptu, Best Speaker, and Best Evaluator. At the end of the meeting, virtual ribbons are awarded to the winners.
You can watch or skim a 23-minute “Typical Meeting” highlight video, as well as other videos, by clicking on this link
If I join, how will I know how to be the MC, or the Wordmaster, or an Evaluator, etc?
When you join, you will receive a 50+ page member handbook that, among other things, describes how to do each role at a meeting. There is a comprehensive online training system to help reinforce readiness and success. Plus, members learn by observing at the meeting. If you have questions, you can always ask the Chairperson (the adult supervisor of the club), or one of the other members. You can also get a pretty good idea about how a meeting works by watching our “Typical Meeting” highlight video at this link.
How much homework/preparation time is involved?
Giving a speech would be the only role at a meeting that requires substantial preparation time. Members are generally scheduled for 4-5 speeches per year, so they are usually a couple of months apart, giving anyone enough time to put together a good speech.
Some of the other roles do require a little preparation, for example, the Wordmaster chooses a Word of the Day and comes with a definition of it. The Impromptu Master prepares enough questions to ask the group. The Humorist brings some jokes. The Poet Laureate a poem. The ideal MC will reach out to speakers for introductory material before the meeting and fill in the MC’s worksheet.
That’s about it. Other than preparing speeches which can be done in small bites, there’s not a lot of homework.
How long does it take to complete each Level?
Completing each Level in Speakers League (there are four), involves giving seven speeches and doing each role in the club at least once, during that Level. Some of the higher Levels (beyond Level I) have additional requirements. It usually takes 12-18 months per level, to advance when a club meets twice per month, though members that tend to have speeches ready to go, and can substitute in case of a no-show, tend to advance more quickly.
Who teaches me how to write speeches?
Your member handbook has a section devoted to speech-writing. It gives you a worksheet to help you plan your first speech, called the “Getting to Know You” speech. There are suggestions for types of speeches to avoid, and a 5-step process we outline for how to write a great speech. You’ll also learn by observing, doing, and being-evaluated. We endeavor to videotape all speeches. These are generally made available to the member on an unlisted page on YouTube. As part of “completing” the speech, members view and complete a self-evaluation form. The Chairperson and members, Level III-and-above, may also provide a written evaluation to you.
The speeches in Level I do emphasize the development of specific presentation skills. These include using gestures, vocal variety, visual aids, and organization. The member handbook gives specific tips and guidelines for each speech. During Levels I & II, parents may assist members as they craft their speeches.
I'm not ten, yet. Can I still join?
If you are ready for Speakers League, you may join even if you are younger than ten. Click here for our readiness guidelines.
I'll be turning 18 this year. Can I still join?
You may stay in Speakers League until you graduate high school, or turn 19, whichever is later.
What's the average age of the kids in the club?
We get this question a lot, and we discourage viewing the clubs in an age-centric way. It’s more accurate to view them as skills-centric. Our headquarters clubs have always had kids ranging in age from about 8 to 18 and the kids are great together. Our readiness guidelines and professional format ensure a maturity level that evens the playing field between tweens and teens. The bulk of the membership has generally fallen in the 10-15 range.
How much does it cost to join?
There is a one-time, non-refundable, $95 registration/materials fee per child when you join a Speakers League clubs through this website. Dues, if paid annually, are $440. If you would prefer a month-to-month arrangement, you may opt to pay dues of $40 per month, year-round, until you withdraw from the club.
Why are monthly dues collected during the summer when the club doesn’t meet?
All of our dues are essentially annual. So, for example, for certain clubs you can either pay $440 per year all at once, or $480 per year in $40/month increments. There are three reasons:
- We found that parents like the flexibility of a paying a smaller month-to-month figure.
- We found that stability in our membership and scheduling was enhanced by a year-round arrangement.
- We are able to keep our dues lower because there is less paperwork, staffing, and marketing involved in managing membership.
Is there a sibling discount?
Yes. Siblings receive a 10% discount on both registration and dues when joining the exact same club. Use the promo code “SIBLINGS” on your online order form. (Does not apply with other specials.)
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal for our monthly payment option. If paying annually you may use these same methods, or cash, or check.
How often does the club meet?
Speakers League clubs meet twice per month between September and May, plus our optional SLAM (Speakers League Annual Meet) held online on the first Saturday in June.
Should I wait to join in September?
There is no difference in experience joining in September or any other month. It is commonplace for new members to join year-round. Membership goes up and down. The best time to join is when there is an opening in the club.
Do I have to come to every meeting?
No. However, if you are scheduled for a role but unable to attend, it is customary to find a replacement.
How do we withdraw from the club?
You may withdraw your child from the club at any time by notifying the club Chairperson. Payments up to that point are non-refundable. Future scheduled payments are immediately halted (unless the child attended a SLAM in May, in which case the June payment would still be due.).
Can I transfer from one Speakers League club to another?
If you wish to transfer from one RSR Education-run Speakers League club to another, there is a $25 fee to cover administrative costs. If you are transferring to a different organization’s Speakers League club and want us to provide a transcript of your progress, there is a $25 fee.
Do you offer financial aid?
If you feel that you could not otherwise participate in Speakers League without some financial assistance, we do make special arrangements for families that request it. Many of our students receive assistance. We want everyone to be able to partake of this great program! We offer partial scholarships, and they are based solely on need, not merit. To request a scholarship, we ask that the parent submit a statement in writing, or verbally, describing the reason assistance is desired, and what amount is requested. Members/parents who receive scholarship assistance may be asked to contribute volunteer time, on occasion.
When we’re ready to join, what should we do?
Contact us at julia@readysetresources.com to ensure we have a space in the club. Then use an enrollment link in the “Pricing” section at the top of the page to complete your enrollment.
What happens after my child joins?
Once you have paid and completed our online member data form, an automated, short series of emails will start to come to you to help your child get ready for the club. A member handbook will be provided by mail or at the first meeting, and your child will be added to the club schedule which we will send a link to.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact julia@readysetresources.com or 214-972-8046.
"All I can say is WOW! I was so impressed with every aspect -- the kids, the speeches, the way the meetings are organized, the whole thing is totally superb. Bravo!"
Contact
Phone: 1-214-972-8046
Fax: 1-310-868-2891
Email: julia@readysetresources.com
PO Box 866092 Plano TX 75086
Social phobias often start with shyness in childhood or early adolescence, and progress during adolescence, according to scientific studies. Bypassing or conquering a fear of public speaking can position children to succeed on many levels in life.