Forced to take Public Speaking class, very, very scared. Please help?!
Question: Forced to take Public Speaking class, very, very scared!. Please help!?
The college I'm going to requires all students to take a public speaking class to be able to graduate!. I thought I'd be able to handle it, but I'm finding out that it's going to be near impossible for me to pass if I don't get over my fear!.
For class last week, we were supposed to write a one to two minute speech about anything we wanted!. I wrote about computers, since I know a lot about them!. On paper my speech was great!. I had excellent transitions, and interesting analogies and facts!. The speech I gave was terrible!.
By the end of the semester I am to have given four 8 minute speeches!. I will be judged very carefully on my body language, speaking ability, and the overall quality of the speech itself!. I just don't see myself even getting through an 8 minute speech, let alone giving a good one!.
I scares me to no end to speak in front of people!. Even people I know, like family and friends!. I'm constantly thinking about how they see me, and how they judge me!.
Sure there were others in the class that weren't very good other than me, but I feel I was easily the worst in the class!. I was on the verge of running out of the room and never coming back!. I was so scared!. I couldn't remember anything I had written, and my body language was awful!.
In our textbook, it says that if someone is confident they will give a good speech, it will be more likely that they do!. The entire day before all I thought about was how great it was going to be!. I'd make my way to the podium, introduce myself, and give my speech with no error!. Needless to say it didn't help!.
If I knew I was going to have to take public speaking, I literally would have enrolled in another school!. Me taking public speaking is about the equivalent to making someone who is claustrophobic take a class in a small, dark room!. I can't handle it!.
Please help!. How can I get over my fear, and through the class!. Please don't suggest exposure, as I get that a lot!.
Thank you for listening, and thanks for your help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
For class last week, we were supposed to write a one to two minute speech about anything we wanted!. I wrote about computers, since I know a lot about them!. On paper my speech was great!. I had excellent transitions, and interesting analogies and facts!. The speech I gave was terrible!.
By the end of the semester I am to have given four 8 minute speeches!. I will be judged very carefully on my body language, speaking ability, and the overall quality of the speech itself!. I just don't see myself even getting through an 8 minute speech, let alone giving a good one!.
I scares me to no end to speak in front of people!. Even people I know, like family and friends!. I'm constantly thinking about how they see me, and how they judge me!.
Sure there were others in the class that weren't very good other than me, but I feel I was easily the worst in the class!. I was on the verge of running out of the room and never coming back!. I was so scared!. I couldn't remember anything I had written, and my body language was awful!.
In our textbook, it says that if someone is confident they will give a good speech, it will be more likely that they do!. The entire day before all I thought about was how great it was going to be!. I'd make my way to the podium, introduce myself, and give my speech with no error!. Needless to say it didn't help!.
If I knew I was going to have to take public speaking, I literally would have enrolled in another school!. Me taking public speaking is about the equivalent to making someone who is claustrophobic take a class in a small, dark room!. I can't handle it!.
Please help!. How can I get over my fear, and through the class!. Please don't suggest exposure, as I get that a lot!.
Thank you for listening, and thanks for your help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I really feel your pain! I had to do the same thing in high school or I couldn't graduate!. I had all the football players and cheerleaders in my class!. I was extremely shy!. I told my teacher to just fail me!. I honestly don't know how I made it!. I ended up with a D which I was very proud of!. I wish you the best of luck because I know how difficult this is!. I just stood up and did what I had to!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
First of all, you are not alone! The number one fear in America is public speaking! I had to take public speaking as well!. It was really nerve wracking at first, but he more you do it, the easier it gets!. I can offer a few tips that might help you!.
First of all, give a speech on something you know well and are passionate about!. When you are familiar with your subject matter, it makes it easier to ad lib if you make a mistake!.
Keep it interesting! People want to know about things that relate to their lives! Take computers for example!. Most people don't care about binary and microprocessors!. A better choice would be to talk about how computers have benefited mankind, and how they can make life easier!. When your audience is interested, you won't feel like they are thinking "God, when is this going to be over"!.
Do not memorize your speech word for word!. I suggest just making note cards with subjects you want to discuss!. For example!.!.!.[computers] if you wanted to discuss how computers make life easier you could make a note card that says "internet research"!. Write down in full what you want to say about how the internet makes it easy for us to find information!. You might right down key words like "google" and "reliable sources"!. Then, when you do your speech, talk about those things as you would talk about them with someone one on one!. If you memorize everything you want to say, and mess up a word it throws your whole speech off because you get flustered!. Know what you want to say, but leave some 'wiggle room'!.
Practice! Practice in front of a mirror!. It seems silly, but it's very helpful!. If you have access to a video recorder, record yourself! It's kind of like an audience!. When you're done recording, review your tape and pick out what you didn't like about your speech and revise it!.
Human beings are self centered!. We have a tendency to think everyone around us is watching and judging us, but it's just not true!. How often do you sit around and judge people!? Probably not often, and the same goes with your class mates!. They are probably nervous and new to this too! They are not sitting int he audience silently thinking about what your doing wrong!. Truthfully, they are probably more worried about having to give their speech than what you are saying!
And finally, believe in yourself! You do have the ability to give a good speech!. It takes work and practice and yes, exposure, but trust that you will be able to give a good speech!. Will you do it 100% of the time!? No, everyone has bad days, but don't let one bad speech ruin the rest of them!Www@Answer-Health@Com
First of all, give a speech on something you know well and are passionate about!. When you are familiar with your subject matter, it makes it easier to ad lib if you make a mistake!.
Keep it interesting! People want to know about things that relate to their lives! Take computers for example!. Most people don't care about binary and microprocessors!. A better choice would be to talk about how computers have benefited mankind, and how they can make life easier!. When your audience is interested, you won't feel like they are thinking "God, when is this going to be over"!.
Do not memorize your speech word for word!. I suggest just making note cards with subjects you want to discuss!. For example!.!.!.[computers] if you wanted to discuss how computers make life easier you could make a note card that says "internet research"!. Write down in full what you want to say about how the internet makes it easy for us to find information!. You might right down key words like "google" and "reliable sources"!. Then, when you do your speech, talk about those things as you would talk about them with someone one on one!. If you memorize everything you want to say, and mess up a word it throws your whole speech off because you get flustered!. Know what you want to say, but leave some 'wiggle room'!.
Practice! Practice in front of a mirror!. It seems silly, but it's very helpful!. If you have access to a video recorder, record yourself! It's kind of like an audience!. When you're done recording, review your tape and pick out what you didn't like about your speech and revise it!.
Human beings are self centered!. We have a tendency to think everyone around us is watching and judging us, but it's just not true!. How often do you sit around and judge people!? Probably not often, and the same goes with your class mates!. They are probably nervous and new to this too! They are not sitting int he audience silently thinking about what your doing wrong!. Truthfully, they are probably more worried about having to give their speech than what you are saying!
And finally, believe in yourself! You do have the ability to give a good speech!. It takes work and practice and yes, exposure, but trust that you will be able to give a good speech!. Will you do it 100% of the time!? No, everyone has bad days, but don't let one bad speech ruin the rest of them!Www@Answer-Health@Com
You're not alone!. I think most people have fear when speaking in front of people!. Public speaking is a core requirement in many colleges!. If it makes it any better, I don't know of anyone who failed public speaking!. Before you speak, take several very deep breaths to help calm you down!. When you begin, look at the back wall rather than at people!. Take your time!. Don't feel like you have to rush through it!. If you need to pause to collect your thoughts, do it!. Try to remember that everyone in the class is feeling the same way!. The final tip is practice, practice, practice!. The more you do it, the easier it gets!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you have the means, try hypnosis!. I'm serious about this!. A true phobia can't be overcome with a couple tricks!. I know from experience!.
If hypnosis isn't an option, here are some things to try:
1!. Don't visualize yourself not making any errors at all!. That just isn't realistic!. Instead, visualize yourself getting past any potential stumbles!. Imagine that you start out a little nervous but you eventually become more and more comfortable!. You have to be able to make a mistake and move on from it!.
2!. Just before you begin, take a few seconds to get comfortable!. Take a drink of water, get situated where you are most comfortable, and take a couple calming breaths (deep breath in AND out--no hyperventilating)!. It's better to have a few seconds of silence at the beginning than a whole speech that is riddled with errors!.
3!. Get to know your audience!. If possible, before a speech, get together with several of your classmates in a small group and/or with your instructor and practice your speech!. Get their feedback!. Make sure you leave such a meeting with a good feeling about your speech!. When the time comes to give the speech, you'll know you have some "friends" in your audience who already like what you have to say!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If hypnosis isn't an option, here are some things to try:
1!. Don't visualize yourself not making any errors at all!. That just isn't realistic!. Instead, visualize yourself getting past any potential stumbles!. Imagine that you start out a little nervous but you eventually become more and more comfortable!. You have to be able to make a mistake and move on from it!.
2!. Just before you begin, take a few seconds to get comfortable!. Take a drink of water, get situated where you are most comfortable, and take a couple calming breaths (deep breath in AND out--no hyperventilating)!. It's better to have a few seconds of silence at the beginning than a whole speech that is riddled with errors!.
3!. Get to know your audience!. If possible, before a speech, get together with several of your classmates in a small group and/or with your instructor and practice your speech!. Get their feedback!. Make sure you leave such a meeting with a good feeling about your speech!. When the time comes to give the speech, you'll know you have some "friends" in your audience who already like what you have to say!.Www@Answer-Health@Com