Effectiveness of the "Workshop for University Students: Expressiveness in Communication and Public Speaking Skills"
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop "Expressiveness in Communication and Public Speaking Skills." Methodology: Approved by the Research Ethics Committee (Protocol: 6.746.987). A total of 25 students, from both genders, enrolled in Speech-Language Pathology, Medicine, and Dentistry, participated in the workshop. The workshop consisted of twelve weekly sessions, each lasting two hours, integrating theoretical and practical content, including: public speaking anxiety, self-awareness, self-confidence, non-verbal communication, verbal communication, active listening, vocal health, and sleep hygiene. Pre- and post-workshop assessments were conducted using the "Self-Assessment Scale for Public Speaking," composed of 10 statements (5 positive, 5 negative) that measured self-confidence and comfort with public speaking on a scale from 0 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Following the workshop, participants responded to the self-evaluation question, "What outcomes did I observe in myself from the workshop?" which offered 10 alternatives based on the workshop content. Results: Participants showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in 9 out of 10 statements on the "Self-Assessment Scale for Public Speaking" in the post-workshop self-evaluation. 92% (23/25) of the participants reported feeling more secure and self-confident, 88% (22/25) noted improved expressiveness in public speaking, 80% (20/25) observed better posture and hydration, 76% (19/25) reported clearer speech, 68% (17/25) felt greater vocal confidence, 64% (16/25) indicated increased self-compassion and better interpersonal relationships, and 8% (2/25) reported improved sleep quality. Conclusion: The workshop "Expressiveness in Communication and Public Speaking Skills" was effective in enhancing self-confidence and security, as well as strengthening communication skills and expressiveness in public speaking.