Public speaking is the art of designing and delivering a presentation live before an audience, and it gives many of us the jitters.
This you most of the time? I can relate.
Like it or hate it, it plays a major role in many people’s lives, both in one’s career (this includes school!) and personal life. From presentations to speeches, good public speaking skills help us to:
- Come across as more knowledgeable of our subject material
- Look confident and stand out from our peers
- Lead better by being able to communicate effectively
- Better position oneself as a thought leader
- Improve our critical thinking skills (from having to organise the flow of speeches, for example)
If you’d like to brush up on your public speaking, consider taking a course! Public speaking courses help you learn from professionals while giving you a chance to polish your skills in the classroom in front of a ready audience! Of course, classes like these will only achieve maximum results if you continue to practise even after they’ve ended.
Here’s a list of places in Singapore where you can take a public speaking class!
Course List For Adults
* All fees are in SGD unless otherwise stated and are up to date as of May 2023. This is only a list and not an endorsement of the courses listed, so please do adequate research of your own before choosing any course!
1. Knowles Training Institute – Ultimate Public Speaking Skill Mastery Course in Singapore
Knowles Training Institute focuses on delivering corporate training, with past clients including the likes of Mediacorp and ST Engineering. Their Ultimate Public Speaking Skill Mastery Course has a class size ranging between 5–20 participants and provides a lot of materials to enhance learning. Materials comprise a Public Speaking Skill Learner’s Guide, Key Takeaway Notes, an Essentials Ebook, course handouts, a 30-Day Action Plan, a MindMaps Pack, copies of the course’s PowerPoint slides, a Long-term Memory Flash Cards Pack, an E-Learning Course, an Online Video Course, an AudioBook, and an Infographics Pack. All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Duration: 2 days (9am–5pm)
Fees: $889
What you’ll learn: Taught via blended-learning, course objectives include learning how to identify various public speaking methods, how to identify your audience before a speech, how to create an outline of your speech, how to flesh out your speech, how to deliver your speech and overcome nervousness, as well as how to handle difficult questions and answers.
2. Public Speaking Academy – World Champion Certification Programme (Level 1)
Founded by Darren Tay, the winner of the 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking sponsored by Toastmasters International, the Public Speaking Academy offers a variety of courses from kid to adult level. The World Champion Certification Programme is a regular group training class with a small class size (15 students max). Practice is intense; students will get to spend up to 70% of class time putting into practice the theories and techniques they have learnt. Participants will receive printed handouts and video recordings of their own speech deliveries so that they may perform an evaluation of their performances at the conclusion of the course.
Duration: 3 months (weekly lessons, each lesson being 2 hours long)
What you’ll learn: Body language, Language Skills, Impromptu speaking techniques, Interview skills, Powerpoint Presentation skills, Emceeing, Persuasive Speech, Informative Speech, Advanced Linguistic skills
Fees: 240/4 lessons, 720 total (nett, optional exam fee at $60)
3. British Council (Singapore) — Effective Public Speaking Workshop
Established in 1934, the British Council is the UK’s international cultural relations and educational opportunities organisation. They offer English and Corporate Training Courses, and their Effective Public Speaking Workshop is open to anyone interested in becoming a better public speaker. Participants will learn how to develop and deliver a speech on a topic of their choice and will receive feedback from fellow participants and their trainer.
Classes are held at British Council’s Toa Payoh Centre.
Duration: 2 days
What you’ll learn: How to plan, build, and deliver a speech (examples of topics include using frameworks and rhetorical devices), giving impromptu talks, and managing emotions.
Fees: 1,049.00 (excluding GST)
SkillsFuture Claimable: Please enquire with British Council (Singapore)
4. Be The VOICE Academy – Presentation Skills Program
Be The VOICE Academy is a presentation skills training centre that believes speaking well is an art which can be learnt. Founded by Brian Lee, who got a taste of teaching voice training when coaching the emcees of the Singapore Armed Forces for the National Day Parade, the Academy offers a range of corporate, individual and educational programmes. Their clients include organisations such as SMU and Shell. Their Presentation Skills Program is a program catered to individuals that covers the finer details of what makes a successful presentation, such as body language and ways to control the fear of inadequacy.
Duration: Please enquire directly with Be the VOICE Academy.
What you’ll learn: How to overcome stage fright, presentation secrets and skills
Fees: Please enquire directly with Be the VOICE Academy.
SkillsFuture Claimable: Please enquire directly with Be the VOICE Academy.
5. SIM Professional Development – How to Speak with Greater Confidence, Purpose and Impact
The executive education arm of the Singapore Institute of Management, SIM Professional Development, currently offers over 500 executive and business programmes. This programme is one of their spoken communication offerings catering to Administrative and Support staff, Supervisors and Managers (both emerging and new), as well as executives. It will be led by Tan Teck Huat, a professional speaker, speech and voice trainer, and all participants will receive a dictionary to take home and aid their learning with.
Duration: 2 days
What you’ll learn: As per the course outline, participants will learn how to prepare and write their speech’s text, manage stage fright, vocal expression, voice production and clear speech, as well as articulation and pronunciation techniques. Participants will also go through an individual speech and voice analysis.
Fees: $690 for non-members, $600 for SIM members (pre-GST). An early bird fee of 540 is available, and non-members are welcome to sign up for membership to enjoy the discounted rate.
SkillsFuture Claimable: Please enquire with SIM Professional Education.
6. Speak Sell Succeed – Presentation Skills & Public Speaking Course/Workshop
Speak Sell Succeed offers their public speaking courses in two formats: a 2-day workshop and 8-session course. Participants will be provided course materials, refreshments, and post-course support in the form of unlimited review classes and consultations. For the 8-session course, each week revolves around a presentation or public speaking topic. There will be opportunities to practice speeches and presentations during each session, with feedback and suggestions provided
Duration: Choose from a 2-day workshop or an 8-session weekly course
What you’ll learn: non-verbal communication tools, verbal communication tools, your speaking habits and behaviours as well as how to improve or rectify them, and more
Fees: $650
SkillsFuture Claimable: Yes
Course List For Kids
- Public Speaking Academy – Speech Excellence Programme
The Public Speaking Academy also offers classes for youths and teens! Everyone will be divided into three age groups (Lower Pri, Upper Pri and Sec & Teens) so that they can focus on developing the relevant communication skills. Monthly themes help students hone their skills in the different types of public speaking, which range from persuasive speech to interview skills.
Duration: 1-year syllabus, with a minimum commitment of 3 months
Fees: $260–290 for four lessons, depending on the age range
What you’ll learn: Foundational skills (such as body language), communication skills (such as interview skills)
2. MindChamps Académie of Stars – Champion Communication programme
The Champion Communication Programme aims to teach students the 7Cs of communication, these being confidence, clarity and conciseness, collaboration, content, critical thinking, creativity and lastly, a champion mindset. According to the school, exercises will be tailored to address each kid’s learning goals.
Classes are available for students aged 4–16, with younger students taking the preparatory course. Students will be exposed to communication modes such as storytelling, vlogging, hosting, and news reporting. They will be able to obtain certifications from Trinity College for Communication Skills and Speech & Drama.
Duration: 90 minutes per class
Fees: Please enquire with the school.
What you’ll learn: Speech techniques and more
3. InspiGenius Education Centre – Public Speaking Training Course
This course is for those aged 6–18 and is conducted online in small class sizes (1 to 5 students). There will be group discussions, simulations, and an edutech platform to help your child/you learn better.
Duration: Please enquire with the school.
Fees: Please enquire with the school.
What you’ll learn: Questioning techniques, empathy, emotional intelligence, how to interact with people, body language, how to tailor speeches to audiences and more.
4. Helen O’Grady Drama Academy – Public Speaking Course for Children
The public speaking course offered by the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy offers a uniquely structured curriculum where no lesson is the same. Classes are conducted in small groups of no more than 12 students and centred around topics and themes relevant to these age groups. If you aren’t ready to commit to a longer course, they also run holiday bootcamps!
Classes are conducted for two age groups: Primary School and Secondary School.
Duration: Classes take place weekly, and each session is an hour long. There are 10 lessons per term, for a total of four terms, but students are welcome to join any time.
Fees: Please enquire with the school
What you’ll learn: speech writing, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, how to engage audience, ad-libbing and more
We hope you’ll grow to be unafraid of public speaking with the help of these courses (or some practice facing a mirror, whichever is best)! May you stand bravely and own the stage. Best of luck!