How Can You Cure A Fear Of Public Speaking?

Question

I'm in my second last year at High School and I have an oral report for English to do in 4-5 weeks, and I'm pretty comfortable with the people in my English class, but I can't help but going red and shaking!

How can I stop feeling so bad about orals?

Answer 1

I love PandaNand's reply. Succinct and informative.
Just one other suggestion - for the future as far as you're concerned, My daughter had terrible nerves about public speaking. When she went to Uni she took up singing lessons - it's been a real help.

Answer 2

Everyone fears speaking in front of people more then death so if you turn red or show a little shaking you are just showing your humanity and the audience will understand and connect with it because they deal with the same fear. Those who said practise is the key are right. Practise out loud and KNOW your stuff. Bring cards to keep you on track but get to the point where you know the topic well. That way you are more like teaching the class then giving a speech. You don't want to say the same thing, word for word every time you do the presentation. If you skip a part, go back, if you get stuck pause a moment and review your notes. No one does this kind of thing perfectly, not even news reporters with years in the business. How many times during a class does your teacher stumble over his or her thoughts? Its just part of being LIVE, its the organic experience so no one expects you to be a perfect robot. Don't worry.

Answer 3

I have done public speaking on a regular basis and on various subjects - must admit School Orals where something else But here are some of the pointer I have:
1.0 Choose a subject that you are comfortable with
2.0 Write the speech down and allow your personality to come through - do you see the funny side of things/ are you a factual person etc
3.0 Practice this speech in front of the mirror until you know it well
4.0 Practice this in front of your family - have only Key words on your cards
5.0 Get your family and friends to run riot and interrupt you - this teaches you to adapt your speech as a question is asked - as long as you have chosen a subject that you know and you have refreshed and revised you can make up a speech as you go along
6.0 Remember you have to have a point to make - make it in your conclusion bring it all together
7.0 When you do it for real - you will still be nervous - this is normal, you will go red (think of it as being under the sun for a long time!), picture something funny or even peaceful to guide you, pick two or 3 people (one of them the assessor) and look in their eyes when you do your bit - it makes them feel included
ABOVE ALL HAVE A BALL!

Answer 4

The way I overcame public speaking is to just have the courage to do it, even if you shake and stutter the first time you do it. After succeeding times you do it, the fear just disappears. The hard part is daring to fail the first few times. You do get better and better each time. You won't stutter as much, and then the stuttering eventually disappears and then you just want to do more of it. Also, you have to prepare a great deal by writing down everything and practicing a hundred times. Know your material inside and out. It also helps to know that public speaking is the number one fear of all people, worse than death. So all your classmates, except perhaps exceptions, have the same fear as you.

Answer 5

The first thing to do is have facts about what you are presenting. If you believe they are true, then you are the authority in that session. This will give you confidence. Then avoid eye contact at all costs, Gaze at the desks or floor between rows of desks. Also before presentation practise with your family members as your audience and let them ask you all types of questions that the class can ask you including weired ones.

good luck.

Answer 6

practice first at home with no body around and record to ur self and listen to what u have recorded as if u were the listener criticize ur self as if another one and try to improve what u see not good ,then practice in front of friends and always remember if any one of who attends your oral report wont do better than u go ahead u can do it.

Answer 7

i've always heard you need to imagine the audience in their underwear but for me having the material so well done in advance that it precludes any problems is the best assurance.
learn it backwards and upside down and any possible questions can be aired out with a friend in advance also . if that doesn't help you may have a chemical deficiency that only a Physician can balance. good luck

Answer 8

Be sure of what you're presenting (good notes are essential) and practice, practice, practice.

I used to be the same, but I've stood up in front of small groups lots of times now and I've gotten very comfortable with it.

Good luck :)

Answer 9

just remember they are scared like you to and they are only human, i was the same way in school..and i forced myself to get out of it i took public speaking in college and talked to myself ,build up my conference and watched the others, some were scared too, others were scared but acted silly to cover, and some it came very easy...practice in front of a mirror...come well prepared and remember they can't hurt you just have fun with it and they will never know...smile...be an actress pretend you are someone else who is very confident and build your own confidence off of there's til you can go it on your own.

Answer 10

Make belive you are the only one in class. Act like you're making eye contact, but picture no one. Start your presentation with some type of hummor. this will losen everybody up including you.
Good Luck.