Public speaking is a key skill in every job. Whether you’re a manager, teacher, student, or simply someone who needs to give presentations regularly, the ability to effectively communicate in front of an audience is essential for success. Taking a class on public speaking can help you become more confident, improve your presentation skills, and increase your job opportunities.
Classes & Online Courses
Many colleges and universities offer Public Speaking Classes as part of their curriculum. These courses range in length from one hour to six or seven months, and include lessons on mastering confidence body language, minimizing filler words, and learning to study your audience to determine what will work best for them.
These classes are often available in a variety of formats, including video lectures and live online discussions. They usually cost a bit more than private lessons and tend to focus on improving specific aspects of your speech-making.
Top Picks
University of Washington’s Dynamic Public Speaking is a comprehensive class that covers all the basics of preparing and delivering a good speech. The resources are well-organized and you’ll receive plenty of feedback to ensure that you’re getting the most out of the experience.
RIT’s Public Speaking – A Masterclass is another excellent option that features content from an expert who has years of experience. It’s taught by a professor with teaching awards, and has been praised by students across the globe.
You can also find a variety of self-study public speaking courses on Udemy, and they often come with an instructor to answer your questions and provide tips. Some are even free.
The best public speaking classes are those that teach the fundamentals of public speaking and offer you a strong foundation from which to build on. They’ll help you avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can lead to anxiety, and teach you how to develop your voice and stage presence.
* Practice makes perfect!
Before your first speech, try giving a few mock ups. You can start by working up a rough introduction about yourself, and then you can experiment with your introductory lines. You can even try adding some jokes or insights to your opening statements, if you like. This is an excellent way to ease yourself into the situation and get a feel for the room.
It’s important to remember that no class will ever be perfect, so take baby steps and try to be as flexible as possible with your introductions. Often, people who start off nervously will end up becoming natural speakers after a few classes.
You may find that you’re already an excellent public speaker after a few classes, and it will help you to identify what kind of speeches you have an innate talent for and which ones require improvement. You can then tailor future speeches accordingly.
The only real downside to these classes is that they can be expensive and they’re often only available at certain times of the day or week. However, they can also be a great way to learn a new skill and make friends in the process.