Public speaking is an essential skill for learners. At some point in their lives, students will need to speak in front of an audience – whether that’s giving a presentation in class, or to peers and colleagues in the workplace.
However, many students experience significant anxiety when faced with the prospect of speaking in front of others – and understandably so!
As teachers, we can implement a variety of strategies to help our students overcome the fear of public speaking and develop confidence in their abilities.
Preparing for public speaking
There are many ways we can help our students deal with public speaking anxiety.
- Topic selection: Encourage students to choose topics they are passionate about and knowledgeable in. Remind them that if they are familiar with the subject matter, it can build confidence and ease the anxiety of speaking. It can also help them feel ready for any questions.
- Positive thinking: Teach students to envision a successful presentation and how prepared they are. They can also create and use cards with positive affirmations, such as I am well-prepared or My audience values my input. You can also ask peers to give positive feedback and remind their classmates of the things they are good at.
- Audience perspective: Tell students to shift the focus from themselves to the audience. Have them think about what they can offer the audience, whether it’s new knowledge, insights or recommendations. This perspective reduces the pressure on the speaker and makes the experience more about sharing and less about personal performance.
- Physical preparation: It goes without saying that you should advise students to get enough sleep and exercise before their speech or presentation (which might be easier said than done when nervous!).
The day of the talk
- Be comfortable!
Tell students that the most important thing is that they dress in something comfortable on the day. They should wear something that is presentable but makes them feel confident.
- Relax!
Teach students simple relaxation techniques they can do on the day of their presentation. For example, breathing exercises or simple stretches, to help manage physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Have a pre-presentation routine.
Recommend that students ensure they have everything they need prepared the night or day of the presentation, to avoid any last-minute worries. Encourage them to have a checklist, e.g. water, notes, any equipment etc.
During the talk
- Engage the audience: Remind students to focus on the value they are providing to the audience and engage with them when they can. For example, asking for people to raise their hands or think about a situation that they can relate to in the presentation.
- Focus on supportive faces: Encourage students to find friendly faces in the audience to focus on to help them get through the presentation.
- Consider your voice: Teach students to control the speed, volume and tone of their voice. Remind them that a friendly and confident tone can make them feel more at ease and sound confident in what they’re saying or explaining.
- Use visual aids: Encourage students to use visuals, videos or props. Tell them that these not only engage the audience but also provide a break for them to have some water or take a breath. Tell students that moving around the room can also help reduce the feeling of being in the spotlight.
After public speaking
Tell students that everyone has different ways of ‘coming down’ after a talk. However, it can be helpful to:
- Self-reflect: Students can think about what strategies helped control their anxiety and what could be improved for future presentations.
- Get audience feedback: If possible, have students collect feedback from the audience. This can provide valuable insights that can be used for improvement.
Remind students that public speaking is a skill that improves with practice and over time. With your support and encouragement, combined with these public speaking basics, your students can become more confident and competent public speakers.
For more tips and guidance on public speaking, read here.
