Help

baden · 19-10-2009 2:48pm #1

Hi there I am a new first year and I have a serious problem speaking in groups. I get all nervous and go all red and its not nice at all. I have a lot of tutorials and you kinda have to speak in front of the class.

Has anyone had this problem and if so have you gotten over it and if so what did you do?

Thanks.

godtabh · 19-10-2009 4:09pm

Its all about expereince. Just relax and be prepared and you will be fine

Cliona99 · 19-10-2009 5:42pm

I definitely had this problem and it really, really sucked. I remember I had to do a presentation in a philosophy tutorial, I was so nervous that I just didn't go. Then I was embarrassed about not going so I just didn't go to any more tutorials for the rest of the year. This is not how I recommend you deal with it! I'd suggest counselling to deal with your anxiety. You could possibly join a group like Toastmasters where you learn public speaking in a really supportive environment.

Like the above poster said, be prepared. Practice your ass off, by yourself and in front of other people, if you have to do something like a presentation or a speech. Even if you don't have to present something, be prepared, do the reading, have your thoughts in order beforehand. Otherwise, start small. I always found it easier to speak in tutorials when we were split into smaller groups, because then you're only talking in front of three or four people.

Relax and good luck.

gaybitch · 19-10-2009 6:39pm

Firstly, it's important to realise that no one is judging you or thinking too much about what you're saying - the tutor just wants to hear your views to get a discussion going and everyone else in the room is thinking like you: "Oh God, what am I going to say when it's my turn?" In first year everyone is in the same boat, and plenty of people are shy and nervous. Relax and realise that in a large group the focus isn't always on you - or if it is, it's only for the few minutes you air your points and then it very quickly moves on. Really do remember that everyone at some point in their life feels like this, and it's normal. Don't let the pressure get to you! For all you know you have a nervous post-grad tutoring you who is edgy too. We're all human.

Secondly, if it becomes a serious issue I would consider dropping the tutor an email and explaining that you are a bit nervous about speaking in large groups. I would recommend this because if you sit there and say nothing without an explantion, they may call on you more often because they think you are not doing the work. Maybe catch them before/after class, or via email, and explain. They will appreciate it -I have had many tutors who have advised we do this and keep them abreast of potential issues so that they can keep it in mind.

Good luck, be brave and get stuck in! It'll be all old hat to you by the end of this term, if not sooner. Most importantly, learn to enjoy it. It's not too scary once you do it once or twice!

Dante · 19-10-2009 9:32pm

baden wrote: »

Hi there I am a new first year and I have a serious problem speaking in groups. I get all nervous and go all red and its not nice at all. I have a lot of tutorials and you kinda have to speak in front of the class.

Has anyone had this problem and if so have you gotten over it and if so what did you do?

Thanks.

I kinda have the same problem, I'm not actually nervous but I go all red for no reason when speaking infront of groups of people which then tends to make me feel nervous which is very annoying because I know theres no reason to actually be red! The best way to overcome it is to just relax, be confident and remember that everyone else will have to speak aswell at some stage. I still don't let it hold me back, I'll normally be the loudest one there regardless of blushing at fúcking everything.

EGaffney · 19-10-2009 9:58pm

Do hard work, learn it, then read it out loud. No-one minds how you speak because most people are in that position, but if you know what you want to say, that is halfway to confidence.

claire h · 19-10-2009 11:27pm

Learning support people at the counselling service are worth getting in touch with. And practice before giving presentations -very often you can get away with reading something out loud in tutorials rather than 'presenting' it, but it is worth developing presentation skills.