What is public speaking, and what are the most effective strategies for improving public speaking skills and building confidence when presenting to an audience?

What the Expert Says

By Kelvin Tan

Public speaking is really about sharing your thoughts clearly and confidently with a group of people, whether you’re trying to inform, inspire or convince them of something. It’s definitely more than just speaking loud, or standing up and reading off a script. Good public speaking means knowing how to connect with your audience, structure your message well, and most importantly, speak in a way that feels authentic to you.

Here are some strategies that really helped the students improve their public speaking skills:

Practice regularly Like any skill, the more you do it, the more natural it becomes. Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or even practise with friends or family. The key is to just keep showing up and doing it.

Know your audience When you understand who you’re speaking to and what they care about, it’s easier to tailor your message and engage them.

Master your content When you really understand what you’re talking about, you don’t have to memorise word for word. It helps you stay calm and respond confidently, even if things don’t go as planned.

Body language matters Simple things like standing tall, making eye contact and using your hands naturally can make a big difference. It helps you come across as more confident, even if you’re nervous inside.

Start small If speaking to a big group feels scary, start with something smaller like sharing during class or a group discussion. Confidence builds over time.

Breathe and pace yourself When we’re nervous, we tend to speak too fast. Taking deep breaths helps you stay calm and gives you time to think between points.

Receive feedback Whether it’s from a teacher, a friend or even the audience, feedback helps you grow. Don’t take it personally. Use it to improve.

This is where our unique methodologies come in. We’ve developed structured techniques that make it easier and more enjoyable to apply these strategies. From our Speech Linguistics Patterns™ to our hands-on, gamified learning approaches, we help students internalise these skills in a way that builds both competence and confidence.

At the end of the day, confidence in public speaking doesn’t happen overnight. But it can be learned. The earlier we build these skills, the more prepared we are for school, work and life.