Conquering Stage Fright and Building Confidence
Hi, every one. Welcome you to Alice English public speaking class. Today we’re going to learn how to conquer stage fright and develop self-confidence.
First let’s review the major differences between public speaking and daily conversation.
First one: Public speaking is more highly structured.
Second one: Public speaking requires more formal language.
Third one Public speaking requires a different method of delivery.
First I have a question. Do you like speaking in frond of a group of people on the stage ? Do you like it? No ? Congratulation! You are human beings.
Let’s see this picture. What can you see in this picture? Can you describe it?
The speaker is frightened, right? He is really anxious and nervous with the staring of the audience. He is small and the audiences are really huge. Do you have the same feeling when you are on the stage?
Fear is a “biological process by which animals, including humans, secure the necessary energy to do a job that really matters”.
So stage fright is: Anxiety over the prospect of giving a speech in front of an audience.
A survey conducted in 1973 asked more than 2,500 Americans to list their greatest fears. To the surprise of the researchers, the largest number of people-41 percent-listed speaking before a group is their greatest fear. Many Americans even consider public speaking is worse than death.
The year before last, researchers again, asked their subjects to list their greatest fears. Here is how they responded
35 years past, people are improving. But only improving a little. Speaking in pubic is the second greatest fear in their life.
So , it is quite normal if you fell nervous in public speaking.
So, next can you tell me, what reactions will people have when people feel nervous?
Yes. When you are nervous in public speaking, your heart is beating fast. Your face is flushing. You palms are becoming sweaty. Your tongue is frozen. And your legs are shaking.
This is the quite normal reactions for human being when they feel nervous in any situation. If you have the same feeling, don’t feel shameful or guilty.
Actually, most people tend to be anxious in doing something important.
Actors are nervous before a play, politicians are nervous before a campaign speech, athletes are nervous before a big game. No matter how many times you have practiced, you still feel nervous. Believe or not, let’s see the video.
It is quite normal-even desirable –if you feel nervous in front of people. Why? Why you feel nervous when you have to do something important? Because your body is producing extra adrenaline.
This sudden shot of adrenaline is what makes your heart race, your hands shake, your knees knock, and your skin perspire. Every public speaker experiences all these reactions to some extent.
So, rather than trying to eliminate every trace of being nervous, what you have to do is to control your nervousness and try your best to transform the negative part into the positive part.
So here comes my next question: How can you control your nervousness and make it work for you?
The first point is to acquire speaking experience.
Think back to the first day you were in the kindergarten, think about your first date, and your first job interview. Did you feel nervous on these days? You were probably nervous because you were facing something new and something fresh to you . So you will feel quite nervous.
So it is with public speaking. For most of you, the biggest part of stage fright is fear of the unknown. The more you learn about public speaking and the more speeches you give, the less threatening speechmaking will become. So cherish every course to practice your speech in public speaking.
The second point , and I think the most important step is prepare, prepare and prepare. Let's watch this picture.
That is why Bush made a lot of grotesque speeches. Probably he is lack of preparation and practice. Of course this is not the first time for him. So you can see this kind of advertisement everywhere in America, “If you want to sound like him? Go to public speaking course ”.
So here comes my other question: How much time should you devote to preparing you speeches? Just give me a number. 30 minutes? 45minutes? Or even more time.
A standard rule is that each minute of speaking time requires one to two hours of preparation time- perhaps more. This may seem like a lot of time, but the rewards are well worth it. Like an actor who rehearses a role until it is just right, you will find that your confidence increases when you work on a speech until it is just right.
The third point is you have to think smartly and choose the topics you are really care and interested.
Let’s play a small game.
I will let you pick one number from 1 to 9. You will say something you about your ideal job by your favorite number. Please think smartly and describe it smartly. Can you do it? If you choose the direction you are interested in, basically you can delivery you idea more quickly, smoothly and confidently, especially in impromptu speech.
The last point is that you should know most nervousness is not visible and don’t expect perfection.
Even though your palms are sweating and your heart is pounding fast, your audience will not probably notice that— if you act cool outside, and you will be confident.
Beside the four points we have discussed, next, I’m going to give you more tips in how to control nervousness and develop confidence in public speaking.
First, be at your best physically and mentally.
So please do not drink or smoke before you speak in public.
Second one, take a couple slow, deep breaths before you start to speak.
Third one, work especially hard on your introduction.
You know, good beginning is half success, so you should work really hard in the introduction part.
Number 4, make eye contact with members of your audience.
Keeping eye contact is very important, please do not treat your audience as watermelons, pears, apples. Treat them just as human beings and keep eye contact with them.
Use visual aids.
Basically we will use PPT as visual aids. But please remember, do not make the PPT dominate your presentation, you are the speaker, you are the host. So visual aids are only aids for your presentation.
Please remember, public speaking is power, public speaking is a very important part for communication.
Thank you.
