We practice football, violin and math, but I seldom hear people saying "I need to practice my communication skills."  Speaking and listening skills are just like sports, music or any academic subjects.  You will not go far without understanding the subject matter as well as practicing.

How many times have you heard people talking with "ah," "um," "you know?" Probably everyday.  I hate attending seminars or meetings unless I know those people are trained speakers.  I end up counting the "ahs" and "ums" they say during their presentation and get really frustrated.  Those unnecessary fillers are not only distracted to the audience, but they also give the perception that the speakers are not well prepared.  This is an example of people who are lack of speaking practices.  They may be an expert in their area, but certainly not in the department of public speaking.

Public speaking classes or seminars can cost you at least a few hundred dollars for a few hours of training time.  Of course, there are better and less expensive options than that.  Find a local Toastmasters club in your area and start practicing every month, instead of just during a seminar every year.  Toastmasters International is a non-profit, educational organization that devotes to help men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind.

I belong to Moundbuilders Toastmasters Club in Newark that meets at 7:00pm, every second and fourth Monday at Room 70, Hopewell Hall, Ohio State University's Newark Campus.  Guests are welcome at every meeting.  It's free, so just drop by and see how Toastmasters can help you in your personal and professional lives.  Toastmasters has helped me tremendously in bridging career and cultural gaps since I came to the United States.  I wrote an article about this and was published by the Toastmasters Magazine in August 2008. 

You will be surprised at what Toastmasters can do for you.  I hope to see you at one of the meetings soon.  For more information, visit www.lectern.us.