CESTL: Are you ready for it yet?
By Chris Barone
EDI 17 Psychology & Development of Adolescent Students
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 25, 2009
I consider there to be two categories of public speaking. The first happens before the speaker utters a single syllable. It is the forethought. In this instance, it is the months of planning and preparation, the research, the interviews, the observations, the late nights spent in the library with a dozen books in front of me. That part is no problem. The other is, obviously, the speaking. It is the I’m-actually-up-in-front-of-an-audience-and-words-are-coming-out-of-my-mouth part. Enunciating, proper posture, and confidence are essential. It’s that part that terrifies me.
I have a tendency to, when speaking in front of an audience, forget what I’m saying. Last year, when I was observing for another class, I had to introduce myself to the class. Nervously, I stood up, clung to a desk to help support myself, and said, “Hey, I’m Chris. Wow, it feels weird to say that. I feel like I’m an at AA meeting.” Nice, Chris, mention to a bunch of 16-year-old students that you feel like you’re an alcoholic! No one seemed to notice or care that my comment was a little inappropriate, it certainly affected me. I said it because I felt uncomfortable and, for the moment, forgot how old I was and what college I went to. Still, once I was able to regain my ‘cool,’ so to speak, I was ok. But my earlier blunder continued to affect me.
With the CESTL conference quickly approaching, I am forced to reexamine my public speaking skills. I have gotten better since my AA days, but I will still do several practice runs before it’s time to do it for real. If I keep practicing and remember to take deep breaths and keep my cool, I might just get out of this alive.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 25, 2009
I consider there to be two categories of public speaking. The first happens before the speaker utters a single syllable. It is the forethought. In this instance, it is the months of planning and preparation, the research, the interviews, the observations, the late nights spent in the library with a dozen books in front of me. That part is no problem. The other is, obviously, the speaking. It is the I’m-actually-up-in-front-of-an-audience-and-words-are-coming-out-of-my-mouth part. Enunciating, proper posture, and confidence are essential. It’s that part that terrifies me.
I have a tendency to, when speaking in front of an audience, forget what I’m saying. Last year, when I was observing for another class, I had to introduce myself to the class. Nervously, I stood up, clung to a desk to help support myself, and said, “Hey, I’m Chris. Wow, it feels weird to say that. I feel like I’m an at AA meeting.” Nice, Chris, mention to a bunch of 16-year-old students that you feel like you’re an alcoholic! No one seemed to notice or care that my comment was a little inappropriate, it certainly affected me. I said it because I felt uncomfortable and, for the moment, forgot how old I was and what college I went to. Still, once I was able to regain my ‘cool,’ so to speak, I was ok. But my earlier blunder continued to affect me.
With the CESTL conference quickly approaching, I am forced to reexamine my public speaking skills. I have gotten better since my AA days, but I will still do several practice runs before it’s time to do it for real. If I keep practicing and remember to take deep breaths and keep my cool, I might just get out of this alive.
0 comments:
Post a Comment