Mrs Donna Jones is the teacher reponsible for the excellent oral communication classes which are compulsory in the junior area. We are thrilled with the way Mrs Jones develops the boys' confidence and abilities in many areas of oral communication: from one-to-one informal conversation to formal speech examinations assessed by Speech NZ examiners", says Head of English Rod Dowling. As a result the boys express themselves confidently, and we often get feedback from employers as to how well our boys come across in job interviews. In real life, communication is predominantly verbal, and I sometimes think we spend too much time teaching written communication skills in secondary schools, so it's great Donna's skills and enthusiasm help redress the balance".
Mr Ian Findlay co-ordinates the Debaters at Lindisfarne and since 2002 we have had 8 teams competing in the HB Inter-secondary schools competition. He is assisted by Mr Dowling, and Miss Massey.
- Eighty-six pupils are also receiving private speech tuition from Mrs Jones, with many boys over the years advancing to ASB standards.
- All Years 7-10 pupils take oral communication.
- More than 30 are involved in the Annual Drama/Musical Production each year.
- Every boy from Years 9-12 must prepare and present a 3 minute speech to his class in the Annual Churchill Oratory Competitions.
- Impromptu, Bible Reading , Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival, and Korimako. Competitions are also vehicles for public speaking skills to be developed.