How do I overcome shyness or nervous in front of class?

Question

I'm 28 now and still does not have the confident to stand in front of the class and give presentation. This is really affecting my education. I want to go abck to school for a degree, but the feeling of presenting a project is really holding me back. In high school when I give oral presentation, my face turn red for no reason and forget what I going to present. Welp, let me shorten up the story, I drop out at 11 grade and now planning to get my ged and go for what I like doing is Computer Information Technology.

Answer 1

Hey good choice on what you want in life, first off this is simple just start practicing on talking on things You know about (AT FIRST JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE) , then after practicing for awhile it will just be second nature, don't worry about turning red, just a nice smile and go on!!!!!!

Answer 2

I'm not joking here and I used to be the same exact way so I can relate. When I went to college, the 1st time around I dropped out of the required Speech class. Then a patron at the library I worked at told me she would eat a sandwich with a wine cooler like 45 minutes before her college speech and it would allow her to talk to the class like you talk to your best friend(s).

I tried this and she was right. I would stop at McDonalds, buy a Big Mac and eat this with a wine cooler. I could talk to the class without being nervous. btw...caffeinated drinks do the opposite, so avoid them. Don't buy a coke with your Mac :))

One time I decided to try it without the wine cooler and I was totally nervous. I may possibly have some anxiety disorder because some members of my family do.

Either way, it works. Try it 1 time. I do not drink alcohol so public speaking is the only time I used it. These days I can speak without it but I'm probably like twice as old as you are.

But I remember sitting in high school classes praying to God I wouldn't be called to do an oral presentation. I really can relate. Good for you on going for it! I now have my Masters in Library Science & work as a Librarian.

Answer 3

I used to be the same way. I used to feel sick everytime I had to get in front of people.

What helped me is being comfortable with myself and knowing I'm not the only one that's nervous, and if I mess up, I learn to laugh at myself because I'm surely not the frist person to get nervous and mess up.

Answer 4

It takes time and effort, but you can do it.  Here are a few things I've found that are helpful.

1. Practice reading aloud.  Stand at the table or a counter and read something aloud.

2. Be passionate or invested in your subject.  The more you know about your subject, the more enthusiastic you will be to share it with others.

3. If you have a subject to present, practice, practice, practice!

4. Learn to present from an outline.  If you write your presentation out word you'll feel pressured to present it that way.  If you have it in outline form you'll be able to be flexible.  It does mean you have to prepare and practice, but you'll be much more comfortable.  Believe me, I've been doing public speaking since I was a little kid (I'm 32 now).

5. Most importantly, remember that people want you to succeed.  Your audience is pulling for you, they want to know what you have to say.

Answer 5

sounds like you have social anxiety and i can relate to that,i would always get embarrassed and couldnt talk in front of a large crowd. anyways my dr put me on xanax and now it's like i can talk to anyone and if i had to give a speech in front of a million people i know that i could with no problem.

Answer 6

Just dont be worried everyone knows how u feel. just have fun with it. and look straight ahead, no paticular person then u will be fine :)

Answer 7

I usually pretend to be someone else. Watch some films and find a charecter that u would like to be like during your presentaion and act the part. It has never failed me and I am horrendously shy.

Answer 8

pretend they are all ur friends

Answer 9

good for you to want to continue your education! when giving your presentations, just pretend you are only talking to yourself. tell yourself you know the material. What is more important? Your education, or keeping yourself from being a little embarrassed for a day?

Answer 10

As a singer for many years, when first starting out singing in front of an audience i had the same problem, also being an MC The way i was told at the time was when facing people try not to fix your eyes on one or more  people, to move your eyes about the room. Also study what your going to say in front of all the spectators. This is how i remembered all my lyrics to the songs. Good Luck!

Answer 11

I am over 40 and went bright red when introduced to other employees on my first day of a new job. I have a favourite but very sad saying "I don't do large groups."

Having said this, and reading your comment it has made me think that I should do something about it. For me also it is lack of confidence. I also feel I might make a fool of myself and think I am not intelligent enough.

As you can see by a lot of the answers to your question, you are not alone, but there are some good suggestion there.

I didn't want my children to fail certain subjects because of the same thing so, I encouraged them in to drama. I has done wonders for their confidence.

This may not help you but possibly your children if you have or eventually have any.

Answer 12

I would suggest taking on line classes. Distant learning is great. You don't have to go to a class everyday, and you have the flexibility to do it when you have time. If i might suggest you looking up the university of phoenix. I too did the same thing in school. I got all nervous what others were going to say or if they would laugh. Now I am attending the UOP and I love it. Being its all on line you don't know any one face to face. The people are great they help you every step of the way and if you don't get something they will help. Ive found that if i have a question that i don't know if i want to ask i do one of two things i post it to my instructor personally so no one else sees it or i post it in the chat room forum and more then 50% of the time at least one other person had the same question. So as you can see I think the best option for you would be to do it online. Check out the UOP they help you through all of it from the time you fill out the form until the day you graduate. You can continue your eduaction after that to do what ever you want. Hope this was helpful and good luck

Answer 13

Think, "No one is going to think it's bad, because I know it isn't" (or something like that.) Confidence is the key to success. Another thing you could do is do stuff in front of people. (I play the violin, and I perform in front of groups all the time. Nerve wrecking at first, but you get used to it after a while.)

Answer 14

really dude im there im the quietest one on my cheer team, and wen ur quiet u dont make frends which is a bad thing, so just push urself and get confidence

Answer 15

http://www.psychotherapy.com

                   --good  luck,. bye,.,

Answer 16

practice in front of a mirror...it really helps

Answer 17

i know exactly how you feel.

in my intro to business class, we had to give presentations every friday so i just got used to it.

just think of it as, you're talking to a buncha friends.

half of them are probably not even looking or paying attention to you so don't even get nervous! :]

everyone has to do the same thing you are at one point of the class, so it's not like you're the only weird one that has to go up infront.

just chill :)

Answer 18

seriously just practice in front of a mirror

Answer 19

you're probably nervous because you're staring at one thing i assume? look around, keep changing the direction you're looking in. when you walk up there, take a deep breath and relax for a moment. then start talking. or you can imagine everyone in their underwear [ this does work, you don't know how many times i've done it ]

all the luck to you.

Answer 20

You can't exactly overcome it right away. You need to just get used to it and have the attitude of "I don't give a **** about what other will think I'm just presenting"