Public speaking class

[dtscds]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Also know that EVERYONE is scared of public speaking.

Not necessarily. I have never been afraid of speaking in public. I don't know why since I am pretty shy as a rule. But, as a pastor, it would be a little tough if I had a problem speaking in front of groups.
As said before, know your material. But, beyond that, one key for me was to find a way of organizing my notes. That will take trial and error. I have found that for me, the fewer the better. I like to have a skeleton outline, some key sentences typed out in full and then have my main structure in my head. Yeah, I tend to forget a line or two or some minor point I was wanting to make, but if I have too much lined out then I end up getting tied to my notes. At that point I feel like I might as well have typed it out word for word and read it straight from the page.
Try not to sweat the first time or two as you try different ways of making your notes/structure. Go into it assuming that you will not do as well as you want. Anticipate that you are going to be scared to death as your time comes. Go into your preparation knowing that the walk to the podium is going to feel like you are walking to the electric chair. I don't know if that will make the fear and dread any less but at least you will be 'ready' for it when it arrives.
The only other thing I would suggest, and this is THE BIG ONE!!!--make sure you are clear, concise and give them something to take away. I don't know how many sermons I have sat through waiting to get to the point only to find it was just information. I always say to myself as I prepare a sermon/speech, "Yeah, that's good information--so what?" What do you want them to do with the information? Give specific things for them to do now that you have given them your information. One of my professors in seminary said, "information without application is a lecture."

[Crashoran]

Originally Posted by kula23

Lucky I took that class online from college. I just videotape myself on mac isight and copy on DVD and send that to my teacher. It was easy class! Good luck to you!

They're offering the same thing next semester except your videos are uploaded to YouTube. Kind of takes the 'public' out of Public Speaking though.

Thanks for the tips everyone

[barP]

crash, i was a competitive public speaker through junior high and high school. i won. a lot. through my career i had to do lots of training classes and sales presentations, so i've spoken to audiences ranging in size from 1 to 1000.

the single best tip in this thread is: rehearse. in the car. in the shower. walking around. driving the tractor (i was a farm kid.)

the thing that kills 99% of new speakers is realizing they are in front of an audience and are suddenly unsure of what they are supposed to say. for competition, i used to literally memorize all my material, including gestures.

good luck!

wp.

[Shaggysnack]

When I took the public speaking, I would alwayd try to bring humor into the speech. If I can get the audience laughing, then I felt better and realized the audience was a little more human and not there to crucify me. I also would pick topics that nobody knew anything about, for two reasons. First, nobody would know if I screwed up and gave wrong information, and second, well, I forgot second. Sorry. I gave speeches over things like spontaneous human combustion, dyeing your own hair, and serial killers. I like the bizarre. IT keeps your audience interested if it is a little bizarre.

LAstly, others tell you to practice and practice and practice to your friends to yourself, this does not work for me. I makes me more nervous and I forget mu info. I make a rough outline and then wing it with minimal practice. That way the information is all fresh and if I forget a line it does not throw my train of thought off the track.

[Rson]

I love public speaking and I do it often.
Here are my tips:
1: know the subject backwards and sdrawrof
2: Don't have a full prepared speech, have a few note cards with GUIDES to your speech to get you on track
3: Think of the audience as your friend, talk to the people not the crowd. I always pick out a participant and throw a one liner at them or comment on the shirt.
4: YES TELL A QUICK ICE BREAKER. Maybe joke that you too are a Hockey mom or you intend on getting Mavericy today.

Remember that if you lose your place, no one but yourself knows it....just carry on.

[kula23]

Originally Posted by Crashoran

They're offering the same thing next semester except your videos are uploaded to YouTube. Kind of takes the 'public' out of Public Speaking though.

Thanks for the tips everyone

OH man YouTube is better than copying on DVD LOL.

[Crashoran]

Speech is tomorrow..I'll let you know if I survive

[Kohnfoto]

You'll do great! Have confidence and power through it. Oh and if you make a mistake keep going. Don't stop. It'll make you more nervous. Best of luck!

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by Crashoran

Speech is tomorrow..I'll let you know if I survive

OTOH, you may die on stage from fright.

[Crashoran]

Seems like I did pretty good. Most people got the funny points and laughed which made me feel better. 10 people were supposed to speak today but only 3 showed up, and I was chosen to go first. I felt bad for the third person, she broke down and started crying of the middle of her speech and sat back down at her desk. I guess people are alot more afraid of this than I am!

[ggeen]

I took a presentations class a few years back. The first day our homework was to put together a presentation introducing ourselves. This is pretty standard course work. What subject do you know better!?

* A few suggestions. Stay loose. Don't tense up and don't think about tensing up.
* Take a few deep breaths before you give your speech.
* If you can...that is have room, stretch a little bit.
* If you are answering someone and looking into the eyes freaks you out, look at the forehead or better yet, the nose. This approximates looking the subject in the eyes.
* My trick is to talk just over the audiences head. Not figuratively but literally. As I seem to be scanning the crowd, I look over top of the crowd.
* Another trick I employ is to look for a few friendly looking faces in the crowd and talk to them. This is also a Hillary Clinton trick.
* Practice a lot! and then some more. Know your material better than anyone else. Knowledge breeds confidence.
* Make some crib notes. Not the entire speech maybe just some high points you want to be sure to cover and any facts you want to be sure to get right. Such things as numbers, quotes, etc.

Good luck, relax, and know your material. You will do great. -G

[sandy_ruotolo]

Although I am required to do it in certain classes, I still am required to give up there in front of my classmates and professor and talk on my research subject. I'm basically a very reserved, quiet person. The tips that the other members shared are great. My little input? If you goof, laugh at yourself, and go on. Don't worry about any mistakes. Yes you do have to know what your're talking about, but when you show humor, and the ability to laugh at yourself, it draws in the audience, and keeps them interested, you could also throw out a question to a freindly face, and see if they react. If you get a communication between yourself and the audience, they forgive your awakwarness, but remeber what you have said.

[Steelsun]

Like many people have said: practice - in your car, in front of a mirror, to your dogs, parents, etc.

I used to absolutely hate and fear public speaking, now I only loathe it. Funny though, once I am "on", I become a different person and have very little trouble. It helps that I get paid for speaking now (my last gig got me travel & expenses for 2 days in N Dakota/Minnesota, plus $2500 fee for what amounted to 3 hours of speaking time, and 1/2 of that was at a lunch table answering questions after the presentation).