Hooow did you get through SPEECH class????

dawn1971 · Jan 8, 2006

For my first degree, my minor was speech. I went on to work for the largest public speaking company in the states, was flown all over the midwest and had audiences up to 500. Here's what you need to know...

1. Look your best, so that you FEEL confident.

2 Practice in front of the mirror...OVER OVER and OVER. The best presentations appear off the cuff, but they are NOT. Look at you mannerisms, make them match your words

3. Speak in a conversational tone.

4. Silence(a few seconds) is OKAY. Especially after you've made an important point.

5. Get your audience involved. This is especially useful if you are using statistics. For instance, if you are stating that 30% of people drop out of college, you might walk over to the group and use your hands saying "30% of people drop out of college, that means if you represented a typical college population, everyone from here over would drop out, while these lucky people would go one to get their degrees."

Hope these tips help!!!!!

prinsessa · Jan 9, 2006

Everyone gave you some great ideas so far. I don't have to take speech, but i did have to do speechs in some of my classes. One thing to remember is that you probably think you look more nervous than everyone else thinks you do. During one of my speechs in child development, I was terrified and thought that my voice was shaking. After my speech was over my friends said that I did really good and looked really confident (which I was not at all). I also was one of the first to go because waiting too long to give my speech makes me more nervous. It is better to just get it over with. Another tip (I think I saw this on the Simpsons) is to picture your audience naked :rotfl: . I never tried it though....there were some people in my classes that I wouldn't want to picture naked . Good luck!

stpauligirl · Jan 9, 2006

Everyone gave you some great ideas so far. I don't have to take speech, but i did have to do speechs in some of my classes. One thing to remember is that you probably think you look more nervous than everyone else thinks you do. During one of my speechs in child development, I was terrified and thought that my voice was shaking. After my speech was over my friends said that I did really good and looked really confident (which I was not at all). I also was one of the first to go because waiting too long to give my speech makes me more nervous. It is better to just get it over with. Another tip (I think I saw this on the Simpsons) is to picture your audience naked :rotfl: . I never tried it though....there were some people in my classes that I wouldn't want to picture naked . Good luck!

:roll :clown:

DreamBelieveSucceed · Jan 10, 2006

I also took Speech online. It was great! Even though I am outgoing and love to talk, speeches are totally different for me. I think it is the formality and the fact that ALL eyes are on YOU! So, the online Speech class was great since, like FUN-to-care, the person taping my two speeches was my husband - but I was still nervous. Although it took some effort to put the speeches on a CD and mail them in, it was worth it to not have to stand in front of a classroom full of students. Also, pick subjects that you know ALOT about. Just the previous semester I had taken English, so I used the topics for the papers I had written for my speeches.

Good luck and let us know how it goes for you!

VeryPlainJane · Jan 10, 2006

I think sticking to easy speeches help too...don't try to delve into hard subjects like politics or the economy... I got an A on my final my speech was "How To Flip The Perfect Flapjack!"

MilwaukeeRNstu · Jun 18, 2009

I am also PETRIFIED of giving speeches or even doing introductions on the first day of class. I start a ADN program in the fall and all I worry about is having to give presentations in front of the class. I don't worry a bit about doing well in any other part of the program.

I'm not even sure if we have to do any presentations in my program?? Did any of you guys have speeches or presentations in yours? GOD I HOPE NOT! :cry:

D.R.A. · Jun 18, 2009

I took speech a year and a half ago. I wasn't super excited about it, but I'm not exactly shy. Anyway, there was a young lady in my class who was terrified. There was no good way for her other than to just do it. If you are a good student, my guess is you will go far in this class and discover that you don't hate speaking as much as you did when you started the class. For me, the class helped me overcome my fear by knowing what I was going to say before I said it and practicing A TON ahead of time made it ALOT easier.

brittany_micah · Jun 19, 2009

I think everyone in my class except a few of the guys were afraid of talking in front of a class, but I too had a really great teacher. She was crazy and out going...and really unorganized. She lost and forgot stuff all the time, so we kinda had to get to know our classmates and rely on them instead of her, but I think she planned it like that.

The biggest thing that helped me is make some friends, then when you are up there speaking you can look at them. And Practice a few times before you give your speech! Good Luck :)

jg24 · Jun 19, 2009

I don't know about your school and this reply may not even help you, but at least I'm gonna try. My school offers it online. I know it sounds crazy, but you have to video tape your speeches with an audience of 5 people. It makes it easier because the 5 people can be family members so that puts you more at ease. I hope that helps. Just a suggestion.