How Much Do Public Speaking Courses in Chicago Cost?

There are countless reasons why attending public speaking courses will transform your life. Public speaking is listed as America’s number-one fear, even before death and loneliness- eek! Fear of public speaking affects 3 out of 4 people or 75% of individuals that suffer from speech anxiety. 

That said, if you can face your fear head-on, you’ll be surprised at the opportunities that will open up to you. Being able to speak in front of large groups of people means executing that killer speech at your best friend’s wedding, accomplishing that dream promotion, or securing that endorsement with a winning pitch. 

But before you decide to take the plunge, you’ll need to know how much they cost in your city, or whether it’s worth enrolling in an online course. 

It’s also helpful to know what alternative options are out there or whether you even need to attend lessons in the first place. With this in mind, we did some more research on public speaking courses and found out everything you’ll need to know…

So, how much do public speaking courses in Chicago cost? We’ve found a list of 10 of the best public speaking courses in Chicago for various skill levels, and the prices range from $75 to $1995+.

So, if you are interested in boosting your public speaking skills, then read this article because it has all the information that you’ll need to know about getting public speaking lessons in Chicago.

The Top 10 Public Speaking Courses in Chicago and How Much They Cost

 

  1. Effective Presentations: at Training Connection – The Loop 230 W Monroe St Ste 610, Chicago, Illinois 60606 $350+

  2. Leading with Executive Presence: at Exec-Comm – Near North Side 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza Ste 1230, Chicago, Illinois 60654 $995+

  3. Executive Presentation Skills® USA: at DoubleTree by Hilton O’Hare-Rosemont (5460 N. River Rd.) Chicago, IL $1,550+

  4. Refining Your Public Speaking And Presentation Skills: at General Assembly – Near North Side 444 N Wabash Ave 5th Fl, Chicago, Illinois 60611 $75+

  5. Fearless Presentations ® Chicago: at CBD-River North, 321 N. Clark Street, 5th Floor $1995+

  6. Chicago Presentation Skills Training: at Hyatt Place, Midway 6550 S. Cicero Ave. Chicago, IL 60638 $1495+

  7. Improv 1 5-Day Intensive by Second City: at 1608 N Wells St F4, Chicago, IL 60614 $299+

  8. Presenting with Impact – Chicago: at 200 E Randolph, 51st floor, Chicago $1,050

  9. Leadership Communication Training – Chicago: at 200 E Randolph, 51st floor, Chicago $1,900+

  10. High Impact Presentations – Dale Carnegie: at 1333 Butterfield Road, Suite 140 Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-971-1900 $1995+

Sounds Good, but What Am I Going to Get for My Money?

 

Public speaking classes allow practice and preparation to overcome fear. Taking public speaking classes has been proven to boost communication and presentation skills remarkably. After graduation, you’ll emerge as a confident, much more eloquent version of yourself. You 2.0!

Associating with people from all walks of life, teachers, and fellow students can help you communicate ideas and opinions effectively and efficiently. Creating and maintaining connections through public speaking interactions is relatively easy and highly rewarding. 

Fun Fact: Fear of public speaking can inhibit promotion to management by up to 15% In addition to potentially lowering your salary, a fear of public speaking can also make it harder to move into a management position. What could you stand to gain once you’ve conquered this fear?

Presenting and defending ideas will eventually improve your confidence, which will give you the foundations for leadership roles or a thriving social life. One of the often-overlooked benefits of public speaking classes is the fact that they play a significant role in career growth and, subsequently, your finances. 

So, with that said, what skills do the following courses aim to equip you with after graduation?

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Effective Presentations: $350+

 

Learn to speak with confidence, clarity, and conviction when you attend one of their presentation workshops. With an average class size of 5 people, with plenty of hands-on interactive exercises, you’ll be sure to see success. 

Upon course completion, you can expect to understand what makes an effective presentation, be able to analyze an audience, craft, and deliver an opening to capture the audience’s attention and present an exceptional speech with a mighty close.

You’ll also learn how to overcome the fear of public speaking, become persuasive, use non-verbal communication aids, handle questions-and-answers, and debrief presentations.

On top of that, you’ll receive a free presentation manual, a certificate of course completion, and a 6 months free repeat policy.

 


 

Leading with Executive Presence: $995+

 

This course is fantastic for those in leadership positions. Stand out from the crowd using a strong executive presence. Executive presence is no longer just a bonus marketplace – it is essential to lead a great team, impact real change, and drive the bottom line. 

In classes of no more than 12, you’ll learn to understand how others perceive you’ll establish your personal brand. You’ll then practice mindfulness to work efficiently in the present moment, use relational body language to foster favorable connections, and appeal to the five senses to best deliver your messages with authenticity.

You’ll acquire public speaking skills through video recording, group exercises, and instructor coaching. A typical half-hour of this course includes 10 minutes of instructor briefing and 20 minutes of practice and skill-building. You’ll also receive access to ECLearn, an online resource after the seminar.

 


 

Executive Presentation Skills® USA: $1,550

 

This course is perfect for leaders, managers, and business owners alike.

In Communispond’s 2-day Executive Presentation Skills program, participants will acquire the skills and confidence to organize and deliver effective presentations to any size audience, either in person or virtually. 

Participants will see immediate skill improvement, as they are recorded and watch themselves back on video throughout the program. 

This public speaking class is all about doing – practicing, accepting feedback, making an adjustment, and perfecting your skills in a supportive and collaborative environment. 

And with subject matter drawn from your own work environment, all the skills are 100% relevant to you and your business. In their words, if you don’t leave class feeling like a more persuasive and confident presenter, you will get your money back.

After class, you’ll be equipped with many desirable skills such as how to give a concise and practical briefing under pressure, deliver a brief point of view in an impromptu situation and analyze your audience to maximize the impact of your message. 

You’ll return to your job a more confident and persuasive professional and know that your improved public speaking skills will help build your career.

Refining Your Public Speaking And Presentation Skills: $75

 

This hands-on 20 person workshop gives each student the chance to articulate their specific public-speaking goals and provide a 1 – 2-minute pitch/speech. 

You’ll receive expert guidance in a supportive setting and leave this workshop with the physical experience and practice of speaking in front of an audience.

After attending this course, you’ll have the tools to be a compelling storyteller, develop inflection, understand tone and rate, and Build confidence through experiential learning.

 


 

Fearless Presentations ® Chicago: $1995+

 

Are you ready for this? 

On the first day, you’ll learn ten ways to reduce presentation nervousness and look and feel more poised when you speak. 

You’ll discover the secrets of how to make your audience want to pay attention to your presentation while eliminating your own nerves within the first two minutes of your speech.

After that, you’ll learn a simple three-step process that will allow you to design your entire presentations in a fraction of the time, which will make your presentation more concise and much easier to remember.

On the second day, you’ll learn five ways to add enthusiasm and energy to any presentation, ten moves to add impact and content to your presentation outline, and fearless impromptu speaking. 

Do you hate Handle question time? This course will teach you how to take and answer questions from your audience like a pro. 

As a bonus, you’ll create exciting powerpoint slideshows and visual aids, deliver your final presentation with the help of a professional coach, and finally earn your fearless presentations ® credit and become a fearless presenter!

 


 

Chicago Presentation Skills Training: $1495

 

With a hand’s on approach, Chicago Presentation Skills public speaking classes train you to be an expert communicator. This experiential workshop is intended for both amateurs and professionals seeking to improve their communication, presentation, and public speaking skills. 

The Presentation Skills workshops provide fun, dynamic, and engaging training fundamental to ultimate success and achievement. While appraising existing communication skills, the tutors also focus on essential aptitudes critical to effective communication. 

The goal is to position students to exude poise, confidence comfortably, and persuasion, no matter how large the audience.

 


 

Improv 1 5-Day Intensive by Second City: $299+

 

Want to learn public speaking skills more creatively? These intensive improv sessions give students an excellent overview of the Second City method of improvisation and how it’s used to create something from nothing. 

This course provides a detailed look at the principles and processes of improv for newcomers, including ensemble work, play, and beginning scene work. Dive into the fundamentals, techniques, and exercises that Second City actors use to generate characters and scenes.

Presenting with Impact – Chicago: $1,050

 

This one-day program is for high achievers seeking to strengthen the most critical communication skills to convey credibility better and effectively lead a team. 

This program focuses on personal style, analyzing the audience, assertive communication structures, and handling questions and pushback. 

In a supportive and encouraging environment, the student is given some suggestions on how to improve their business presentation skills and articulate a vision. 

With videotaped feedback and private follow-up sent after the training, participants will leave the program with an elevated presentation style and toolkit for connecting with senior leadership, clients, and their teams.

 


 

Leadership Communication Training – Chicago: $1,900+

 

Have you just been promoted? This two-day program is for emerging leaders who are seeking to develop and refine their communication skillsets for leading and managing teams. 

The program focuses on leverage personal style, message structures, and influencing skills to motivate and guide teams, partners, and leadership, perfect for new and seasoned managers alike. 

The program emphasizes the importance of flexibility in your communication style and structure. Leadership Communication Training also includes a multitude of video-recorded exercises. 

Upon completion, students are sent a custom development plan following the program, ensuring your success.

 


 

High Impact Presentations – Dale Carnegie: $1995+

 

Since 1912, Dale Carnegie has been giving business people the tools to navigate business environments successfully. This course teaches how to properly refine your performance skills for maximum influence, trustworthiness, and impression. 

Learn to communicate with clarity and certainty, interact with a natural and composed demeanor, and convey complex material directly and simply. Discover ways to project confidence and enthusiasm while building credibility. 

Explore techniques to overcome adverse situations and invigorate people to embrace change and take action! This course provides the skills that empower you to communicate positively and capably to any audience. 

You’ll receive proven methods and techniques to develop compelling presentations with universal appeal – yielding consistent, positive results. It’s an experience that makes a marked difference in business results. 

The program features several recorded presentation opportunities, individual coaching, and assessments. You’ll emerge prepared, informed, and assured with measurable gains in communication, personal, and professional image.

Are Public Speaking Courses Worth the Cost?

 

Now, you may well be thinking, “This all sounds great, but are public speaking courses really worth the money.” Our answer is- it depends. 

You could argue that you know how to communicate authentically already, as you do it all the time with friends and family. You know how to present your ideas in your own way, and it’s entirely true. The problem arises when we’re under stress, and everyone looks at us at the same time that we stumble on our words. 

Public speaking courses are essentially emersion therapy; in that, they get you used to having all eyes on you so that you can perform to your best ability. If you want to give yourself a competitive edge or would like to get better at handling yourself in debates and social situations, we strongly suggest you give them a go.

Fun Fact: Despite negative impacts on careers and financial status, only 8% of those who have public speaking fear seek professional help. Imagine how much further ahead you could get if you make yourself one of the 8%!

Many employers will look at public speaking classes/ qualifications on a resume and be impressed. Management roles tend to require the ability to explain, converse, and persuade people; having evidence that you’ll be able to deliver this will likely make you a strong candidate.

If you’re an entrepreneur having this skill is even more beneficial. You’ll become stronger at selling your ideas and motivating your team.

Furthermore, classes will teach you to present yourself as you are unapologetically. Authenticity creates a trust bond with the audience and does wonders for your trustworthiness. When you focus on presence and authenticity, you can adapt your style to suit your surroundings.

You’ll learn the rules of excellent presentation, so you can break them. You’ll learn how to give an outstanding performance so you can put your own personal spin on things. What makes a person a persuasive presenter is that their individual presence shines through, demonstrating their passion and expertise for their chosen field.

You would have tacked one of the world’s biggest fears. Take pride in the fact that you faced something that many accomplished people are afraid to face. You win, even if presenting still gives you butterflies.

Plus, you may meet your next business/romantic partner or buddy! Or, at the very least, this newer, bolder, and more confident version of yourself may just create new possibilities to draw new and exciting people to themselves. Seriously, you never know.

Fun Fact: Studies suggest that effective presentations are 38% your voice, 55% non-verbal communication, and only 7% of the actual content. That means that it would be better to spend even more time practicing your delivery than you do producing content.

What Are the Alternatives to in-person Public Speaking Courses?

 

Online Learning with Udemy

 

This online video-based learning platform Udemy has an excellent public speaking course offered free of charge by Professor Chris Haroun, business school professor, venture capitalist, and author. 

In his session ‘Give Amazing Presentations and Enjoy Public Speaking,” Haroun breaks down excellent speeches by people like Steve Jobs, Meryl Streep, and Ronald Reagan in easily digestible videos, allowing participants to see the power of exceptional speaking skills in action.

 


 

Online Learning with LinkedIn Learning

 

Similar to Udemy, LinkedIn Learning offers a wealth of helpful videos on public speaking. Best of all, you’ll get a free 1-month trial where you can explore courses for every step of your career using instructors with real-world experience. 

In this course, Public Speaking Foundations, you’ll develop the skills you need to prepare and deliver an outstanding speech or presentation. In this particular course, instructor Laura Bergells offers practical insights that can help presenters create, open, present, and close their presentations.

In this course, you’ll discover how to project confidence, outline a presentation effectively, take questions, and develop a narrative that adds that punch.

 


 

YouTube and Free Online Resources

 

Really, YouTube? You’d be surprised at what you can get for free. 

We particularly like the Fundamentals of Public Speaking Lectures, University of Houston course by Professor Deborah Bridges from the University of Houston. 

The video has been viewed more than 16,000 times. Also linked, be sure to check out MindValley’s YouTube channel; it brings you some of the best content from brilliant minds. 

This channel hosts talks from phenomenal speakers like Vishen Lakhiani, Lisa Nichols, Esther Perel, Eric Edmeades, Jim Kwik, Christie Marie Sheldon, Marisa Peer, Dan Savage and many more.

 


 

Books

 

Yes, you can develop your public speaking skills through books, and luckily for us, there are tonnes of brilliant ones. To start, we would recommend Talk Like TedDo You Talk FunnyEffective Communication Skills, and many more. If you take a look at the end of this post, we’ve listed and linked our 4 favorites. 

 


 

Meetups and Free Gatherings

 

More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean ‘better.’ We agree. If you’re if not sure you want to part with some cash just yet, you may want to try a free class or meetup like Toastmasters. But if you’re serious about going for it, we would highly recommend the options above.

 


 

With So Many Fantastic Online Resources and Books Out There, Why Should You Attend a Public Speaking Class?

 

We get it. Why would you bother leaving the comfort of your home or office when you have a wealth of information in the palm of your hand? Simple, an excellent public speaking course pushes you to get out there in the real world and make things happen for yourself. It’s easy to hide behind screens and recite the theory, but the most influential teacher out there is experience, so what are you waiting for?

At Never the Right Word, our aim is to give you practical examples of how to handle life’s difficult conversations. If you have an awkward situation that you’d like example templates for, request a topic here.   

If you’re interested in further reading, we’ve also included links to our trusted resources and related posts below. To find out more about NTRW and our recommended tools, you can do that here.  

Lastly, if you found this content helpful or want to share your own examples, let us know in the comments. We’d also be delighted if you shared this article and joined us on social media too!

Article by Never the Right Word

Scripts & Templates for Life’s Uncomfortable Conversations. Learn more about NTRW here. NTRW is supported by adverts and affiliate marketing links. For more info, please see our Earnings Disclosure.

This site does not constitute legal, mental, or medical health advice, please consult a competent licensed professional. If you have questions please Contact Us.

Never the Right Word

Never the Right Word

Hi there! I’m Amy, and I’m the person behind Never the Right Word. I’m a designer-by-day who’s fascinated by human psychology; you’ll find me learning about what makes others tick through all types of media and good old-fashioned conversation. Learn more about me here.

In 2019 Never the Right Word was born to fill the gap of ‘how-to’ websites with copy and paste examples showing you EXACTLY what you need to say to steer difficult conversations into positive outcomes.

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