Have social anxiety but want to be a teacher...

LegacyUser

I'll keep this short- I'm leaving college in a year and would like to pursue teaching as a career. The problem is I have a lot of shyness when it comes to public speaking, in fact I've had panic attacks during presentations in the past, I lose my train of thought quite easily, become short of breath, etc. I'm not being dramatic when I say my fear of public speaking is crippling. Saying that, I think if I could remove this anxiety I think I could be a good teacher (I've done one to one tutoring of students in the past and love the idea of working in such a potentially rewarding field). Again, this is a career I've wanted to be in for a long time and despite the difficulties in gaining employment in Ireland in this job, I still think I'd be happy being qualified if I only could come to terms with this huge fear of public speaking.

Has anyone else overcome social anxiety, fear of public speaking, etc to take up a career in teaching? I'd really like to hear the opinions and experiences of people who may have gone through this (and hopefully overcame it!).

edellc

Hi anxiousspeaker, I relate to you to a degree. I too (like so many others) have a fear of social speaking and hate the thought of all eyes on me, I get the sweats, loose my train of thought and everything else you described...this was all while in school and college. Thankfully I never went into a career that needed anymore of that.

However just over a year ago my mam died and I felt it was right that someone close to her read her eulogy in the church and as I am the eldest it should be me. I spoke to the priest a few days before and didnt think he could offer much advice but he actually did, when asked if I am comfortable social speaking and I replied no, he told me to make sure to read slowly and clearly and to make sure to breath. So in a church with up to 300 people I did just that, which to this day I am so proud of, not only did I do mam proud but I had a small victory for myself and know now that if ever I need to do it again I can rise to the challenge.

I know that is not the same as doing it day in day out (especially if you choose to teach teenagers) but if I can do it I know you can. Its about small steps, talk to your family about your anxieties and dreams for the future having that reassurance is a great start as you can practice on them...you may also want to seek out councillor who can give you tools to use or even a hypno-therapist who takes away your fear, and then there is enrolling yourself in a drama class which can help with our confidence in a class room by acting out such things...all of these drag you out of your comfort zone but once you have done it once the second time isn't so scary.

I am sure you will make a great teacher, you just need the confidence to be in line with your passion for teaching and you will get there.

deisemum

A lot of people have a fear or are anxious about public speaking.

Toastmasters have a good reputation for helping people deal with public speaking.

Red About Town

It's not something I'm the most comfortable doing myself but (and sorry to sound cliched) practice makes it a lot easier.

Keep presenting and public speaking as much as you can and it will become easier (I can vouch for that)

Toastmasters would be very beneficial for you if you join.

WhyGoBald

This may not be for everyone, but I found doing a few plays in secondary school helped me to circumvent my crippling shyness by imagining public speaking as a performance. Basically, you create a persona that you use to entertain, instruct or whatever that you can hide behind and hopefully inhabit more confidently as you go on.

LegacyUser

Thanks to everyone for some good advice. I really think Toastmasters might be worth a shot. And thanks EdellC for sharing your experience, I really appreciate your thoughts on this.

Eve_Dublin

OP I'm not a fan of public speaking either. I used to get very nervous in college when I had to but now I teach English to adults here in Spain and it's not the same as public speaking.

Teaching is more interactive (or it should be) and you're not simply making a speech to a bunch of strangers/peers. You're talking to them as supposed to at them and it's very different. The idea of getting up in front of them was more nerve-racking than the reality and my nerves calmed down almost the minute I stood/sat in front of them because we talked to each other instead of me just talking at them. It's more of a conversation.There isn't that divide there.

Plus I'm presuming you'll be teaching people younger than yourself - teens or kids - so it's not the same as getting up in front of your peers. They're only kids!

I really wouldn't worry about it. I think you'll be fine and when you get your training and you know your subject well, you won't feel so nervous and it gets easier in time.

Funny thing is, I'd still be nervous if I had to make a speech in public now. Teaching is not the same thing at all.