Students seek masters to learn... say

Teacher Huynh Sang and students in a voice training class - Photo: NVCC

Many students actively take speaking courses, from formal classes to debate clubs, with the goal of not only overcoming their fear of public speaking but also mastering their voice - a skill considered a "soft weapon" in their career journey.

Speaking skills, especially public speaking, are being seriously studied by students as a fundamental subject. Many students share that they believe that the ability to express themselves clearly and persuasively is becoming an important plus point for themselves when looking for a job in the future.

More than just learning to speak

Tran My Linh - 21 years old, student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - has many times "mocked the mic" during group presentations because she did not know how to express herself concisely and clearly. Linh spent money to take an online course on public speaking.

"At first, I just learned to calm my nerves, but the more I practiced, the more I realized that this skill helped me think more clearly. Learning to speak is essentially learning how to organize my thoughts and convince others to understand what I'm thinking," Linh recalls.

Linh shared that many of her friends also want to find soft skills classes or specialized voice training classes to improve their communication skills, especially in the context of job interviews, project presentations or simply... to impress employers.

At the College of Radio and Television II (HCMC), voice training, MC, and broadcasting classes are often crowded with registrants. Many of them come to the class not necessarily to become TV hosts or broadcasters. Sometimes it is simply to speak better, through learning techniques such as adjusting the breath column, speaking speed, handling regional accents, or adjusting to make the message clearer.

Tran Thi Quynh Nhu - 21 years old, student at Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics - had doubted herself many times because people commented that she had a thin, light voice and lacked emotion. So Nhu "sought a teacher" to be able to speak better. In the first month, Nhu was instructed to control her breathing, combined with increasing her expression through each sentence.

"At first I was sad and discouraged, but after more than a month everything started to look brighter," Nhu confided.

Practice in the club

Of course, not all students can afford to enroll in courses. That is why debate clubs are popping up in schools, becoming practical, interactive, and free "speech studios" for students.

Nguyen Minh Duc - 19 years old, currently a student at the Diplomatic Academy - used to be a quiet student in all group activities. Remembering back in grade 10, Duc decided to try his hand at the LHP Debate Club - MAPLE Debate. This is a debate club of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City.

"At first, I was nervous every time I opened my mouth. But everyone in the club was like that. I learned how to argue, how to listen, and especially how to stand firm when asked unexpected questions," Duc said.

Unlike classroom presentations that are often formal, debates require participants to truly master arguments, handle situations flexibly, and express their personalities.

Duc shared: "Speaking is no longer about memorizing but about the skill of fighting with arguments. After many intense debates, I find myself speaking more clearly and no longer afraid of the audience."

Thanks to these "voice-breaking" training sessions, Duc has a solid foundation to study well the MC skills course at university. "I didn't think the high school club would help me so much. Now, if I need to present a project or be the MC of a small event, I volunteer," Duc said.

How to practice?

MSc. Tieu Minh Son, lecturer of global citizenship skills at Van Lang University, said that nowadays, in addition to learning specialized knowledge, university students are also required to equip themselves with many soft skills. This is considered an indispensable factor in the modern learning and working environment.

Many universities have implemented global citizenship education programs that focus on four core skill sets: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.

Depending on their training strategy, some schools integrate these skills into general subjects or extracurricular activities. Others choose to design them as independent courses with clear curriculum frameworks and output standards. Regardless of the form, schools recognize that these are fundamental skills that directly affect the quality of future human resources.

"Students can proactively practice communication skills early through group activities, classroom presentations or participating in academic and debate clubs. Voice and the way of presenting ideas are also factors that create a personal brand, so if invested in properly, communication skills will become a sustainable advantage in future studies and careers," said Mr. Son.

Advantages of good communication

Voice trainer Huynh Sang believes that the increase in demand for learning public speaking skills comes from many factors.

"The current Gen Z generation is larger and has greater needs. When they have better conditions, everyone wants to improve themselves and is willing to spend effort, money... to study and practice. They realize that good communication skills will increase trust and work efficiency," said Mr. Sang.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sinh-vien-tam-su-hoc-noi-20250405090645703.htm