new Oral Comm class.... ughhhdfkjajkl.

helenrogers

helenrogers

Member
Well, worse has come to worst. Our school has made it so that Oral Comm is a required course at our high school...:cry: (And in case you didn't know, Oral Comm is a class that is alll abouuut presentations). I haven't done a presentation in years, I've avoided every single one that I have ever been assigned since my freshman year, I believe.

I am now a senior and the time has come to take this class...
Seriously, I am clueless as far as knowing what to do. Any time I get in front of a class for anything, my heart is beating so hard and fast I can almost hear it outside of my chest, my face feels like it is going to explode...I can't breathe or slow down my heart..I can only get approximately two sentences out before I totally clam up and stare at the class in sheer fear. I'm scared. And I stayed home today because yesterday was our first day and I didn't want to go through it again today.

Any advice would be appreciated. :)
 
Y

young

Well-known member
my advice would be to get really really drunk. and then just go up there and have some fun...

well, don't do that. I think there's laws against that. When i do presentations like that. I try and have as much fun as I can. remember to make eye contact. Or at least fake it well. Look around at people. Have fun with it. Tell some jokes. If yo can fit them in.
 
bluenow

bluenow

Well-known member
Go to class. Talk to your teacher about it. Can you do lots of dry runs in front of the mirror, in front of the teacher or friends/family? That will make it a bit easier. If you clam up it really won't matter to most other people. They will be so worried about their own presentations.
 
redlady

redlady

Well-known member
I have had to do a lot of presentations and for me every single one has always been a challenge. In our states we are not going to get to a point where you will be able to eliminate all the anxiety but there are steps that you can take to make it a bit less harrowing. The best thing you could do for yourself is to prepare, prepare and prepare some more. The more familiar you are with your material the better. Know it inside out if you can. Rehearse your speeches, say them out loud in front of a mirror. I don't know about you but i can get very tongue tied and just plain 'struck dumb' in anxious situations - so if you know exactly what you have to say that can help to prevent that. Take with you some palm sized cards with pertinant information on them - if you do get stuck these will help to jog your memory and get you back on track. I can't stress enough how practicing and preparation will help you - there is nothing worse than having to do something that you are unprepared for - it just adds to your level of anxiety, which we don't need. And breathe - while you are waiting for your turn, take the time to breathe deeply and try to calm yourself.
I wish you luck with your classes - i know the stress of presentaions so i really wish you success. :D
 
Y

young

Well-known member
redlady said:
I don't know about you but i can get very tongue tied and just plain 'struck dumb' in anxious situations - so if you know exactly what you have to say that can help to prevent that.
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well that's going to happen. Most times. I'm sure after a while it may or may not happen. What you need to learn and practice. Is how to recover from such a situation. You can pick up a copy of my new book: "Presentations 101." Which will give you good tips and tricks on how overcome an oral mistake.
 
I

IcanDoIt

Well-known member
helenrogers said:
Well, worse has come to worst. Our school has made it so that Oral Comm is a required course at our high school...:cry: (And in case you didn't know, Oral Comm is a class that is alll abouuut presentations). I haven't done a presentation in years, I've avoided every single one that I have ever been assigned since my freshman year, I believe.

I am now a senior and the time has come to take this class...
Seriously, I am clueless as far as knowing what to do. Any time I get in front of a class for anything, my heart is beating so hard and fast I can almost hear it outside of my chest, my face feels like it is going to explode...I can't breathe or slow down my heart..I can only get approximately two sentences out before I totally clam up and stare at the class in sheer fear. I'm scared. And I stayed home today because yesterday was our first day and I didn't want to go through it again today.

Any advice would be appreciated. :)
Click to expand...

yea, i still remember when i dreaded that moment. it was years ago during my poly days. i still remember when it was my turn to speak, i just could not speak, and i mumbled a lot. that was soo embarassing.

like you, i felt i could not breathe, my heart was thumping at a very fast rate, and i felt faint. worst of all, it seemed that the audience was looking at me as if i was a weirdo.

and like u, i skipped many presentations.

that is very normal. the best tip i can give to a newbie is to just stop thinking when presenting, i know all this imaginations will be running wild in the head, but try your best to stop thinking, but just think of the things you are presenting.

second is, try your best to remain very relaxed. i still remember when i first started that relaxation technique, it felt horrible, i felt i was going to explode. therefore, sufficient practice is needed.

last but not least, after the presentation, dont dwell about your mistakes. dwelling on mistakes is one of the most common errors people nowadays make, and such an action destroys one future.

instead, give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself that you will do better next time. think positive.

the main point is to keep practising, and dont ever give up.
 
Skyla

Skyla

Well-known member
in american films and sitcoms, presentations look like an everyday thing!
i remember when i had to do a presentation for GCSE English. we had a few weeks to prepare and i was so bloody nervous.
but i practiced infront of the mirror and tried to pratice breathing techniques (which to be honest doesnt really prepare you for the real thing).
when i did mine, i was nervous for the first few minutes, my voice was shakey etc. then toward the end, i was more relaxed and when it was over, i felt like i cud go on for some more! that always happens.
 
Claireabell

Claireabell

Active member
I messed up big time for my GCSE Oral English exam. I am now at college and have to do a presentation and the thought makes me feel sick. I always think back to how I messed up before, I try not to think back but it is hard.

I have told myself to do lots of preperation, I think this is the answer and to practice in front of the mirror although at home I am fine with this. Breathing techniques are important and I must practice this more.

I want to wish you luck and try to remember that many people have done a presentation and then said it was not as bad as I thought, thats what I keep telling myself.

Claire
 
black_mamba

black_mamba

Well-known member
Well, although I'm still petrified of presentations - I did one recently and it was the first for me in over 10 years.

I don't have time to findthe info right now, but go to google, type in SA UK and follow the links to the updated forum - then do a search for topics about presentations (the search is right at the bottom). There's some amazing advice from fellow SP-sufferers who do lots of presentations in there. :)
 
jenz

jenz

Well-known member
i did a bunch of those and my worst were in my oral communication/speech 101 class...where I was taped and watch the tape afterwards to see my errors..lol...those were terrrible...u could sense a an akward silence between me and the classs before and after the taping....I was told I could do better by not being so nervous infront of the class and concentrate on making eye contact. lol
 
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