public speaking?

Question

anybody have any tips on doing presentations, or speeches in front of a class? I HATE public speaking. and this year all my classes involve a lof of it....tips?? suggestions??

Answer 1

Practice truly does make perfect. I have been lecturing for 5 years and I still get nervous the first week of class.

But... Just get up there and be yourself. Talk to the class as if they were a group of friends. Don't think about all those people looking at you. Don't focus on the people - focus on what you're talking about.

Answer 2

What you are talking about is called public speaking anxiety... it happens to A LOT of people. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself feel better:

1 - be well prepared... work on your speech well in advance and give yourself lots of time to practice... this will help your confidence

2 - dress appropriately... although this isnt alway the first thing you think about... the way you dress affects the way you feel so make sure you wear something that makes you comfotable, confident and is appropriate for the topic

3 - remember that you are the only person that knows your speech... if you mess up you are the only one who knows.. so keep going and dont worry about it

4 - remember that in public speaking eye contact is important so you dont want to talk to the floor... find a place (or several different places) in the back of the class to focus on... this will give the impression that you are looking at your audience even if you are not... little by little as you do more speeches this will not be an issue and you will be able to establish eye contact with your audience

5 - you dont want to read your entire speech sooo... make flash cards for yourself with an outline of the most imprtant parts of your speech... that way you have something to fall back on IF you loose your place BUT you cant read the entire thing

6 - if you are a very nervous person you may ask the instructor to be one of the first people to go... if you are like me the longer you sit there the more nervous you get

7 - pick a topic that will interest your audience (to do this you will have to do a little bit of thinking)... this will help you know that you are giving them information that they will like

8 - if all else fails and you do mess up the first time... DONT WORRY ABOUT IT... this is a classroom - its better to mess up there than anywhere else.... besides you are still learning -thats why you have to take the class

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

1. Know your material.
2. Remember, they're all for you, It's just an assignment, not a reflection on your popularity or anything else.
3. Get tips from your instructors. Ask if you can rehearse with them and get pointers. Or, get a tutor for public speaking. Join the Model United Nations. They'll really help you out.

Answer 4

Practice, practice, practice! Know your subject so you won't worry about it. You can distract yourself by thinking about the subject and not thinking about the audience. Once you get the speech down, practice making eye contact. Don't linger on any one person too long (unless they're really cute). Practice smiling, if applicable.

It gets better as you make more speeches... It won't even bother you later. And you have the luxury of knowing the audience.

Picturing the audience naked didn't help me at all. If anything, it probably made things worse.

Good luck!

Answer 5

1.Say phrases of encouragement to yourself.
(Remember that is always important what you say to yourself.)
2.Imagine all the auditorium naked.
3.Take a breath very deeply for 10 seconds before any speech.
4.Remember the time when you got embarrassed infront a very special person and compare it to the audience that they do not influence in your acts.
5.Confront these kind of situations and do not avoid them. Maybe you will face them a few seconds but with the time try to make it longer.
6.Make these situation happen, will build up your cofidence.

Answer 6

you need practise and it gets easier, I just got tired of being nervous so now I never get so nervous anymore. Think of the audience as your friends and don't look at their facial expressions. This works for me very well

Answer 7

when you present just look around the classroom walls and not the people. Just don't look at the people if youre afraid but make it look like you looking at them.