Overcoming Academic Difficulties via Public Speaking for Student Success
Being a student in college comes with many challenges. While you will definitely experience some really nice moments with your colleagues, you will also have to face and overcome many obstacles along the way. You will have to complete assignments, you will have to write essays, or even collaborate with your peers on group projects. And in some cases, you may even have to present them in front of your teacher and the entire class. And it is in these cases that you might start feeling anxious, you might even start to panic.
The simple thought of knowing that you have to speak in front of the class might come with a huge level of stress. This may be one of the academic difficulties you experience while being a student, so how can you solve it? You may have already started looking for public speaking tips and reading about speaking anxiety. But search no more. Here are some speech tips for students that will help you with presenting in front of the class.
Practice
Well, number one of the speech tips for students is to practice. All this anxiety and stress might come from the fact that you do not feel confident enough, even though your project or presentation is top-notch. By practicing, you can spot the points that you need to improve. You can practice in front of your colleagues or even a mirror, and record yourself. Going through those recordings will give you more confidence as you will easily notice your improvements. You can also see academic challenges essay examples by WritingBros, where writers delve deeper into this topic. You can hire a writer to give you essay samples and get inspired by some positive examples. This will motivate you to start practicing and improving your speaking skills, but also find out more speaking tips. And speaking in front of the class will turn out to be more exciting than stressful for you.
Focus on the Message
Another tip for public speaking that will lead you to student success is to focus on the message more than on the audience. This means, if you have the choice, talking about a subject you are passionate about, something you would love to talk about with your friends.
Do not think about what the audience thinks of you and how you perform. Think about the fact that you are there to share information with them, things they might not know or be aware of. So, focus on the message you want to send, and on the main goal you have with your presentation. It is one of the most helpful public speaking tips for students.
Start With a Story or Joke
A good way to ease into your speech is to start your presentation with a story or joke. This can help you break the ice and engage with the audience. However, keep in mind to choose appropriate jokes for the audience and the occasion. Do not opt for something offensive, as this might make you more stressed or anxious when you see the reaction of the audience. At the same time, try to keep it brief and to the point. The joke or the story is just a way to grab the attention of the audience, it should not take over your entire speech.
Visualize Success
Visualizing success means creating a mental image of yourself succeeding in this exact situation where you have to present your project and speak in front of an audience. How can you do this? Well, find a silent space where you feel comfortable. Take deep breaths that will help you tense and release your muscle groups. Create a vivid image of yourself succeeding in this situation and delivering a powerful speech to your audience. Focus on the positive aspects of the situation rather than on the negative ones. And one of the most essential things to do is to use positive affirmations.
One of the greatest diseases we all have is negative self-talk. So, say to yourself “I can do this”, “I am confident and capable”, or “I will succeed”. And do not say this just one time, but repeat it. Visualizing your success should be done daily. You have already created this story of success; you just have to visualize it daily and let it motivate you and keep the stress at bay. Believe in yourself and in your ability to succeed.
Final Thoughts
College time might be one of the best periods of your life. It comes with many amazing moments and friendships but with challenges too. Even though these challenges may seem insurmountable at the beginning, you have the strength within you you need to succeed. Practice before delivering your speech, focus on the message and not on the audience, and start with a joke or story. Visualize your success and do not forget to do this daily. This will motivate and inspire you.
About the author:
Robert Griffith is a content writer and blogger. He loves writing articles for students and helping them overcome common college challenges. Robert loves reading, hiking, and traveling.
