Confident public speaking is an essential skill that equips students to communicate their ideas clearly, make lasting impressions, and succeed in academic, professional, and personal settings.
Unlike writing or theory-focused courses, CommsLab Public Speaking (CFG1600) is designed for all students seeking real, measurable improvement in public speaking confidence and skills.
This course aims to impart public speaking skills training to students to improve their oral communication skills through a blended learning approach where students will learn essential frameworks required to craft and deliver a pitch.
Learn storytelling and persuasive communication techniques to craft a pitch
Learn verbal and non-verbal communication skills for effective pitch delivery
Practice delivering a pitch in class and receive feedback from your instructors and peers
Course Details & Registration
Course Units: 2 Units, Unrestricted Elective (UE) Course. This course is exempt from the limit on Level-1000 courses.
Assessment and Grading Basis: CS/CU
Pre-requisites: No requirements
Schedule: Semester 1 and 2 of AY2025/2026
Mode of Enrolment: To register for CommsLab Public Speaking, select the courses in CourseReg@EduRec
All undergraduate students are welcome to apply.
For Faculty of Science (FoS) students: Please sign up for CFG1600S on CourseReg. Do note that CFG1600 (without the suffix ‘S’) is reserved for all undergraduates except FoS students.
Please refer to the FAQs for more information.
For any questions on this course, please e-mail LifeSkills@nus.edu.sg and attention it to Jun Qian.
E-Learning 1: Learn the essentials of public speaking and craft a compelling pitch
In this E-Learning, students will learn about the importance of public speaking, why it is a valuable skill to have, how to overcome fear and anxiety when speaking in public, learn how to analyze their audience and adapt their content and delivery to meet audience needs.
In-person Session 1: Fine-tune your pitch
In this first in-person session, students will identify a peer and fine-tune the pitch they drafted through feedback and practice.
E- Learning 2: Verbal and Non-verbal skills for effective delivery
In this E-Learning, students will learn the verbal and non-verbal techniques for effective speech delivery, including tone, pace, volume, and body language. They will learn how to engage their audience through eye contact, gestures, and humour.
In-Person Session 2 - Perfect Your Pitch
In this second in-person session, students will apply the verbal and non-verbal techniques they learnt for effective speech delivery. Students will have the opportunity to deliver their pitch in a supportive environment consisting of peers and instructors.
In-Person Session 3 - Grand Finale: Final pitch delivery
In this final in-person session, students will apply their public speaking skills in the real world, specifically pitching ideas to guest professors or experts.
Workload
CFG1600 is structured around five lessons and delivered in an E-Learning and face-to-face workshops format. Each face-to-face workshop lasts 2 hours.
To secure a CS for this course, you will need to complete the following:
- All assessment components
- 100% classroom attendance (comprises 3 in-person sessions)
There is no examination for this course.
Assessment Instructions for Students
Grading Components:
| Assessment Task |
Assessment Weightage |
In class participation for all 3 in-person sessions
|
20% |
| Assignment 1 (Crafting a Pitch) |
20% |
| Assignment 2 (Peer Learning) | 20% |
| Assignment 3 (Video Submission) | 20% |
| Final pitch delivery | 20% |
| TOTAL COURSE SCORE |
100% |
What our students say
I took CommsLab because I tend to stutter when I get nervous, especially on stage. The course gave me a safe space to practice speaking in front of others, and by the end, I felt more confident and stuttered less. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to improve.
— Lyu Jiapeng, Year 2
I took the course because while I enjoy public speaking, I wanted to learn how to better engage my audience. I loved the structured lessons, which covered everything from writing and delivering a pitch to improving body language. The feedback from peers and instructors was especially helpful, and I would definitely recommend this course to anyone looking to sharpen their public speaking skills.
— Kanesananthan Yahrliny, Year 2
I took CFG1600 because I’ve always struggled with social awkwardness and wanted to improve my communication skills. What I loved most was the regular opportunities to practice speaking, from short one-minute speeches to a final presentation. I’d recommend this course to anyone, as public speaking is a valuable skill that can give you an edge in many situations.
— Tan Yong Ann, Year 3