Teacher Script: Speak Up, Shine On!

Introduction (0-1 minute)

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really important when it comes to learning and speaking English: confidence! Have you ever felt a little shy or nervous to speak English, even when you know the words? Many people do! Our goal today is to help you feel stronger and more confident when you use your amazing English voices."

Warm-Up: English Feelings (5 minutes)

"Let's start with a quick check-in. Look at our first slide on the Speak Up, Shine On! Slide Deck: 'How Do You Feel About Speaking English?' On the count of three, I want you to show me with a thumbs up if you feel mostly confident and excited, a thumbs down if you feel mostly shy or nervous, or a thumb sideways if you feel a mix of both. Ready? One, two, three!"

(Observe student responses.)

"Thank you for sharing! It's completely normal to feel a range of emotions. Some days you might feel super confident, and other days a bit more shy. Can anyone share why they sometimes feel nervous? What are some things that make you feel a little hesitant to speak English out loud?"

(Listen to a few student responses, affirm their feelings. For example: "That's a very common feeling!")

"Our objective today is to explore these feelings and find ways to help everyone feel more confident in their English journey."

Understanding Confidence (7 minutes)

"Let's look at the next slide: 'What is Self-Confidence?' Self-confidence is simply believing in yourself and your abilities. It's knowing that you can do something, even if it feels a little challenging. When you're confident, you feel ready to try new things, even if they're a little scary!"

"Now, think about 'Why is Confidence Important in English?' (Refer to the slide). When you're confident, you're more likely to speak up, ask questions, and practice. This makes learning more fun and helps you connect with classmates and others. Remember, mistakes are part of learning! Everyone makes them, and they help us grow."

"On the next slide, we see 'Common Fears When Speaking English.' Do any of these sound familiar? Making mistakes? Sounding different? Feeling shy? Not knowing the right words? These are all very normal worries. The good news is, we can learn strategies to help us manage these fears and build our confidence!"

Confidence Strategies Activity (10 minutes)

"Today, we're going to start building our own 'Confidence Toolbox.' (Refer to the slide: 'Building Your Confidence Toolbox'). I'm going to hand out a worksheet called the Speaking Confidence Worksheet."

(Distribute the worksheet.)

"On this worksheet, we'll look at three main strategies. Let's go through them together. The first one is 'Strategy 1: Start Small!' (Refer to the slide). This means finding easy ways to practice. Maybe you practice speaking English with a pet, or in front of a mirror. You could also talk to a trusted friend or family member, or just try using simple English sentences first. What are some small ways you could start practicing?"

(Allow students to share ideas briefly. Encourage them to write down ideas on their worksheet.)

"Next, 'Strategy 2: Practice, Practice, Practice!' (Refer to the slide). The more you use English, the easier it becomes. You could join an English club, ask questions in class, read aloud to yourself, or even sing English songs! Every little bit of practice helps your confidence grow. What kind of practice sounds fun to you?"

(Allow students to share ideas briefly.)

"Finally, 'Strategy 3: Positive Self-Talk!' (Refer to the slide). This is about what you say to yourself in your head. Instead of thinking 'I'm going to mess up,' you can think 'I can do this!' or 'It's okay to make mistakes.' Your thoughts have power! Try saying something positive to yourself when you feel nervous."

"Now, on your worksheet, I want you to choose one strategy that you feel you can really try. Write down how you will use it this week. Then, turn to a partner and share your chosen strategy with them. Take about 2 minutes for this."

(Circulate and assist students as they work and share.)

Wrap-Up & Share (5 minutes)

"Okay, everyone, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share the confidence strategy they chose and how they plan to use it?"

(Call on a few volunteers, offering positive reinforcement.)

"That's wonderful! Remember, building confidence is a journey, not a race. Every time you try, you're getting stronger. Your English voice is important, and we want to hear it! Now, for our cool-down, I'll pass out a quick Cool Down Check-in for you to complete before you leave today. This will help me understand how you're feeling after our lesson."

(Distribute the Cool Down Check-in.)

Review and Reflect (3 minutes)

"Just a quick recap: we talked about what confidence is, why it's important for English, and some ways to build it – like starting small, practicing, and using positive self-talk. Keep trying these strategies, and remember, I'm here to support you! Any final questions before we wrap up?"

(Address any questions and offer final encouragement.)

Speaking Confidence Worksheet: Speak Up, Shine On!

Part 1: How Do I Feel?

Think about speaking English in class or with new people. Circle the words that best describe how you feel:

• Excited
• Nervous
• Shy
• Happy
• Worried
• Brave
• Unsure
• Confident

What makes you feel this way? Write one sentence about it.

Part 2: What Are My Fears?

It's normal to have fears! Check any of these that you sometimes worry about when speaking English:

• Making mistakes
• My accent sounds different
• Not knowing the right words
• People will laugh at me
• I'll forget what to say
• Other:
  
  
  

Part 3: My Confidence Toolbox - Strategies to Try!

We learned about three strategies today. Read through them and think about which ones you could use.

Strategy 1: Start Small!

• What is one small way you can practice speaking English? (e.g., talk to a pet, use 3 English words today, practice in front of a mirror)

Strategy 2: Practice, Practice, Practice!

• What is one way you can get more practice with English? (e.g., ask a question in class, read aloud for 5 minutes, sing an English song)

Strategy 3: Positive Self-Talk!

• What is one positive thing you can tell yourself when you feel nervous about speaking English? (e.g., "It's okay to make mistakes," "I can do this!")

Part 4: My Action Plan!

Now, choose ONE strategy from Part 3 that you will try this week. Write down which strategy it is and exactly how you will use it.

My chosen strategy is:

I will use this strategy by:

Cool Down Check-in: Speak Up, Shine On!

My English Confidence Check-in

1. How do you feel about speaking English now, after our lesson?
   (Circle one)

   • More Confident
   • About the Same
   • Less Confident (Unlikely, but honest feedback is good!)

2. What is ONE new idea or strategy you learned today to help you feel more confident?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What is ONE thing you will try to do this week to practice your English speaking?
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. How would you rate today's lesson?
   (Circle one)

   • Helped a lot!
   • Helped a little
   • Didn't help much