Lecture training

The goal of this method is to enable members to present the Principle clearly, getting over their fear that they “aren’t lecturers” or that they’re unable to express clearly what they believe.

Optimally, training would enable them to be public lecturers. But if not, they should at least be able to speak comfortably and clearly to a friend or neighbor, or to very small groups.

The method I know is used for teaching medium-sized groups, but it can easily be scaled down for small ones. A typical meeting would be arranged in this way:

1. Introduction (20 minutes; one time only)
   • Review the power of the Word to help transform history (I.e., the Word of God has always had the power to help change the world, as long as it was spread. The simple followers of Moses and Jesus showed that fact, by preserving and spreading the Word that was given to them.)
   • Review the purpose & attitude of the lecturer
2. Model Lecture:
• Short prayer, then clearly constructed model lecture by an experienced presenter (me for now) for 20-30 minutes. (“Clearly-constructed” means that the main content should observably follow the DP table of contents.)
3. Outlines:
• Students break up, pray, and make their own lecture outline individually, based on the DP textbook and the model lecture, for 20-40 minutes.
4. Lecture Practice:
• Short prayer, then students break into small groups of 3, and each lectures for 10 minutes. Very short constructive criticism — not long discussions — within the group follows. (In larger groups, the teacher[s] can float among the groups and observe.)
5. Closing comments:
• Instructors make short comments to all the gathered students about things that they observed (both good and bad) which affect all lecturing in general.
6. Condensed teaching condition:
   • Finally, at the end of all sessions, there can be a marathon, extended session, where the students can present the entire Principle from the different lectures they’ve practiced. (In larger sessions, each student would not lecture their own small group continuously, but move from one small group to another, so that there is constant rotation of speakers among the different practice groups. This creates a wonderful atmosphere of “unison lecture” as powerful as unison prayer.)

This method was used in CARP in the 1980s. It was introduced by Steven Osmond who had been a teacher in England. Dr. Seuk authorized him to teach the black belt traveling demonstration team. In one week of this intensive training, all team members were able to lecture. That experience proved that this method worked. It was used on appropriate occassions since, for example during the DP module of GPA in 2012–2013.

This latter experience with GPA also influenced the development of a method of giving impromptu lectures on a restaurant or coffee house napkin. That’s documented here.