Public Speaking Classes: Everything You Need to Know

Being a talented public speaker is a skill that is able to help advance a wide range of careers. The first step in this pursuit typically begins with enrolling in public speaking classes to help you master the craft.

Whether you are a published author trying to promote your new book, a marketing specialist presenting an important pitch at work, or anything in-between, being a great public speaker is something that is sure to be incredibly valuable.

If you don’t already consider yourself to be a talented public speaker, we’ve got some great news; public speaking is an important skill that can be learned with the right instructions and enough dedication.

For those looking to improve their public speaking abilities and advance their careers, taking a public speaking class is an exciting option and one that is well worth considering.

What are Public Speaking Classes?

Public speaking classes are exactly what they sound like – classes designed to teach you the skills and techniques necessary to command an audience’s attention, entertain and inform them, and present yourself as a highly likable speaker.

With that said, though, the approach that you take to reach this final destination will differ depending on your public speaking style. During my thirty years of experience as a motivational speaker, I’ve discovered that there are multiple kinds of public speakers.

That’s why I’ve developed a public speaking class that is designed to help students on an individual basis, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and working to hone their unique public speaking style.

When you take this class, you can look forward to hands-on instruction that is specifically tailored to help you become a skilled public speaker.

While learning to give speeches in such a setting may sound a little intimidating at first, it’s important to keep in mind that most people who attend these classes are just as nervous about speaking in front of others as you are.

Thankfully, teaching students how to deal with their anxiety surrounding public speaking is one of the many things we cover in this class.

All told, signing up for a public speaking class is sure to be one of the best decisions you could make if you are looking to improve your public speaking abilities and advance your career.

Benefits of Public Speaking Classes

The benefits of taking a quality public speaking class are multifaceted.

As we’ve already mentioned, this type of oratory training isn’t only for those who spend their lives delivering speeches from a stage. If that’s your goal then you will certainly want to find a high-quality training program available for speakers.

However:

Even if it’s not your primary goal to become a professional public speaker, there are still plenty of reasons why you need public speaking and presentation skills.

Just a few of the benefits that you can look forward to when you take a public speaking class include benefits such as:

1. Improve Ability to Communicate

Taking a good public speaking class will make you a better communicator, and great communication is a requirement to excel in a wide range of areas.

Being a better communicator makes you a better leader, negotiator, interviewer, interviewee, and more. The skills you learn over the course of a public speaking class are skills that you can apply to an incredibly wide number of scenarios.

Whether you are attending a job interview, delivering a presentation at work, speaking at a TED Talk, or anything in-between, being a better communicator and public speaker is something that will be incredibly valuable to you.

Being a better communicator doesn’t only help you in your professional life, though; it can also help you in your personal life as well. From making a good impression at a social gathering to giving a great speech at a wedding reception, the value of being an effective communicator cannot be understated.

In conclusion, the reason why you need public speaking and presentation skills is the fact that public speaking is a skill that applies to almost every aspect of life.

Regardless of your career or your professional/personal goals, being a better communicator will give you a whole new set of advantages and abilities that you can use to further your objectives – and taking a quality public speaking class is by far one of the best ways to quickly improve your communication skills.

2. Overcome Fear and Anxiety

Before anyone is able to become a polished public speaker, they must first learn to overcome any fear and anxiety they might have about speaking in front of others.

Of course, this isn’t always all that easy to do, which is a quality public speaking class is designed to help students tackle any apprehension they might have about speaking in front of others.

When you are able to be yourself on stage without being held back by nervousness or anxiety, you are sure to be a much better public speaker right out of the gate.

My public speaking class, however, goes far beyond simply teaching students how to deal with their nerves. When you attend this class, you can also look forward to learning the proven skills and techniques that will make you a more entertaining and commanding public speaker.

Ultimately, the end goal of this class is to help you become a more natural and talented communicator, and this is a skill that is highly valuable even when you aren’t up on stage delivering a speech.

If you are hesitant to take a public speaking class due to fear and anxiety, fear not; you certainly won’t be the only one in the class dealing with this challenge, and it is a challenge we’ll work to get past together.

3. Develop Leadership Skills

In many ways, being a good public speaker is a precursor to being a good leader. Being an effective leader, after all, is all about commanding the attention and respect of others when you lead – and given that most leadership is verbal, commanding attention and respect requires you to be an effective speaker.

If you are looking to dramatically improve your leadership abilities, learning how to persuade others to your point of view and be seen as an important player in every conversation via polished public speaking skills is an excellent place to start.

4. Project Confidence

Being genuinely relaxed and confident when speaking to others is largely something you develop over time rather than something you learn.

What can be learned, though, is how to project confidence. In a good public speaking class, you will have to opportunity to develop real confidence through practice as well as the opportunity to learn how to project confidence.

In these two ways, a public speaking class is able to help you come across as a more confident person when you speak or deliver a presentation in front of others.

5. Exude Authority

People who are talented public speakers are automatically seen as people who are in a position of authority – and being seen as someone who is an authority figure can often go a long way toward helping you meet a wide range of professional goals.

If you would like to position yourself as an authority in your field, becoming an effective public speaker is the best place to start.

Who Should Take a Public Speaking Class?

Whether you are a seasoned veteran at public speaking accustomed to delivering speeches and presentations in front of massive crowds or you are relatively new to public speaking and are only accustomed to delivering the occasional presentation to your colleagues at work, a public speaking class is something that you are likely to find beneficial.

The truth is that a good public speaking class will teach you communication skills that can be applied to a number of your goals. Learning how to deliver a speech on stage in front of an audience is what comes to mind for most people when they think of public speaking.

In reality, though, a quality public speaking course is designed to teach you communication skills that you can use for everything from delivering a speech at a wedding to presenting a new idea to your boss at work.

Having said that, taking a good public speaking class is something that can be beneficial to almost everyone – if you are willing to dedicate yourself to it for a time.

Like most things, getting good at public speaking is something that takes practice, and even the best public speaking class in the world can’t make up for a lack of effort and practice.

However, if you are someone who could benefit from bettering your communication and presentation skills as well as someone who is willing to commit to practicing what you learn then my public speaking class is ideal for you.

Types of Public Speaking Classes

There are a lot of different public speaking classes available today, and many of them can be broken down into specific categories.

Of course, each type is going to have its own unique benefits and drawbacks.

Just like there are different styles of public speaking, there are different styles of public speaking classes as well. One class may focus on speaking to entertain while another class may focus on speaking to inform.

Other speaking classes – including my own public speaking class – take a well-rounded approach and cover all of the public speaking styles.

The public speaking class that is best for you will depend on your own preferences and the specific public-speaking goals that you want to accomplish. Take your time and choose the public speaking class that is best for you in order to get as much benefit as possible out of the experience.

Ultimately, though, most public speaking classes can be broken down into three different types, including:

Professional Speaking Class

Professional public speaking is the most common type of public speaking that the average person is required to do, making a professional public speaking class a fine option to consider.

If you are looking for a class that will allow you to become a better presenter and better speaker in professional situations, taking a professional public speaking class may be the ideal choice for you.

Motivational Speaking Class

Whether you are starting a career as a motivational speaker or you are trying to get the most out of your employees, a motivational speaking class can help.

If you would like to learn how to really motivate and inspire your audience, consider taking a motivational speaking class.

Corporate/Executive Speaking Class

It’s a different ballgame when you are required to speak or present in front of an executive audience.

If you would like to specifically learn the skills associated with corporate/executive speaking then taking a corporate/executive public speaking class is a great option to consider.

Online Public Speaking Courses vs In-Person

In addition to the different types of public speaking classes that you have available to choose from, there are also both online and in-person style classes available. In the end, the type of speaking class that is best for you will depend on your own personal learning style, preferences, and goals.

Public Speaking Classes Near Me

Depending on where you are located, you may or may not be able to find a good public speaking class that takes place near where you live, so you’ll really want to do your research before signing up.

With an in-person public speaking class, the biggest benefit is that you will be given the opportunity to speak live and in-person in front of a group of peers.

Of course, there is something to be said about the benefit of practicing directly in front of an in-person audience, and you may find that an in-person course is ideal for your learning style.

However, even if you are able to find an in-person public speaking class near you, it’s important to consider the drawbacks of an in-person class before signing up. For an in-person public speaking class, you will need to show up on a set schedule and proceed at a pace that is set by the class instructor.

With an online class, meanwhile, you are able to set your own schedule and progress at your own pace – which is the better learning style for many if not most individuals.

Online Public Speaking Classes

Online public speaking classes offer the benefit of being highly convenient, enabling you to learn and practice the skills of public speaking from the comfort of your home.

If you happen to live in a more remote area where there are no in-person public speaking classes nearby, taking an online course may be your only viable option. Online classes also offer the benefit of making delivering your speech a little less stressful.

While good online public speaking classes will still require you to deliver your speech to live listeners, many people find giving a speech in front of a webcam a lot less anxiety-inducing than giving a speech on stage in front of an in-person audience.

With that said, though, the best online public speaking courses are designed to emulate the experience of an in-person class while also taking full advantage of all the benefits that the online format has to offer.

In the end, the choice of whether you would prefer to take an online or an in-person public speaking class is up to you. If you do decide that an online course is the right fit for your learning style and preferences, though, be sure to check out my online speaking course.

This state-of-the-art class provides you the opportunity to experience all the benefits of a quality public speaking class from the comfort of your own home while also giving you access to a wide range of resources and one-on-one assistance.

Advantages of a Public Speaking Coach

No matter what it is that you are learning, it’s difficult to beat one-on-one instruction – and public speaking is no exception.

Thankfully, many of the best public speaking classes – including my Speaking Academy – include one-on-one coaching as part of the package. If you would like to receive public speaking training that is flexible and designed to address your specific needs, be sure to attend a public speaking class that offers one-on-one coaching.

Elements of an Effective Public Speaking Class

There’s a lot that goes into creating an effective and beneficial public speaking class, and not all of these classes are created equal. If you would like to take a class that will truly prepare you to be a more polished, entertaining, and informative speaker, you’ll need to select a class that offers the right instructions.

Prioritizes The Opportunity to Practice

The first and most obvious element of an effective public speaking class is plenty of opportunities to practice.

Elbert Hubbard once said, “the only way to learn to speak is to speak and speak, and speak and speak, and speak and speak and speak.” – and an effective public speaking class is one that provides students plenty of opportunities to prepare a speech and deliver it in front of a live audience.

Focuses on The Fundamentals Of Speech Formatting

Of course, a good public speaking class does much more than simply provide a platform for students to practice. In addition to this, a public speaking class should teach you how to prepare an effective speech, starting with a rough draft and eventually polishing it to perfection.

This entails teaching students a wide range of skills and techniques, from how to create an opener for a speech to picking the right subject for your speech and much more.

Ultimately, an effective public speaking class is one that is designed to teach you everything you need to know about preparing and delivering a great speech regardless of your current level of experience with public speaking.

While it can be a little difficult to determine upfront whether or not the class that you are considering is an effective, quality class that contains all of the elements necessary to make you a public speaking pro, reading testimonials from students who have taken the class before is a good place to start.

With a little research, you should have no trouble finding the perfect class to help you reach your public speaking goals.

Includes Presentation Skills Training

When most people think of public speaking they tend to think of delivering an actual speech in front of an audience.

However, the skills required to give a great presentation are very similar to the skills required to give a great speech – and an effective public speaking class will spend plenty of time on presentation skills training as well. If you would like to elevate your presentation skills in a way that enables you to command the attention and respect of your audience, be sure to find a public speaking class that covers presentation skills training.

Inspires and Motivates You to Improve

When discussing the elements of an effective public speaking class, it’s important to mention the most important element of all – you and the dedication that you are willing to put toward becoming a masterful public speaker. While this may certainly seem like a challenge at first, it becomes much less challenging if you tackle the course, one class, at a time.

Give your full attention and best effort every single time you show up for class and you are sure to be happy with the results. By the end of a public speaking class that you have given your full dedication, you will be equipped with a wide range of new skills that you can use to dramatically further your career.

What will I Learn in a Public Speaking Class?

When you sign up for my 6-figure speaking class, you can expect to learn a comprehensive set of public speaking skills and techniques that run the gauntlet from learning how to prepare and organize a speech to learning how to deal with nerves and anxiety to learning how to best deliver a speech to learning how to market yourself as a public speaker and beyond.

You can expect both hands-on practices as well as useful instructions from some of the best public speaking teachers available. In summary, my public speaking class is a thorough course that will teach you everything you need to know to become an effective public speaker.

How to Survive a Public Speaking Class

For many people, the idea of public speaking – and therefore the idea of taking a public speaking class – is a terrifying thing sure to bring on bouts of anxiety.

Of course, a quality speaking class is designed to help you overcome any fears associated with speaking in front of other people. However, speaking in front of others is something that you will be required to do in order to complete the class, and this can be concerning to some.

The good news, though, is that there are steps you can take to make your experience in the class a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.

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To start, the most important thing that you can do to survive a public speaking class is to take the time to thoroughly prepare and practice your speech before showing up in class to deliver it.

Nothing combats nervousness and anxiety quite like preparation and practice. Once you are confident that you have written a great speech and you’ve practiced it enough to deliver it in your sleep, the idea of delivering that speech in front of an audience is sure to be far less daunting.

In addition to plenty of practice and preparation, another tip for surviving a public speaking class is to keep in mind that the audience you are presenting to is comprised of students just like you, many of whom are likely just as nervous as you are. In a public speaking class, the audience you present to understands that you are there to learn just like they are and they aren’t there to judge you.

If you are still concerned about making it through a public speaking class, simply follow these five steps:

Step 1: Figure Out What Type of Speeches Will be Covered

Speeches can be broken down into four different categories – persuasive speeches, informative speeches, demonstrative speeches, and entertaining speeches. Figure out what type of speeches will be covered in the class that you are taking so you will be able to research and prepare yourself ahead of time for what to expect.

Step 2: Focus on Thorough Research, Quality Writing, and a Strong Delivery

The three pillars of an effective speech are thorough research, quality writing, and strong delivery. Being able to fill a speech with relevant and useful information through thorough research, make it sound great through quality writing, and deliver it in a strong and commanding manner – along with hard work and practice – is all that is required to excel in a public speaking course.

Step 3: Practice Your Speech in Front of a Friendly Audience

If you have a few friends or family members who are willing to listen to your speech, you should certainly take advantage of the opportunity to practice in front of a “friendly” audience. If they are someone you trust to provide you with honest, helpful feedback then that’s all the better. If not, have them record your speech so that you are able to view it yourself and make your own critiques.

Step 4: Try to Understand Your Instructor’s Grading System

Public speaking class grading systems will vary from course to course. Knowing what your instructor’s grading system is, though, will provide you with advance notice about what you need to do in order to make a good grade in the class.

Step 5: Get Over Your Glossophobia With Confidence

Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking – is a phobia that can be overcome with confidence. Remember that people want to see you succeed, and no one who ends up watching your speech in a public speaking class is going to be rooting for you to fail. If you’ve put in the work before your speech, you have every reason to be confident about delivering it – and confidence replaces fear and nervousness.

Are Public Speaking Classes Worth it?

If you are someone who could benefit from becoming a more polished and effective speaker/presenter as well as someone who is willing to put in the time and practice that it takes to master these skills then taking a public speaking class is certainly a worthwhile pursuit.

So long as you are willing to complete the exercises, take notes, practice on your own time, and commit to learning all that the class has to offer, a public speaking class can outfit you with a number of highly valuable skills that will allow you to excel in a wide range of professional pursuits – and even a number of personal pursuits as well.

The answer to the question, therefore, of whether public speaking classes are worth it ultimately comes down to what you are looking to receive out of the class and how much you are willing to commit.

If you are looking to improve your communication skills in a significant and valuable way – and you are willing to put in the work required to reach this goal – then taking a quality public speaking course is certainly an excellent option for you to consider

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