Dale Carnegie Pairs 'The King’s Speech' with Speaking Courses

With the DVD release of Oscar-winner "The Kings Speech" on Tuesday, Hauppuage-based Dale Carnegie Training is trying to use the popular movie to enlist people in its own public speaking courses.

The business training firm will offer a free copy to the first 50 people to sign up for its High Impact Presentation course, which focuses on public speaking.

Bob Ranieri, regional training manager at the Dale Carnegie Training in Hauppauge, said the movie accurately portrays various training exercises they use to help people overcome a fear of public speaking.

“Some of the techniques displayed in the movie are what we actually do in our High Impact Presentation class, to get people to feel comfortable and less self-conscious about speaking,” Ranieri said.

“The Kings Speech” tells the story of Britain's King George VI, and his challenge to overcoming his stutter when he ascends to the British throne. In the movie, he works diligently with a speech therapist. The film won four Oscars including Best Picture in 2011.

The regional manager said all of Dale Carnegie’s Hauppauge employees saw the film during an office field trip while it was in movie theaters. Ranieri said the parallels between the movie and the personal skill development seen everyday in the company’s speaking classes emotionally moved staff members.

“If a skilled pathologist can help a person overcome a stutter, imagine what will happen for a business if you take a class in speaking,” Ranieri said.

Dale Carnegie’s High Impact Presentation course is designed to help business leaders learn how to give compelling presentations with confidence and enthusiasm to sell their ideas, according to Ranieri. The two-day program asks participants to make multiple presentations, which are video recorded and evaluated in a one-on-one setting.

“We find that everyone, no matter how much experience they have, feels uncomfortable getting in front of the group,” the regional trainer said.

Dale Carnegie’s next High Impact Presentation course will be held June 23 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $1,995 to register. Class size is limited to 10 to 15 participants. Registration is available online at the company’s website.