How can i stop being so nervous about public speaking?

Question

hi well im a VERY shy person to the point where i barely have any friends (sad i know) well it sucks for me but im taking this new class in school where the teacher said we'll have to do about 4 different presentations in front of the class...this is a bigggg problem for me because this is the one thing i really hate to do. everytime iv done a presentation at school i get very nervous, start sweating, get shaky and when i finally start doing it my voice cracks up alot and i mess up saying things somtimes or say the wrong words and it just makes me feel worse....

so is there any way possible for me to get over my fear of public speaking or will i always be this way? =\ iv probably done about 10 presentations in school and i always remember them turning out bad and making me embarrased..

Answer 1

you just gotta get up and do it then you wont be nervous wen you get up there but it all depends on what you have problems with you should say your speech in a mirror and record yourself and play it back to yourself but you just gotta get up there in do it have no fear i use to have a fear of everything well not everything but alot of stuff i use to be the biggest panzy you would ever meet now im not affraid of anything they key to not being affraid you just gotta confront your fear like if your afraid of the dark sleep outside thats what i did haha but thats wen i was 10 years old but it works trust me hope i helped

Answer 2

body reacts to you this way becouse you don't know/believe/sure what you are speaking about

digg it from there

Answer 3

I hated oral presentations also in school! i would mess up so bad i was embarassed! However, my suggestion is to be prepared & know your speech & big tip - look over their heads & not into their face !  cuz someone might make a face @ you!  Look at the wall straight ahead you will do good!

Answer 4

Remember to breathe; think "these are my friends", take some medications to calm you (if needed, and try them out beforehand to see how it affects you); and remember, always, this shall pass too..

Good luck to you!!

P.S. - You'd probably be surprised by how many people (me included) feel like you do too. We're all scared about it; some of us just show it in different ways (by recoiling or overcompensating by being charismatic and outgoing)

Answer 5

Practice practice practice (your speech).  Then, create a "worst case scenario".   Your notes are eaten by a crazy hamster who got loose from the science class, the window blows open and a swarm of bees enter and nest in the football players jersey totally disrupting you.  Have fun with it!  Now, remember before you give your speech to look for the crazy note eating hamster, and those insane bees.   (bring the fun into the speech-just before you give it)  A cracking voice, or shaking hands aren't that bad-the football player could be covered in bee stings!  The hamster could have a bad stomach ache from those heavy notes!  My son took a bag of candy once and asked for questions-strange how tossing candy at jr high kids got their attention and knowing that was the close, helped him relax.  

Answer 6

just don't care what they think. most of the time there not gona say or think anything bad about you. i use to be like that i kinda still are but just do it. you shouldnt unconfident be more confident all the time. just not too confident.

Answer 7

What I do when speaking in front of the class is I either look at the spaces between the desks, top of their head, or at the wall at the the other side of the class.

To make it seem like their not there just don't make direct eye contact with them, whenever I do that I start to get nervous.

Also, when the teacher asks for volunteers to go first raise your hand. The longer you wait to go the more the tension builds up, hence the more nervous you will be. If you go first you don't really have enough time to think about being scared. It also feels good to have it done and over. Everyone has to do it so you might as well be one of the first to go.

If anyone says any mean remarks that hurts your feelings just ignore them and act like they never said it, their just putting you down because your more intelligent then them and they could never right such a good piece of work as you.

Answer 8

My answer is long, but I feel it is great advice. Please take the time to read and think about it.

Back in the 70's the first "speech" I had to give was for an English class in high school. (Probably the worst situation for almost anyone to find his or her self in). After much consideration, I decided to give a speech that I felt my classmates would actually listen to. I chose a popular rock song of the time - "I'd Love to Change The World" by a group called Ten Years After. The song related to the times we were in and most everyone knew it. I played parts of the song and "critiqued" it as it went along - stopping the record at certain places and discussing what I believed to be the message of the lyrics. My classmates were surprised that someone actually had the gonads to play the song in school so they listened and a few got into the discussion. It was a hit and I got an "A" on the project. The next speech for the class was one with visuals. I did a speech about clouds. Most kids in those days had at one time or another looked up at clouds and found shapes and/or animals in them, basically finding clouds interesting. When I talked about clouds and the different types - actual names and visuals - the class for the most part was once again interested.

So, to sum all of this up - try to give a speech about something the audience can relate to. Make it interesting, not just dull facts. More importantly, give a speech on a subject you really like and are familiar with or can easily become familiar with.

If you are giving a speech on a particular subject the best way to still your nerves is to be VERY knowledgable and familiar with the subject.

And one more thing, when standing up in front of the audience, think of everyone in their underwear!

Good luck!

Answer 9

OK Been there, and left. Here's how: take a course in public speaking. If you can't because you're in school, then read a book on public speaking. Here is the big piece of advice: PRACTISE: Have your content complete one full week before your presentation, and practise presenting it for the last week. Really. Pros use 1 hour practising per minute of presentation. Have cue cards. Remember: you know more about the subject that you are talking about than the audience: YOU ARE THEIR EXPERT! Neat eh!

Here's a big tip that I found out when I was video taped: even though my legs felt weak and I thought that I was faltering in my voice, I actually looked cool. So just remember that your inner feelings aren't obvious to the audience. MOst of all practise!  

Answer 10

If you can, take a public speaking class at your local college. It will help you a lot.

Answer 11

Maybe it's normal for a person to be nervous when speaking in front of many people because you might be afraid of making mistakes on your speech or your afraid that they might not like your style of presentation. But maybe it will help if you practice in front of the mirror so that you can see your facial expression while speaking or you may also practice with a group of people whom you doesn't really know pretty well or doesn't know you that much (not your friends) so that you can feel what it's like to speak with them and after that ask for their opinion/recommendations/pointers it might help.

My teacher in college says that inserting a coin in between thumb and index finger on the toes before speaking might help to have a better speech maybe you can try it also.