The Collectives
The Art of Speech Collective currently offers three unique tracks for students who wish to develop their relationship with speech. Learn more below about the available offerings, and a comparison between the Community Collective and the Educators Collective.
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Transformative Healing & Therapeutic Speech Collective
The THT Speech Collective is for those longing to continue their exploration of Creative Speech for soul healing and self-development. In this Collective there is a focus on techniques to heal and transform our voices and those of our students and clients.
This Collective meets at least twice a semester via a live online video platform.
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The Educators Speech Collective
This is where it all begins! The Educators Speech Collective is a course for educators (and aren’t we all educators?), who want to develop their voice for their work in a practical and developmentally appropriate way. We use Creative Speech for the most unique tool we have as human beings- our voice. This Collective is for teachers, therapists, parents -anyone wanting to engage in self-development, and strengthen their communication abilities.
The Educators Collective is the first step and the prerequisite to the Pedagogical Speech Certificate Collective.
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Pedagogical Speech Certificate Collective
The Certificate Speech Collective is a three year program with a commitment of one year at a time.
The Certificate Speech Collective is focused on Pedagogical Speech. It is intended for teachers who want to strengthen their work with students and for those who wish to work with Creative Speech as a Teaching Specialty to teach Creative Speech to others. This is the most robust program and full participation can lead teachers in their journey to receiving a Pedagogical Speech Certification from TASC. Receiving a certificate requires reaching a certain level of proficiency in their speech work and a working knowledge of pedagogy.
The Certificate Speech Collective is a three year program with a commitment of one year at a time. Each year includes sixteen live, 2-hour classes via video platform. Participants also receive one-on-one mentoring sessions and two four-day residencies. Anyone enrolled in the Certificate Program is welcome at any of the Community Speech Collective offerings.
“Reciting poetry with a class of students is one of the great joys of teaching. Starting the day with the humor, drama, wisdom or lyricism of a poem gave the students and me, their teacher, energy and heart for the day. Recitation should never become mechanical, dull or droning. Having practiced speech formation in trainings was one of the greatest gifts to my teaching for which I was always grateful. Through it I could life to the students.
Watching Debbie work with her students was always an inspiration!”
Which Collective should you join?
Joining the Transformative Healing and Therapeutic Speech Collective is perfect for you if you would welcome:
Developing the power of your own voice
Working on your own growth and development
Transforming yourself and your communications with others
Collaborating and sharing with others through poetry and story
For anyone wishing to explore the therapeutic and transformative aspects of Creative Speech. Experience the healing and wonder of speaking and breathing life into stories and poems.
These sessions will feature Creative Speech and ATS with Dietrich Von Bonin and Debbie Spitulnik
Offered recorded and live via video platform
Meets:
Sunday October 12 & Saturday November 1, 10:30 - 12:30 EST
Practice and Practical Session: Saturday November 8, 10:30-11:30
Open to everyone
Optional additions: one-on-one mentoring sessions with Debbie Spitulnik, fall and spring four-day weekend residencies. (See Certificate Speech Collective for further descriptions. Please note that the residencies include a strongly pedagogical focus. Additional fees apply.)
Joining the Educators Speech Collective is perfect for professional development if want to:
Enjoy all of the benefits of the Community Speech Collective, plus,
Enliven the teacher’s most precious tool: your voice
Be an empowered storyteller,
Be an effective orator
Strengthen your memory
Improve your classroom management skills
Bring more poetics and drama in your daily teaching
Awaken the imagination of your students through the magic of your speech. These interactive classes bring Creative Speech alive through speech exercises and poetry, study of Pedagogical Speech, and experiential storytelling.
Live 90 - minute classes via video platform in four blocks over the course of four months - September 2025 - March 2026 10:30 - 12:30 EST; Saturdays:
Modules 1 & 2;
Module 1: September 20, 27, October 4
Module 2: November 22, December 6 & 13
Modules 3 & 4
Module 3: January 24 & 31, February 7
Module 4: March 21 & 28, April 11
A letter of completion is given to participants for professional development
Optional additions: one-on-one mentoring sessions with Debbie Spitulnik, fall and spring four-day weekend residencies. (See Certificate Speech Collective for further descriptions. Additional fees apply.) The Educator’s Speech Certificate is perfect for those looking to teach this curriculum to others.