Effective Speaking - level 2
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a generic course. This means that the course is reserved for PhD students at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at the Graduate School, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrolment deadline, available seats will be allocated to the waiting list.
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD students at NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
The course involves five days of in-person sessions.
Course description
This course is aimed at PhD students who have already attended the Effective Speaking course https://phdcourses.ku.dk/DetailKursus.aspx?id=113114&sitepath=SUND) or similar courses involving training in public speaking (at KU or elsewhere) and who wish to continue work on improving their professional speaking skills and confidence as they communicate their research in academia.
We build on the knowledge and skills already gained while keeping in mind that good speaking skills is a work in progress that should span your entire career – even after leaving behind the university setting.
The ability to convincingly present your research in English is grounded in thorough preparation and presence in the speaking situation. Improving your spoken English will raise your confidence in such situations.
The topics covered in the course include the rhetorical situation, elements of argumentation, visual aids, the handling of Q&A sessions, structure, and the use of voice and body to ensure clarity and appropriate pace in speaking international English. Working in small groups provides a safe environment for experimentation. A variety of prepared assignments will offer extensive feedback to improve your presentations and equip you for continuous development following the course. You will learn to analyse particular speaking situations and to tailor your content and delivery to optimize your impact. Together we will explore various tools and approaches to provide you with a wider range of options for varying your communication.
Please note that this is a very intensive course requiring a sustained effort for lasting results. The assignments to be completed between course days will require that you set aside time beforehand.
Elements
• class and group sessions
• lectures and plenary discussions
• speaking and presenting exercises
• group and individual coaching on English pronunciation, intonation and stress patterns
• a systematic approach to structure and planning
• analysis of speaking situations to tailor content and delivery
• body language, gaze, voice, appearance and other nonverbal elements
• physical and mental preparation for presentations
Outcomes
At the end of the course you will:
• have further developed and rehearsed your academic presentations
• have the confidence to bring your personality to bear in public speaking
• have the tools and knowledge necessary for future development
• be an even more engaging and effective public speaker
Participants
PhD students who have participated in the basic Effective Speaking course or a similar course in public speaking.
Dates
December 2025: Mon 8, Wed 10, Fri 12, Wed 17 and Fri 19. (Plus additional time between course days for individual preparation and assignments.)
Language
English
Venue
Panum
Form
Plenary, group and individual work, feedback on presentations, voice exercises, video recording, discussion and own pronunciation practice
Course instructors
Helle Idland (cand.mag., Rhetorics) helle@idland.dk; Morten Berg (cand.mag., English)
Please sign up before 8 November 2025
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.