Tell me about speaking in front of a large group!

So, I'm not sure why, but I agreed to speak to about 200 high school students about my study abroad experience. The event is in a couple of weeks from now. I have never been good at public speaking. :shock: I've always been quite nervous about it, and upon reflection, there has never been any reason for me to be nervous... it's quite an irrational fear, like most people's fear of public speaking.

So, does anyone have any tips? Don't tell me to imagine people in their underwear because quite frankly... that doesn't work. :P Plus, I don't want to imagine a bunch of kids like that.

Certainly, lots of people have this fear (including me for sure). Although it's subjective, I'll tell you how I deal with it. I try and pretend I have confidence - I know that sounds strange, but I just summon confidence from nowhere just by pretending I have it. I try to think, "I don't care if they judge me- all that matters is that I speak my mind and get on with my life". In a way, I try to temporarily become arrogant and self-absorbed. That way I don't worry about the other people in the room that much. I assure myself that what I'm about to say has value, at least to me if no-one else. I also try and put things in perspective and think about how good I'll feel once it's over. :)

Hope that helps. Good luck, anyway!

You're a lucid dreamer, right? If you can, try to do this in a lucid dream. Some time ago, I entered a Taekwondo contest where I had to perform alone in front of judges and lots of other people. I practiced this in my lucid dreams before the big day, because I was nervous about performing in front of these people. I didn't think it would work, but I felt much more confident during the contest, and I was hardly nervous at all during it! :D So it could be worth a shot.

Breathing techniques can also help when you're nervous, make sure that you breath with the bottom of your stomach when you're nervous, or speaking in public in general. It can work wonders, especially on your voice. :)

Talk to the guy in the middle of the back row
and don't "read" from any notes you have.
head up, project your voice

speak slowly
- it's amazing the amount of people that garble through their speech as quick as they can, and hurry off - very hard to take anything in

alter your voice
- this is especially important if you don't have any slides or other visual aids
nothing worse than a single pitch, droning monologue for 1/2 hour

I went to a little presentation making class once... some pointers are...

As Ynot said, look at people. Always look at just one person in the eyes, but change the person up. then you are just making a speech to one person.

Walk around, do different things. You should definitly bring slides, if you can to at least show some pictures.

Realize your audience and your intention. Think about what kids will be concerned with in a travel abroad program and adhere to that. Though mostly keep in mind what the people who are asking you to make the speech want you to say.

Look happy, and confident, even if you're not. You are with a bunch of high school guys they will be falling all over for you anyways.

"Look happy and confident" is a technical forceful thing to do. It won't get rid of nervousness because you'll be acting out something you don't understand the basics of.

Speaking to many at once is no different than speaking to a few or even just one person. The point is that you're speaking with them, basically. A speech is a one-way monologue, sure (as long as the questions come after the end), but when you're speaking to an audience, you need to understand how to do it naturally.

How do you speak with your friends? You speak in a way that would relay your thoughts best. You explain things in a friendly and welcoming manner. Same goes for speaking to an audience. Being "happy and confident" is a mask while being charismatic and friendly is what brings out a true speaker. You're there to tell the audience something. Do so. Keep the topic in mind but not as some essay you're retelling from a strictly worded paper but as an interesting topic you're explaining to a circle of people...which it basically is, heh.

Good luck!

I like the idea of pretending you have confidence, that works in general everyday life too.

Just think about when you watch someone give a presentation. People usually only pay somewhat attention to what is going on. If you mess up saying something they aren't gonna remember.

I'm sure you have your own ways that you prefer, but for me the best thing to do is to practice and look over the points I want to talk about so I have a decent plan that I am going to follow and then when I get up there I will just improvise and play it by ear. Trying to read directly off of a paper or by looking at large notes will usually sound awkward and not like you really know what you're doing. It is okay to have a paper with you with some basic points so that you can remember what comes next but it should just be a thing to jog your memory and you will know what to talk about because you have prepared.

Most of all I'd say just to remember that no one really cares about how well you present, if they are listening then it will be to what you are talking about and not the exact things you say and they probably won't even notice if you 'mes' up (yes that was a (bad) attempt at a joke). Also be yourself.

If you think you did really bad people will think you did fine, if you think you did okay then people will think you were good, if you think you did good people won't even think about it.

Have fun with it:banana:

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Originally Posted by Merlock

"Look happy and confident" is a technical forceful thing to do. It won't get rid of nervousness because you'll be acting out something you don't understand the basics of.

Speaking to many at once is no different than speaking to a few or even just one person. The point is that you're speaking with them, basically. A speech is a one-way monologue, sure (as long as the questions come after the end), but when you're speaking to an audience, you need to understand how to do it naturally.

How do you speak with your friends? You speak in a way that would relay your thoughts best. You explain things in a friendly and welcoming manner. Same goes for speaking to an audience. Being "happy and confident" is a mask while being charismatic and friendly is what brings out a true speaker. You're there to tell the audience something. Do so. Keep the topic in mind but not as some essay you're retelling from a strictly worded paper but as an interesting topic you're explaining to a circle of people...which it basically is, heh.

Good luck!

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I didn't say looking happy and confident will make you so, but it will make you have a good speech. She wants to know how to make a good speech, as well.

Gah I need help in the exact thing, my teacher desperately needed someone to fill in the last spot in Forensics, so I decided to help her. :roll:

Thing is, I've never spoke in front of a stage alone. :shock: Or have any idea about what is supposed to be done. >.<

I'll keep this advice in mind.

Here's some stuff I'd recommend you do, it works for me when I do public speaking.

Try to stand up straight and come off as confident
Clear your throat.
Think of what you're going to say, before you say it, have small mini breaks inbetween the paragraphs.
Use body language to come off as relaxed i.e. move your hands, try to be open.
Speak in a nice pace, not too slow, not too fast.
Try not to look at a single person, move you vision around the room.

How long is the speach anyway?

Wow! Those are some extremely useful tips. Every single post is quite useful!

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Originally Posted by Pensive Patrick

Certainly, lots of people have this fear (including me for sure). Although it's subjective, I'll tell you how I deal with it. I try and pretend I have confidence - I know that sounds strange, but I just summon confidence from nowhere just by pretending I have it.

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Sounds like you're on to something there! That definitely works in every day situations. Didn't think to apply that to a speech. Thanks!! :D

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Originally Posted by Luminous

You're a lucid dreamer, right? If you can, try to do this in a lucid dream. Some time ago, I entered a Taekwondo contest where I had to perform alone in front of judges and lots of other people. I practiced this in my lucid dreams before the big day, because I was nervous about performing in front of these people. I didn't think it would work, but I felt much more confident during the contest, and I was hardly nervous at all during it! :D So it could be worth a shot.

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:doh: How did I not think of this earlier. That is excellent advice. Lucid dreaming has helped me with other fears, so why not this one. And now I feel motivated to try those 3AM WILDS, heh.

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Originally Posted by Ynot

speak slowly
- it's amazing the amount of people that garble through their speech as quick as they can, and hurry off - very hard to take anything in

alter your voice
- this is especially important if you don't have any slides or other visual aids
nothing worse than a single pitch, droning monologue for 1/2 hour

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Good points. I need to think about how I would want a speech to sound if I were in the audience, and fast/monotone talkers are dreadful!

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Originally Posted by wasup

As Ynot said, look at people. Always look at just one person in the eyes, but change the person up. then you are just making a speech to one person.

Look happy, and confident, even if you're not. You are with a bunch of high school guys they will be falling all over for you anyways.

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That's a good idea, talking to one person at a time. Now that I think about it, that's precisely what my professors do in their 500+ student classes.

And hehe :cheeky: about the other part.

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Originally Posted by Merlock

Speaking to many at once is no different than speaking to a few or even just one person. The point is that you're speaking with them, basically. A speech is a one-way monologue, sure (as long as the questions come after the end), but when you're speaking to an audience, you need to understand how to do it naturally.

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Awesome points! Hmm, I already feel better about it being a large group. I totally agree about sounding natural.

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Originally Posted by ThePhobiaViewed

Most of all I'd say just to remember that no one really cares about how well you present, if they are listening then it will be to what you are talking about and not the exact things you say and they probably won't even notice if you 'mes' up (yes that was a (bad) attempt at a joke). Also be yourself.

If you think you did really bad people will think you did fine, if you think you did okay then people will think you were good, if you think you did good people won't even think about it.

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I totally agree. I mean, I know that's true for me whenever I'm part of the audience. I guess speakers assume that people are going to criticize them... when in reality, nobody actually cares. :P At least not in these types of speeches.

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Originally Posted by Xox

Thing is, I've never spoke in front of a stage alone. :shock: Or have any idea about what is supposed to be done. >.<

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GOOD LUCK XOXIE!! :goodjob2: If I can do it, so can you.

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Originally Posted by NeAvO

Here's some stuff I'd recommend you do, it works for me when I do public speaking.

Try to stand up straight and come off as confident
Clear your throat.
Think of what you're going to say, before you say it, have small mini breaks inbetween the paragraphs.
Use body language to come off as relaxed i.e. move your hands, try to be open.
Speak in a nice pace, not too slow, not too fast.
Try not to look at a single person, move you vision around the room.

How long is the speach anyway?

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Awesome. The body language bit is quite important. Good thing my pants don't have adequate pockets. I'll try to remember to keep my arms relaxed.

I'm not sure how long it is. :hrm: I guess I'll find out soon.. hopefully.. maybe..



:smitten: Thanks everyone!! I feel so much better already.

I've always had fun talking in front of large crowds :P. How long is your presentation? A few minutes, an hour? Will you be the only one talking?

Anyways, the basic idea is to draw the crowd in within the first minute. If they don't show interest at the beginning, then you've lost them for the whole speech. So right at the start of your speech, try to be as "special" as possible (you've never failed at that so far :P), without overdoing it of course, it has to look natural. Be funny, animated, spontaneous, have a general flow with your ideas that is easy to follow. Think of old professors you've had, good and bad, try and remember what they did that made them so good or bad.

If you can get through that first crucial minute and hook the crowd's attention, then the rest will be easy going. You'll have plenty of opportunities to personalize your presentation and have fun with the crowd. Remember to act on the crowd's reactions, so many speakers think that it's just a one-way communication, while in reality the audience also speaks back to you. If you notice that their attention is waning, then it might be a good time to change the subject or to throw in some humurous comment. If at all possible, interacting with the crowd is always a good idea. Don't forget the basic stuff either; speak loudly, change tones, be active, head up...

Also (this is starting to get pretty advanced, but it's an interesting subject, so I'll mention it anyways :P), the human brain goes through "cycles" of attention span. A good orator can work around these cycles to convey his thoughts more effectively. In an hour, an average person usually takes in information for the first 45 minutes or so, and uses the last 15 minutes to process and go through all that information, during which the person has a shorter attention span. There's also a shorter cycle of a minute, where 45 seconds are spent absorbing information and 15 on going through it. The general idea is to say all the important stuff in those good periods and fill in the bad periods with more light-hearted, less complicated content.

Woah, that was a brick... Well, uh... good luck :D!

There's some great advice here! I'm sure you will do fine, Mes.

I always find that waiting to give the speech is worse than actually giving it. My nerves leading up to it makes my voice shake and I get breathless.

Therefore, I have to make an effort to speak more slowly than what I think is natural, but if I don't, I tend to tumble over all my words and end up sounding like a sound clip on double speed.

Really know your subject. If you are confident in the content you are talking about, you can talk your way through it more normally instead of like a stiff speech.

Practice, practice, practice. Video record yourself and see where you can make improvements.

Visual aids help a lot, as people have said. Not only does it take eyes off you for a second, but it helps keep people interested in what you are saying. You can also ask a few simple questions to the audience to keep it more interactive and interesting.

Wear clothes you are comfortable in. If you wear that cute outfit, but it rides up in the back, you will feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. Wear something fitting to the occasion, yet comfortable enough that you can stand up, sit down, and walk around without having to re-adjust everything.

I'm sure you will do fine. Like I said, it's the time leading up to it that will be worse than actually doing it!

"I read a study that said the number one fear of people was speaking in front of an audience. Number two was death. This means to the average person, if they had to attend a funeral; they would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy." - Jerry Seinfeld.

My point is: fake your death, then you don't have to do it :P No I'm joking.

I hate speaking in front of a lot of people if I'm bored with what I'm talking about. I teach karate twice a week and enjoy doing that because it's interesting. Talk about the more interesting aspects of your experience. Share anecdotes and show pictures rather than go on and on about the boring stuff. That's the biggest mistake I see when it comes to public speaking, people get too into details. The presentation should be fun and high level, the details can be handled in QandA.

Mes its not to late to back out!

Just tell them someone poisoned your horse or your brother is in a prison in mexico and you really have to go bail him out.

I hate to speak in public specualy if I have to stand up where everyone can see me, the problem with me is my voice changes to a voice that sounds like I'm upset and scared.

If you have that problem the best thing you can do is pause for a moment, in fact make frequent pauses, oh yeah and act like your speaking directly to one person. (see thats already been suggested but it was a big thing in the beginning of me speaking out loud in class at my seat)

When I was younger I used to speak in front of large groups more often, I spoke to around 100 or so kids once when I was much younger, I just remember back in those days I didn't care what anyone thought of me, it may be a bad attitude but it worked at the time.

Also well where on the subject does anyone know if you have to speak out loud in college more or less then you do in highschool?

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Originally Posted by LucidDreamGod

Also well where on the subject does anyone know if you have to speak out loud in college more or less then you do in highschool?

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Much less for me (except in German).

most kids in highschool aren't interested anyways. not that what you are doing isn't interesting, it is just that kids have a lot of things going through their minds then what they are supposed to be paying attention to. In my spanish class when we present i keep in mind that no one actually knows what im saying, only the teacher, so if i make a mistake no one will notice at all.
i am also in this group at school and we have to go around to smaller groups of kids 10-15 and talk about what we do and lead them through activities. well one day our "leader" my principal asked if 5 of us would go to a teachers convention for the school and lead them through what we are doing. we didn't know what we were presenting and we had to make it up on the spot and improvise. we also had a "questions" when the teachers would ask us questions and we were on the spot. It was hard, but it wasnt that bad even though it was all the faculty in my school. A couple teachers even fell asleep and were snoring on us during our presentation!! i am a bad presenter but i guess i have gotten over it and i feel confident now going into classrooms with people i dont know and presenting this information. i am after all the expert on the topic! anyways good luck remember that you know more about it than anyone else and you will do fine.

My best advice, is to just be comfortable. Pretend like you're just practicing it to yourself. Also, don't feel like everybody is watching your every move. Because as the speech goes on, less and les people will even be paying attention, so there's no need to be nervous. Besides, if you are older than all of them, I don't see why you should be nervous in the first place. I'm only nervous if I'm talking to kids of my age group or older.

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Originally Posted by ninja9578

"I read a study that said the number one fear of people was speaking in front of an audience. Number two was death. This means to the average person, if they had to attend a funeral; they would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy." - Jerry Seinfeld.

My point is: fake your death, then you don't have to do it :P No I'm joking.

I hate speaking in front of a lot of people if I'm bored with what I'm talking about. I teach karate twice a week and enjoy doing that because it's interesting. Talk about the more interesting aspects of your experience. Share anecdotes and show pictures rather than go on and on about the boring stuff. That's the biggest mistake I see when it comes to public speaking, people get too into details. The presentation should be fun and high level, the details can be handled in QandA.

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I know that was supposed to be a joke by Jerry Seinfeld but it is an obvious oversimplification... 100% of our motivations don't come from fear is about as simple as I could put it.

Remember that the audience is not thinking, "Damn, she is so nervous. I can't imagine being nervous up there." They are really thinking, "My God, she has so much nerve being willing to speak to this audience. I can't imagine myself doing such a thing. If she is nervous, at least she is up there. I wouldn't be."

Public speaking anxiety is the number one phobia for a reason. It is so sefl-prepetuating. The whole fear is about looking like you have fear. When you think that you might look like you have fear, you have more fear, so you even more fear that you might look like you have fear. Let me assure you... The audience UNDERSTANDS. They understand so much that most of them would never dream of doing it themselves. They get it. It does not matter how nervous you look. The audience still thinks you have guts for speaking to them at all. So there is nothing to fear. In knowing that, you can really rise above the situation to mighty heights and look like you have no fear. :) But if you don't, so what? The audience totally understands and still envies you for your guts.

Remember, everyone in your position is nervous, unless they're teachers for a living or something and used to it just by doing it every day. It's how you deal with it that makes the difference. And in fact, you'll find that it's kind of like a roller-coaster ride: you might be scared at first, then at the end, you're totally exhilarated.

Write out a basic outline for what you're going to talk about. And remember the golden rule: more than 3 takeaways is asking too much. Here's a simple outline for any speech, with random comments mixed in:

1) Attention-getter: Never start a talk with "I will talk about foo"... You want to first capture their interest, curiosity and attention. For example, if you're going to talk about LD, don't say, "Today I'll discuss lucid dreaming." *snore* Instead, start with a sentence that looks more like, "Have you ever had a dream so vivid that......<insert stuff> What if I told you that you can....." NOW I'm interested to hear where you're going with this and what you have to say. Plus, you've built additional rapport because you started off with something they could relate to.

2) Actual topic: Ok, NOW you're ready to mention that you're talking about LD, and all that fun stuff.

3) Intro: Usually, I like to put another motivator in here just for good measure. Start with talking about all the practical applications of LD, say, like overcoming nervousness (in this particular talk, I'd mention I practiced this speech in LD as well :D). Then, give a quick outline of what you're going to talk about (each main point or whatever). Ideally, there are three, but it can be more. It's just hard to have people retain more information than three chunks of things.

4) Meat & Potatoes: The main points. I wouldn't constrain you with templates here, just remember that all good scenes in a movie have a transition (and if they don't, it looks like a hack job). So keep in mind that you MUST transition gracefully between your main topics. Don't just jump from one to the other, or you'll lose them.

5) Conclusion: This is pretty simple. The easiest conclusion is just parroting back the outline in the intro in the past tense, but that's kind of boring. Play around with it, but DO work your main topics into it, since the repetition will help them retain it. And always finish with something memorable. It doesn't have to be really funny or really deep, but something they'll remember.

Now, if you make three points in your talk, you can smoothly do 5-20 minutes. If it needs to be longer, then it makes sense to add some points, but don't forget that it really is hard for the human mind to retain more than 3 chunks of information in one sitting.

Finally, I'd like to say, rehearse it. That doesn't mean MEMORIZE it... it just means be comfortable with the flow. You can fill in the blanks yourself, but you don't want your foundation to fall. You always want to know where your train of thought is. Don't be all over the place. You've practiced enough when you can get through the entire thing without getting lost, but without memorizing words. Usually, you'll go through it, and find a couple of stumbling blocks... random things you have trouble wording... once you iron out those wrinkles, it'll be smooth sailing. If you feel as ready as you'll ever be, it'll mitigate your nervousness. And above all, have fun!

o0o0o0o0o I love public speaking :D

One good thing to try do is get to speak to people before hand, if you have the opportunity, for example if there are a few people talking before you then a break, speak to a few people you see down at front etc, that way when you talk you will have familiar faces near you, and wont seem as daunting.

Record yourself speaking at home and watch it back! Everyone has comfort words! I did this for an advanced presentation skills course and it turned out in a 15 minute presentation I said 'urm' about 35 times! Which is a lot! Most people have comfort words to fill in the gaps or whilst they think. Now I take a breath and carry on, you sound so much more professional.

- Dont fiddle with anything in your hands
- Don't talk with your hands in your pocket
- Try not to read from paper
- Look around the room at people when talking, this way people try to be more alert and listen if they think you might see them not paying attention
- Don't try to be funny. Whilst moderate humour is okay in some forms, trying too hard to be funny can come accross as seeiming desperate for acceptance.

I can't really think of much else except really the best way to get over it a fear of something is by doing it.

Good luck :D :D

Well if it helps, you can always picture me naked.

Being you, what you should do is just say.

"Most of them are Christians. Who cares what they have to say! Fuck them all, I have nothing to be scared of!" :lol:

Just don't get pissed off. :P