Skip to the plan: video feedback, audience, pace, pauses, posture

Public speaking training

Presentation skills and confidence grow from practice in a workshop, with your team or alone: drills for pace, pauses and posture, video review of each run and a live audience before the real talk.

  • The 3 P's
  • The 7 P's
  • Peer-Led Practice
  • Anxiety Management

Last reviewed · 4-week plan · 16 sources

The 4-week public speaking training plan

Who is training?

Self-training: solo drills you record on your phone.

  1. Week 1 Prepare: Speech Structure

    Skill
    One message for one audience, opened with a short story. Borrow one of these public speaking tips to start.
    Drill
    Write your message in one sentence. Say it out loud, record it and play it back.
    Time
    Short runs: clarity peaks in runs of 20 to 59 seconds (Confidently).
    How you know it worked
    You can say the message without notes.

  2. Week 2 Practice: Pace & Pause

    Skill
    A comfortable presentation pace is 100 to 150 words per minute (VirtualSpeech).
    Drill
    Record one minute and count the words. Swap each "um" for a silent pause.
    Time
    Five reps of a 50-second answer (Confidently).
    How you know it worked
    Your count lands between 100 and 150.

  3. Week 3 Posture: Delivery & Body Language

    Skill
    Open, friendly body language, an unhurried pace and eye contact (Harvard DCE).
    Drill
    Video a full run standing up. Watch it once on mute.
    Time
    One recorded run a day.
    How you know it worked
    A steady stance, open hands, eyes on the lens.

  4. Week 4 Present: Anxiety Management

    Skill
    Speak with a timer and a live audience.
    Drill
    Give the talk to a few people, or visit a Toastmasters club for Peer-Led Practice.
    Time
    7 to 10 timed run-throughs before the talk (University of Pittsburgh).
    How you know it worked
    You finish on time, points intact.

Train every day, not just on workshop day

Workshops teach the skill; repetitions with feedback make it stick. Confidently is that practice layer, 30 seconds at a time.

  • Scores for your voice and your face, on a scale of 10
  • A count of your filler words after every rep
  • The one fix to make first, then practice games

Across 8,184 practice sessions scored by Confidently, confidence scores were 6.6% higher by sessions 6 to 10 than on the first attempt.

Get the free app

Free on iPhone and Android

App Store Google Play

No live human audience, no certificate: pair it with a workshop or club.

Core Frameworks for Public Speaking

A public speaking framework is a short list that names what a speech needs. Its value sits in the drill behind each letter.

The 3 P's
As taught by Oratrics:
  1. Preparation: know your subject, audience and purpose.
  2. Practice: rehearse until it feels natural.
  3. Presence: show up fully in the moment.
The 7 P's
As listed by Archbishop Beck Catholic College:
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Pace
  3. Pause
  4. Punch
  5. Power
  6. Passion
  7. Posture
Weeks 2 and 3 drill pace, pause and posture.
Key Skills
Four focus areas, one per week of the plan:
  1. Speech Structure (week 1)
  2. Storytelling & Engagement (week 1): a story adds a personal touch (Harvard DCE)
  3. Delivery & Body Language (week 3)
  4. Anxiety Management (week 4)

Top Training Options and Formats

A training format is the way a program delivers practice. It decides how much time you spend on your feet. If you want lessons first, a public speaking course online is a low-cost start.

Public speaking training formats compared
FormatWho it suitsTypical lengthWhat you get
Self-Paced / Free Courses
AI practice app: Confidently Best for self-training Anyone training alone or between sessions A 30-second test, then daily practice games Free test, voice and face scored out of 10, filler-word count, one fix to make first, any hour. Try the free 30-second test. Limits: no live audience, no certificate.
Online & Self-Paced Courses Theory first Coursera's Introduction to Public Speaking (University of Washington): 1 week at 10 hours a week* Lessons; free to enroll, certificate on the paid track
PowerPoint Speaker Coach Slide-deck rehearsal Each rehearsal of your deck Feedback on pacing, pitch and filler words, then a rehearsal report; free preview on the web, Android and iOS
Live and guided training
In-Person & Live Workshops People who want a live room and a trainer (In-Person & Live Seminars) 2 days at Fearless Presentations ($2,295 per person) and Effective Presentations (8:30am to 4:30pm)* Practice in front of a group, video review, a one-on-one follow-up (Effective Presentations)
Corporate & Executive Workshops Teams that present to clients or leadership Half-day, one-day or two-day programs (Effective Presentations); 1-day and 2-day programs from $995 and $1,595 (Communispond)* Content built around your team, onsite or live virtual
Corporate & Executive Coaching Leaders with high-stakes talks 2 to 12 months of one-on-one coaching (Moxie Institute)* Private sessions, virtual or in person; price on request
University Programs Learners who want university faculty Harvard PLL's public speaking page listed one online course, $175* Structured lessons; catalogs change often
Peer-Led Practice People who need a real audience regularly Ongoing club meetings, in person or online (Toastmasters) Speaking roles and peer feedback; check current dues

* Checked on each provider's page on October 15, 2026. Effective Presentations caps in-person workshops at 10. Check the current price before you book.

How to pick a training provider

A training provider is the company, college or club that runs the sessions. The quality of a provider shows in your speaking time.

  1. Ask about speaking time. How much of the day are you on your feet?
  2. Look for video review. Watching yourself back shows your habits.
  3. Check the group size. Smaller groups mean more turns.
  4. Ask what happens after. Some programs add a one-on-one follow-up session.
  5. Plan the reps in between. A daily drill keeps the skill fresh.
  6. Compare cost per person. Ask about team rates. For a cheaper start, compare public speaking classes near you.

Reader questions

Short, plain answers to what people ask most.

Which course is best for public speaking?

It depends on your goal. For free theory, Coursera's Introduction to Public Speaking from the University of Washington is free to enroll. For a live room, a 2-day in-person class, at a higher price. To improve every day, pair either with a practice app.

How can I improve my public speaking skills?

Practice out loud, record it and fix one thing at a time. The University of Pittsburgh suggests 7 to 10 run-throughs before a talk. Short reps add up: across 8,184 practice sessions scored by Confidently, confidence scores were 6.6% higher by sessions 6 to 10 than on the first try. Take the free 30-second test to see where you start.

What are the three A's of public speaking?

There isn't one standard list. One talk names them authenticity, awareness and audacity. If a trainer uses three A's, ask what their letters stand for.

Are there free public speaking classes?

Yes, a few. Coursera's Introduction to Public Speaking is free to enroll. Speaker Coach in PowerPoint is in free preview for everyone, on the web, Android and iOS. Toastmasters lets you find a club and schedule a visit online. And the Confidently 30-second test is free.

Sources

  1. Oratrics: The 3 Ps of Public Speaking (oratrics.com)
  2. Archbishop Beck Catholic College: Public Speaking Success (archbishopbeck.com)
  3. Effective Presentations: Seattle presentation skills training (effectivepresentations.com)
  4. Fearless Presentations: Public Speaking Classes in Washington, DC (fearlesspresentations.com)
  5. Communispond: Public Speaking Courses in Boise (communispond.com)
  6. Coursera: Introduction to Public Speaking, University of Washington
  7. Toastmasters International: Find a Club
  8. Harvard Professional and Lifelong Learning: Public Speaking Courses
  9. VirtualSpeech: Average speaking rate and words per minute
  10. University of Pittsburgh: Speech Anxiety
  11. Harvard DCE: 5 Ways to Establish Your Credibility in a Speech
  12. Harvard DCE: 10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills
  13. Moxie Institute: Public speaking coaching (moxieinstitute.com)
  14. Microsoft Support: Rehearse your slide show with Speaker Coach
  15. GoTranscript: Mastering Public Speaking, Authenticity, Awareness, and Audacity (gotranscript.com)
  16. Confidently: practice-session data (8,184 scored sessions)

Last reviewed