As per the requirements of the First Year Engineering program, I had to choose a general elective. For fall semester I chose COM 114. It is basically a class in which you will learn how to effectively make presentations in front of an audience. I had my first presentation last week.
One day prior to my presentation, as I was rehearsing in the hallways, I felt nervous about the challenge I had to face. Presenting can be a daunting task for many as it creates an irrational fear; Irrational because there is no direct threat to life. Making a speech is something as harmless as a one-on-one conversation. Where does this fear come from? And more importantly kind of fear is it? In my case, it’s a fear of failure. In fact, as I went through my speech, my already nervous state worsened. I kept on forgetting my main points and I felt like I was going to fail. The fear kept on mounting.
On speech day, I was the last to go up to speak. I waited anxiously as my heart occasionally and uncontrollably pounded in my chest. Then I was up. I got up, trying to conceal as much as possible my nervousness. I opened my mouth and began talking for five minutes. I stuttered a few times, I had a few blank moments; I kept on looking at the back wall instead of making direct eye contact, and towards my conclusion, my hands started for some reason to lightly shake. It was a funny feeling to have no control over my own body. At one point, I just wanted to finish my speech ASAP. Eventually I finished my speech.
When I got my teacher's feedback, his comments surprised me:
“Delivery: Strengths: Good Eye contact, Extemporaneous Style that gives the audience the impression you are talking to them and not at them. This is not an easy style[...], so you are in great position to go forward.”
Ahhh I always wondered that too. A speech is basically like talking to someone but why do we still get nervous? Usually I don't get too nervous but when it comes to a class or a group of people I don't know it gets real bad. I hate that feeling of thinking that you did bad on any assignment, and then you get a great score, because if you start to expect the same every time, you will be brought down. Way to go though on your feedback haha. I bet you got a pretty good score on the speech. (Jayne)
ReplyDeleteWow, great job, bro! It's crazy how nervous public speaking gets many of us....but, in my experience, we usually do a bit better than we feel like we're doing because it always just feels so intense while we're going through it - enough so, that I think we associate those unpleasant feelings with the feelings we have when we get like a bad grade or something.
ReplyDeleteBut, as to why standing in front of people and talking about a topic that we've become familiar with is so intense & gets us so nervous.....yea, it doesn't really make too much sense. Maybe there's a link to concentrating more on the material than the people (when you don't know many people in the class), and knowing that you're gettig evaluated - could lead to it feeling un-natural.
Either way, interesting topic, bro, and way to go on the speech!
Formal presentations can be very unnerving, so good job giving the impression of having an "easy style" even if you didn't feel at ease! Well, one thing you said really struck me- that your presentation was the last one of the day. That is always the worse for me. I hate sitting in a room, knowing that I have to present, but trying to look interested in what other people are saying- I just get more and more nervous as the time passes.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I am nervous about COM. I have to take it next semester and I have heard nothing but negative comments about the whole class. I am so happy you did so well! Keep up the good work! Did you have your speech prepared many days in advance? That is one thing that I wonder about for next semester is having enough time to make sure that I do get everything accomplished, especially with engineering 132. I have heard it is a lot harder. Actually, I was talking to an older student in engineering and she said that she had an awful group for that class. One student never showed up to class, one student showed up a total of three times, and then the third member did not work very hard and he said he would finish what was needed for the final presentation (luckily she did it herself also), but he didn't show up the next day (the day of the presentation). So, she presented their semester project by herself. That would be so scary! The teacher felt bad for her and gave her an A though. Sorry that was so negative and hopefully all of our groups are much better!
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