Speech classes at Brookhaven College have always involved collaborative, participatory activities; however, in the past few semesters, the speech faculty has actively encouraged students to push this engagement beyond the walls of the classroom.
One way that students are blending in-class learning with real-world application is by enrolling in a speech service-learning class. Professor Cheryl Dyer Vargas offers four communications workshop options for students: SPCH 1144, SPCH 1145, SPCH 2144 and SPCH 2145. In the four semesters that we have offered these classes, 18 students enrolled for 27 credit hours have completed more than 450 volunteer hours. Some of the many agencies that have benefited from these hours include Head Start, the Thomas Jefferson Go Center, Brookhaven Reads and Boy Scouts of America.
Another way that speech students are polishing their speaking skills outside of the classroom is by participating in Brookhaven College’s annual speech contest. This year’s speech contest, with its theme of “Current Issues Facing America,” will be held at 5 p.m. on April 24, in the EMGI building. The contest is open to any Brookhaven College student who has completed or is currently enrolled in SPCH 1311 or SPCH 1315. Six students participated in our first annual contest last year, and the first place winner, Christa Foster, gave the student speech at graduation.
