I recently attended a company-sponsored training course on how to deliver more effective public…read morepresentations. The two-day course was great, along with the two instructors. One instructor would walk us through the theory, then we would practice a brief speech in front of a camera and audience. While the class continued, the second instructor would give private coaching based on the video. We covered a lot of ground in voice and hand gestures, posture, eye contact, etc. Very good course.

Just finished the two day High Tech Speaking course. It was instructed by Dan and Lisa. I thought I…read morepresented okay until I saw myself on video! That's right, they video you presenting and then coach you on how to improve. The combination of short sessions of 1 hour group instruction, followed by hands on practice in front of the camera, then individual coaching based on the recording is perfect for quick improvement. I think anyone can learn something useful and if you present regularly, then this is essential to bring your weak areas up to par.

Sam has been an incredible help in my career and in my personal life. She coaches with the perfect…read morecombination of empathy, intelligence, curiosity and pragmatism. Sam handles big and small: from communication in meetings and presentations to rethinking your career. Sam highlights what matters. She'll prompt you to think about big changes in achievable steps. If things get tough or you start to fall back into old patterns she'll help you recognize the pattern and move past it. She genuinely cares about the people she works with and it shows.

Sam has been a before and after for both my personal and professional life. Coming from another…read morecountry where English is not the first language has been somehow challenging, and I have struggled at communicating feedback, decisions, or stories because I felt very self-doubtful. After several sessions, I noticed that we weren't tackling specifically that, but many other aspects of how I talk, the words I use, why I say the things I say, among other things, that all indirectly were adding or affecting me in many other ways, but super related to my insecurities. Sam has helped me feel more confident with myself and with my inner voice (no pun intended). I have become more mindful of the words I use, in a natural way. I can't stress enough how much Sam has impacted me personally and professionally. So grateful to have met her!

STPS has been a god send for us. We've been utilizing STPS for 2 years now and have seen great…read moreimprovement in our son's sensory needs. Lauren has been instrumental in teaching us and teaching Miles how to listen to his body in order to gain regulation skills he could not access previously. I cannot express how blessed we are to have STPS and especially Lauren in our son's corner. We just started using their BT services - Vivian has been amazing and understands our son so well. They've also been instrumental in getting our son well regulated in a higher demand environment where is being academically challenged to his actual abilities (above grade level). Do not look any further, STPS has amazing professional clinical staff who know kids and have a naturalistic implementation of their therapies.

Excellent care for your child's needs! We cross a bridge to come here at it is WORTH it! I was…read morelooking for OT for my child and it has been very difficult to find a company. Skilled Therapy Play Services allows us access to in-person services, personalized treatment plans, and so much practical home advice! They also have ABA services! I can't express how much my child has improved with the addition of OT and I highly recommend their company to any family looking for services for their child.

Don's improv class has been such a positive addition to my life. I originally joined looking for…read moresomething fun and different, and it ended up being so much more than that. The class has genuinely helped me with public speaking and communication and I feel more confident thinking on my feet, speaking up, and connecting with others more naturally. Beyond that, it's brought so much laughter into my life. Every class is fun, energizing, and something I truly look forward to. Don creates such a welcoming and supportive environment where it feels safe to be yourself, take risks, and have fun without worrying about being judged. Whether you're hoping to improve communication skills, build confidence with public speaking, or simply laugh more and meet great people, I highly recommend Don's improv class.

A few things I came to appreciate about Don's "Beginner's Improv" class:…read more Curriculum: It's efficiently and thoughtfully organized. We covered a lot in just 6 classes. Good time: Games are played for warm-up and practice of specific skills, and the classroom vibe is good old wholesome fun. Energizing: As a busy working mother of young children, I found these classes didn't drain me -- Instead they gave me a boost of energy and positivity. Applicability: Improv not only helps with communication, but I feel that many of the guidelines (like the famous "Yes And") are useful reminders of how to be a good person in day-to-day life. Personalities: Don established a safe space so that everybody felt comfortable. Some students were shy vs. outgoing, younger vs. older, had vs. didn't have stage experience, etc. After only a couple classes, we established a comfort level that enabled everybody's personalities to really shine through in their improv. Even if you're only mildly curious about it, I would highly recommend that you just go ahead and sign up for Don's classes!

My daughter has been taking public speaking and debates class for couple of years now. It has been…read morean amazing experience for her. From the very first day, Larry created a fun and engaging environment where my daughter felt comfortable and confident participating. She loves to research the topics for her debates. Larry typically picks something that is current and interesting for his students. Larry is an exceptional teacher who truly has a gift for bringing out the best in each and every student. Under his guidance, my daughter has developed a strong sense of self-assurance in her public speaking abilities and honed her debate skills. Larry is extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter and has a unique ability to explain complex ideas in a way that is both engaging and easy for students to grasp. His dynamic teaching style, sense of humor, and high energy level make the lessons enjoyable and memorable for students. Recently my younger daughter started taking lessons with teacher Larry and the outcome has been the same, she can't wait for the next public speaking class.

From the owner: We are creating a culture that allows our students to learn and perform in a fun and creative…read moreenvironment, that will produce life long learners, captivating speakers and confident young leaders. Come and see what Parents and Students are saying about I SPEAK California.

Scheduling was impossible because we were matched with a therapist on the East Coast, and we're…read morebased on the West Coast. We were forced to sign up over Zelle, which should have been our first big red flag. (Unlike using a credit card, I've come to find out, Zelle does not offer purchase protection or help in cases where services were never rendered.) The team agreed in writing to give us what should have been a simple refund, and then changed their minds, stopped responding and never credited us for services we were never able to use. Terrible and dishonest customer experience, and would not recommend. We're sticking to in-person support with reputable companies.

PenguinSmart has been an excellent resource for my husband. Due to a head injury, he now has…read moreGlobal Aphasia as well as cognitive disabilities. Teaming up with PenguinSmart to give me tools and resources to help him gain speech skills has been a real lifesaver. Although he is unable to interact with the SPL Therapist or Coach himself, I am able to execute what they give me to help him improve. They offer several ways to stay connected and to keep track of progress, they also require homework and ask for communication. It can be time consuming but it is only so they can provide the right type of support as he progresses. They are very understanding and want you to be successful! Our meetings have been 100% virtual which has worked wonderfully for my family. Scheduling is easy and all the associates I have worked with have been very friendly! If you have a child (or adult) with speech needs, I highly recommend you partner with PenguinSmart!

It was a gift to have a one on one with Julia. I was really inspired by her knowledge of the…read morespeaker's industry. And then she followed to her an update on my progress. I appreciate any business that takes the time to follow up. Julia is one of a kind.

While we talk every day, presenting to a group (be it a handful of people via Zoom or an in-person…read moregroup pre-COVID-19) is another skill set altogether. Julia has deep wisdom and knowledge on the topic/skill of public speaking. She knows how to help you structure your presentation to ensure the audience is able to follow what you're saying and that you have the impact you desire. Equally important, she will help you tune in to the subtle things you can do to connect with your audience. Are you speaking while looking like the proverbial deer in the headlights? What should you do with your hands (pre-COVID)? Are you remembering to smile? We all are familiar with the notion that a good portion of the population prefers death to public speaking. The good news here is that Julia, with her effervescent personality, warmth, and insight, will help you see that speaking up isn't so terrible after all. Like most things, it's a skill, it's learnable. I can't think of a better teacher.

I have been taking lessons with Alex for a year now. It's mostly on and off, mostly off due to my…read morescheduling. The reason why I reached out to Alex was that I haven't been using my writing skills for years because I was in sales and it requires little to no professional writing at all. In the beginning, the cost was a bit higher than I had expected. I never had to pay for a tutor, so I don't know what the average price was. Nonetheless, I still scheduled a meeting with Alex. I wanted to see if $$$$ means quicker results. I have noticed that my writing skills have improved over the year. He was able to point out the mistakes I been overlooking and help me catch these mistakes. He is very patient and is willing to work with my crazy schedule. I can't say that my writing skills were improved overnight. It did require that I also do homework, and my willingness to improve as well. The bottom line, could I write a novel without any mistakes? No. Could I write professionally with little to no mistake? Sure.

I had a few months of class with Alex and I found them incredibly helpful. Alex was able to…read moresystematically identify the issues in my pronunciation and correct them. Due to COVID and transition, all our lessons happened on Zoom. I was a little bit suspicious at the beginning since I had another teacher before and it was a waste of time. But I still gave Alex a shot when we started and Alex's class turned out to be very effective even in Zoom, his notes and exercises are well prepared. I highly recommend Alex for someone who needs an accent reduction course!