Sly Bald Guys Forum

Various Non-Bald Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: dog20 on August 24, 2008, 09:09:54 PM

Title: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 24, 2008, 09:09:54 PM
SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I've been avoiding the class for 4 years.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: wpruitt on August 24, 2008, 09:11:49 PM
Dog ... I think that is the purpose of it ......
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 24, 2008, 09:18:23 PM
Dog ... I think that is the purpose of it ......

Some people actually have no problems with it...
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: Casey Jones on August 24, 2008, 09:31:00 PM
Is this a toastmasters type of event?
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 24, 2008, 09:55:16 PM
Is this a toastmasters type of event?
Nope its a requirement for a business degree. 
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: andrew on August 24, 2008, 10:05:25 PM
Many or most people feel that way about public speaking, and I remember feeling the same way when taking that class in college.  Surprisingly, I ended up liking it and I've continued to use some of the skills learned in that class many years later working.

Remember - most others in the class feel the same way you do. 
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: Mike on August 24, 2008, 11:38:36 PM
They have a class for public speaking?!?! When I was in FFA it was a CDE (career development event), it was a blast. I remember going and doing prepared and extemporary public speaking at the same competition and getting one of the better scores in our district. I loved it, have fun!
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: Tyler on August 25, 2008, 12:35:46 AM
Hey Dog, while public speaking is the number 1 fear that most people have, it provides even more reason why you should learn to overcome this fear.  The better you are at public speaking, the more successful you can be.  Learn to have fun with it!
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: PowerOfCheese on August 25, 2008, 12:57:51 AM
I had the same reservations when I did a public speaking class. It ended up being a very positive experience in my life that helped prepare me for the future. When I pictured public speaking beforehand I did it from the perspective of someone that wasn't prepared and was afraid. Once I learned some technique in class, had a topic I was interested in and PREPARED for the speech it was a breeze.

I'll wager that you'll start the class with the same level of anxiety as your classmates and finish it with a great feeling of accomplishment.

My tip: Be prepared, practice in front of a mirror a few times, bonus if you video yourself start to finish privately. Being prepared is the key bro. You can do this.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: MagmaBabe on August 25, 2008, 02:45:06 AM
*takes reigns from one of the Gods*

Shame you aint got them grills already..cos if you did all you'd have to do is flash 'em a smile..
then, they wouldn't even care what you're saying, they'll just
be basking in your awesomeness!   O0  O0

*hands reigns back*


Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: Phil Man on August 25, 2008, 03:28:10 AM
This might be the best thing to happen to you my friend. I had the same feeling during one year of university for the same class. I ended up doing ten big presentations in front of sizeable crowds...


Needless to say it now comes naturally to speak in front of large crowds and not be too scared to make an arse of myself (some might say I'm a wee bit too comfortable)  O0
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: no1birdman on August 25, 2008, 07:04:02 AM
Tell them a few jokes at first, that might help if they laugh.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 25, 2008, 07:50:22 AM
"hey guys, whats brown and rhymes with snoop?"


"dr. dre"

Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: schro on August 25, 2008, 08:01:22 AM
Just wear an awesome grill for your public speaking assignment....you'll look AWESOME and it'll totally impress the crowd!!  O0
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 25, 2008, 08:12:23 AM
The guy in my avatar is Paul Wall, not me.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: Northernlion on August 25, 2008, 08:17:02 AM
Accept the nerves and move on. Generally speaking we live in a society where, "I was too scared" is an excuse to not do something (or at least do it half-assed). f**k that, nerves or not go out there and kill it.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 25, 2008, 08:40:04 AM
I'll tell you guys how it goes.  I see this class as a way to improve myself.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: nomad on August 25, 2008, 08:40:55 AM
I'll tell you guys how it goes.  I see this class as a way to improve myself.

keep that attitude and you'll do fine O0
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: schro on August 25, 2008, 08:44:10 AM
In all seriousness, I took a public speaking class in senior year in high school. It was a great decision. I was active in student gov't, and my activity levels continued through college. My job requires me to speak often, which I feel very comfortable doing, as long as I prepare for my topic.

Good luck.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: FR8TRAIN on August 25, 2008, 04:48:56 PM
The guy in my avatar is Paul Wall, not me.

Get outta here! Really? No Way!

Dog this class is gonna boost your confidence. Dude, I speak in front of 25-30 complete strangers, 5 times a day, every day. But before I could ever do that I had to take a public speaking class in college and I went on to join Toastmasters just to improve my public speaking and get rid of the "um's, ah's, you know's, etc.. Who knows man, you might just find that you love to do it. O0
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 25, 2008, 05:53:30 PM
I survived day 1 and I am already a little bit more confident.  I have to do 2 2-3 min speeches and 2 7-9 min. speeches.  On the long speeches, I can only use a sheet of paper with keywords,  so that kinda sucks... but at least the topics can be on whatever I want.  Today I had to interview someone and introduce him to the class.  Out of everyone who spoke, I was the most nervous one... or I did the worst job of hiding my nerves because I said a few words, but they had trouble coming out of my mouth properly lol.

I was able to look up and talk, and all I did was focus on something in the backroom.  So that was cool.  The interview before my presentation was actually harder for me.  Because the person I interviewed was so awesome.  He had been sky diving, white water rafting, he is in the national guard, and he has served in afghanistan where the hummer he was driving, flipped over and crushed his face (the front tires got blown out by enemy fire, he lost control of the vehicle and then was ejected and the hummer then landed on him).  Then he was like, anything interesting with you?  And I couldn't think of anything...

So he kept trying to pry me for information and all I could come up with was:

1.  I got a guinea pig
2.  I've never been out of florida
and
3.  I bowled a 298

sigh, my life has been so uneventful and pathetic.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: time2shine on August 25, 2008, 05:58:47 PM
Cool man, see wasn't as bad as you thought.
You're life isn't pathetic, we all get into the daily grind of things.  But it sounds like you need to go do something crazy.  Possibly free hugs?  Did that happen..?
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: dog20 on August 25, 2008, 06:00:03 PM
Cool man, see wasn't as bad as you thought.
You're life isn't pathetic, we all get into the daily grind of things.  But it sounds like you need to go do something crazy.  Possibly free hugs?  Did that happen..?

No it didn't, I think I was under the influence of drugs when I posted that.
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: MagmaBabe on August 26, 2008, 03:27:43 AM
Cool man, see wasn't as bad as you thought.
You're life isn't pathetic, we all get into the daily grind of things.  But it sounds like you need to go do something crazy.  Possibly free hugs?  Did that happen..?

No it didn't, I think I was under the influence of drugs when I posted that.

ahahahahahaha!!

now that would explain a lot!  :px
Title: Re: I have to go to public speaking class tomorrow and I'm terrified.
Post by: StumpyDave on August 26, 2008, 07:15:23 AM
For your practice sessions pick a subject that interests you.  That way you will be confident of the material so that is one less bit to worry about.
I have to do some presentations on a regular basis as part of my job.  I get really nervous before I start, but once I'm going I find it a doddle.  I find that a sheet of bullet points is all I need now.  In fact, if I try to script out a whole presentation and something goes awry I am more likely to dry up and have problems.  I may script the introduction (as that's the time I'm most nervous) but not the rest.
Practice really does help so much.  Speak slowly and clearly - itherwise you will tend to gabble and no-one will get the message.
You can plan in several ways (and I'm sure they'll tell you in your course).
I run presentations in 3 stages:
1. Introduction
Tell your audience who you are and what your going to cover
2. Subject material
The real meat of it all
3. Recap
Go back over the lesson/topic covered and highlight the main points

A big presentation can have several step 2 & 3 and an overall summary at the end.


After a couple of goes you'll be surprised at how little you can actually say in 5 minutes.