I’m 16 yo and in 2 days I have to give a short speech in front of my english class (about 35 ppl) as part of my english grade. I have the topic and what I will say all planned out, but my whole life I have been terrified of speaking in front of a large group. Whenever I speak I physically shake and stutter my words. Can you help as it will both embarass me and may affect my grade.
Thankyou!! xxx
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Tagged with: large group • ppl • stutter • thankyou • whole life
Filed under: Fear of Public Speaking
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hey, im ryan and im recently 16. i personaly haven’t had the same problem as i enjoy speaking infront of people, but! i have helped 3 people in my year completely overcome their fears of speaking in public. i dont know you, but i will try my best to help. how does that sound?
okay well first of all you have to realise that the people watching will be as, if not more embarrassed and awkward feeling if you ‘f” up. we need to avoid this.
make sure you speak clearly.
try and focus on someone you rarly speak properly to, but you like (preferably not a guy or someone you fancie) but someone who keeps to themselves and are quite quiet.
if that fails look towards the back of the class.
BIG POINT!! if you muck up then whatever you do dont lower your voice, say somthing like : oops my bad (then look up and smile) and then carry on.
if you can pull this off then people will respect you more.
i used to find it hard to talk to people my age in general but now i can everythings alot better
okay moving on… lol =)
make sure hold the paper your using with one hand and gesture with the other hand, but not overly.
if you dont have a script etc then keep your arms relaxed, like in normal convosation and move them freely, dont like clasp them together and hold them tightly to your body, that creates adrenalin in your system becase they are tensed and adrenalin is not useful when trying to speak in public ares.
mainly just try and relax. if you relax then it will all go swell i guarantee you.
also think, its not going to kill you if you make a mistake. im sure your pretty intellegent and if you muck up then its not going to affect your life, but if you do well it could affect your life and make you a whole lot happier
one trick i used to do was to imagine i was talking to myself, it worked for me =)
and seriously good luck! i know how scary it can be, just make sure you relax, and dont think too much about it
good luck!! =) tell us how you do =)
c ya!!
Get more confidence if you know youre shit then you can do it. I have given so many speeches where all i have done is wikipedia’d my topic and bs’ed up front, always get an a or so, its not hard if you speak with confidence… remember eye contact and just know no one else knows what the hell you are gonna talk about so they do not know if you are wrong or right, it really is so easy…
Firstly relax, secondly, know your subject. Practise your speech out loud, and remember to pace it, sometimes when speaking in public there is a tendency to rush what you are saying to get over it quickly, but this makes it worse. Write your speech out on cards with one point per page, this will help you slow down.
Also, remember, its not about you, its about what you are saying. And, most others will be feeling the exact same as you. Once you have it completed you will be delighted with yourself because you did it.
First…calm down. I feel your pain. For years I suffered from the same thing. Then, in college, I had a wonderful Oral Communications instructor who taught me a lovely trick when speaking to a group of people. Instead of looking individuals in the eyes (face), look at the tops of their heads or foreheads, including the teacher who will most likely be sitting at the back of the room to insure you are speaking loud enough for everyone to hear you. To them, you will appear to be looking into their eyes. In essence, you aren’t concentrating on their facial responses to your speech, so you eliminate the major problem. Beyond that…..just remember that high school doesn’t last forever and thank heavens the year is almost over! Good luck! I’m sure you will do well.
I too once had a horrific fear of speaking in public or like you in front of the class.
This is what I did to help myself as well as getting help from others.
-Speak to your teacher about your phobia and let them know how bad you can get with regards to stuttering.
Ask if they would help you by just letting you practice with them and see if he/she is prepared to give you other hints and advice in over coming the worst aspects of your fear.
-Speak to your family and ask for them to let you stand up in front of them and speak as if in class to practice your speech.
If they have constructive advice to improve your speech listen to them.
-Practice practice and practice is my best advice. Do it in the shower, toilet, when getting dressed….where ever and when ever.
Part of the fear is failing in your presentation…like getting it mixed up and out of sequence.
OR
Forgetting your place.
So organize Que cards number them in a bright color in the upper left hand corner, so that when you fan them out like in playing cards you see all the numbers and it will be easy to fix any mixed up ones.
Make sure you print them in large lettering making it easy to see the script and use your thumb to keep your place on the card as to where you are in your speech.
The comfortable use of these cards also takes practice.
Doing things repetitively programs not only the conscious mind but also the sub-conscious mind.
So on the day these aspects come naturally. It allows you to concentrate more on your delivery, diction and general body language.
Most people like being asked for help. So go ahead and ask those close around you and get on with the out loud practicing.
Good Luck
The Audience knows NOTHING!
U are the BEST!