Please help me?

Question

Please help me???
I have a speech about poverty in two days. My voice is extremely soft, I stutter when I'm nervous and I'm not a fluent speaker.
What methods should I use, what is the dos and donts, what can't I eat.
My college admission may depend on this. Please help me

I have to memorize the 7 minutes speech and I don't memorize well.

Answer 1

Just go up, keep thinking hard that this a a chance to show off your intelligence and prove that you are a great speaker. Drink some water before to cool the nerves and listen to your favorite music in your free time before the speech. Have some notes with you but don't copy it all down! Good luck!

Answer 2

It seems that you are very worried, but if you have researched the topic thoroughly and practiced your speech, you can deliver a good speech. Practice your speech in front of the mirror, family, and friends as many times as you can. Don't think about memorizing it but be comfortable with what you have to say.
I find this very hard myself, but eliminate words such as "uhm, yeah, like, and..." from the speech. Practice will help this problem. Remember to BREATHE before and during your speech. Don't shuffle your feet or fidget. Concentrate only on the speech, not how the audience will perceive you or whether you're stuttering or not. As for the soft voice think about talking to a friend that's standing far away, and there's only you and your friend. So you have to speak loudly but it's to someone you know well and is comfortable talking to.
Looking at the audience can be hard, so look at the back of the room or pick a person to look at during the speech. Pretend that everyone in the audience is a flour sack and can't hear youor do anything to you. If you blank out just take a deep breath and continue where you left off. Good luck with your speech because you will do great!

Answer 3

You've received some excellent advice here.

The advice about eliminating the "ers, ums, and ahs" is very important. Also to project your voice.

Practice your speech in front of a full length mirror and watch yourself. Videotape yourself if you can so you can listen to it and watch your movements and hear your expression. Stand straight and tall.

One error beginning public speakers often make is that they speak too quickly. When speaking to a room full of people you need to slow down, and articulate each word clearly. Be expressive, but not gushy.

Don't fidget and move around. If there is a lectern in the room, use it. It will give you something to "hang on to", both physically and emotionally.

Get a good night's sleep before your speech if at all possible.
Arrive early. Use note cards if you are allowed to. Do some deep slow breathing before you start - take several quiet, deep, slow breaths. Try to have water available to sip on in case you get a bad case of "dry mouth".

If you do make a mistake don't get flustered. Often if you continue on, no one will even notice. So you need to know your material well enough to recover from an error without it being obvious.

And don't worry too much. I doubt that your college admission depends totally on this 7 minute speech - that would be unusual. They probably just want to see how you handle a little pressure, so act confident and sure of yourself - even if you are not.

Good luck! I am sure you will do well!

Answer 4

I don't know what to tell you about the soft voice part other than trying to speak up and in a clear voice.

The first time I was forced to give a speech, first semester of college, I was scared and very nervous.

I went to the room I would later give the speech in, at a time when no one was around, and gave the speech to an empty classroom. I practiced where I would stand, how I would speak, what I would do with my arms and hands and where I would look.

Things I would or would not do:
Give your speech aloud to yourself standing in front of the mirror until you can do it without looking at your note cards.

If you don't like the way the speech sounds while giving it to yourself, make some changes.

When you’re ready, ask you parents or friends to formally listen to your speech. Then ask their opinion on your presentation.

Do not put your hands in your pocket.

Do not allow yourself to use the sound "uhhmm", while transitioning from one point to another. If you practice the speech and know it you will do fine.

Speak clearly.

Look toward each part of the crowd you are talking to during the speech. I looked just over the heads of the people or just over their shoulder. Making eye contact made me nervous and no one seemed to notice that I didn't look directly at any of them.

Good luck

Answer 5

firstly, know your speech well. this way you are less likely to feel so nervous when you know what it is that you are talking about. with confidence you will feel less nervous, you will speak more louder and with greater fluency. so project your voice a little and speak like as if you are having a formal conversation. it is absolutely ok to use cue cards too; everyone does it....from students doing a presentation, to politicians doing a debate. take deep breaths in to the gut and then release....this will calm you. do this regularly.

Answer 6

I agree with the previous two answers, but make sure you eat a little something. The brain needs energy to work. Try a light bowl of cereal and, some juice. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 7

A couple of standard speaker's tips:
To project your voice, pick someone in the audience toward the back (who looks sympathetic) and pretend you are talking mostly to him or her.
To reduce your nervousness, imagine your audience is in their underwear.

Answer 8

Man, think a bit positive you can do it ! A bit of psychical motivation can help! Go... what ever your name is!! I'm a nervous person to but if i do what i tolled you I always succeed!