Ethnic Project

[Jessica]

I am presenting my ethnic project this Friday. I am so nervous. I know what I am going to bring, and I know what I am going to talk about, but as always, I am scared to go in front of the class and talk.
I'll try talking in front of my family to practice

To not lose points, I have to be:

• well prepared
• several artifacts
• speak clearly/loudly (need to work on this)
• good eye contact (need to work on this a bit)
• 3-5 minute time
• How do I speak with excitement??

Any advice? :-(

[Jessica]

someone help! (I will delete this post once someone actually posts)

[laepelba]

Being nervous is normal. In fact, I'm sure that all of your classmates will also be nervous. IN FACT, I think that there's something wrong if you're NOT nervous.

Anyway - you're right about being well prepared. And to have "toys" (artifacts) and to keep within your time frame. As far as speaking clearly and loudly and making eye contact ..... let me tell you something that has worked for me in the past. Whenever I thought I might be nervous about speaking in front of a group, I would do the talk without wearing my contact lenses. No one else knew that I couldn't see a darned thing. But without my contacts, I can't see my hand in front of my face, let alone the faces of the people I'm speaking to. It made it a bit easier to LOOK LIKE I was making eye contact without actually doing so.

Another idea about eye contact is that you can try looking at their foreheads or something ... close enough to their eyes without actually seeing the eyes..... Just some thoughts there.

Speaking with excitement is a different thing. You don't want to pretend to be excited. You really want to be excited. So sometimes it's better to not be TOO prepared. Have you chosen a topic about which you are truly excited? And do you honestly believe that you can help generate excitement in the others in your class? That would definitely help you SOUND excited ... if you really go in there with the idea that you are going to "win some converts" to your cause (or that you are going to get some new people excited about what it is that you're talking about).

You'll have to let us know how this goes!

[Tomisimo]

Here are a few tips:

• Pretend you're not in front of the class. Pretend you're just talking to your best friend.
• Speak slowly - This will help you to speak clearly.
• Pretend you're speaking with your best friend, but that she is at the back of the classroom, so you have to speak louder.
• To speak with excitement, just try to be really interested in the topic.

[Jessica]

thank you guys, for your help! I hope I do well

[laepelba]

Remember to let us know how it goes!

[Jessica]

Don't you think it's stupid that I'm even shy to present in front of my own family?

:-(

[bmarquis124]

in college you should take a public speaking class. i hated speaking in front of people but the class really helped me.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes. it speak front of the people is normal more if you are a teacher.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by jchen

Don't you think it's stupid that I'm even shy to present in front of my own family?

:-(

No - sometimes it's most difficult to speak in front of people you know well! That's where you feel the most vulnerable......

You'll do a GREAT job!!