Public Speaking & Acting Program
Speak Boldly, Perform Brilliantly
Our Public Speaking & Acting Program is designed to empower students with the confidence, creativity, and communication skills they need to thrive on stage, in school, and beyond. Blending the structure of public speaking with the expressive depth of acting, this program helps students become powerful, authentic, and engaging communicators.
Through a dynamic mix of speech training, dramatic performance, and interactive activities, students will:
- Master voice control, body language, and stage presence
- Learn to write and deliver persuasive speeches, monologues, and storytelling pieces
- Build improvisation and character development skills
- Strengthen emotional expression, empathy, and creative thinking
- Practice in both scripted and spontaneous performance formats
This program not only prepares students for competitions, school presentations, and theatrical performances but also builds lifelong confidence in communication, leadership, and self-expression.
Coach Xiaoqing
Broadway Musical Theatre Artist | SAG-AFTRA Member | Founder of Broadway China
A distinguished Broadway musical theatre performer and a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), she is the founder of Broadway China and a cultural bridge between East and West. Honored by New York City Hall as the "Musical Theatre Ambassador between China and the U.S.," she has been invited to give masterclasses and lectures at the Chinese Consulate General in New York.
She has served as a judge for SinoVision’s “Voice of American Colleges” and Columbia University's “Star Voice” competition, and as a mentor at the New York Youth Broadway Summer Camp. Additionally, she works as a drama and music teaching artist for SAYA (South Asian Youth Action) and Education Through Music, two leading arts education organizations in the U.S.
As a performer, she has starred in numerous musical productions, including leading roles in Off-Broadway shows such as The Emperor’s Nightingale, Songs of the Railroad, Shanghai Sonatas, and Into the Woods. She also played leading roles in Chinese-language premieres of Avenue Q and Mama, Love Me Once Again.
As a director, her original youth musical Panda Myth was selected to represent China in a special performance for the Danish Royal Family and government officials, showcasing the power of cultural storytelling through musical theatre.
Course Outline: Performance-Based Public Speaking & Acting
Lesson 1: Introduction to Performance-Based Speaking & On-Camera Presence
Understanding expressive public speaking and camera dynamics; analyzing performance styles.
Lesson 2: Voice & Speech Foundations
Vocal projection, breath control, and articulation based on the Linklater voice method.
Lesson 3: Body Language in Communication
Exploring gestures, posture, movement, and how physical expression supports spoken content.
Lesson 4: Emotional Expression & Character Development
Using Method Acting techniques to explore emotional authenticity and build personas in speech.
Lesson 5: Improvisation & Authentic Response
Engaging in spontaneous speaking, active listening, and unscripted performance exercises.
Lesson 6: Storytelling & Structured Speaking
Crafting impactful stories and organizing speeches with clear narrative flow and purpose.
Lesson 7: Monologue & Scripted Performance Practice
Learning techniques for delivering monologues and interpreting dramatic texts.
Lesson 8: Integrated Performance: Speaking on Camera
Combining public speaking and acting for powerful on-camera delivery and presence.
Lesson 9: Final Speech & Performance Rehearsal
Guided run-through of final pieces with coaching on timing, clarity, and expression.
Lesson 10: Showcase & Final Presentation
Live or recorded showcase of students’ speeches and performances; celebration of growth.