Learn Oral Communication Quickly! is an online course delivered via the Moodle platform.  The course is self-directed and allows the user to work through it at his or her desired pace. All of the materials for the course are online therefore the user must have internet access to sign into the class.  The Learn Oral Communication Quickly! course materials include videos, worksheets, and handouts. (Editor’s Note: The vendor offers an initial phone consult with anyone interested for help with Moodle questions, set-up, or other inquiries about the program upon purchase.)

Accessing the materials was simple once I received my username and password. I accessed the course at learnquickly.org where I logged into the program.  On the login page, I did notice the other Learn Quickly courses, but access is only provided for the course purchased. 

The course is comprised of seven sections:

• Communication Basics plus How to Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking
• How to Demonstrate, Introduce, and Make a Toast
• How to Persuade, Answer Questions, and Accept Awards
• How to Read Aloud: Part 1
• How to Read Aloud: Part 2
• Final Test and Checklist
• Fun Communication Exercises

Each section focuses on a different component of oral communication.  Each section includes a video by Janet Scarpone instructing the view on how to become better in completing the particular skill. The videos range from 15 to 25 minutes.  Most of the instructions for how to accomplish being a better communicator can be found in the videos.  The only sections that do not include a video are How to Read Aloud: Part 2 and the Final Test and Checklist.

After watching the videos, there are multiple assignments to help the learner delve into the highlighted skill. For instance, “How to Read Aloud: Part 1” includes ten vocal exercises to help parents or teachers to become better at having engaging voices for their listeners.  The exercises can take you a bit out of your comfort zone since they call for the speaker to try out different tones and pitches to make the story come to life.

When I decided to review Learn Oral Communication Quickly!, I thought it would be a course that I would work through with my daughters, but instead I found it was more of a course for me than them.  I am watching the videos so that I am able to be more engaging when I speak to them particularly when it comes to reading aloud in our content subjects.  I have found the lessons can be as long or as short as I make them depending on the effort.  Overall, I believe Janet Scarpone does a swell job instructing her viewers on how to be a better communicator.  I did find the way the course is setup threw me off a bit since it resembles an online classroom environment, and I was the only one in the course.  I also was not certain if the full course by paid subscribers would include her communicating with them on a regular basis. I think this would be a benefit since there were a few assignments that suggested submitting my responses. 

-Product review by Latonya Moore, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, October, 2016