VietTESOL International Convention 2026

Many university students can prepare a speech or memorize a script, but they still struggle when the paper is no longer enough. Some read every word. Others memorize so heavily that they freeze when they lose a line. This presentation shares a seven-session public speaking course that helped English majors rely less on full scripts and deliver short speeches with a clearer voice, better pacing, and more eye contact. Students began the course with full written texts. Then they changed the content to fit their own ideas and examples. Later, they reduced their speeches to short keyword notes and practiced speaking with only those notes for support. Over time, students looked up more, used notes more carefully, and showed better control over their delivery. The session will walk through the course structure, rehearsal steps, class activities, and feedback tools used during the series. It will also share evidence from student performances, including rubric notes, teacher observations, and changes in delivery. Participants will leave with a short rehearsal plan, an activity to help students reduce their notes, and a speaking checklist they can adapt for presentations, ESP classes, and university speaking courses.