Are Russians Good Public Speakers?

Short answer is NO. Most Russians are terrible public speakers. Now, let’s try to understand – why.

No Public Speaking Training At School

Public speaking is scary

In the US, kids start doing presentations in school from a very early age. There are multiple opportunities to speak in front of an audience – both in classes and at science fairs and other events.

In Russia kids also have to speak – mostly when answering homework assignment at the blackboard in class. But in Russia it is the substance that gets good grades (how well you know the material). In the US – it is both the substance AND how well you deliver your speech.

In absence of training and rewards for good public speaking skills only those who have real talent do shine. And usually get penalized by a teacher since that was labeled as clownishness.