Many people hate public speaking. That hatred comes from the fear of doing a poor job in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The more prepared you are for a speaking engagement, the more comfortable you'll feel. Comfort translates to effective delivery, giving you the confidence to step up to the podium.
However, thorough preparation is only the beginning. Even the most well prepared presenters get nervous, and you can't predict unexpected hiccups. Rather than focusing entirely on the prep work, it can be beneficial to seek advice from the experts. Those with experience in public speaking know the tips and tricks to get you through that speech.
In today's bustling society, it's become more common to take courses online. It may seem counter intuitive to learn presentation skills in a solitary setting, but students find value in it. Not only can you go to class without ever leaving your bed, you can attend lectures anytime. Most online courses include prerecorded videos, so you can watch or listen whenever it’s convenient. You also have access to great instructors regardless of your proximity to them. You no longer need to live near a university to take a public speaking class.
If you're sold on the idea of enriching your skills with an online course, where do you begin? With the trend of online learning growing every year, the pool of options can be overwhelming. We've brought you our top 10 list of online public speaking classes to get you started on your journey.
How To Access These Courses
You can now find a plethora of websites dedicated to the compilation of good online courses. Topics range from business skills to math to social sciences. Most websites vet their instructors to ensure top-quality courses. Very few of them are free, but students have the chance to review their classes once complete. This helps prospective students decide if the class is worth the cost. We'll be pulling courses from a handful of websites:
On some websites you can create a free account to get started. You'll pay for each individual class you take, but having an account helps you track your courses. Prices often fluctuate on these websites, so you can usually get an unbelievable deal on a good class. Other websites charge you a monthly or annual fee to gain access to a variety of content. The latter case may offer you more for your money, but it's a regular payment and the classes are shorter.
How We Compiled Our List
We found the best online learning websites and chose courses that were well reviewed. Additionally, we zeroed in on classes that approached the topic from a unique perspective or offered new insight.
The classes on our list cover a range of time commitments and price points, but you'll find value in each of them. Because we know time is money, we've sorted our list in order of class duration. You'll find the shortest classes at the top of our list and they'll get longer as we move down.
You'll notice some courses offer more structured time requirements with specific enrollment periods. These classes can be more challenging to work into your schedule, but they also offer more discussion. Other classes are completely self-directed so you'll review material on your own clock. You'll want to choose which will work better for you and which will benefit you the most.
The Top 10 Best Online Public Speaking Classes
Impromptu Speaking Offered by Lynda.com
This brief lesson teaches you how to prepare without preparation. In those moments when you're asked to speak in front of a group at the drop of a hat, keeping calm is important. This class will help you conquer this task.
Lynda.com is one of the websites on our list for which you'll need a monthly subscription to access content. Courses offered through Lynda.com tend to be on the shorter side, so a subscription lets you take as many as you want. You'll pay between $9.99 and $24.99 monthly, depending on the plan you choose. Each one gives you an increasing level of access to more content, note taking and quizzes.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 22 minutes |
Lesson Cost: | Varies |
In this course you'll learn proper techniques to reel your audience in at the start of your speech. The instructor explains five different approaches to organize your presentation. The lecture itself is one hour, but you'll have access to supplemental materials as well. Access to this content is permanent once you buy it.
Chris Anderson brings credibility from almost 20 years at the helm of TED. A non-profit organization, TED has curated effective presentations on a wide variety of subjects. TED Talks have become synonymous with insightful content. With this experience, Anderson is able to offer a look into crafting these impactful speeches with real-world examples.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 1 Hour (Plus Supplemental Content |
Lesson Cost: | $45 - $180 |
The focus of this class is connecting to your audience. When you give any kind of presentation, you want people to remember it. You want them to walk away feeling motivated to apply what you've taught them. In this class you'll learn techniques to engage with those you're addressing.
With Pluralsight you can choose to pay monthly or yearly, so the cost of this class varies. With a yearly subscription you'll pay less per month, but you may not need a whole year. The site also offers a trial that grants you up to 200 minutes of free access or 10 days, whichever comes first.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 2 Hours |
Lesson Cost: | $29 - $299 |
Almost 12,000 students have enrolled in this course and reviewed it favorably. The instructor applies techniques used by comedians to make their standup routines stand out. You'll learn how to better engage with your audience by telling captivating stories. The class also teaches the art of joke writing and how to recover when your joke is met with crickets.
You'll have access to three hours of content on TV and mobile, plus four articles and 14 resources to view whenever you choose. No subscription is required. You pay the cost of the course and have lifetime access.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content |
Lesson Cost: | Starts from $94.99 |
Two instructors teach this course, with an emphasis on giving technical presentations. It's broken up into five main parts: inspiration, preparation, at the venue, execution and evaluation. One amazing benefit to this course is a sample presentation with commentary. This allows you to see how you can apply the techniques the instructors teach.
Again, you'll need a subscription with Pluralsight. There are over 100 reviews of this course, with an average rating of 4.5/5 stars, so the cost of admission is worth it.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content |
Lesson Cost: | Starts from $94.99 |
This course is one of the most thorough you'll find. It's the top selling class in the presentation category on Udemy with testimonials to back it up. Supplemental material includes 30 articles and 307 resources. A section of the class focuses on mastering the Q&A session, while another teaches you how to make great slides. No matter what your concerns, this course will more than likely address them.
You can complete the lessons in order, or you may skip to the sections that interest you the most. If you finish all the lessons, you'll receive a certificate of completion. The instructor is so confident you'll love it that he offers a 30-day, money-back guarantee. Don't let the price deter you; Udemy classes are often discounted at large percentages.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content |
Lesson Cost: | Starts from $94.99 |
VirtualSpeech offers a truly unique learning experience. Lessons combine written materials with videos to be viewed on the student's own time. Enrolling in this course also gives you access to four virtual reality experiences. You'll don a headset and be immersed in common public speaking scenarios. The headset connects to an app that evaluates your eye contact and speech pattern. Scenarios present distractions to see how you cope with audience disruptions.
The price of this course varies as there are two versions: standard and advanced. The extra one hundred dollars buys you speech and eye-contact evaluation, along with other bonus materials. If you don't own a virtual reality headset, you'll have the option to buy one for $20 when you enroll.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content |
Lesson Cost: | Starts at $180 |
This specialization focuses on three areas of presentation development. You'll first learn writing techniques to help you craft a powerful speech. The program then delves into slide design, followed by work on speech delivery and execution. You may choose to complete the entire concentration or pick only the courses you need.
Tomsk State University designed four distinct courses to complete this certificate program. In the final session, students choose a topic and present it to an audience of their peers. Classes are offered on a rotating basis with specific enrollment dates. This is essential because the program's format relies heavily on peer review.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 1-5 months |
Lesson Cost: | Depends on Subscription |
Nervous speakers will excel in this course's building-block approach. Students develop skills in short pieces and then test their knowledge in a longer speech. A variety of speech settings is covered, including both intimate and intimidating ones.
Like the previous course on our list, this one is offered through Coursera. Developed by the University of Washington, it too comprises an optional four courses. The amount of time it'll take you to complete will depend on how many classes you choose to enroll in. You'll need to create an account to see full pricing options, but Coursera will coordinate financial aid for those who need it.
Offered Through: | |
Lesson Duration: | 4-6 months |
Lesson Cost: | Depends on Subscription |
Course | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Impromptu SpeakingOffered by Lynda.com | Varies | 22 Minutes |
$45 - $180 | 1 Hour (Plus Supplemental Content) | |
$29 - $299 | 2 Hours | |
Starts from $94.99 | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content) | |
Starts from $94.99 | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content) | |
Starts from $94.99 | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content) | |
Starts at $180 | 3 Hours (Plus Supplemental Content) | |
Depends on Subscription | 1-5 months | |
Depends on Subscription | 4-6 months |
Choosing the Right Course for You
Before committing to any course, you'll want to be clear on what you expect to get out of the class. For those who want to improve for their own benefit, short on-demand lessons will likely fit the bill. If you need a certificate for a work requirement, be sure to confirm in advance that the class offers one.
Effective speech delivery is not the only component of a successful presentation. It's important to learn writing and outlining skills so you'll start with a good foundation. Being able to roll with whatever your audience throws at you is another important skill. Decide where you struggle the most, and focus your continuing education on those challenges. Consider the context in which you'll most often find yourself, whether that's in large auditoriums or small meeting rooms.
Because some classes have special enrollment periods, think about your schedule. Structured time requirements can help you stay on track, but they're not for everyone. On-demand classes give you access to amazing content that you can complete at your own pace.
If you struggle with public speaking, any class you choose will be a step in the right direction. Identify the type of education that will work best for you, and find a class that fits that description.
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