Last updated: January 21, 2024
Best Public Speaking Courses Online: Comprehensive Guide
Gain Confidence and Connect with your Audience with these Public Speaking Classes
Are you looking to improve your public speaking skills? Look no further than our picks for the best public speaking classes you will find online. With the convenience of virtual learning, you can now access top-notch instruction from the comfort of your own home. This article will explore the best online public speaking classes available.
Editor's Choice
Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization, University of Washington
Runner- up
Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting Specialization - University of Michigan
Best Value
Public Speaking - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
FTC Disclosure: Bad Grammarian may receive compensation from the companies whose courses and products we showcase with no added cost to you. We only partner with the very best and most reputable companies. Bad Grammarian is independently owned, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Public Speaking Courses Detailed Product Reviews
#1 Public Speaking Course Recommendation – Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization, University of Washington
This course is the perfect place to start if you want to improve your public speaking skills. It offers a comprehensive and reliable model for preparing and delivering effective presentations that will help you shine. Whether a beginner or a seasoned speaker, this course will help you master the fundamentals of public speaking and reach the next level.
This specialization addresses typical pain points people experience concerning public speaking. We need help with what to talk about, struggle with rambling, or find capturing our audience’s attention challenging. This course will help you overcome these challenges and become a confident and effective speaker.
You will learn how to organize your speeches appropriately, write them memorably, and deliver them confidently. You’ll also learn how to reduce your fear of public speaking, use rehearsal techniques to develop a strong speaking voice, and perform speeches with dynamic gestures and movements.
The speech model you’ll practice in this public speaking course is helpful for many situations, including briefings, elevator talks, interviews, and even hour-long presentations. By the end of the online course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to make an impact whenever you’re called upon to speak in public. So, take advantage of this opportunity to take your public speaking skills to the next level!
PROS
- A great choice for beginners and experienced speakers.
- Develop delivery techniques for voice, movement, and gesture that engage audiences.
- Try for Free: Enroll to start a 7-day full-access trial
CONS
- Some may find difficulty in an online speaking course since you do not interact with an audience.
- This course is comprehensive so may take longer than other choices below, so you will need to make a time commitment.
Runner-Up: Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting Specialization – University of Michigan
This specialization removes the guesswork from figuring out how to communicate clearly and compellingly. This public speaking specialization is based on an award-winning course and workshop series at the University of Michigan. It has been taken by students training to enter a wide range of fields—law, business, medicine, social work, public policy, design, and engineering.
In public speaking, you may find having poise challenging, need help merging facts with an imaginative vision, or need help building persuasive surprises into your presentations. This specialization will help you overcome these challenges and become a confident and effective speaker.
You will learn how to:
- Better connect with your intended audience and teach you how to make them in a way that consistently enhances the clarity of your message and the effectiveness of your delivery.
- Merge hard facts with an imaginative vision that resonates with and inspires your audience.
- Build persuasive surprises that will change how your audience sees a particular situation and get them talking about your presentation—in a good way.
- Perform techniques to start (and maintain) your own conversations, whether with a big group, a small group, or even just one-on-one.
- Develop the judgment and skill to craft a tailored message for your audience.
This specialization is designed to help you find out how to communicate clearly and compellingly. So, take advantage of this opportunity to become a confident and effective speaker!
Best Value: Public Speaking – Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
This course is designed to help you reduce anxiety, build confidence, and customize a process that will result in successful speaking experiences.
This course offered by RIT through edX is part of the Communication Skills Professional Certificate program. It covers everything you need to know about public speaking, including critical thinking, well-organized narrative, reasoning, research, and preparation. It will help you develop the principles necessary for formal public speaking, emphasizing organization, evidence, language use, strategy, delivery, ethics, and effective use of media aids.
Additional Public Speaking Courses Recommendations
Heroic Public Speaking at CreativeLive
This course is designed to help you craft a presentation that feels like a performance instead of a speech. Led by the dynamic duo of Michael Port and Amy Port, CreativeLive’s Heroic Public Speaking course is one of the most engaging and comprehensive courses you’ll encounter. This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to impress and inspire your audience.
Michael and Amy will teach you a system for engaging, persuading, and inspiring your audience. You will learn techniques for structuring a compelling presentation by incorporating cliffhangers, humor, and stories that stir up emotion and move listeners to the edge of their seats. You will also learn how the pros handle pre-show nerves and respond to the audience in real-time.
The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course – Udemy
The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course, offered through Udemy, is taught by TEDx Talk speaker, author, and entrepreneur Chris Haroun. The goal of this course is t go from page to stage and cover everything you need to know about giving an excellent speech for business & personal presentations.
The course is divided into 12 parts (called “Acts”) covering a wide range of topics, including:
- identifying with the audience
- understanding the end goal of your speech
- structuring your content
- creating incredible slides
- building confidence
- delivering your speech
- acing the Q&A session
- preparing for your speech
- appearance
- post-presentation to-dos, and more.
The course includes 25 speech/presentation guidebooks and over 50 presentation templates.
FTC Disclosure: Bad Grammarian may receive compensation from the companies whose courses and products we showcase with no added cost to you. We only partner with the very best and most reputable companies. Bad Grammarian is independently owned, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Online public speaking classes are worth it. With the convenience of virtual learning, you can access top-notch instruction from anywhere, at any time. The cost of taking an online public speaking course is a small investment compared to the benefits you will receive. Making it a worthwhile investment in yourself and your future.
Whether it is better to take public speaking classes online or in person depends on the individual’s preferences and learning style. The structure and in-person interaction of a traditional classroom setting may be preferable to some, as it provides opportunities for hands-on practice and receiving immediate feedback.
However, for others, the flexibility and convenience of online classes may be more appealing, as they allow for learning at their own pace and from the comfort of their own home. Books on Public Speaking are also great resources to help compose and organize your speech.
One of the main disadvantages of online classes is the lack of in-person interaction with your instructors and classmates. Face-to-face interaction provides opportunities for hands-on practice, receiving immediate feedback, and building critical interpersonal skills. These are all crucial components in developing and improving public speaking abilities.
Additionally, in-person classes may offer resources and materials, such as props and visual aids, which can enhance the experience and be difficult to replicate in a virtual setting.
Finally, online classes require self-discipline and motivation, as there may be fewer opportunities for accountability and structure than in traditional in-person courses.
The amount of time it takes to improve public speaking skills can vary depending on several factors, including the individual’s starting level of experience, the frequency and intensity of their practice, and the quality of the instruction they receive.
Some people may see noticeable improvement after just a few weeks of dedicated training and study, while others may take several months or even years to reach their goals.
The critical thing to remember is that public speaking is a skill that can be developed and improved over time with consistent effort and dedication.
Confidence allows you to channel that nervous energy into powerful delivery, transforming stage fright into stage presence. Confidence is like a trusty flashlight during a talk – it sheds light on your message and guides your audience’s attention.
When you believe in yourself and your topic, your passion becomes contagious, drawing the audience in and making your ideas resonate. Remember, even seasoned speakers get those pre-talk jitters, so take a deep breath, embrace your inner rockstar, and let your confidence light the way for a memorable talk!
Conclusion
Don’t delay, and start learning today! Work on gaining the confidence you need to excel as a public speaker. Overall, online public speaking courses are a great way to improve your public speaking skills and overcome your fear of public speaking. They offer a convenient and flexible way to learn and are taught by experienced and knowledgeable instructors with real-world public speaking experience.
What course will you take, or did we miss one you enjoyed? Comment below.
Our #1 Public Speaking Courses Recommendation
