Still, it’s about speaking before audience. Why do some of us feel horrible when we have to deliver a speech? Public speaking is a nightmare for some of, mostly perhaps, us. That’s true. As a teacher, I often find that takes place in my class, happening to my students. Frankly speaking, I also still get a bit anxious if I’m waiting for speaking in front of public.
I’ve taught in classroom long enough, for about eight years. But, do you believe if I say that I sometimes tremble while I’m speaking? It’s not important whether or not you trust me. The fact is, yes, I feel a lot of anxiety in a certain speaking situation, especially when I have to speak before unfamiliar audience.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Nightmare in Daylight
Speaking in Public
Everyone can speak but not everyone can do speaking in public, even for an orator. Sometimes he doesn’t perform perfectly. Trembling, nervous, and speechless are some things normally happening in public speaking.
So, can we overcome this problem? If there’s a will there’s a way. Nothing’s impossible to stand and speak in front of the audience successfully. I mean as long as we seriously try hard and practice more often, almost any skill can be acquired including speaking in public.
Okay, I really want to be able to speak self-confidently in public even they all are my friends but I am so frightened. What should I do? Take it easy. There are some ways to overcome the fear of speaking. By doing what are suggested here, I hope you can express your extraordinary ideas, actually, without trembling with fear.
1. Understand your fears and put them in their place.
Just remember that, in fact, most audiences are friendly. They will be happy if you succeed on the stage. A certain amount of anxiety, basically, can help us do better than if we are completely relaxed. When you feel some fear in waiting to appear before an audience, that’s okay as long as you put it in its proper place.
2. Proper preparation overcomes much of the fear of speaking.
A speaker can be speechless. This sometimes is frightened him at the time he has to say something. He doesn’t know what to say. This condition can be avoided by selecting a simple and familiar topic. The next step is preparing and practicing thoroughly. How about if I have to deliver unfamiliar and complicated topic for me? Do the same, prepare well and keep practicing. Trust me, you will stand before your audience with more confidence because you know well what to say. Nothing must be frightened, is it?
3. Control your fears as you present your speech.
Breathe deeply and then swallow before you start speaking. Yawn several times. Press the fingertips of your hands together. Then walk at a normal pace to the place where you will be speaking. Pause. Arrange your notes. Look at the audience. Make sure your weight is balanced on both feet. Press the balls of your feet against the floor. Then begin your speech.
4. Concentrate on your speech
As you speak, concentrate on what you are saying and on how the audience is reacting. Speak with physical vigor. Move in a manner appropriate to what you are saying.
5. Involve your audiences
Audiences can turn to be bored while you are speaking as if they’re facing and listening to the radio broadcasting something dull and confusing. So, try to involve your audience and choose so interesting topic that they are awake during your speaking.
6. Be familiar with speaking before audience
Seek out opportunities to speak to different kinds of audiences. As you become more used to being before people, it will be easier to turn your tensions into behavior that will help you.
Are you ready to be public speaking superstar now?
Monday, February 9, 2009
English, English, English
I'm sure that you agree with a statement "practices make perfect." In education world, that's proven. I can say that because I've experienced it myself. English which once successfully became a monster for me is cute stuff now. How this can happen is because I do what should I do: practice, practice, practice. As the result, the routes into mastering English have opened up.
Mastering English especially for non-English speaking people is not so easy and simple but it doesn't mean impossible. Practice is one right path heading to master English. As long as you will to reach that objective and always practice, these drills can lead your way. You can have all these below just by clicking to download.
Passive Voice
Friday, February 6, 2009
Happy Teacher
A teacher should be happy. Why can I say that? Of course I have some reasons causing me say so. And I think these rationales can encourage you to be a teacher. Or, those can change you to become a happy one if up to now you still think that you are the most miserable person in the world because you are a teacher. How poor you are.
Okay, I start my first explanation. Two days ago, I sat among my Movie Appreciation students listening to them discussing after watching a documentary film. The film talked about someone who was traveling in countries along equator.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Knowledge Everywhere
Do you agree if I say classroom is not the only place to study? Sure, you will. So, where can knowledge be found? When you open your eyes wide and pay more attention, there’s uncountable inspiring and educating source on this earth we can meet. Don’t barely trust me anyway.
I know you’re not an absolute moron. But, if you take that sentence personally, I am afraid you may really be. Just forget it. That’s just an intermezzo. Thing that I will say is that we can learn whatever, whenever, wherever, and from whomever. Sometimes lesson comes from unpredictable source.
I believe that you have your own example of educative source. In this blog I will share mine for you. Today, my wife is happy. She’s celebrating her birthday. But, today is her sad day as well because her mother’s elder brother funeral is being done. Those two events are my valuable sources of knowledge. Those give me lesson. “No way! How come?” You may shout at me like that. Yes, indeed, those birthday and funeral day come to enrich my knowledge.
Sorry. Because I have to go out for a couple minutes, I’ll continue it later.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Writing Short Story in 24 Hours
I don't know whether you love writing or not, especially writing Indonesian short story. If you don't but you desperately want to start learning, real support will come from me. I have something interesting relating to creative writing for you, in Indonesian of course. You who like writing short story can get the how-to handout on composing short story.
I will put a link below to download the handout. When you find the link is not active now, it means you must wait for activation. The link will be activated in short time.
Click to have "Menjadi Penulis Cerpen dalam Sehari" handout. It's PowerPoint format file and free.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
My Student My Teacher
It’s not correct that a teacher is always cleverer than his student. If the teacher is older, yes, that can be true. Almost all students of high school are younger than their teachers though in special case some students are at higher age level. That’s the fact yet it doesn’t mean they are stupid. What do you think?
I have some teacher friends underestimating their students. They often, almost always, think that they are superior in the classroom. Off course, by behaving like that you can guess what happen in the class when they are teaching. Class atmosphere is not conducive. The students prefer to keeping quiet. For them, saying nothing is the best way to stay in the classroom. As the result, the class doesn’t become cheerful and turns to be deathly boring. The teaching goal can’t finally be reached absolutely.
Unfortunately for the students, their teacher often doesn’t realize –I think ignorance is more precisely- this. Dead classroom, is it correct term?, is comfortable for this kind of teacher. In such dead classroom, one way communication automatically happens. Teacher is talking while students are listening to, sleepy, the worst –sleeping. If this is still allowed to take place, there will be poor teaching-learning process. Unless the teacher brings to improvement, all parties will be stressed. It often happens that only at student side stressful state retrieves. That annoying teacher remains enjoying the class.
We’re back to teacher students. I bet underestimating teacher will be hard, very hard, to understand their students. Every knowledge coming from students will go into their left ear and in milliseconds come out from right ear hole. It means that they don’t believe what their students say is true. They don’t want their students become their teachers. Those teachers are sure that they are more knowledgeable and more experienced. So, it’s impossible that the students can beat them. I believe that such teacher will be left behind someday. A good teacher should not look at the source of the knowledge but it’s being wiser if they can pay attention to the substance.
What about you? Whoever or whatever you are, if you are a teacher or teaching now, treat your students as the source of knowledge as well. Treating students as teachers is not illegal. No need to be shy even bitterly ashamed because that is not embarrassing behaviour. It doesn’t make you look foolish; on the contrary, your students will see that you are an open-minded teacher. They will know you don’t stand high and draw the line at them. Although you treat them as if they are your teachers, I am one hundred percentages and absolutely convinced they will still consider you as the one knowing more.
Now, say good bye to your pride and prejudice and be humble.
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