Best age to start elocution classes?

[WilliamJohnesUK]

Is there an ideal age for children to begin elocution or public speaking lessons?

Around 1897 I would have thought.

Total lol. Nailed it

Ok not sure that there is a ‘best age’. What’s your angle here? Do you want public speaking with a view to taking exams (LAMDA)? Or are you concerned your child won’t speak properly? Surely you can help with that though…

I don't know about elocution but my daughter started doing lamda (acting /public speaking) when she was 9 and loves it. They do have younger children taking part and have some grades for the tiniest too

I have never had elocution classes and seem to be doing okay. Work in an international team using up to 4 languages every day, so it has not held me back, that’s for sure.

Mid primary I would say. Its of course not an absolute necessity, but very helpful for public speaking (and I wish more people in my tram had taken some….)

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Excellent.

Do these even exist any more?

I used to do drama classes that included speech elements- how to project your voice, reading poetry etc. Basically how not to look down and mumble and deliver a speech or reading in a way that gives the impression you're after. Is that the sort of thing you mean? If so, drama clubs can begin very young (5?), can be a lot of fun and beneficial in all sorts of ways, but the emphasis won't be on the voice when they are so little.

Haha fantastic.

I highly recommend Professor Higgins 😂

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Brilliant

Why the sneering? What's wrong with young people being taught to speak clearly and confidently?

There's a difference between learning the skill of public speaking and enunciation and elocution.

The sneering is because elocution (aka trying to whitewash your working class background) is pretentious and ridiculous.

There's a difference between learning the skill of public speaking and enunciation and elocution.

How can you be skilled at public speaking if you can't speak clearly?

And who said anything about whitewashing a working class background?

Read my post again - learning to enunciate is learning to speak clearly. Elocution is learning to speak faux RP.

If your child has a speech impediment or difficulty, then obviously speak with your GP/health visitor to get them referred to SALT asap.

Otherwise, no elocution/public speaking lessons are required.

Your child may, themselves, show an intetest in speech and drama, in which case your child could enrol for LAMDA. The time to do that is when your child shows an intetest in it.

Read my post again - learning to enunciate is learning to speak clearly. Elocution is learning to speak faux RP.

Who says? Where does that definition appear?

I think that is your perception of what the word elocution means. In fact it has a far broader meaning.

Plus I have a northern accent and I am proud of it but people definitely sometimes make assumptions about me based on it. I don't mind, it normally means they underestimate me and that can give me a tactical advantage at work, but I certainly wouldn't judge anyone who wanted to have elocution lessons because they felt their accent was a disadvantage.

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Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's interesting to see how different children start at different ages. We found that confidence and enjoyment matter much more than age. Structured elocution and public speaking practice can really help with pronunciation, clear speech and confidence, especially for children who are shy or preparing for school presentations.
let me know any reference for the same

I think you might want to worry less about elocution and take a marketing course instead.

My daughters school started speech and language, public speaking classes at around year 4.