After years of working closely with students, parents, and professionals, one thing has become very clear to me:
Most people don’t struggle because they lack knowledge. They struggle because they don’t know how to express it.

This problem shows up everywhere—classrooms, offices, interviews, meetings, and even at home. Children hesitate to answer questions. Teenagers avoid presentations. Adults stay silent in discussions despite having strong ideas.

At the heart of all this hesitation are two deeply misunderstood skills: public speaking and spoken English.

The biggest misconception: “I’m bad at speaking”

Most learners—children and adults alike—believe that speaking is a talent you either have or you don’t. Confident speakers are often labelled as “naturally gifted,” while quiet ones are tagged as shy or weak.

This belief is incorrect.

Public speaking and spoken English are learned skills, just like writing or mathematics. When taught correctly, anyone can become a confident communicator.

Public Speaking Is Not About the Stage—It’s About Daily Expression

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When people hear “public speaking,” they imagine:

• A microphone

• A stage

• An audience

But real public speaking happens in everyday situations:

• Answering questions in class

• Explaining an idea to a teacher or manager

• Presenting a thought in a meeting

• Expressing disagreement politely

In today’s world, those who can express ideas clearly are heard. Those who can’t often get overlooked—not because they lack intelligence, but because their thoughts remain unspoken.

This is why public speaking is no longer optional. It’s a life skill.

Spoken English: Where Fear Begins

Spoken English creates anxiety across age groups. I’ve seen it repeatedly:

• Children afraid of making grammar mistakes

• Teenagers worried about being judged

• Adults conscious of accent and fluency

The problem is not English itself.
The problem is fear of judgment.

Somewhere along the way, we started treating spoken English like an exam instead of a communication tool. This leads to hesitation, self-correction, and silence.

In reality, spoken English improves through:

• Regular usage

• Safe environments

• Encouragement, not correction

Platforms like PlanetSpark focus on building comfort with expression first. When learners stop fearing mistakes, fluency improves naturally.

Why Public Speaking and Spoken English Must Be Taught Together

Public speaking without spoken English confidence feels forced.
Spoken English without speaking confidence remains unused.

When taught together, they reinforce each other:

• Public speaking builds structure and clarity

• Spoken English builds comfort and fluency

• Together, they create confident communicators

Effective communication training should focus on:

• Thinking before speaking

• Organising ideas logically

• Expressing opinions clearly

• Speaking without memorisation

Confidence grows when learners feel understood—not judged.

What I See Across Age Groups

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Children

Children often know the answers but hesitate to speak. Fear usually comes from correction—being interrupted, corrected mid-sentence, or laughed at.

Teenagers

Teenagers struggle with overthinking. They worry about how they sound rather than what they want to say. This leads to rushed speech or silence.

Grownups

Adults carry years of fear—accent anxiety, grammar worries, and fear of being judged. This affects interviews, meetings, and leadership presence.

The solution for all three groups is the same: safe, structured speaking practice.

Practical Tips for Building Public Speaking and Spoken English Skills

Tips for Parents

• Let children finish their thoughts without interruption

• Encourage daily conversations in English without correction

• Praise effort, not fluency

• Ask open-ended questions

Your home should be the safest place for your child to speak.

Tips for Children

• Speak even if you’re unsure

• Don’t wait for perfect sentences

• Slow down—clarity matters more than speed

• Practice through stories and explanations

Confidence comes from trying, not from being perfect.

Tips for Teenagers

• Structure thoughts before speaking

• Focus on ideas, not accents

• Practice explaining concepts aloud

• Remember: everyone makes mistakes

Speaking improves when fear reduces.

Tips for Grownups

• Speak slowly and clearly

• Don’t apologise for your accent

• Focus on message, not mistakes

• Use daily interactions as practice

Fluency grows with usage—not silence.

The Real Goal: Communication, Not Perfection

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The goal of public speaking and spoken English training is not to create performers or accent experts.
The goal is to create clear, confident communicators.

Real confidence looks like:

• Calm expression

• Clear thinking

• Willingness to speak

When learners stop fearing judgment, they start expressing ideas freely—and that’s when real growth happens.

Final Expert Thought

In a world where ideas matter, voices matter too.

Public speaking and spoken English are not about sounding impressive.
They’re about being understood.

And when children and adults are given the right guidance, structure, and safe environment, confidence follows naturally.