SPEAKING IN PUBLIC

Do you get a case of the nerves when you have to speak in front of your whole class?

You're not alone! Many people have a fear of public speaking. The most common symptoms are feeling out of breath, or like your heart is beating super-fast, getting trembling hands and/or voice, having tight and tense neck and shoulder muscles, or just plain feeling like you might faint!

The good news is, anyone can overcome their public speaking anxieties with some effort and practice. Follow these practical tips to become a more confident public speaker.

BEFORE PRESENTATION DAY

Be Prepared!

When it comes to giving presentations in front of other people, nothing can beat being prepared. The more comfortable you are with your speech, the better that you will do. Don't wait 'til the last minute to write your speech! Get it done early, so you have time to organize it and practice saying it.

Decide how you are going to structure your presentation. Basically you need an introduction, a middle and a conclusion. Once you've got it written, follow the next step.

Break it Down!

If you try to read from one long paper, you risk losing your place, and losing face. Make it easier on yourself by breaking your speech down into little chunks of information.

Organize your ideas into note form, using index cards (available at office supply stores). Try one card per topic, idea, or paragraph. Make sure that you write largely enough that your note cards are very easy to read.

Number your note cards in order, and make a bold heading (use colored markers) for the top of each card. You might want to punch a hole through the left-hand corner of your ordered cards and tie a string or pipe cleaner through them, securing the ends to form a tight loop. That way, if you drop the cards during your presentation, you won't have to play 52-pickup!

Practice!

The more you practice saying your speech before-hand, the more confident and relaxed you will appear when speaking to your class. A mirror can be very useful for this. Say your speech into the mirror, noticing how you look as you give your presentation. Focus on smiling (this makes you appear confident) and speaking slowly and clearly (people tend to pay better attention when you don't rush through the words). You can even use a tape recorder so you can listen to yourself and decide if there's anything about your delivery that you need to work on.

If you're going to be using any visual aids or equipment, make sure you get in some practice time using them. You need to give a "dress rehearsal" of your speech all the way through, several times, to get really comfortable doing it.

If there is a time limit for your presentation, make sure you can say everything you need to communicate within the allotted time period. If you have to rush to get it finished, do a re-write to make it less wordy.

Once you've done your presentation solo a bunch of times, it's a good idea to try it on some actual people - like your folks, or your best friend - before presentation day. Listen to their feedback, and get used to saying your speech in front of an "audience". Practice making eye contact while you say your speech, and saying it with energy and confidence.

Steal Other People's Tricks!

Pay attention whenever other kids in your class give presentations. You can learn a lot by watching others speak - from good ideas on what to do with your hands while you're talking, to seeing bad habits (such as not making eye contact with your audience) that you should avoid. It might even help to watch entertainment programs where the hosts stand and talk to the camera, to see what they do that looks so good. (Hint: They are always smiling!)

ON PRESENTATION DAY

Relax!

Before you get up in front of the group, prepare your "intrument" (your voice and body) by doing a few relaxation techniques. Take a deep breath, hold it, then breath out slowly. As you exhale, try and relax your arms, shoulders and hands - let them go floppy. Repeat this until you feel the tension and nervousness draining away from your body.

Try to keep yourself busy in the half hour before the speech, talking to friends (about anything BUT your speech) or just reading. Don't obsess over your presentation. Anything you do last-minute won't really help anyway, so you might as well relax and try to calm your nerves during this time.

If you tend to get the shakes when you speak to a group, don't load up on caffeine on presentation day. That means you should skip drinking colas, coffee, tea (except decaf herbal) and don't eat chocolate. Drink water to hydrate your vocal cords before the speech, and keep a bottle of water nearby during your presentation too, in case your mouth goes dry. Just make sure to screw the lid on tight between sips, to avoid embarrassing spills.

Don't Be Intimidated

What if there are people in the class who are disruptive, or who just don't like you? Ignore them and focus on the people who do like you. Make eye contact with the people you know and like, and don't bother looking at the ones you're not friendly with. Pretend they're not there. It may help remove that scary or threatening feeling if you pretend you're making a report on the evening news, and the classroom are "the viewers at home."

If you're too shy or nervous to make good eye contact with the group, just pick one person near the middle of the audience who you feel comfortable with, and tell your presentation mainly to them. You have to look around the room a bit, but you can focus just above people's heads - instead of looking straight into their eyes. This may help you feel less nervous, and you'll still give the impression of speaking to everyone.

Don't Freak if You Lose Your Place

What if you lose your train of thought while talking? No biggie, just glance down at your numbered index cards. Check out the brightly colored heading of the card and you'll regain your place. Flip to the next card if you have to, and move on to the next point as smoothly as you can. Remember that your audience might not be aware that you've lost your place - after all, they don't know what you were planning to say. Just take a deep breath and keep moving the presentation forward.