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Speak Easy: Building Blocks for Improving Your Oral Communication � 2007 By Anna Forsyth All Rights Reserved. Printed with Permission We all know that the fear that ranks the highest on the list for most people is public speaking. For some people, even speaking in front of small groups can be a cause for anxiety. At college, there will be times where this is required as part of an assessment and where your grades could be at stake. The following are some tips to help reduce some of the stress associated with public speaking and to help you improve your oral communication. 1. Build a solid foundation It has been said that spontaneity comes from a prepared base. It may seem obvious to some, but you must prepare your material to a satisfactory level first and foremost. In reality, you will be judged more on what you present than how you present it. Even if you are the most eloquent speaker, or use the latest technology to make your presentation, make it a point not to sacrifice content. Don�t let fear of the speaking aspect take away from the time you need to invest in gathering and putting together the material. Once you are satisfied that your material is up to the standard you would like, then learn it inside out. Even if you are going to present it without notes, it always pays to create these and have them on hand in case of an emergency. Be prepared for the fact that technology can break down and papers can get mixed up. If you know your material back to front and inside out, you may be able to avoid a catastrophe. Print a spare copy of the notes out on the day just in case. You can never be too prepared. In the lead up to your presentation, organize your schedule and don�t leave things to the last minute. The aim is to get to the presentation on the day feeling calm, cool and collected. Sweating profusely and searching madly for missing notes is not usually a good look. If you are extremely worried about it, you might like to plan the finer details, like what you are going to wear, so that you don�t have to worry about it on the day. 2. Practice makes perfect Find a friend or class mate who can listen to you practice your presentation well before the day. Ask them to give you feedback and make suggestions on where you can improve. Read through your entire presentation several times and time it to make sure it fits into the guidelines you have been given. Make a note of problem areas, such as words that are hard to pronounce or changes in slides or materials. It is worth making a note of transitions or points where you need to do something different such as give out notes, so that it is all there in black and white in case you forget on the day. If there are any areas of the material you are unsure about, make sure you iron these problems out well before the day of the presentation and definitely make sure that what you are presenting is in line with what you were asked to do. There are numerous courses available for building confidence with public speaking and improving communication. Take advantage of the courses offered at your school or online. 3. Make an impression When it comes to the presentation or speech itself, plan a routine that you can use beforehand to relax and put yourself in the right frame of mind. For example, if you usually go to the gym right before class, maybe re-schedule your workout for that day so that you don�t arrive red-faced and disheveled. A warm-up routine could include the following in no particular order: Reading over notes Deep breathing and relaxation Drinking water (not too much I might add) Getting to class early to ensure you don�t have to push past people with any equipment Freshening up and re-touching your make-up or deodorant so that you look and feel your best. Check your teeth for extraneous bits of your lunch Check that you fly is up if you are a man and that your blouse is buttoned up if you are a woman. During the presentation, remember to: Breathe and slow down Make eye contact with the audience (looking at the tops of their heads is fine) Smile where appropriate. Don�t lock yourself into one spot the entire time, move at least once Wait for quiet before you launch into your speech Keep you head up and your shoulders back to give the impression of confidence, even if you don�t feel it Pretend that it is your five minutes of fame and enjoy it! *** Anna-Kaye Forsyth** is a freelance writer for education, and a content developer for interactive whiteboard company Smart Board in New Zealand. She holds a Batchelor of Music Education from the University of Auckland. Anna is the author of 3 compilations of thinking hats lesson plans for teachers, which are due for release soon through Curriculum Concepts. Currently, Anna is working freelance to support herself as she pursues a career as a singer/songwriter.
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Copyright © 2008 \| Find Schools Online \| All Rights Reserved


find schools home \| choosing the right school \| resources \| sitemap
find schools by: name \| degree \| location: USA - Zip Code \| Canada \| UK

Speak Easy: Building Blocks for Improving Your Oral Communication � 2007 By Anna Forsyth All Rights Reserved. Printed with Permission We all know that the fear that ranks the highest on the list for most people is public speaking. For some people, even speaking in front of small groups can be a cause for anxiety. At college, there will be times where this is required as part of an assessment and where your grades could be at stake. The following are some tips to help reduce some of the stress associated with public speaking and to help you improve your oral communication. 1. Build a solid foundation It has been said that spontaneity comes from a prepared base. It may seem obvious to some, but you must prepare your material to a satisfactory level first and foremost. In reality, you will be judged more on what you present than how you present it. Even if you are the most eloquent speaker, or use the latest technology to make your presentation, make it a point not to sacrifice content. Don�t let fear of the speaking aspect take away from the time you need to invest in gathering and putting together the material. Once you are satisfied that your material is up to the standard you would like, then learn it inside out. Even if you are going to present it without notes, it always pays to create these and have them on hand in case of an emergency. Be prepared for the fact that technology can break down and papers can get mixed up. If you know your material back to front and inside out, you may be able to avoid a catastrophe. Print a spare copy of the notes out on the day just in case. You can never be too prepared. In the lead up to your presentation, organize your schedule and don�t leave things to the last minute. The aim is to get to the presentation on the day feeling calm, cool and collected. Sweating profusely and searching madly for missing notes is not usually a good look. If you are extremely worried about it, you might like to plan the finer details, like what you are going to wear, so that you don�t have to worry about it on the day. 2. Practice makes perfect Find a friend or class mate who can listen to you practice your presentation well before the day. Ask them to give you feedback and make suggestions on where you can improve. Read through your entire presentation several times and time it to make sure it fits into the guidelines you have been given. Make a note of problem areas, such as words that are hard to pronounce or changes in slides or materials. It is worth making a note of transitions or points where you need to do something different such as give out notes, so that it is all there in black and white in case you forget on the day. If there are any areas of the material you are unsure about, make sure you iron these problems out well before the day of the presentation and definitely make sure that what you are presenting is in line with what you were asked to do. There are numerous courses available for building confidence with public speaking and improving communication. Take advantage of the courses offered at your school or online. 3. Make an impression When it comes to the presentation or speech itself, plan a routine that you can use beforehand to relax and put yourself in the right frame of mind. For example, if you usually go to the gym right before class, maybe re-schedule your workout for that day so that you don�t arrive red-faced and disheveled. A warm-up routine could include the following in no particular order: Reading over notes Deep breathing and relaxation Drinking water (not too much I might add) Getting to class early to ensure you don�t have to push past people with any equipment Freshening up and re-touching your make-up or deodorant so that you look and feel your best. Check your teeth for extraneous bits of your lunch Check that you fly is up if you are a man and that your blouse is buttoned up if you are a woman. During the presentation, remember to: Breathe and slow down Make eye contact with the audience (looking at the tops of their heads is fine) Smile where appropriate. Don�t lock yourself into one spot the entire time, move at least once Wait for quiet before you launch into your speech Keep you head up and your shoulders back to give the impression of confidence, even if you don�t feel it Pretend that it is your five minutes of fame and enjoy it! *** Anna-Kaye Forsyth** is a freelance writer for education, and a content developer for interactive whiteboard company Smart Board in New Zealand. She holds a Batchelor of Music Education from the University of Auckland. Anna is the author of 3 compilations of thinking hats lesson plans for teachers, which are due for release soon through Curriculum Concepts. Currently, Anna is working freelance to support herself as she pursues a career as a singer/songwriter.
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find schools home \| choosing the right school \| contact us \| resources \| sitemap
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Copyright © 2008 \| Find Schools Online \| All Rights Reserved