What I am going to teach you here is the fact that there is a physical reason for our feeling frightened when put into a position to speak in public. That reason is our body's perception that speaking in front of others is a "threatening situation" that demands the over-creation of adrenalin. And it is the over-creation of adrenalin that gives us our symptoms of feeling frightened.
Not everyone is born with natural public speaking abilities. In fact, most of us really do suck at it when we first start (kind of like snowboarding or playing Halo). So, when walking into your speech class this semester don't go in thinking you're expected to be perfect; most people around you are just as nervous and inexperienced. Just do what's asked of you and aim to get better.Personally I think one of the best ways to prepare for a class like this is to take advice from those who have been through it before. So, prior to giving you my pointers, I'd like to share the thoughts and opinions of some colleagues and former students when I asked what they would say to those of you taking public speaking this semester:
Realistically, a deep-seeded fear may not be "curable" (in the clinical sense of the word). This is because it is a result of our genetic makeup and our external & internal conditioning which is a result of one or more of those incidents I mentioned that created our feelings of anxiety in the first place. But, as I'll explain in a moment - you do not have to cure your fear; you need only to cure the symptoms of that fear in order to be able to function without fear
"Come in with an open mind. Be ready to feel accomplished after you've finally knocked a speech out of the park!" -Jim Vasil, Student, Rider University,"Keep calm when you're presenting and if you lose your place, just try to talk freehandedly about the info.don't apologize or let the audience know you were lost." -Victoria Perniola, Student, Kean University,"Remember that everybody in class is in the same position, so don't be afraid to speak in front of your peers. Be confident, know your material." -Shane Tonery, Student, Rider University,"Relax, have fun with it! If you take the leap and push past the nerves, you will come out the other side with some valuable skills." -Barbara McNair, Student, Brookdale Community College.
If you think you are alone with this fear of public speaking; then think again. I also had the same fears and many people all over the world also share your fears to speak in public. I recall several incidents that occurred while I was growing up. As a child, I often got punished with the rest of my classmates for failing to answer the teacher's question; even though I had the right answer within me.
You are not alone in the fear of public speaking. In my travels, I have seen where the fear of public speaking have kept otherwise very successful people in all walks of life from achieving their full potential. When you let this fear dominate your life, you lose out on promotions, business opportunities, community activities, and most of all self-confidence.
Read Your Syllabus Carefully.A lot of students go into the first class hoping to get the syllabus and leave early. Some don't even pay attention to what's in it. The syllabus is an important contract between you and your professor. It goes over everything that's expected of you. You can plan ahead for how many speeches you will have to give, and how heavily each will be graded. If you're unsure of something, or an item on the syllabus makes you feel anxious talk to the professor after the first class. Never wait until the end of the semester to bring up concerns that you can address right away.
People with excessive nerves when it comes to social interactions may also find a classroom setup in a public speaking school quite tough to deal with. Perhaps these people have attempted to speak publicly before yet failed to materialize. Being one with such a case should cause you to remember that trying too much too soon is not wise because should failure become a recurring pattern it is only likely to cause further damage. You can instead try making small speeches and practice them in front of a mirror. By doing this you can better connect with your inner mind in convincing it that you can indeed make a public speech even in a gradual manner.
Follow Directions.Good professors will let you know what needs to be done and in what fashion you have to do it. Some will even go as far as letting you know exactly what you'll be graded on for each speech. I remember having several students fail because they couldn't follow the simplest directions (like handing in a works cited page or having a folder for materials). Make sure you read any handouts regarding assignments thoroughly, and ask any questions if there's something you don't understand. Also, when you get a grade back from your professor read the comments he or she provides for you, and take them into consideration for the next speech. Here's a little secret: we usually pay close attention to areas we asked you to focus on in our previous comments.
Get to Know Your Classmates.The whole public speaking process will be easier if you become friendly with the others in your class. You can provide each other with tips and support. And when you know them, it will make the class more fun and take some of the pressure off of you. I've noticed students seem to be more successful in classes where the students mesh well together as a unit.Practice and Prepare.Always practice your speeches before you give them. Whether you find a classmate, parent, brother or sister, or stranger off the street, have them listen to you give the speech a few times. This will allow you to time yourself to be sure you're within the proper time frame. It will also help you identify any areas of the speech that might need to be adjusted.Use Your Resources.Many schools have extra help available for speech classes. Professors usually don't mind taking some time to meet with you during the semester to go over any areas of concern. Also, talking to other students in the class might help clarify something.
[Public Speaking Classes]
Not everyone is born with natural public speaking abilities. In fact, most of us really do suck at it when we first start (kind of like snowboarding or playing Halo). So, when walking into your speech class this semester don't go in thinking you're expected to be perfect; most people around you are just as nervous and inexperienced. Just do what's asked of you and aim to get better.Personally I think one of the best ways to prepare for a class like this is to take advice from those who have been through it before. So, prior to giving you my pointers, I'd like to share the thoughts and opinions of some colleagues and former students when I asked what they would say to those of you taking public speaking this semester:
Realistically, a deep-seeded fear may not be "curable" (in the clinical sense of the word). This is because it is a result of our genetic makeup and our external & internal conditioning which is a result of one or more of those incidents I mentioned that created our feelings of anxiety in the first place. But, as I'll explain in a moment - you do not have to cure your fear; you need only to cure the symptoms of that fear in order to be able to function without fear
"Come in with an open mind. Be ready to feel accomplished after you've finally knocked a speech out of the park!" -Jim Vasil, Student, Rider University,"Keep calm when you're presenting and if you lose your place, just try to talk freehandedly about the info.don't apologize or let the audience know you were lost." -Victoria Perniola, Student, Kean University,"Remember that everybody in class is in the same position, so don't be afraid to speak in front of your peers. Be confident, know your material." -Shane Tonery, Student, Rider University,"Relax, have fun with it! If you take the leap and push past the nerves, you will come out the other side with some valuable skills." -Barbara McNair, Student, Brookdale Community College.
If you think you are alone with this fear of public speaking; then think again. I also had the same fears and many people all over the world also share your fears to speak in public. I recall several incidents that occurred while I was growing up. As a child, I often got punished with the rest of my classmates for failing to answer the teacher's question; even though I had the right answer within me.
You are not alone in the fear of public speaking. In my travels, I have seen where the fear of public speaking have kept otherwise very successful people in all walks of life from achieving their full potential. When you let this fear dominate your life, you lose out on promotions, business opportunities, community activities, and most of all self-confidence.
Read Your Syllabus Carefully.A lot of students go into the first class hoping to get the syllabus and leave early. Some don't even pay attention to what's in it. The syllabus is an important contract between you and your professor. It goes over everything that's expected of you. You can plan ahead for how many speeches you will have to give, and how heavily each will be graded. If you're unsure of something, or an item on the syllabus makes you feel anxious talk to the professor after the first class. Never wait until the end of the semester to bring up concerns that you can address right away.
People with excessive nerves when it comes to social interactions may also find a classroom setup in a public speaking school quite tough to deal with. Perhaps these people have attempted to speak publicly before yet failed to materialize. Being one with such a case should cause you to remember that trying too much too soon is not wise because should failure become a recurring pattern it is only likely to cause further damage. You can instead try making small speeches and practice them in front of a mirror. By doing this you can better connect with your inner mind in convincing it that you can indeed make a public speech even in a gradual manner.
Follow Directions.Good professors will let you know what needs to be done and in what fashion you have to do it. Some will even go as far as letting you know exactly what you'll be graded on for each speech. I remember having several students fail because they couldn't follow the simplest directions (like handing in a works cited page or having a folder for materials). Make sure you read any handouts regarding assignments thoroughly, and ask any questions if there's something you don't understand. Also, when you get a grade back from your professor read the comments he or she provides for you, and take them into consideration for the next speech. Here's a little secret: we usually pay close attention to areas we asked you to focus on in our previous comments.
Get to Know Your Classmates.The whole public speaking process will be easier if you become friendly with the others in your class. You can provide each other with tips and support. And when you know them, it will make the class more fun and take some of the pressure off of you. I've noticed students seem to be more successful in classes where the students mesh well together as a unit.Practice and Prepare.Always practice your speeches before you give them. Whether you find a classmate, parent, brother or sister, or stranger off the street, have them listen to you give the speech a few times. This will allow you to time yourself to be sure you're within the proper time frame. It will also help you identify any areas of the speech that might need to be adjusted.Use Your Resources.Many schools have extra help available for speech classes. Professors usually don't mind taking some time to meet with you during the semester to go over any areas of concern. Also, talking to other students in the class might help clarify something.
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