From the get go EnglishXP has been focused on helping people from different backgrounds and with different English proficiency improve their English fluency. However, while the focus has been rightly focused on pronunciation and vocabulary with a long list of articles such as tongue twisters to challenge your speech, the focus on actual speech training has not been as profound as it should. Over the next few weeks, I will try to fill that gap by providing as many resources to help you in your public speaking journey. One of the most unfortunate things about modern education is lack of emphasis on public speaking. This is particularly pervasive because according to public speaking is the vehicle through which ideas are conveyed to the world.
This was noted by Clark in his book on Roman Rhetoric “Unless the student is led to organize and synthesize the learning he acquires by exercises in making and doing, speaking and writing, the learning is not truly his own. This art, which teaches the student how to acquire learning, to organize it, and to present it persuasively to an audience, is traditionally called rhetoric . . . Isocrates [a famous teacher of public speaking in ancient Greece] truly declares, ‘None of the things which are done with intelligence are done without the aid of speech’” (1966, p. 264).
To emphasize this, the only way to be a good baker is to bake and bake a lot, the only way to be a good painter is to paint a lot of pictures. Hence, the only way to be a great speaker is to speak and speak a lot. When it comes to speaking, I favor speaking in an environment where speaking is desensitized ( where you are learning without realizing it). This way it becomes second nature.
Here are 9 resources that will force you to speak and Improve your public speaking abilities.
I hope you find them useful.
Of all the programs on the list, toastmasters is my favorite and the one I believe to be the most effective. As a long time member myself, I have found it to be a forum to improve one’s speech and leadership abilities. Suffice to say, I highly recommend you try a Toastmasters club near you.
2. Ted
Ted is a platform where people from varying backgrounds provide high quality speeches on topics from cuisine to culture. While not every video will interest you, there is a video for everyone.
If you have ever read the book Goal Setting by Brian Tracy, then the Brian Tracy needs no introduction. What you may not know is that he provides excellent programs to improve public speaking among other things.
This Udemy course is a brilliant way to start your public speaking journey. The low price of the course is an added bonus which you may find inviting.
For something a bit more formal and if you want to feel a sense of achievement, then you could do no better than the
From the University of Washington comes this fantastic course on public speaking. With a world class certification, you will find it difficult to find a more suitable course to aid your public speaking journey.
From the Rochester Institute of Technology (RITx) comes this certification on communication. Everyone speaks, few communicate and connect. The objective of the course is to significantly increase your ability to communicate.
Often, public speaking is about giving presentations, if you have any presentations coming up at work or in School, I will strongly recommend you attempt this course. You can give Coursera courses a try for 7 days which will be enough time to help you decide if the course is good for you.
So there you have it, I have curated the best public speaking programs out there. Public speaking is not a destination, it is a journey. A journey that can improve your leadership skills and increase your connections. I hope you have as much fun as you can.
If you like this article, please share it with your network. Furthermore, I have got several other articles like this. From how to improve your writing to the best English courses to take online.
