giving a speech

[Unregistered]

i have to give an English speech this coming week. i am VERY shy and get very nervous while speaking in front of people. any advice as to how i get get myself to calm down?

[Redd]

I've given enough presentations to learn a few tricks...

1) Know the speech's contents from heart, not the word-for-word memorization of it. Listening to someone recite a speech is dull; people are more apt to be interested if it is from the gut.

2) Practice on a friendly audience. Do you have any classmates that have to do the same thing? Get three friends together, stay after class (preferably in the a room similar to where the "real" speech will be held) and present the material in front of them. Critique each other on thier posture, body language, annunciation, and voice projection after they recite thier stuff.

3) Practice in a quiet room at home or go for a drive...bottom line, just talk thru the speech to yourself. Go over, and over and over it. (and go over it again)

4) Bring a bottle of water in with you. Every new point you make, or every new paragraph, take a quick sip. It will keep your mouth from getting dry, and will give you a little break to collect your thoughts if you notice yourself losing a point or "ramblng".

5) If you feel nervous, and you think your voice may crack...fake a cough, and compose yourself. A sip of water, and you'll be good to go.

Public speaking is a skill requiring practice...don't worry, you'll get the hang of it!