About Our Workshops
Each semester, the Speaking Center offers a series of hour-long, interactive workshops which focus on building and refining general public speaking and presentation skills. Our workshops give members of our campus community the opportunity to join us and a group of other Illini to learn more about visual aid design, delivery skills, elevator pitches, and much more. We are always expanding our workshop portfolio, so check back often to see what’s new.
Have suggestions for a new workshop topic? Tell us at speakingcenter@library.illinois.edu. We are also happy to work with campus organizations and groups to provide workshops tailored to their needs. For more information on bespoke workshop options, see our Additional Resources page.
Spring 2024 Workshop Schedule
Register for our workshops using the links below, and download and share a PDF of our Spring 2024 Workshop Schedule here!
Coping with Presentation Anxiety
Thursday, February 8, 3:30-4:30pm (Main Library 106)
Wednesday, February 21, 3:30-4:30pm (Zoom)
Roughly three out of every four people face some degree of anxiety when speaking in front of others. Tremors, butterflies in the stomach, and “blacking out” are common, but that does not make them any less uncomfortable. In this workshop, learn strategies and mindsets to help cope with these symptoms and more related to speech and presentation anxiety.
Building Your Elevator Pitch
Wednesday, March 6, 3:30-4:30pm (Main Library 106)
Elevator pitches are a dime a dozen. Strong elevator pitches are not. Whether it’s for an internship, job interview, or an academic conference, having a good elevator pitch can help you connect with others and get your foot in the door. Learn strategies for organizing and delivering a compelling case for you in this workshop.
Designing Effective Visual Aids
Wednesday, April 10, 3:30-4:30pm (Zoom)
Well-designed presentations are about balance. The problem? Balance is a hard thing to find. How much text is too much? How do I decide on a color palette? How do I craft a coherent visual narrative? In this workshop, learn practical skills for creating a standout slide deck and more.
Our friends at the Savvy Researcher also offer workshops relevant to public speaking and presenting. Visit their calendar for more information!
Poster Presentation and Design
Thursday, March 21, 6:00-7:00pm (Zoom)
Wednesday, March 27, 1:00-2:00pm (Main Library 314)
Are you preparing for an upcoming conference? Need to design a poster for your class? This workshop will give you tools for communicating your research for academic conferences and professional meetings in a concise and visually effective poster presentation.