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Master Public Speaking

Become an effective public speaker by overcoming barriers and fear. Discover how to talk confidently and persuasively to both large and small groups on the job or in any social setting.

Master Public Speaking course available through UMKC TalentLink

Class Description

You can become an effective public speaker! Discover how to talk confidently and persuasively to both large audiences and small groups. You will also learn how to plan and deliver your presentations skillfully and how to manage one of the most common public speaking barriers—fear.

You’ll learn the secrets to presenting a speech, how to handle questions and manage conflict in meetings, and even how to shine in a job interview. You will get tips for training your voice and learn how to use both verbal and nonverbal communication effectively. By the time you finish this course, you’ll have an entire set of skills you can use on the job, in social settings, and in any other situation where you need to communicate with ease and authority!

What you will learn

Lesson 1 of 12 – You Can Do It!
You’ll jump right in with this first lesson, which begins by discussing the most basic and common barrier to becoming a successful public speaker: fear. You’ll explore why fear is a natural response in some situations and then review several tactics for managing the symptoms of fear. The lesson will also share some practical tips for discovering your unique speaking voice and building your self-confidence. You’ll soon discover that by trusting in yourself, your natural abilities, and the ideas you have to contribute, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a confident public speaker!

View the entire course syllabus.

About the Instructor

Curt Simmons, B.A., M.Ed, is a best-selling author, trainer, and multi-media expert. He holds degrees in English and communication studies and has more than 10 years of experience teaching English and writing in the classroom. Additionally, Simmons has authored numerous books on a wide variety of technology topics and has been a technical editor for numerous other titles.

What Students Are Staying

I loved this class. I feel better prepared and definitely informed! I love the exercises and tips for public speaking and plan to use them. This class was definitely worth taking. I would recommend it to anyone who needs to master public speaking or is looking for general knowledge in communication skills. It was an awesome class!

This was an excellent class! The instructor and his teaching style was great! I’ve learned so much and had fun doing it.

Thanks for making this class user friendly and not intimidating.

I completely enjoyed this course. I will use the lessons for a long time to come. Curt Simmons was an excellent teacher. I enjoyed his videos and talks. I have recommended this class to my friends already.