Would you like to help other students become better public speakers and improve your own speaking skills?
Become an Advisor
Students interested in the practice of speaking well are invited to join CWiC. CWiC offers students opportunities both as speaking advisors and in co-curricular venues, particularly the Emerging Scholar Talks.
For students with interests in oral communication and/or teaching, the speaking advisor program is an excellent chance to study and practice those interests. Potential advisors take a for-credit course (COLL-135 The Art of Speaking: CWiC Speaking Advisor Training). After successfully completing the course, students serve as paid speaking advisors, working with other undergraduates on their speaking. CWiC works with hundreds of undergraduates every semester and student advisors form the backbone of the program; consequently, potential advisors need to be committed to their work, to speaking and to improving the educational experience at Penn.
The Art of Speaking: CWiC Speaking Advisor Training
COLL-135
Dr. Sue Weber
Course Description: This course is designed to equip students with the major tenets of rhetorical studies and peer education necessary to work as a CWiC speaking advisor. The course is a practicum that aims to develop students' abilities as speakers, as critical listeners and as advisors able to help others develop those abilities. In addition to creating and delivering individual presentations, students facilitate workshops and practice advising. During this ABCS course, students will practice their advising skills by coaching and mentoring students at a public school in West Philadelphia.
Commitment: Apply for admission to this course if you will be available to work as an advisor each semester until you complete your degree. (An exception can be made for one study abroad semester.) If you are too busy to make this commitment, then do not apply. Hours vary during the semester, but most advisors work 5-15 hours/week. As a CWiC advisor, you will coach your peers during one-on-one advising sessions and teach workshops.
(Syllabus)
Application Instructions: Because students who successfully complete the course then work as paid speaking advisors during subsequent semesters, interested students have been selected for spring enrollment.
Applications due November 20, 2009.