Greetings, Jack!
    Hope all has been well in 2012 thus far! This is Justin Nicholson, a member of your Effective Speaking course in the Spring Semester of 2011 at Bentley University. Today finds me working just down the road in Waltham, MA for a human capital management software provider. I just returned from the company's 2012 Sales Kickoff in North Carolina, which culminated with a companywide product demonstration contest. Each sales professional from beginning to end of the sales cycle gave a 15-minute product demonstration/sales pitch to our C-Level Executives and main group of our peers. Am proud to report that I was selected as one of the contest winners and received a $1,000 cash prize.
    So, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all your help in your course last year. I can honestly say that throughout my presentation, I used numerous techniques learned in your course. Long story short, when you explain to your students how every tool you teach will be applied in their professional careers, have even more confidence and pride that you are one hundred percent accurate.

Thanks again, Jack!

Sincerely,
Justin Nicholson

Hello, Jack!
    Right now, I'm sitting in the library at Copenhagen Business School, trying to work on my essay in Scientific Philosophy, Methodology and Epistemology. Instead, I find myself reflecting upon my stay at Bentley University and on all of the amazing experiences I had last semester.
    One thing I'm constantly reminded of is how grateful I am for everything you taught me in Effective Speaking. It amazes me how I can use that knowledge in so many different contexts: of course I use it during my presentations, but also in day-to-day communication with friends, family and in my work-life. It has made me so much more aware of how I articulate an opinion, and how I can value those of others. It has made me accept and think about the fact that we, as individuals, see the world differently based on our prejudices, culture, childhood, etc., and if one manages to acknowledge that, one can be a much better friend, life-partner, debate-participant, challenger, scientist, philosopher and so much more. I also apply "Effective Speaking" everyday in all of my courses, in everything from economics and marketing, to culture and social science---especially in the paper I should be writing right now.
    All of my friends and family are probably extremely tired of hearing my praising your course every time I get the chance, or using you as an example of how I wish professors here at CBS should be: inspiring, challenging, engaged with their students and focused on being a constant motivator, making their students work harder towards achieving their goals. At times it did feel a bit rough, being your student: you expected us to always work hard, and in some ways, you did demand progress. But it was a good thing: it made us realize our own desire and potential to achieve more. Jack, I can't thank you enough for what you taught me during those 4 months. It has made me a more reflective, knowledgeable, calm and sure of my own opinion and thought---and, it gave me specific tools I can use to keep improving my speaking capabilities. If that's not great academic success, I don't know what is!
Best of the Best Regards to you (Ha-Ha, a clumsy translation from Norwegian) - Karoline Thorp Adland