If you’ve ever considered a public speaking career, or fancied yourself talking knowledgeably to groups of educated, well-informed people about subjects for which you have a passion, then becoming a lecturer might be a good start.Lecturing is a ‘thing’ in many countries.
Lecturers are highly-regarded and are frequently considered experts in their fields.
Not necessarily for any academic prowess (although it can’t hurt), but more often because they have the confidence and fearlessness to get up in front of a crowd and put themselves in the ‘firing line’.
Perhaps surprisingly, courses to become a lecturer are few and far between, particularly in the rarefied space inhabited by "mainstream" colleges and universities in the education sector.However, lecturing is as much about delivery as it is about content or subject matter.
The substance of their content has more gravitas and is much more interesting to the recipients than those without these skills.But how does a less confident or less articulate individual develop these skills without exposing themselves to the tough and unforgiving ‘crowd’ that stand-up comedians dread with a passion in their formative years?Before ‘girding your loins’ and taking on the pressurised and terror-inducing environment of public speaking, or ‘jumping in the deep end’ to deliver live lectures, you might consider a less stressful introduction by learning to conduct assessments.Many of the skills needed to carry out assessments are perfect to introduce a novice to public speaking or lecturing.
Assessors need to speak authoritatively to scores of unknown people in unfamiliar surroundings every day of the week!