How do I overcome my fear of public speaking? Especially in front of my classmates??

Question

I have to give a HUGE presentation tomorrow where I'm required to speak longer than 8 minutes...I don't know my subjecy really well and I need help desperately!!!

so far...you all have such good responses...by the way, there is a required PowerPoint slideshow that goes with it...

Answer 1

Hon,
You need to plan first, for any kind of speech.

You need to write down few points in a small 4/4 cards. You must look straight while talking. Never chew nails, laugh or make yourself look funny. Don't just look at a particular place or a person all the time. Move your head from wall to wall and pretend that you are looking at the whole class.
Speak slowly and clearly. Try to hear what you are saying. Have some visulas to show them regarding your presentation.

Practice couple times before your actual presentation, monitor the time and see how can you give your best in that 8 minutes.

Hope it helps. Good Luck.

Answer 2

The best thing to remember is that the most feared thing (or at least part of the top 3!!!) in the world is public speaking. If you mess up--well, I'm not gonna lie, it's possible your classmates might laugh at you. But it rarely happens (or at least, I've never seen it in my school...I'm in 10th grade). So remember that there are probably a dozen other people sitting in front of you as you are doing your presentation who are as scared to death as you are!

All of the other points mentioned by other answerers are good, too: Be sure to practice your speech, try to make eye contact, and try to keep a steady breathing pattern. It's been proven that controlling your breathing helps you relax.

Try to remember that this is one moment in your life--as soon as it's gone, you don't have to worry about it anymore!!!

Answer 3

Try to get more familiar with your topic. Like the suggestions you got before, using notes on cards really helps. Practise, practise, practise ... try doing it in front of the mirror, or in front of one of your family members. It will help you not to feel as nervous as you get more comfortable with what you are required to present. If you are going to do a PowerPoint presentation, try not to do anything too elaborate, just basic and simple, because you don't want to spend all of your time working on it.

Chin up! All the best to you tomorrow.

Answer 4

Im sure your teacher is requiring you to look at the class, not your paper... so (this usually works for me) find a point on the wall just above everyone and look at that when you are speaking, pick a couple of points around the room so you just don't look at the same place. It will appear that you are talking to your class, but you know that you are just speaking to the wall.
Good Luck

Answer 5

FREE Articles on Public Speaking

This site has so many tips that I was unable to pick any, you will need to see for yourself and see which, if any are useful to you.

http://www.public-speaking.org/public-speaking-articles.htm

This site seems OK but once again see what is useful.

http://members.shaw.ca/toasted/services.htm

I liked this one.

The fear of speaking to a group of people is one of the most common forms of social phobia. Here are several suggestions for working with this fear.

http://www.rpeurifoy.com/anxiety/pubspeak.htm

Public speaking do's and don't's

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/public-speaking-dos-and-donts-161531.php

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, UK.

Answer 6

Try talking in front of you parents and mirror. Record yourself talking the presentation and fix any errors. I'm sure that you will do fine and good luck!

Answer 7

Just write down notes on a index card and go from there just talk and be yourself and the words will come . God bless you. You will do good.

Answer 8

i have spoken in public to a group of over 500 people....rehearse alot on your topic...i "always" look to the back of the room and do not make eye contact....keeps me from getting distracted away from the subjuct...good luck

Answer 9

listen talking infront of a big public is not much different from talking to your friends the main thing is to study your topic well and make it funny :) that way u can grab the odience's attention

AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT!!!!!
GOOD LUCK...........

Answer 10

just do it--the more you do it the less it will bother you
make eye contact with your classmates
speak clearly
make note cards with info you want to outline in case you forget where you are in your talk
put some laughs in it--keeps them interested
GOOD LUCK