“The moment the first course started it was nothing like I had in mind. In my head, this course was going to be like every class at college; some professor at the front of the class with their PowerPoint, reading off of it, and then making us write about it afterwards. Little did I know that this was going to be the best course that I had at college, and not because of the subject, but because the professor was actually teaching us. Thanks to this course, I learned how to express myself without any fears in front of people. Not only did I learn how to properly write and give a speech, but also about myself and what I could do to get a proper mindset in my life. Before this course, I always had trouble expressing myself publicly. I didn't have enough confidence to do so, especially in English. But thanks to Dr. Heller I was able to learn how to control the mistakes I made every time I tried performing a speech. I learned how to prevent mistakes with practice and use of Dr. Heller's methods. Dr. Heller is one of the best professors I've had, and every person can benefit from having a professor like him.”
Simon S.
“Dr. Heller’s instruction helped me build confidence to speak in public, and learn which tools are necessary to express my ideas clearly. I want to study communications for the future, and thanks to Professor Heller and his class, I feel more prepared. I’m really grateful for everything I learned!”
Cayetana A
“Dr. Heller was my favorite professor from my past two years at Valencia College. His class and his teaching methods slowly built up and solidified my confidence in research and speaking publicly. His class prepared me completely for real life applications as well as other classes throughout my time in University.”
Marco B.
“On the first day of Dr. Heller's speech class, he asked students to pair up and introduce each other to the rest of the class. I remember thinking I'd hate the class for the entire semester. But Dr. Heller's class was more than just speaking - he taught us how to be effective communicators. He consistently challenged us to step out of our comfort zones and would question our thinking process, encouraging us to do the same. His ability to transform speeches into stories made public speaking feel less like lecturing and more like a conversation embedded with ideas, stories, and beliefs. Even now, my hands still sweat and my voice still shakes when I have to give a presentation, but Dr. Heller taught me that what I have to say has value and deserves to be shared with others.”
Sarah S.
“Professor Heller's course taught me that effective public speaking isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. I walked in not really confident of my own voice, but I left with the confidence to own the room. His guidance helped me not only overcome stage fright but also sharpen my writing for both academic and real-world audiences.”
Dave B.
“Public speaking used to feel like something you had to fake, like there was one “right” way to do it. But Dr. Heller taught in a way that made it feel real. He gave us the tools; structure, theory, delivery tips, but he always emphasized that the most powerful speeches come from being yourself. His teaching style is personal, engaging, and helped me stop trying to perform and instead start communicating with confidence.”
Tommy G.
“I learned various public speaking techniques that have helped me become a better more confident speaker and has tremendously reduced my speaking anxiety. I've used these techniques to enhance body language and nonverbal communication. I'm really glad I took this course.”
Brianna C.
“Professor Heller completely changed the way I approach public speaking. I went from being nervous and unsure to feeling confident. His practical strategies for overcoming stage fright and organizing my thoughts helped me not just in class, but in every professional setting since.”
Sophia C.
“I feel much more confident in understanding situations in public speaking that involve different types of communications. More specifically cultural communication. This course allowed me to explore how culture and its stereotypes, customs, values, and beliefs all come into play when communicating with one another. It gave me the tools to comprehend everyday situations and navigate public speaking's potential conflicts with more awareness.”
Neviah D.
“Attending the speech and public speaking class helped me gain confidence in expressing my thoughts clearly and effectively in front of an audience. I learned how to structure a speech, use appropriate body language, and engage listeners with eye contact and tone variation. The class also taught me the importance of preparation and how to manage nervousness. Overall, it improved my communication skills and made me more comfortable speaking in public.”
Laila K.
