ModernBrain's mission is to provide our families with the perfect public speaking pathway to confidence and college.
Since 2008, ModernBrain has provided everything students and parents need to foster healthy learning and development. The benefits of competitive public speaking are well-documented, and we've designed all of our courses with these advantages in mind: increased confidence, improved critical thinking, enhanced college prospects, greater collaboration, and amplified creativity.
We are proud to be your one-stop shop for classes in communications, competitions, and counseling.
This page was last updated on November 11, 2024.
ELEVATION: Our three-step system empowers students to succeed.
First, our students begin with our comprehensive classes, where they learn the fundamentals of communication skills. Over 3,000 families have started their journey here.
Second, they transition to our specialty classes and national competition teams, where they have the chance to excel at regional, state, national, and international public speaking contests. Hundreds of our students have earned at least one national ranking.
Finally, our counseling program empowers them to find their perfect fit. Over 90% of our mentees are admitted into top 20-ranked and/or their top choice institutions.
EXPERTISE: We prioritize professionalism.
There's a reason organizations in counties like Orange and Los Angeles (educational institutions representing over 50,000 students, such as the Irvine Public Schools Foundation) hire us to support their districts. It's the same reason why nationally recognized entities like the National Youth Poet Laureate Program partner with us, why we're an approved provider of the President's Volunteer Service Award, why international college counseling companies likeĀ Stoooges Education trust our instructors to prepare their students for the Ivy League, and why the #1-rankedĀ UCLA Trial Advocacy Team sought and received our support.
Our professionalism pervades each element of our approach: from our core values of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction to our year-round, custom-designed lesson plans. Whether it's Speech, Debate, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, acting, or more, our coaches are prepared to guide students from elementary school through college--and, as our adult clients will tell you, into the corporate world.
EXCELLENCE: Winning isn't the only goal, but it's the outcome.
Our coaches are the best in the business. We have some of the winningest competitors in the history of the American Forensics Association, multiple National Speech and Debate Association state and national champions who have guided their students to the same accolades they earned, and the only person to win the American Mock Trial Association's national championship as an attorney and witness since 2005--and that's just scratching the surface. ModernBrain's coaching staff is second to none in the country.
It's why, since the start of the 2020 season, our students have won over 1,000 first place public speaking championships, more than 300 bids to the most competitive tournaments in the nation (the NIETOC and Tournament of Champions), hundreds of national awards, and over 4,400 public speaking honors at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Check out our AWARDS page for specifics.
EMPATHY: We cultivate a culture of caring.
ModernBrain is known for our effective, respectful communication. Before you decide to entrust your student's learning to us, we offer free trial classes and seminars to make sure you're given the appropriate class placement. Once your student is enrolled, they'll receive multiple personalized evaluations throughout the semester. Throughout the process, we promise quick and accurate responses to all phone and email communication.
Our instructors are all trained under the National Federation of State High School Association's standards regarding student safety and well-being. We keep class sizes small to make sure your student receives the attention they need to grow. We use vetted technology approved by teachers who've won research awards for communication to keep track of student learning. When your student joins the ModernBrain family, we make sure they're supported.
EQUITY: Inclusivity guides our decisions.
As educators, we recognize that traditional 'one size fits all' models, in truth, fit no one. That's why we've hired a robust coaching staff of geographically, culturally, and ideologically diverse educators: to make sure that students from all backgrounds and of all learning styles are given the tailored training they need. Our organization has thrived for over a decade because we encourage open dialogue and cultivate challenging conversations to make sure we never settle for the status quo.
Some organizations hyper-specialize in particular public speaking categories. They might only focus on some forms of debate or only produce material for students who are coming in at a high level of commitment. We offer training in all forms of American speech and debate, mock trial, model united nations, ethics bowl, and more.
ModernBrain has sponsored city-wide STEAM festivals, contributed money and curricula for K-12 and community college students (with a focus on Title I schools), and run low-cost public speaking competitions as fundraisers for local public school programs. Because of this equitable approach, we've been named a "Top 100 Company Supporting Educational Excellence" by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation for four consecutive years (as of 2022). It's why we've been honored to serve over 3,000 families.
ENDORSEMENTS: Don't take it from us. Take it from our families.
Take it from Deanna (a ModernBrain mom and theater teacher):
"ModernBrain is beyond phenomenal. My daughter started with them a little over a year ago and just made their Nationals Team in Speech. She has grown so much in her writing, confidence and presentation skills and has the BEST coaches ever. Ā She likes each of them uniquely and they have all brought out different positive aspects in her. She cannot wait to compete this year with her team that feels like family. ModernBrain is the BEST. Today, while driving, my daughter (in a semi-joking manner) said when she grows up she wants to be [one of her instructors.] For a tween to say that, you know you have a beyond amazing organization! We hope to be a member of the ModernBrain Family for years!"
Take it from Young (a ModernBrain dad and financial consultant):
Ā "I am honored to provide my personal recommendation for services of truly exceptional merit provided by ModernBrain. ModernBrain has been intensively coaching my son, Jason, in collegiate level debate. Jason, who had never been involved in debate before, in his first year won 14 medals at college debate tournaments, a national championship, and a gold medal in an international debate tournament held in China. The results of this training have been far beyond the most optimistic expectations.Ā My son not only excels in debate, he has also achieved during this same time frame straight 'A' grades in all his classes. His mind has been unlocked and unleashed, and his achievements have been remarkable."
Take it from Joyce (a ModernBrain mom and aerospace executive):
"Thanks to ModernBrain, our son was the Associated Student Body and Speech and Debate President at his middle school in Irvine. He won Best Delegate at his Model United Nations Conference. He won 1st Place at the Orange County Debate League Championship Tournament. He was a finalist for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Great Communicator Debate Series. It qualified him for a $3000 college scholarship and an invitation for an internship at the White House and United States Congress. I know the importance of communication for success in the corporate world. That's why we asked ModernBrain to mentor our kids: because they're the best."
