Course description

Been asked to say a few words at a wedding, a birthday, a retirement or a funeral, and not sure where to start? This course shows you, step by step, how to write a speech that sounds like you, fits the room and the time you've got, and how to stand up and deliver it with confidence, even if you've never spoken in public before.

It's a full course, not a list of tips. There are 10 sections and 50 written lessons, each with a practical task. You follow a nervous first-time speaker in Suffolk through one year and three very different speeches: a retirement toast for his dad, a eulogy for his grandad and the best man speech at his brother's wedding, with every draft, timing and mistake along the way. Every section has a worksheet, model answers, a cheat sheet and ready-to-use templates and tools.

What you'll learn

• Getting started: your role, your audience, how long to speak and a countdown plan for the weeks before.
• Gathering your material: collecting stories from family and friends, and choosing the ones that work for everyone in the room.
• Structuring your speech: openings, the middle, endings and toasts, and timing your speech to the minute.
• Writing for the ear: short sentences, natural language, gentle humour and getting useful feedback on your drafts.
• Wedding speeches: the traditional order and modern choices, and speeches for every role, from parents to best man, best woman and maid of honour.
• Celebrations and milestones: birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, leaving dos and short toasts.
• Eulogies and tributes: gathering memories, writing with care, working with the celebrant and planning for emotional moments.
• Rehearsal and delivery: cue cards, rehearsing aloud, microphones, voice and body language, and managing nerves.
• On the day: getting ready, handling the unexpected and what to do afterwards.

The final project

You'll plan, write, time and rehearse a complete speech for an occasion of your own, using a project brief, a speech workbook and a self-review checklist.

Who this course is for

• Anyone giving a wedding speech, whatever their role.
• People asked to speak at a birthday, anniversary, retirement, leaving do or community event.
• Anyone asked to give a eulogy or tribute who wants to do it well and with care.
• Nervous speakers who want a clear, calm plan.

How the course works

Read each lesson, then do the practical task using the templates and tools in the practice pack. By the end of each section you'll have another piece of your own speech ready. You keep lifetime access, so you can come back whenever you're asked to speak again.

What will I learn?

• Plan a speech for any occasion: your role, your audience and how long to speak
• Gather stories from family and friends and choose the right ones for the room
• Structure a speech with a strong opening, a clear middle and a memorable ending
• Write in a natural spoken style that sounds like you and is easy to follow
• Write a wedding speech for any role, including best man, best woman, maid of honour, parent or couple
• Write birthday, anniversary, retirement and leaving speeches and short toasts
• Write and deliver a eulogy or tribute with care, and plan for emotional moments
• Rehearse, use cue cards and a microphone, manage nerves and handle the unexpected on the day

Frequently asked questions