How to practice public speaking

Practice the way you will speak

The first rule of how to practice public speaking is to practice the way you will actually speak: standing up, out loud and on the clock. Done that way, you can make most of your progress on your own. Reading notes in your head trains your memory of the words, not your voice, your pace or your breathing. Stand Up, Speak Out recommends practicing out loud in a situation similar to the one you will face, with a clock to time the talk, and spreading your rehearsals over several days.

How to practice public speaking alone: a 15-minute routine

1. Warm up your voice (2 minutes)

   Hum, then read one paragraph aloud slowly, over-pronouncing the consonants. It wakes up your breath and your mouth.

2. Answer one surprise question (3 minutes)

   Pick a random topic, give yourself ten seconds to think and speak for one minute. Do it three times. This is the skill meetings and interviews test most.

3. Run your real talk once (5 minutes)

   Stand up, use the notes you will really use and time it. If you lose your place, pause and carry on, just as you would in front of people.

4. Watch the recording (3 minutes)

   Record the run on your phone and watch it back once. Count your ums, notice where you sped up and where you looked away.

5. Pick one fix (2 minutes)

   Write down one habit to change next time. One at a time works better than five at once.

Track one number per session

The recording is your audience. It feels awkward the first few times, and that is the point: video lets you see yourself as others see you, and students are often pleasantly surprised when they watch their recordings (Stand Up, Speak Out). Most people find they look calmer than they felt, which is useful to know before the real thing.

Track one number per session, such as filler words per minute or the length of your talk, so you can see progress across a week instead of guessing. Change the topic often so you practice thinking on your feet, not only reciting.

If you came here looking for general speaking practice, including for a language exam or a job interview in another language, this guide to speaking practice covers drills and routines for every kind of spoken practice.

How to practice public speaking with other people

Practicing alone builds the words and the delivery, but not the feeling of being watched. Nerves come from the audience, and by practicing in front of others before the day you can anticipate and correct problems (Stand Up, Speak Out). Ask your practice listeners to be honest about what could be better, and give them one thing to watch for, such as pace or eye contact, so the feedback is specific.

• One friend on a video call. The easiest first audience. Ask them to time you and count your ums.
• A small group. Colleagues before a team meeting, classmates before a presentation, or a speaking club.
• The real room. If you can, rehearse once in the space you will speak in, or one like it.

A weekly rhythm

A good rhythm for most people: solo practice on three or four days a week, and one session with listeners. Knowing how to practice public speaking is less about finding a perfect drill than about keeping that rhythm for a few weeks. The practice plan on our homepage shows which skills to work on in which order.