Reported by Eric Huang
From August 24–28, 2026, the Hand in Hand We Grow (HHWG) Team partnered with 425 Speaks to offer a five-day, in-person Public Speaking Workshop focused on Business Topics at an Eastside fire station. The workshop was designed to help students develop foundational public speaking skills while learning how to communicate effectively in business-related situations.
Drawing on their knowledge and experience from participating in DECA competitions, the instructors introduced students to practical public speaking techniques, including impromptu speaking, storytelling, body language, voice modulation, presentation design, improvisation, and business roleplays.
The workshop was held from 4:00–6:00 PM each day, with Eric Huang serving as the lead instructor. In addition to the scheduled class time, Eric spent approximately one additional hour before and after each session answering questions, providing individualized guidance, and helping students with their homework and presentations.
Day 1 – August 24
Eric and Deyansh began the workshop with icebreakers to help students get to know one another and feel comfortable speaking in front of the group. Students then participated in team-building public speaking games centered around common business situations and problems.
The students were introduced to Table Topics, a format commonly used to practice impromptu speaking. Each student delivered a one- to two-minute speech in response to prompts related to careers, products, services, and other business topics.
Following a 10-minute snack break, students participated in a storytelling game designed to encourage creativity, spontaneity, and confidence. Several students demonstrated particularly strong comedic and storytelling skills.
To conclude the first day, Eric introduced the main presentation that students would deliver on Friday. Each student selected a topic and began developing ideas for their individual presentations.
Volunteer Hours:
Eric Huang：3 Hours
Deyansh: 2 Hours
Advisor on Duty: Christine
Location: Eastside Fire station 82
Day 2 – August 25
The second day began with a warm-up activity before moving into the importance of body language as a secondary form of communication. Students learned how hand gestures, facial expressions, posture, movement, and other physical cues can strengthen a speaker’s message and help engage an audience.
Students then learned how to organize and structure a speech effectively. They worked on developing their presentations for Friday and were assigned homework to complete their speech outlines and begin drafting their introductions and opening body paragraphs.
Volunteer Hours:
Eric Huang：3 Hours
Advisor on Duty: Christine
Location: Eastside Fire station 82
Day 3 – August 26
Students began the third day with a quick company-themed game before learning about voice modulation and how changes in pitch, speaking speed, volume, and tone can communicate emotion and emphasize important points.
Students practiced techniques such as purposeful pauses, changes in tone, and variations in speaking pace to make their presentations more engaging and effective.
The class then focused on creating clear and concise visual aids for presentations. Students participated in an activity designed to help them distinguish between effective and ineffective visuals. By the end of the session, students were expected to have made substantial progress on both their visual materials and overall presentations.
Volunteer Hours:
Eric Huang：3 Hours
Advisor on Duty: Christine
Location: Eastside Fire station 82
Day 4 – August 27
The fourth day began with a short improvisation exercise. Students then learned various improvisation techniques and strategies designed to help them think quickly, respond confidently, and communicate effectively when faced with unexpected situations.
After a break, students were introduced to DECA roleplays, which simulate real-world business situations and require participants to analyze a problem and communicate their solutions within a limited amount of time. Students practiced a roleplay scenario and received guidance on how to organize their responses and present their ideas effectively.
Volunteer Hours:
Eric Huang：3 Hours
Advisor on Duty: Christine
Location: Eastside Fire station 82
Day 5 – August 28
On the final day, students were given additional work time to finalize their presentations and complete their roleplay preparation. Each student then delivered their presentation to the group and received constructive feedback from the instructors.
Because of the number of participants and the goal of allowing every student sufficient time to present, the class was extended by an additional 30 minutes. This ensured that every student had the opportunity to complete their presentation and receive feedback.
Throughout the five-day workshop, students gained practical experience in public speaking while developing communication, presentation, improvisation, and business problem-solving skills. The workshop also gave students an opportunity to apply skills and strategies drawn from competitive DECA experiences to real-world communication situations.
Volunteer Hours:
Eric Huang：3 Hours
Advisor on Duty: Christine
Location: Eastside Fire station 82
