Help! I'm doing a public speech about a psychology report on Tuesday?

Question

It consists of an introduction, a methodology, a results and conclusion section, I'm only doing the introduction section/ Three other people I worked with are discussing the other parts. It is a study on children with autism and we are discussing it for 45 minutes infront of teachers from different learning disability school. I hate doing speeches and I usually start shaking, blush and develope temporary face twitches which are suttle and go after I have finished speaking but it's still humiliating. Can anyone offer me any tips..either on how to do the introduction part of the presentation or on how to calm my nerves?

Answer 1

Hi i have had to do public speeching for my nurse training, the first thing i did was to practice on friends and family. This gives you a chance to build confidence and to get honest feed back.
If you manage to do this several times when you have to do it for real just imagine its your friends or family. This does work,

Answer 2

So you get to start and your part will not be more than 10 minutes I guess.
Write out what you want to say as bullet points, put them on index cards and practice them infront of a mirror, if you want to practice with a home video then watch yourself!
Or ask your friends or family to be an audience and give you feedback.
In the room, try to relax, control your breathing, nice and slow, deep breaths. Look at your audience and try to smile.
When you speak talk to the back of the room, project your voice, perhaps look just above the audience but never down at your feet or at the ceiling.
It is ok to pause, rather than to rush your words. Keep your ideas simple and clear.
Give yourself praise and think of 3 positive outcomes that you want to happen from your talk.

Answer 3

Hi,
Yeah as mentioned, utilise palm cards, or read directly from paper if you find this helps-If reading direct, make sure you look up alot at the audience(not necessairly eye contact), this keeps it interesting, and not like a long monologue. Also know your speech very well-not necessairy memorised, just know what you have written, and practise it out aloud.

When speaking do so in a slow, calm and 'in control' way-also make sure you utilise tone and mild intensity, when making a point(vary your intonation, but speek in a calm and controlling way) If you rush through it, your mind will see this like a feedback mechanism and interpret your haste as anxiety and make you feel even worse. Your incharge, in this situation you have control of your audience, just make sure your speech(tone/rate/volume/quality/quantity) reflects this reality, doesnt hurt to go in with a bit of a swagger-this is your show. Your boss.

Answer 4

Last week I had to give a speech on the nervous system. (no pun intended) Anyway, at the beginning I came right out and told the class that I get nervous when in front of people and if I stutter, I apologize. Just come out and tell it like it is. I am pretty confident someone in your audience feels the same way. Honesty always wins out.

Answer 5

I like the answers you've had already. Here's one for the long term. My daughter is in her third year at uni and she found it very helpful to take - believe it or not - singing lessons. It boosted her confidence, helped her control those tremors in the voice, and developed her breath control.
All good luck with your studies.
Jon C