Public Speaking fear

Vince135792003

Basically for college I have a 15 minute presentation in front of 30 other people and well I'm terrified. Terrified of exactly what I'm not so sure but I've never done anything like this before plus being in the spot light even if it is for a short length of time is well not really my thing. I'm kinda quiet. I won't back out of it even though there is very little marks for it,its somthing I'd like to get through. So if anybody had any practical advice that would be great.

rugbug86

i have the same fear. i find asking my friends to sit apart so that if i look around the room i'll always see a friendly face... That makes it a bit easier.

also, make sure you know your material inside out so that you're not reading off acetates/computer screens the whole time.

maybe contact the debate soc in your college (if you have one) i'm sure someone there will have some tips.

and speak to your lecturers, they do it every day of their lives!

i have to do the same thing next semester!

Good luck!

dundalk cailin

thats a good suggestion bout having your friends sittin round. basically i was the same as you when i startes college, and had a few presentations to do. i just tried not to get too worked up, made sure i knew the material so i didnt panic if i los tmy place, and tried to relax. remember everyone has to do it, whether your first, last or in the middle, you are just showin your classmates whatever your topic is. is it an individual pres or a group?
im studyin in french as an erasmus student, and im dreadin the thought of having to present, on the basis of me not having brillant french, but the others are encouraging!

Flashling

I know what you're going through, I have to SING at assembly in a few days :eek: but I have done public speaking before, so hopefully that will help....

The thing to remember is, when you're up there it's never as bad as it seems from the floor, and if you have notes you will be fine. As I'm assuming everyone will have to do this (if it's for a course) then no one will laugh at you as they will have to do it too. And the best thing about speaking in public is after, when people say well done,they're always sincere, because everyone sees it as some really difficult thing. Which it kind of is, but...Also, if you're shy, and people notice that you don't like the spotlight, they congratulate you all the more because they think it's harder for you (which it is)

Hmm..practical tips...don't worry about reading too much, I'm sure you're not being marked on your confidence, so relax. 15 minutes is quite a long time to speak if it's your first time, so make sure you know your subject really well, and if you want to make up time, ask questions and leave dramatic pauses. Like "is this what we want for the future?" *one mississippi, two mississippi* "No"

I'm sure you'll get other tips (and feel free to correct me, anyone) and Good Luck!

Little-Devil

That sounds like familar story, i was the same in college i even thought of going to the doctor. I use to be so imbarrassed, but believe me if you ahve something interesting to talk about and its funny after 5minutes you will forget it. I know people who wouldn't even come into college that day, so your right not to avoid it.

The best thing to do is get a topic and wright down 4 intersting fact's and talk about each for 5 minutes. I went on holidays and talked about that for 20min, the whole class was laughing even the teacher and i wouldn't even tell the family half the stuff, belive me when i say after 2minutes you will be thinking whats the fuss. Everybody else has to get up and prob feel the same.

best of luck

Pigman II

One thing you should do is rehearse. Get your timing right so that whatever you're giving the speech about does last 15 minutes. Nothing worse than you running out after 5! How I'd prepare this is to actually learn THIRTY mins of material and then cut in half and make sure I know it inside out and can time it right (almost learn it like a song - BUT UNDERSTAND IT TOO!). That way you've filled your time slot and also have enough to fall back on if need be.

Another is always look at and talk to the people the back of the room rather than at the people right in front of you. It's better for projecting yourself.

Another good tip is to remember that if this is a subject you're specialising in you probably know as much (if not more) than anyone else in there so don't feel like 'oooh I don't know what I'm talking about here' for a second as it'll stop you dead in your tracks to not have confidence in the message you're trying to convey.

Final thing if you're lucky and your groups is doing presentations over a number of days (and you're on the 2nd day etc) goto some of the presentations before yours and look at how other people deal with it, what they do right and wrong in your opinion.

*Oul_Doll_Cork*

Oh my god, that just brought back so many memories for me! When I was in 1st year in college I had to do a 15 minute presentation aswell!
Thing was that I was the only girl in a class of 30, coming from an all girls catholic school it was a big change! Just wasn't used to having guys around me 24/7!
I chickened out of doing the presentation and almost failed the year because of it! I went to my lecturer and told him why I couldn't do it and he organised for me to do my presentation in front of a group of lads in my class that I hung aroung with!

After doing my presentation I wished I had just done it in front of the whole class first day because I actually did it really well and felt silly for not just getting up and doing it!

After all, everyone else is in the same boat! Just practice over and over again in front of a mirror or something! I felt the reason I had been afraid was that I thought I would forget half my presentation or something! :eek:

Fr Dougal

If there are a number of people doing presentations and you have a choice, try to do yours first or at least as early as possible.

It can sometimes be a bit intimidating to sit through several slick presentations and thinking, "how am I going to follow that".

edanto

Pigman II has it nailed. You said you've never done anything like this before - so practise it a few times and then you'll feel a lot more confident.

Having said that, expect to feel nervous before you actually walk up to speak - everyone gets that. Even if your palms get a little clammy, that's just all the energy you have waiting to give a good presentation and once you start, it'll be grand.

Don't rush speaking, watch your delivery. Look around at people, if you feel nervous making eye contact with people right at the start, maybe look at their eyebrows or something.

Other than practising it a couple of times, just make a mental note not to fidget too much with your hands, take a deep breath and go on up there and pretend to be confident! (most people won't notice the difference )

Vince135792003

Geez thanks for all the quick replies. I can't say its made me feel any easeir about it but its nice to know that well other people have had the same apprehensions. I kinda knew people would but in saying that you talk to people in college and alot of them are like "ahh yeah no bother, not a problem".

I get the feeling he may ask if people would like to go first and I am in 2 minds about it. On the 1 hand going first means getting it out of the way and not having to follow well some super confident person. On the other hand, watching other people might help.

Anyway I hope this is the type of situation where the build up is worse than actually doing it.

genegenie

Vince135792003 wrote:

Geez thanks for all the quick replies. I can't say its made me feel any easeir about it but its nice to know that well other people have had the same apprehensions. I kinda knew people would but in saying that you talk to people in college and alot of them are like "ahh yeah no bother, not a problem".

I get the feeling he may ask if people would like to go first and I am in 2 minds about it. On the 1 hand going first means getting it out of the way and not having to follow well some super confident person. On the other hand, watching other people might help.

Anyway I hope this is the type of situation where the build up is worse than actually doing it.

You're right, it totally is. In my experience it's best to be first/ or one of the first. That way you're not sitting there, thinking of all the worst case scenarios and getting yourself completely wound up.

Another tip, know your subject inside out, upside down, left, right and back around again! Feeling you really know what you're talking about should give you quite a confidence boost. To increase your confidence in the delivery of the speech, as was said already, practise is certainly the key. Another thing that can help is some meditation. Sit/lie down in a quiet room for a few minutes every night before the presentation, imagine yourself giving the talk clearly, with enthusiam and verve, picture the audience in front of you listening intently and the final well deserved applause for a top notch presentation. You may feel silly doing this at first, but trust me, the exercise will work on a subconscious level and help you to feel more confident in yourself and positive about the whole experience

I've to present a research paper infront of a panel of examiners after Christmas, with a questions and answers session to follow, so believe me I know what you're going through! Best of luck with yours, I know you'll shine!

dundalk cailin

its something everyone should do i think, no matter how nerve wrackin it is, cos in 1st yr i was so so nervous, now if i was presentin in college it wouldnt be half as bad...though as i said the thought of presentin in french poses a whole new problem

Dave!

I'd say you should try and go first, yeah. It's horrible sitting there watching other people do it. Just get it over with -- know your stuff, get up there, get it done, and then take your seat and you can enjoy other people's presentations (or hit the pub, whatever, lol).

I hate public speaking as well... I'm in my first year in college, and I had to give a little presentation in my psychology tutorial. It was in a group of about 15 people, and I was standing up there with 2 other people, and I was still scared sh*tless -- AND I WAS ONLY TALKING FOR ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS!!! :eek: I dread to think that I'll probably have to give much bigger presentations, but I'd say I will I'm gonna make sure that I know all my material, and I'm gonna give it alot more preparation, and I'll try make it somewhat funny. I really need to get over this stage-fright sh*t... it's ridiculous. I play music and I love singing and stuff, but I won't sing (and am reluctant to play guitar/piano) in front of anybody... gonna have to get over it eventually

Amazotheamazing

Practise your speech with friends, work on points, only work from basic notes (anything else will confuse you during the speech). Relax, after the first few lines it'll feel natural to you.
Above all else, know your topic, feel at home with it.

condra

I think you should ask one of your good mates to "let you look at them" - I mean, presuming you have your speech learnt to a T, it will be much easier if you make eye contact with a friendly face while you rattle off your speech.

Dont forget that nerves will make you speak too fast so try to speak slowly, this will sound better and lessen the chances of you fumbling your words.

Ultimatly though, public speaking is not easy, nor is it for everyone, but practice makes it easier. Maybe practice your speech to your family.

Dont forget to vary the tones in your voice. Make sure there are lots of short sentences so you dont run out of breath, and it sounds more like a conversation.

Also, if youre a shy/modest person, dont write something that doesnt suit you. In other words, dont try some outrageous jokes or rhetorical questions which will have you watching tumbleweed.
If you want to incorporate some humour think more Jack Dee then Ben Elton. - It will suit you more.

This is a real oppurtunity to show that behind your shyness is an interesting intelligent person and I hope you can think of it as an oppurtunity and try to enjoy it.

Best of luck.

WhiteWashMan

Vince135792003 wrote:

Basically for college I have a 15 minute presentation in front of 30 other people and well I'm terrified. Terrified of exactly what I'm not so sure but I've never done anything like this before plus being in the spot light even if it is for a short length of time is well not really my thing. I'm kinda quiet. I won't back out of it even though there is very little marks for it,its somthing I'd like to get through. So if anybody had any practical advice that would be great.

i am terrified of public speaking.

i think the most importnat thing is that when you look at other people, and unless they really absolutely die up there, you think they do ok, even well.
when you get up on stage, as long as you have something to say, and you say it without falling over, vomiting up, fainting or stuttering your first line for 5 minutes, everyone will think youre good.
seriously.
the trick to public speaking is to really know your lines. know what you want to say. know your points. if you are making a presentation, make sure you time it to the length of time you have.
if you are using power point, keep most of the info off the slides, and only give bare amounts on it. this will keep peoples attention away from the screen, and on you.

keep looking around. i cant make eye contact when i speak, so i look at peoples foreheads. seriously, i look at foreheads.
and scan the room or audience. if you make eye contact (or forehead contact in my case) people will pay more attention. they will be more interested.

stand up, walk around, move your hands, jump un and dopwn do whatever.
dont stand there like a statue. dont put your hands in your pockets. i usually stand with one hand on my hip and one hand waving around the place. if i had sungalsses in my hand, id be horatio from CSI miami!

vary your voice. make sure everyone can hear you. done drone on in monotone.

make it concise and to the point. and use interesting examples to back up all your points.

apart from that, all you need is content.

believe me, it is really easy to give a presentation, but the most important thing, is preperation, and smidge of confidence.

oh! and some audience participation is good. at least ask everyone if they are ok!

Closing Doors

Vince135792003 wrote:

Basically for college I have a 15 minute presentation in front of 30 other people and well I'm terrified.

A lot of people seem to be advising you to practise in front of friends but (and not to be smart or anything) surely if there's only 30 people in your class you're going to be mates with most/all of them anyway? Personally I've never found audience size to be all that big of a deal....once you get into the hundreds you kind of lose track.

My advice would be: Have everything word perfect by the night before at the very latest. Don't work on it all on the day. If you know you're going to be sh*tting yourself beforehand have something/someone to distract you. Somebody said to get a bit of quiet/meditate beforehand....this is the exact opposite of what I'd do. And for the love of God arrive early! This allows you to acclimatise etc etc

nobodythere

Don't think about it, just do it.

Great advice given to comedians is that when they have a joke in their heads, not to think about it too much but just put it in the back of your head so that it retains its spontaneity when it comes out. As Hemingway put it:

"When I have an idea, I turn down the flame, as if it were a little alcohol stove, as low as it will go. Then it explodes and that is my idea."

The rest is just a matter of getting used to. Your first time public speaking, you're bound to be nervous. Just remember with regards to looking stupid (if your mates are there and you'd feel embarrassed) that being nervous will make you look pitiful in front of everyone, but being confident will only get you a bit of slagging from your mates. Repeat that to yourself if you find yourself stuck in a hole on stage.

A good exercise to do (And i'm perfectly serious) is to embarrass yourself in public. Repeatedly. If it helps you can go to a place where nobody knows you and just act like a frickin nut in front of the street. After a little bit you won't really care all that much....

Vince135792003

Unfortunately the people I do know won't be there. Gutless cowards ! My course has 230 odd people in it so i would n't know them too well. But again that does n't terrify me too much. I was thinking about it last night and I think what my fear is I'll stand up there and within 10 seconds I will be like "Oh my God how in the hell will i get through this". And so will start the longest 15 minutes of my life.

Im gonna approah it like everyone says. Rehearse it good and well and just well go for it. To be honest I'm not looking for perfection, I just want to get through it moderately well and feel all happy inside an hour later that I did it. I plan on having a sketch script aswell so if the wheels come off I'll honestly just read it through. I dont want to do that but it will at least be my safety net. Like I said earlier the marks that are going for it our pathetic. I worked it out .4 of 1 percent. So this is more of a personal thing ie. to get up there an do it for me rather than blow everyone away with comedy, witt and confidence. I don't plan on putting humour into the subject. Number 1. its bland and very boring topic. And 2. in situaitons like this I think its best to play it straight. Comedy in situations like this can be high risk.

Thanks for all the advice so far I really appreciate it and I do have to remind myself as well to put a bit of perspective to it. Its a presentation, I'm not on death row even though I kinda feel like it sometimes.

radiospan

Public speaking is the number 1 fear in America (yes, out of everything!), so you're not alone. Good luck with the presentation.

Blisterman

I have to give presentations in front of my class every week. Everyone in my course does.
If it's like my course, everyone will be in the same boat, so most of them will be nervous.
After a few times, it becomes nothing.

jrey1981

I know a guy who works with trade unions and has to speak in public all the time.

He introduced a presentation I was at the other day, and I noticed his hands shaking as he held his notes and stepped up to the podium.

He must have spoken in public hundreds of times, but still, visibly gets nervous as far as I can tell.

Like anything it should, in theory, get easier with practice.

Sarn

All the advice given above is great. You need to tailor it to yourself. Personally the key thing is to go over my slides and make sure I'm comfortable with the content.

When I first started giving presentations I used to speak it out loud, now I run over it in my head and focus on the key points, what I say varies (partial ad libbing). After all these years I still get anxious beforehand (to different degrees). But once I start speaking it all goes away, you just get on with it and before you know it you're finished. At the same time the people in the audience know what you're going through.

the Guru

Get some Beta Blockers , they slow down your heart rate / or block your fight or flight responce , Inderal get it from your doctor.

American Dream

Best of luck on your presentation! I get nervous during presentations as well, but what I've realised is that although you may feel your anxiety is visible, most people in the audience do not see the extent of your nerves. If others are presenting, they are probably sitting there just as nervous as you in anticipation of their own talks.

I find that it is helpful to practise your talk on your own and say it out loud a few times before the day. It makes you more comfortable with the material and gets you used to hearing your own voice. Also, never underestimate the effectiveness of imagining the audience in their skivvies;)