Rockefeller Center hosts Joshua Compton for Freespeaking Workshop

The Rockefeller Center selects a number of public speakers to give talks and lead workshops here at Dartmouth.  “Freespeaking: Speaking With (and Listening Up) Before Speaking Out”, led by Joshua Compton, was one of our numerous Fall 2010 programs.  This particular session was in support of the Dartmouth Centers Forum theme for the year "Speak Out! Listen Up!".  You can read an article about the event here and read a student summary from one of our discussion group leaders below.

What did you eat for dinner last night?

Beginning with this question, Dr. Joshua Compton led students on an unconventional quest for innovation. Compton, a Senior Lecturer in Speech at Dartmouth, directed a workshop entitled “Freespeaking: Speaking With (and Listening Up) Before Speaking Out.” The Rockefeller Center hosted the workshop on November 4th.

Exemplifying the dialogic approach to speech that he espoused, Compton insisted on his audience’s participation. Students freespoke about their dinners, expressing all thoughts that came to mind. By listening to each other, freewriting, and reflecting on their output, students generated potential speech topics. After discussing the speech-creation process, participants partook of a dinner catered by the Orient.  Everyone left ruminating.

-- Nicole Yunger Halpern ’11