Fear of public speaking?

Question

im in a speech class and the teacher said that we are going to have a speech every week. i hate talking in front of people and i get REALLY nervous! i wouldnt have taken the class at all if i didnt have to.

what can i do to make it easier to talk in front of the class??

Answer 1

know what you are talking about, and be prepared. Its very difficult to stand before people if you don't know what your talking about. Then before you start to speak, look out at your audience, and picture them naked. Pick several people in the audience and speak to them, and change often so you don't appear to be talking to just one person. Remember to take a breath, and go for it. Unless you are talking to a group of killers, there is nothing they can do to hurt you. Master your fear, be prepared, and talk like you know more about your subject than anyone in the room. Tell them what you will tell them, tell them , and then tell them what you told them.

Answer 2

get prepared and practice a lot.  treat the class as if they were your friends.    use a podium to rest your hands on if it helps and refer to your notes but don't read it all from a piece of paper.  look up regularly at a point at the back of the room if you don't want to look at individuals.  make eye contact and smile.  

Answer 3

I never had a class where I had to speak in front of everyone but I did sing solos in front of the whole church from the time I was 9 until present. The lump still gets caught in my throat but I sing with my eyes closed and when I feel like I've had my eyes closed too long I focus on the back of the room, on the ceiling or a light or something.

Take deep breaths and focus on tempo and read what you are going to say ahead of speaking it. That way you don't read each word as you say them. That will make your speach sound splotchy. Practice walking around in your room or in the mirror, maybe in front of a friend or two. It's ok, it gets easier with practice and time.

Answer 4

I hate it to!

http://www.essortment.com/all/overcoming...

http://www.school-for-champions.com/spea...

Hope this helped =]