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The art of public speaking can be an innate talent for some individuals, while for others, it may feel like a daunting challenge. However, whether your goal is to excel in presentations, deliver speeches, or enhance personal development, enrolling in a public speaking course can significantly increase your confidence and refine your communication skills.
This guide presents a curated selection of 11 exceptional online public speaking courses, both free and paid, carefully chosen from over 1500 options available in our catalog. Below, you will find a detailed methodology that guided the selection process.
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Here Are Our Top Picks
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What is Public Speaking?
Public speaking entails presenting a speech or presentation to an audience, effectively sharing ideas or information in a structured and engaging manner. This skill is highly versatile, applicable in various contexts, from speaking at conferences to classroom presentations and pitching ideas to potential investors.
The importance of being able to communicate clearly and convincingly in public settings cannot be overstated, as it is a crucial skill in numerous fields, including business, politics, education, and community advocacy.
Why are Public Speaking Skills Important?
The significance of public speaking skills can be distilled into several key benefits:
– Enhances confidence and self-esteem
– Facilitates networking and relationship building
– Aids in effectively presenting ideas and arguments
– Opens doors for personal and career advancement
– Promotes effective communication with various audiences.
Moreover, these skills hold value in numerous professions, such as:
– Business executives and leaders
– Sales personnel
– Public relations and marketing specialists
– Broadcast journalists and television personalities
– Activists and community organizers.
Courses Overview
– This collection of courses has collectively garnered over 1.4 million enrollments.
– Four courses are free or available for free auditing, and seven courses require payment.
– The public speaking subject features more than 1500 courses, followed by approximately 26,100 learners on Class Central.
Matt McGarrity, instructor
The specialization “Dynamic Public Speaking,” available for free auditing, encompasses four courses designed to guide you through the development and delivery of impactful presentations. Participants will explore essential principles from communication, rhetoric, linguistics, and argumentation while receiving practical experience in speech delivery. These courses cater to speakers of varying experience levels, including those who may feel apprehensive about public speaking. For those pursuing a certificate, course assignments include recording speeches and reviewing peer submissions.
Matt McGarrity serves as a Principal Lecturer in the Communication Department at the University of Washington, where he established and directs the University of Washington Speaking Center. His research in public speaking has earned him multiple top paper awards at academic conferences.
What you’ll learn:
Institution: University of Washington
Provider: Coursera
Instructor: Matt McGarrity
Level: Beginner
Workload: 60 hours
Enrollments: 84,400
Rating: 4.8/5.0 (1,300)
Certificate: Paid
William Kuskin, instructor
The “Successful Presentation” course is available for free auditing and focuses on practical strategies and exercises for effective public speaking. This course encompasses four key themes: conquering fear, developing a creative framework, employing effective language and body language, and preparing for various speaking environments. Additionally, it is a part of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) program.
This course further addresses:
– Efficient practice methods
– Audience engagement techniques
– Storytelling ability, creativity, and personal expression
– Confidence and adaptability during speeches.
Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Provider: Coursera
Instructor: William Kuskin
Level: Beginner
Workload: 21 hours
Enrollments: 143,600
Rating: 4.8/5.0 (4,800)
Certificate: Paid
For those who thrive in an instructor-led environment, Noble Desktop offers “Intro to Public Speaking,” providing live feedback and accountability that recorded courses often lack.
Remarkably, this program is available both in-person at their NYC campus and online via Zoom. Even during online sessions, participants receive personalized attention and can see their peers. This format allows for direct interaction with instructors, feedback, and real-time questioning. Additionally, access to session recordings and supplementary materials helps students retain information, particularly if they need to revisit missed content.
Key Benefits:
– Small class sizes (8-15 students)
– Certificate of completion to highlight accomplishments
– Opportunity for a free retake within a year
– Comprehensive class materials featuring real-world projects.
Noble Desktop boasts over 30 years of experience in delivering training from industry experts, ensuring quality mentorship. Student testimonials on platforms like Yelp and Google highlight their practical approach and high-quality instruction.
What You’ll Learn:
– Understand audience dynamics through perception and communication strategies
– Avoid common pitfalls in public speaking while utilizing vocal variety and presentation techniques
– Craft impactful presentations and incorporate resources such as PowerPoint and Excel
– Practice live presentation skills with personalized coaching to enhance confidence.
Flexible Schedule Options:
– One-day full-time sessions (weekdays).
“The class is great! The small class allows for customized review and feedback. The instructor touches on all aspects of public speaking, from tone to gestures, and even how to get rid of mental blocks for speaking and communication. Highly recommend this course for those who feel stuck in their presentation habits.” – Sabrina Hossain, Noble Desktop learner.
Provider: Noble Desktop
Level: Beginner
Workload: 6 hours
Rating: 4.8/5.0 (Yelp) and 5.0/5.0 (Google)
Certificate: Paid
TJ Walker, instructor
If the prospect of public speaking fills you with dread, the course “Fear of Public Speaking: Never Fear Public Speaking Again” targets those apprehensions and equips you with the tools to deliver confident and impactful speeches. Upon completion, you will find that your anxiety diminishes, enabling you to become a skilled presenter.
TJ Walker has a rich history of training high-profile figures, including Presidents, Nobel laureates, and Super Bowl champions. His book, Secret to Foolproof Presentations, achieved recognition as a #1 Bestseller on USA Today.
What learners will gain from this course:
– Techniques to dispel fear and anxiety related to public speaking
– Strategies to alleviate nervousness before and during presentations
– Skills for becoming a confident and competent public speaker.
Provider: Udemy
Instructor: TJ Walker
Level: Beginner
Workload: 1-2 hours
Enrollments: 76,300
Rating: 4.2/5.0 (800)
Certificate: Paid
The focus of “Mastering Public Speaking Through Practice” is to hone important communication skills required in professional environments, addressing both prepared speeches and impromptu speaking scenarios. This program encompasses foundational presentation techniques and advances to essential persuasion skills and handling live question-and-answer sessions. It is particularly beneficial for technical professionals and engineering managers tasked with conveying complex ideas effectively.
This learning path includes:
– Foundational Skills: Enhancing confidence, stage presence, recognizing audience needs, and delivering clear messages.
– Persuasion and Influence: Establishing credibility and trust, utilizing rhetorical techniques, persuasive storytelling, and simplifying intricate information.
– Q&A Management: Effectively responding to challenging questions, maintaining composure, and engaging various audience types.
– Improvisation Skills: Rapid thinking, audience involvement, and managing unforeseen challenges.
The comprehensive pathway offers 16 lessons presented in text and video format, combined with 48 hands-on practice opportunities. If you encounter difficulties, Cosmo, the AI tutor, is available to assist you with questions and provide hints.
CodeSignal operates on a freemium model, allowing access to most features, including certificate issuance, without payment. However, AI interactions may have limitations unless a premium subscription is opted for.
Provider: CodeSignal Learn
Level: Beginner
Workload: Self-paced
Exercises: Interactive
Certificate: Available
James Engell, instructor
The course “Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking” is available for free auditing and draws from Harvard Professor James Engell’s on-campus course. This offering assists you in analyzing and applying persuasive communication techniques, recognizing persuasion efforts, and inspiring you to effectively express your viewpoints. Discover how to convince others to support your cause.
In this course, you will:
– Utilize various rhetorical devices in writing and speaking,
– Differentiate between argumentative and rhetorical techniques,
– Compose persuasive opinion pieces and concise speeches,
– Assess the strength of arguments,
– Identify logical fallacies encountered in debates.
Institution: Harvard University
Provider: edX
Instructor: James Engell
Level: Beginner
Workload: 16-24 hours
Enrollments: 821,700
Rating: 4.6/5.0 (365)
Certificate: Paid
Dasha Dollar-Smirnova (all three), instructor
Dasha Dollar-Smirnova, a public speaking coach with a background in acting, uses her experience to empower others to discover their voices. “Public Speaking: Find Your Unique Voice” provides practical exercises and advice to help you become a confident public speaker, engage your audience, and master persuasive speaking tailored to your listeners. The course offers resources in English with Spanish subtitles.
What you’ll learn:
– Mechanics of voice, breathing methods, and body language techniques
– Effective communication strategies, audience-oriented presentations, and structural planning
– Storytelling methods and rehearsal strategies
– Techniques for managing anxiety and expressing your unique voice.
Provider: Domestika
Instructor: Dasha Dollar-Smirnova
Level: Beginner
Workload: 1-2 hours
Enrollments: 55,300
Rating: 99% (960)
Certificate: Paid
Jason Teteak, instructor
In “Public Speaking and Presentations Pro: No Beginners Allowed!”, you will uncover 117 advanced public speaking and presentation skills to elevate your proficiency and enable extraordinary presentations. Employing techniques utilized by industry leaders, this course transitions you from a capable speaker to a master presenter.
Jason Teteak, an accomplished author and international speaker, has designed countless programs focusing on personal development and communication skills. His book, “Rule the Room: A Unique, Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Making a Successful Presentation,” was published in 2013.
This course offers:
– Insights into audience goals, self-introduction, confidence building, and overcoming fear
– Identification of various presentation styles to create memorable experiences
– Expertise on crafting impactful PowerPoint presentations
– Skills for using body language, engaging the audience, incorporating humor, and managing time effectively.
Provider: Udemy
Instructor: Jason Teteak
Level: Advanced
Workload: 4-5 hours
Enrollments: 30,000
Rating: 4.5/5.0 (6,200)
Certificate: Paid
Robin Roberts, instructor
In “Robin Roberts Teaches Effective And Authentic Communication,” Emmy-winning co-anchor of Good Morning America, Robin Roberts, shares key insights on communication and building connections. Participants will learn effective communication strategies across diverse settings and how to cultivate vulnerability, resilience, and an optimistic perspective.
This course includes:
– Meeting the instructor
– Emphasizing vulnerability
– Public speaking techniques
– Job interview strategies and conveying workplace value
– Insights into maintaining optimism and resilience, with behind-the-scenes glimpses of Good Morning America.
Provider: MasterClass
Instructor: Robin Roberts
Level: Beginner
Workload: 2-3 hours
Certificate: Paid
Kyoko Takeyama (both), instructor
The course “Communicate with Confidence: Learn to Give Powerful Speeches” focuses on leveraging communication as a vital career development tool by connecting emotionally and intellectually with audiences. This course aims to help you harness your inner speaker and express your ideas confidently.
Kyoko Takeyama, based in Barcelona, is accomplished in her field, having trained numerous clients including IESE and the University of Barcelona.
In this course, you will:
– Build confidence while presenting by reshaping narratives and clarifying purpose,
– Apply creative thinking to define problem-solution-benefit arguments,
– Develop memorable openings and closings, and engage your audience physically and intellectually,
– Access downloadable resources for additional learning.
Provider: Domestika
Instructor: Kyoko Takeyama
Level: Beginner
Workload: 2-3 hours
Enrollments: 9,400
Rating: 99% (318)
Certificate: Paid
Peter Novak, instructor
The course “Public Speaking for Non-Native English Speakers” on LinkedIn Learning is specially designed for non-native English speakers to improve their communication skills in English. You will learn how to minimize accent bias, enhance understandability, and build confidence using structured guides focused on speech delivery.
Peter Novak, a seasoned professor and director, leverages his expertise in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to enhance communication for non-native speakers through a scientifically informed approach to pronunciation.
What you’ll learn:
– Techniques to address accent and identity in listener-friendly speech, combating accent bias,
– Step-by-step guidance on preparing speeches focusing on pitch, inflection, pace, and creating spontaneity in reading,
– A wealth of strategies and resources to reduce speaking anxiety, featuring tools like BoldVoice and practical exercises.
Provider: LinkedIn Learning
Instructor: Peter Novak
Level: Beginner
Workload: 2 hours
Enrollments: 202,100
Rating: 4.8/5.0 (5,100)
Certificate: Paid
More Public Speaking Resources
Openclassrooms offers a concise 50-minute public speaking video that covers essential skills to boost your confidence as a speaker. This resource focuses on practical scenarios, including conference speaking, delivering lessons, performing well in interviews, and effective presentations on camera, making it ideal for beginners and individuals seeking to refine their existing skills.
Why You Should Trust Us
Class Central acts as a trustworthy resource for online learners, having guided over 100 million users in selecting their educational paths. With more than a decade of experience, we have compiled a rich catalog of 250,000 online courses, supplemented by user-generated reviews. As online learners ourselves, our combined experiences in completing over 400 courses, including entire online degrees, inform our recommendations.
I have served as a Guided Project Instructor and acted as a Beta Tester at Coursera, granting me a unique perspective in evaluating courses prior to their launch. With over 50 courses completed across diverse subjects, I utilized my personal insights both as a learner and educator in crafting this list.
How We Made Our Picks and Tested Them
Identifying the best courses can seem overwhelming, even to seasoned online learners. My approach involved a thorough review of Class Central’s catalog, supplemented with additional online research to uncover free and paid opportunities, some including certificates.
The selection criteria included:
– Instructor expertise: Focusing on experienced instructors with engaging teaching methods
– Popularity: Analyzing enrollment figures and course views
– Comprehensive content: Evaluating a diverse array of courses covering fundamental to advanced topics. I previewed course materials to assess quality.
– Student feedback: Reviewing available learner opinions to gather insights into course effectiveness, leveraging Class Central’s extensive database of ratings and reviews.
This structured approach allowed me to define a focused scope of recommendations, ultimately combining data-driven insights with personal evaluation to curate this list of top public speaking courses.
Pat revised the latest version of this article.
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