Bounding Toward Hope: Dublin Resident and DCA Alum Pens New Book
February 6, 2026
Graceful Speech
DCA's Take on Public Speaking
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
Speech is a powerful tool. It has the power to lift others up or to tear them down. It can be used to praise or scold, speak truth or lies, sway others to follow, or drive them away. We use speech to convey our love to others.
Dublin Christian Academy understands how essential it is to speak well and kindly and with conviction. That’s why we emphasize public speaking through music, drama, and even classes in our curriculum devoted to the study of speech. Think of us as a public speaking coach for students.
Read on to discover the importance of public speaking, how our students learn to develop it, and how we compete with schools throughout New England to show others how we can talk the talk.
Why Public Speaking Is Important
Public speaking is a critical skill that we help our students develop so they can use it in their careers as adults, at social events, debates, and in church or when witnessing to a friend about Jesus Christ.
Practicing public speaking is an excellent way for students to build up their confidence and self-esteem. The more it’s practiced, the more the fear of speaking to groups of people lessens. These skills also directly benefit students in specific classes they attend where giving presentations is part of the curriculum.
Public speaking also has a direct impact on academics. When students feel more comfortable sharing their ideas, they are more likely to engage in classroom discussions and ask for assistance when needed. Participation in group projects will increase when their speaking skills help them organize their ideas, research a topic at hand, and encourage peers to see a certain point of view.
So, how do we help our students practice speech here at DCA?
Speaking of Speech!
At Dublin Christian Academy, we want to help our students discover and develop their God-given voice. We do that through an assortment of classes and programs:
SPEECH 1 & 2
Perhaps the most obvious place to start is with our speech classes. Speech 1 is required for all students as it’s part of the core curriculum. There, students learn about basic speech skills, public speaking, and debate while developing their leadership skills and boosting confidence.
Speech 2 is an elective course that students choose to take. It’s what we would consider an advanced speech course. Students who take this course also have an opportunity to assist in directing the junior high play and coaching the junior high students as they prepare for arts competitions.
DRAMA
Students are immersed in speech practice through the art of drama. Sketches and plays are put on each year: the junior high puts on a play, and students in grades 9 through 12 can audition for their own production each year. Students also have an opportunity to display their acting abilities during various concerts throughout the year.
For anyone who would like to see one of our productions,, this year’s senior high play is “The Matchmaker” by Thorton Wilder. Performances are on Wednesday, April 23, at 1 p.m. and Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. We’d love to see you there as the actors perform this timeless classic!
MUSIC
Nothing embodies artistic expression in speech quite like music. At DCA, music is a key part of our curriculum—students in K-12 attend music class, and grades 7-12 in the upper class participate in choir. Those wishing to further their vocal music experience can join the DCA Ministry Team, Men’s Chorus, Ladies’ Chorus, and various duets, trios, and quartets.
Students get to perform music and worship the Lord in a series of concerts throughout the year to share their abilities with family, friends, and each other.
Taking Part in the “Contest”
Each year, the upper school students participate in a regional competition created by the American Association of Christian Schools that the Dublin staff and students refer to as “Contest”.
At Contest, our students get to compete in several categories that show off their skills in public speaking: debates, readers theater, music performances through solo and choir work, and reciting Bible verses.
The competition takes place in one day in mid-March each year, and the day wraps up with an awards ceremony that evening. We were very blessed to have won in several categories this year. Congratulations to all of our students for a job well done this year! We are already looking forward to competing again in 2026.
Always Speak with Grace
At DCA, we emphasize the importance of speech and how it should be reflected in our biblical worldview. It is a gift that, when polished and refined, can be used for such good works. We encourage our students to use their gifts to lift one another up and speak the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever the road of life finds them.
If you’d like to learn more about how we build public speaking skills into our curriculum or have any other questions about DCA, please contact us. Let’s use our speech to edify each other and show the love of Jesus with every word.
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