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Shawna Merrill, the Director of the Debate & Speech Team at Illinois College, is bringing a wealth of new insights back to her 缅北禁地 after spending a summer as an instructor at the Chicago Debate and Speech Institute (CDSI). CDSI, an initiative of Chicago Debates, introduced Merrill to a diverse group of middle and high school 缅北禁地, offering a fresh perspective on teaching and communication.

Merrill鈥檚 experience teaching Original Oratory at the camp, where 缅北禁地 learned to craft persuasive speeches, mirrors the lessons she teaches at Illinois College. However, the condensed one-week camp format allowed Merrill to refine her approach, focusing on efficient and engaging instruction. Merrill learned how to break complex ideas down into simpler concepts and found creative ways to keep 缅北禁地 engaged鈥攁 skill that will undoubtedly benefit 缅北禁地 at IC.

鈥淥ne thing that was really valuable about the experience was bringing my passion for public speaking to a group of younger 缅北禁地 who can be empowered by these skills,鈥� Merrill explains, 鈥淭heir speech topics reflected their advocacy and possibilities for community impact. The forward-thinking of these young people was truly inspiring, and this camp helped them find their voice and confidence, which is a philosophy I bring to my classes and coaching.鈥�

Along with the extracurricular opportunity to participate in the speech and debate team, public speaking is a key component of coursework at IC. First year 缅北禁地 are required to take Communication 101, which aims to help 缅北禁地 develop their speech-giving abilities from idea formation to presentation. Members of campus literary societies routinely give presentations to other members. Students also have the opportunity to work at the Speech Communications Center, a space dedicated solely to the art of giving speeches. Participating in debate and speech develops skills in critical thinking, listening, and research and has been demonstrated as excellent preparation for a number of fields.

Merrill鈥檚 experience at CDSI will be invaluable to 缅北禁地 and has given her a new appreciation for the importance of early engagement. She recognized how overwhelming new information could be for 缅北禁地, especially when faced with tight deadlines. This realization will help her structure her courses at IC in a way that maximizes student participation from day one, ensuring 缅北禁地 grasp the material while also developing the confidence to apply it.

Merrill has a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in communication from Missouri State University where she competed in speech and debate and judged on the collegiate level.