im scared to do my speech. what should i do?

Question

i have a speech tomorrow in front of the class. its only 3 minutes long but im too scared.help!

Answer 1

hi there. i hate making speeches too but here's what i do/think whenever i'm forced to make one:

1) prepare well. memorize your piece well and practice delivering your speech in front of a mirror. this way, you won't be self-conscious during your speech. if you think the way you're presenting it in front of the mirror is OK, then stick to that.

2) nobody in the audience knows what i am going to say so nobody will be able to tell whether i accidentally added or deleted parts of my speech.

3) stare people in the eye as if you are talking to them. actually, this is a game. choose a person from your audience. then hold that person's gaze and deliver the speech as if he/she is the only person in the room. don't stop talking to him/her until he/she nods her head. and then choose another person from the audience. (believe me, this is fun.)

4) control the loudness of your voice. it should not falter or people think you're nervous (even if that's what you're really feeling). keep it in one volume.

5) after your name is called by your teacher, stand up confidently (even if being confident is the last thing you'll be feeling), walk towards the front of the class and SMILE. yup, smile. it helps calm the nerves. and look at your audience too. if you have a friend in that class, smile in his/her direction. it helps, trust me.

6) believe that there's life after a bad speech. okay, so you messed up but so will be the other people who'll deliver their speeches after you. just watch them and you'll see i'm right.

Answer 2

Guess what - everyone else in the class is just as scared as you are. Really.

The thing is, when you know your stuff, you should be able to address a group on that subject, and to do so with no problems. But there a whole lot of adults who can't do this, either.

You've received some very good help for tomorrow, but that's just for tomorrow. You could well have more times in your life, perhaps even this year in school, in which you will be required to speak publicly. The very best way that you can improve your ability to do so, and at the same time, improve your self-confidence, is to take a public speaking course. Check around for such courses. If nothing else, it will help you in the future when it comes time for you to look for a job. That alone is reason enough to take such a course.

Answer 3

There are some hints at www.toastmasters.org.
Before your speech, memorize your opening and closing. Breathe deeply, look people in the eye and speak in a good voice, not too loud, but with confidence. In your mind, pretend you've done this dozens of times. And, remember, a lot of other people are just as scared as you are!
Good luck!

Answer 4

Anxiety (a buildup of emotions) causes you to feel this way. Once you are up there and talking you will feel a lot better.
Just remember that extraordinary people are doing much more extraordinary things than doing a speech.
There are soldiers fighting, people dying of hunger, and complete mental chaos for some people.
Try to convince yourself that this is not a big deal, and if you believe in a higher power, pray for courage. You'll do fine!

Answer 5

Start your speech making this statment, you are afraid. Then continue. Perhaps you could focus your entire speech on the fear of public speaking? But then, bring in the fact that you are more fearful of failing your class and getting a bad grade, so you are thus, speaking publicly.

Answer 6

Don't worry, the worst part of the whole speech is the begging. Memorize your thesis and introduction it will be easier. Focus in some point were you know you can feel secure. Breath and get to know your class.

Answer 7

This always helped me. Remember the audience is a bunch of cabbage heads who will not remember a thing you say 10 min after you say it.