The Speaking Center
Find your footing, then own the floor.
Hours:
- Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-3p.m.
- Appointments are available virtually and in-person scheduled through Navigate360
- Walk-in appointments welcomed as availability allows
Location:
The Speaking Center is located on the third floor of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building. Our main office is room LB 302.
The Speaking Center at Ball State is a resource center dedicated to transforming students, faculty, and staff into confident, engaging speakers. Housed in the Department of Communication Studies and staffed by graduate student coaches, we provide services to assist with speeches, presentations, pitches, Q&A’s, interviews, and various other speaking engagements, both in and out of the classroom. Whether you are preparing for a course presentation, a thesis defense, or a commencement speech, The Speaking Center will help you find your footing, then own the floor.
Appointments
Book an appointment to work one-on-one with our coaches and receive constructive feedback to improve your message, delivery, and audience engagement. Our coaches offer guidance in numerous areas including topic selection, outline construction, message development, presentational design, effective oral delivery, rehearsal strategy, managing anxiety, and more.
Choose from in-person or online appointments to access our coaching wherever works best for you. Improving your communication skills is just one click away!
Schedule an appointment
For in-person coaching, check-in on the third floor of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building, in room LB 302. For virtual coaching, join the Zoom meeting link sent in your appointment confirmation.
Our Planning Appointments are your first step toward speech success, no matter what type of speaking engagement you’re preparing for. From class presentations and pitches to student leadership talks, interviews, or poster sessions, our coaches help you begin with confidence and clarity. Our coaches guide you through topic selection and research strategies, as well as crafting compelling outlines, helping refine and expand your ideas to create organized, impactful, and memorable speeches.
Our Delivery Appointments allow you to practice your public speaking in a supportive environment. Our coaches give tailored feedback to refine your verbal, vocal, and visual presentation skills. These sessions are especially valuable when you’re stepping into high-stakes moments such as a TEDx talk, a conference presentation, a commencement address, or even a thesis defense. With guided practice, your delivery will become polished, engaging, and authentic with the goal of elevating your presentation from good to unforgettable.
Our VR Appointments use Ovation, a state-of-the-art immersive platform that helps you move confidently from virtual to reality. Think of Ovation as a flight simulator—but for your voice. In a safe, supportive environment, you’ll practice with realistic AI avatars, receive AI-powered feedback, and build confidence through repetition. Use your session to overcome speaking fears, rehearse presentations, practice mock interviews, or prepare for Q&A. Each experience strengthens your skills and equips you to speak with clarity, poise, and confidence.
Classroom Workshops
Elevate your entire class's communication skills with our in-class workshops. Our coaches come directly to you to share tips, best practices, and engaging exercises to transform your students into better speakers. Workshops can be customized to fit different time frames, from short 20-minute sessions to full-class periods. We also tailor each session to your course goals so students walk away with practical tools they can apply right away.
The Speaking Center offers workshops on the following topics:
- Overcoming communication apprehension
- Delivering informative speeches
- Delivering group presentations
- Best practices in slideshow design
Schedule a workshop
Resources
Continue refining your communication skills through our resource library. Our video playlists and handouts contain additional tips, strategies, and exercises to help you strengthen your public speaking outside of the Speaking Center. These resources are designed to support you at every stage of the speaking process, whether you’re preparing for class, presenting at a conference, or stepping into a professional role.
The Speaking Center resource library includes materials on:
- Crafting effective introductions and conclusions
- Using evidence to support your ideas
- Managing anxiety
- Tips to strengthen your voice
- Designing engaging slides
Speaking Center Handouts