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.

Lídia
Ana Júlia
Elizabeth
Gabriela Henriques
Gabriela
Lara
Maria
Noemi
Mariana
Teles
Frezzato
Del Castillo
Henriques
Takeda
Lemes
Casali
Fonseca
Gonçalves