I’m going back to college in a few weeks and I have to take Fundamentals of Public Speaking (COMM 101). I’m really nervous because I don’t like it when a bunch of people are watching me and I tend to shake and studder. It seems like there is not very many threads on this topic or the class. Speech seems like another COMM class that is similar to COMM 101 that may also be required for freshman depending on the college.
Does getting to know the professor and the students in the class ease the anxiety of doing the presentations?
Who should I practice my presentation to before I do it?
Who should I get help from to develop my speech outlines if I need it?
Is there a presentation everyday or just several of them during the semester?
I took a public speaking course as a grad requirement first semester
Yes, my class was built with plenty of icebreakers to get to know your classmates and professor. And you would speak the first day was it either introducing yourself or someone else.
Several of them – there might not be enough time to speak and you couls be coming to class several times just to listen to others’ speeches and the professor takes attendance.
A public speaking class is challenging. Learn how to breathe with air getting into your lower abdomen. You can get your muscles to make you stomach expand but that is uncomfortable. Let air expand your abdomen inflate and become natural to you. If you are given a topic, decide on the main points you want to make and add some ideas that support those points. Anxiety contributes to over preparation. Too much information forces your drive to include every fragment in your preparation and then panic when you forget something.
Now when you start your presentation, stand quietly, close your eyes and then look up when you are ready. Start with something friendly like thank you for inviting me or something else friendly and then begin with I am here to… There is no formula. Then begin by introducing your topic. I used to bring lots of note cards with my ideas and organization. Bad idea because you will be looking down when you speak and scrambling through your cards to find a you place or a point. Now I just use the back of an envelope to jot down main ideas I want to cover. You want to have some ideas about each topic in your head rather than depend on notes.
Now about those people looking at you. That is polite. We all know how to look attentive when our minds are elsewhere. So, what you are saying is not totally ignored, but your life is very unlikely to depend on what you are saying. Look right above the heads of listeners and look around. Hide behind a podium or remove glasses it that helps. I am short and liked like I was being eaten, but eventually became comfodtable to stand on a stool.
I had experiences that helped me relax. I am a reader in church. I was once reading the Passion and said the crock cowed three times. Got some friendly snickers and smiles, but no outrage. Another time I was announcing the recent marriages in the parish. Oops I sad funerals and then listed each pair of brides and grooms, the priest and some in the front pews really laughed. No repercussions.
I started with crying and vomiting on the podium and moved to over preparation. I learned that I felt worse than the audience. Eventually, I dumped the cards and put key ideas on scrap paper. If there were speakers before me, I added a few ideas I would add and maybe even add to one of my points. Eventually, I interacted with the audience even when not talking directly to individuals, I became more me in how I presented myself. lListen to but don’t react to rare critiicism. Think about what was said and incorporate good suggestions and ignore nastiness.
The best thing I can tell you is be yourself in a more formal event than chatting. You rarely avoid all criticism. However if you meet the goals of you spech with goodwill and honesty and even some humor, expect to do well.
More people are afraid of public speaking than almost anything else in the world. One of the topics that will definitely be covered is how to practice and how to deal with being nervous. It’s also one of those things that gets easier the more you do it.
Practice is important, as is knowing your subject. One good idea is to speak from notes or bullet points - don’t try to read or memorize a prepared set of words that you’re going to recite. Just have an organized set of ideas you want to convey.
Probably there will be very informal speaking exercises - one minute speeches - in addition to more formal ones. These typically cover skills like the “how to” speech (how to make a sandwich, fix a car, etc) or the persuasive speech (why you should eat more kale).
Practice your speech a few days before. Work out what you’re stumbling on.
Know what you’re talking about. Do some research. Imagine that you’re actually doing a research presentation for some important company. Identify with what you’re presenting
Don’t do hand motions. If you’re tempted to do it, grip the sides of the podium. Then again, my professor was a 68 year old marriage counselor from California so I don’t know if this is correct.
Be confident. Stand up straight and stare at the heads of the audience. Don’t look right at them.
“Don’t demand perfection of yourself. Expect your voice to waver. Expect moments of hesitation or unplanned pauses. Then if it happens you’re are not surprised.” -My history teacher from sophomore year
Check your course syllabus about presentations. I only did three for the semester. Your professor may assign more or less.
Go to campus tutoring services. Maybe they’ll have a person for comm. I’d check for myself to see. If not, you can always talk to the professor.
One exercise that might be done in class is counting the number of times you say um. This is often used as a filler word when we are thinking what to say next. Some people use the word like a lot. You will learn in class to get comfortable with silence instead of using those words.
The point of the class is to help you become a better public speaker so everyone will be in the same shoes as you on the first day. You will learn tips to cope with nerves and how to stay calm while speaking. The more familiar and comfortable you are about the topic you are discussing the more your speech will flow. Another topic might be knowing your audience and customizing your words accordingly. You will also learn about timing your speech. The teacher may say I want the class to prepare a speech on a particular topic and that it has to be delivered within a five minutes timeframe.
Don’t stress yourself thinking about the class too much. You are there to learn and will be expected the utilize the tips that are taught.
Practice the presentation in the mirror at home as well as in front of friends if you’re comfortable doing that. I would practice in front of my girlfriend, and also just reading it out loud makes a huge difference because you’ll realize what sounds awkward.
And when you’re practicing, don’t beat yourself up for saying stupid things. Practice is for working out those kinks. My first two or three run-throughs are always full of stops and starts as I hone in on what I actually want to say and how I want to say it.
I find getting up in front of people is more terrifying than going to the dentist so I can relate.
What helped me through my Comm class is just to remember that everyone else in there is in the same boat with you. Practice your speech to people you trust, work on the finer points of the speech and keep it as to the point/short as you are allowed. Interact with the professor as much as you can, they have seen plenty of terrified of public speaking students in their careers before. Focus on one person in the room (I always focused on my professor) when you are speaking. Make sure that if you have to do a group speech project or if you have to write a speech with a partner, choose wisely. You don’t want to end up carrying the weight of the entire project. Good luck
I had horrible anxiety whenever I had to speak in public. I shook and could barely speak and it was, frankly, humiliating. Finally I read about a type of medication called a beta blocker. Many actors and musicians use it because it blocks the release of adrenaline so that you don’t have the physical symptoms of anxiety. You still will feel uncomfortable, but you won’t have a racing heart, be shaky, etc. I found that after I used the med a few times, (my regular doctor prescribed me about 10 pills - you take one about an hour before a presentation) - I started feeling comfortable enough to speak in public without taking the med.
Most people don’t understand how having severe anxiety can affect a person. I would have given anything if someone would have suggested I try that med 10 years before I actually did. I did go to my college health center and a doctor prescribed codeine for me!! Didn’t work at all and that was dumb for a doctor to be giving me a narcotic for “stage fright”. A beta blocker is much safer and you can take it only for the times when you feel you really need it.
See if you can get you doctor to let you try it out.
I got a B and I’m happy. lol Professor was relaxed and rarely gave homework. At first, he started giving homework and after midterm, he stopped. We had about 8-10 speeches. I think the reason why I got a B was that of lack of speaking clearly. Another reason might be that the first couple of speeches I did poorly because I was very nervous. Overall, do good and make sure to talk clearly. Also, as everyone in the site knows you. You tend to talk about meteorology, biology, and Zoology. Don’t mention them when giving a speech. If the Professor tells you to think of a topic persuasive speech then you can mention meteorology, biology, and Zoology
I would wait until you get an assignment before picking or ruling out topics.
Public speaking skills are definitely good to have. I’m not great at it yet but I’m working on it. I’ve had to present a couple times at my internship, and my manager has to present all the time, so I can see it being a big part of the workplace.
True story: the company was considering two different catering services for an upcoming event. One came in and had a great presentation with food for us to try. She was very personable and was able to answer questions well without seeming nervous. The person from the other company was nervous, said “um” a lot, had answers that weren’t as practiced or convincing as the other lady’s, and left as soon as she could. Guess which one we were persuaded to buy from.
One thing that helped me to relax when making speeches is knowing that the audience will not know that I messed something up if I don’t tell them. Keep going. Our instructor taped the speeches and learned to critique ourselves. Public speaking is a valuable and teachable skill.
