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Introduction

“The stage is yours to craft.”It’s usually not an actual stage. Rather…It’s in front of the projector during a presentation. It’s the meeting room where your interview is held. It’s your own room, recording a YouTube video.Public speaking is a secret skill that many people scoff at. “I’ll never be on stage, anyway. I’ll never be giving a speech — that’s for leaders/principals/politicians/[insert other position relevant to you].”No. No, no, no. Public speaking is for everyone, and I promise you that if you start working on your communication skills now, your quality of life will improve over the next year. The opportunities you will have will increase over the next few years. People will understand you better, and respect you more (if they don’t already).If you have something that needs you to speak coming up, including but not limited to…
    •  A presentation/speech (e.g. school project, work)
    •  A research presentation (e.g. science fairs)
    •  An interview for an opportunity you really want
    •  Emceeing an event, whether casual or formal
    •  A podcast or video presentation you are featuring in or hosting…then take this opportunity to learn the art of public speaking and elevate your communication. The stage is no one else’s to craft but yours, after all.Join public speaking enthusiast and champion Evan Tan at Centre Stage, the public speaking masterclass that gives you the time and space to try. To explore techniques from like-minded peers. To learn what differentiates good from poor communication. To discover that public speaking is less a chore, but more an art form.View our info sheet for more information.

masterclass details

Date and time: 20 November 2024, 10am–6pm
Location: Near Marymount MRT (exact location will be shared with confirmed participants)Organiser(s): Firefly Academia
Contact: 80442544 (WhatsApp), [email protected] (Email)
Enrolment fee: S$138 (via PayNow)
20% discount for student participants in secondary, pre-tertiary, and tertiary schools!

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Your facilitator

Evan Tan

Evan Tan is a passionate educator and a public speaking enthusiast. He graduated from NUS High School of Math and Science in 2023.Despite hailing from a renowned school of maths and science, Evan does not shy away from the spotlight. With over eight years of experience in the performing arts and five years of experience in public speaking and debate through Model United Nations conferences, Evan bridges the rift between STEM and creativity — knowing means nothing if you can’t find ways to explain it to others clearly.In 2023, Evan emerged Champion of YMCA’s 36th Plain English Speaking Awards, a public speaking competition with both prepared and impromptu speaking segments. Evan was also featured on radio station CNA938, where he shared about his public speaking inspirations and journey.Evan is also the co-founder of Firefly Academia. He is a prospective undergraduate of the University of Cambridge (Natural Sciences) 2025, and aspires to be a Biology teacher in the future.

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before the masterclass

You may use a personal, upcoming public speaking opportunity for the masterclass (e.g. school/work presentation, emceeing opportunity, video/podcast project etc.), or craft a new speech based on prompts provided. You will use this presentation segment of around 2-3 minutes for the masterclass!Think about a few public figures whose speaking styles inspire them. During the masterclass, I will share how we can suss out why these people’s speeches and presentations inspire us, and how we can apply this to our own speaking styles.

part 1: the drawing board

"...but I'm not an artist!
I'm not a creative person!"

Okay, I hear you. But hear me out:Creativity isn’t an on-off switch. It’s not even a spectrum. It’s an innate property that every person has, and it can manifest in wildly unique ways that you may not realise is creative.I’ll bring you through why I firmly believe you are already creative, and how to hone your creativity in your communication skills. Hint: it’s way less about “originality” than you may think!

part 2: the green room

The best way to learn a skill isn’t learning theory, but applying the theory… by just doing it!In this section, you will get the opportunity to present a segment of their work. It’s a safe space to try, especially because of the small audience size. I will jump on these opportunities to share public speaking techniques that can uniquely enhance each participant’s communication skills.By using active examples of try-to’s and try-not-to’s, the techniques shared are more memorable and actionable by you.Again, Centre Stage isn’t a lecture or a crash course! We are here to learn from each other and appreciate each other’s art — it’s an art jam!

masterclass notes

Our notes for the masterclass have been carefully crafted for you. They are made to suffice as standalone learning materials, but enhanced by the experiential masterclass.(And for those who are worried — don’t worry, it’s a document, not a slide-ument. I’ve also left enough empty space for note-taking, if that’s your thing.)

frequently asked questions

What’s the location of the masterclass?
The masterclass will be held at a training room walking-distance from Marymount MRT. To protect the privacy of participants, the exact location will only be shared with confirmed participants.Will there be more sessions of Centre Stage?
Yes! We are planning for annual sessions, and we strive to polish our masterclass after every run.
We are also considering a December run of Centre Stage depending on demand.What’s the refund policy?
The entire refund policy can be found in our terms and conditions.
In summary, full refunds will only be processed at least one week before the event, under specific circumstances. After a full refund is granted, you will no longer be considered as a participant of Centre Stage.Is lunch provided?
No, lunch is not provided. There is a 1.5-hour lunch break. Participants may choose to head to one of the nearby coffee shops to have their lunch, or bring their takeaway lunch to the venue for consumption.
The 1.5-hour lunch break is also an opportunity for participants to interact with the facilitators of the events.How many participants are there in the masterclass? Can I join when it’s full, if I pay more?
Our November run will have 16 participants. We will not accept more than 16 participants in the masterclass to ensure that every participant gets the interactivity that we strive for in our masterclass.
Under no circumstances will we accept more participants after our sign-ups are full.Are there notes for the masterclass?
Yes! Our notes have been meticulously crafted by our facilitators and are made to work standalone and to enhance the learning during the masterclass.Are the slides in the masterclass provided?
Nope. Slides are meant to support the presenter, and therefore lack meaning without the presenter. Unlike the notes, our slides are not made to work standalone, and slide handouts will distract from the presenter instead.Will there be a recording of the masterclass if I cannot make it?
The masterclass is not designed to work in the recorded format, as the masterclass is interactive and experiential. However, participants may choose to record their speeches during the masterclass for their own review.Am I too old for the masterclass?
Never too old! While our masterclass is designed for youth, the essence of public speaking and the mindset I wish to share with participants is timeless.

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