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Why can't I talk easily in front of my class?

281 Answers
Last Updated: 05/28/2022 at 8:22am
1 Tip to Feel Better
India
Moderated by

Jui Shankar, Ph.D

Psychologist

My worldview offers a systems perspective that values diverse clients and their struggles. I believe supportive and nonjudgmental therapeutic relationships empower clients.

Top Rated Answers
allnaturalSky4753
February 20th, 2022 2:54am
Lots of people have the fear of public speaking... and it can be extremely hard for people such as myself. I always hated it, and teachers always make you do it. It can be hard for a long time, but I have found that the only way to overcome it is to keep on practicing because this is a part of getting nervous in front of a lot of people because all of their focus is on you, and they are all paying attention to you. You will need to look at your notes if you are allowed to use them or your report if reading your report, or if you are speaking what you wrote in an essay, it can help if you learned some of the breathing techniques and just focus your eyes on the papers and not look at the crowds, or if you have to look up to look at the back of the room and not focus on them. It can be extremely hard for people who have nervousness and worries as a part of general life of an anxiety disorder as well. The only way to it (speaking calm), is the way through it (surviving a speech.) You need practice, and only through repeated attempts of failed speeches for myself, this is how I overcame my shyness and speak whatever I want now - yet I go by the attitude that I don't care what people think of what I have to say (such as if it in an informational piece of writing, or topic that I have to persuade people on such as persuasive writing. I had to be on a debate team on high school - my choice, and you have to focus your view on certain issues (example climate change... to get the other people to see your point of view. I had to slowly come to the attitude that I do not care what other people think of me, and I will speak up and say what I want even thought I am nervous. I will get to the goal of being more calm and not nervous around all those people, by putting myself through speeches to get more comfortable with it. That helped me with nervousness.
Anonymous
March 9th, 2022 2:35pm
Sometimes it's due to anxiety other times is just because your scared. It can be hard but often I like to call it stage confidence and you can get more stage confidence with the more practice and more time. Take it step by step and soon you will be able to talk in front of your class trust me. It is hard yes but sometimes things have to be hard to be able to pass them. I mean I used to have horrible stage confidence until I went to a doctor and started to grow. It may be hard now but you will get through it.
melodyishere22
March 18th, 2022 12:12am
Sometimes speaking in front of classes is nerve-racking because the amount of people watching that you will see on your day to day. It can be very scary to stand there and look at a ton of familiar faces and know that you want to be seen as a peer but also want a good grade. Just remember to breathe! The more you practice the presentation, the easier it will be because you will know what to excpect. Just remember that everyone in the class is nervous to present and to be honest, not everyone is actually listening anyway. You will do great!
Anonymous
March 19th, 2022 6:19am
You might be intimidated by your peers! Speaking and being scared of everyone's attention on you is a common fear that many people face, you're not alone in this! Sometimes, you're afraid that you'll mess up and your peers will judge you or that you'll blank on what to say and make a fool out of yourself. However, this is not the case! While it may seem intimidating, many people smile during others' mistakes not to scorn, but to show empathy, encouragement, and/or fondness. To get over this fear, you can try setting up comfortable mini speeches for your friends or talking to strangers (strangers as in unfamiliar peers, not some suspicious individual of course, stranger danger!) Good luck!!
Anonymous
April 3rd, 2022 12:37pm
Sometimes when we struggle with self confidence, it is not easy to express ourselves, we worry about being wrong and embarrasing ourselves. However we must remember that our fellow peers are possibly going through the same emotions or are kind enough to not judge us if we make mistakes. Also we must work on improving self esteem and confidence and rememver that even if we make mistakes or embarass ourselves we are tough enough to handle it. Showing up is the key, show up no matter how you feel and see your confidence rise. All the best to you!
RoyaltyRoman1204
May 12th, 2022 7:50pm
Sometimes it's really hard to get in front of a lot of people. It can be really scary. This isn't something that only you're experiencing. A lot of people are scared to speak in front of the class !! It's a very vulnerable position to be in. With practice it may get easier, but even if it doesn't that's okay ! Your feelings are valid no matter what. Keep your chin up. It'll be over before you know it and it'll all be okay ! You are not alone. and there's always someone who will understand. Have a good day !
NewYorker11
May 14th, 2022 8:20pm
speaking easily in front of your class in an educational institution requires self-confidence and the ability to express yourself. when you have a topic of discussion, you must formulate a way to relay that topic of discussion through speech. you might not be able to talk easily in front of your class because you need to heighten your self confidence. practicing in front of a mirror, once you have what you want to say written on paper, can help you to realize where you need to improve. whether it be your voice, your vocabulary, your physical and facial expressions, or your method of reasoning, i think practicing in front of a mirror is the best self-directed solution...
Anonymous
May 25th, 2022 2:43am
It's definitely hard to talk in front of a class, and it can be even overwhelming for some people. This could stem from many reasons, it all depends on the person. Someone might just have stage fright and get sweaty hands and feel nervous when having to present something, like a project, while others may have a panic attack because it's so much to handle. It can be from social anxiety, or something that you have, like a stutter, that causes you to fear being teased when talking in front a a class. As i said, it depends on the person, and those are just a few possibilities.
ScarletOwlet
May 26th, 2022 9:23am
Without any other context, I will only be able to say general common reasons : 1. you are shy 2. you are experiencing social anxiety 3. you don't have much experience with public speaking (this one will probably come with 1 and 2) 4. You don't know what you should say 5. you have had bad experiences with your class or public speaking previously The best advice I can give to you is to practice practice practice! If you don't know what to say, you can write and memorise a script, bullet points, whatever works for you! Take every opportunity you can to speak, lead assemblies, offer answers to your teacher, etc. The more you do it, the less scary it will be. If your issue is with that class specifically then try talking elsewhere, in front of other people. Maybe you can join a theatre or improv group, or music club if it's the spotlight that scares you away. The more time you spend outside of your comfort zone, the larger it will grow. You can also try calming techniques such as counting your breaths, 12345, focusing on something in front of you, etc to help with the nerves. You may find attending some public speaking training can help to equip you with some skills so that you know what you are meant to be doing
Ri1ey
May 26th, 2022 3:40pm
Talking in front of class can be a challenge for many. The common advice of "imagine everyone in their underwear," is not very effective either. Something that I found that helps the most is remembering that almost everyone in the class feels the exact same way, they just may not show it as much. Public speaking is scary! It is completely normal to feel nervous or anxious about having to do it. Some helpful tips I have learned over the years is deep breathing, finding a focus, and having a fidget. Public speaking activates our fight or flight response in our brain, making us feel anxious and scared. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are safe, and no harm will come to you from speaking to your class. Finding your focus means finding a face in the room that makes you feel safe. This brings down your anxiety, and if there is no face in your class, looking at the back wall and imagining someone there helps. Lastly having a fidget can help channel your anxiety onto an object. My favorite, a ring. Spin that around your finger while you speak to help release some tension. Just remember, you got this!
Spreadinglove16
May 28th, 2022 8:22am
This is the fear of public speaking. It is quite common, especially among teens. It can vary from slight nervousness to paralyzing panic. This is basically the fear of being judged by people. You are afraid that if you would say something wrong, students would mock you, and you do not want to face embarrassment. All you need to do is remember these three tips: 1. Remember that no one is perfect and we make mistakes. People would not really remember what you said and did for a longer period of time. For instance, do you think your classmate remembers what you said in a class presentation 2 years back? No right. So take it easy. 2. Stop being critical of yourself. You can not easily talk in front of the class because you are berating yourself a lot. Stop judging yourself and be kind to yourself. 3. Even if you are not good at speaking in class, imagine you are a pro in it. Be confident in yourself. Fake it until you make it.