Stage Fright!

Public speaking has always been a problem in our society, especially in classrooms. if you are taking a public speaking class this semester i want to give you tips on how to prepare your self for the scariest thing you probably will ever do. But here are some tips that I use when it was my time to speak in class.   


 

Body language is important. Standing, walking or moving about with appropriate hand gesture or facial expression is preferred to sitting down or standing still with head down and reading from a prepared speech. Use audio-visual aids or props for enhancement if appropriate and necessary. Master the use of presentation software such as PowerPoint well before your presentation.  Do not torture your audience by putting a lengthy document in tiny print on an overhead and reading it out to them.

Speak with conviction as if you really believe in what you are saying. Persuade your audience effectively. Do not read from notes for any extended length of time although it is quite acceptable to glance at your notes infrequently. Speak loudly and clearly. Sound confident. Do not mumble. If you made an error, correct it, and continue. No need to make excuses or apologize profusely.

Maintain sincere eye contact with your audience or just pick one person that you can stare at or even stare at the back classroom wall.  Have direct eye contact with a number of people in the audience, and every now and then glance at the whole audience while speaking. Use your eye contact to make everyone in your audience feel involved.

Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adapt. If what you have prepared is obviously not getting across to your audience, change your strategy mid-stream if you are well prepared to do so.

Pause. Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and think. Add humor whenever appropriate and possible. Keep audience interested throughout your entire presentation. Remember that an interesting speech makes time fly, but a boring speech is always too long to endure even if the presentation time is the same.

I remember my freshman year of college and I had an public speaking class, I remember the feeling of being very nervous and not wanting to talk in-front of people that I just meet(talk about embarrassing) I left that class that day smelling like I just worked out I had sweat all over my shirt, felt like I played  a full court basketball game.

                                             Here is a video that I found very heplful!