What College Students Need to Know for Speech Class

Inevitably, I will get this remark after being introduced as a speech professor: "I hated my speech class. Sorry!" While I realize that speaking in public is the greatest fear of most people, bypassing death, heights or even snakes, I also feel sorry that they had a terrible experience with public speaking. Speech can be one of the most rewarding and beneficial classes you will ever take. Or it can be the worst you have ever had. Here are some ways to make your experience in speech class better.

Come Ready, Not Resigned
Chuck Swindoll once said that, "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

If you come into my classroom, you will hear this a lot. Attitude is everything. If you have the attitude that you do not want to be there, you will fail, you hate public speaking, et cetera- you will find you are right. No teacher expects you to come into class loving speech, but do come in with an open mind and a determination to succeed...and you will.

As Henry Ford said, "If you think you can do a thing or you think you can't do a thing, you're right."

Do the Work- and the Practice!
It never fails. Someone will think speech is a class you can blow off because there is less in the way of written work. "I can wing it" is a popular phrase. Maybe you can "wing it" but not for long.

There is a certain amount of written work associated with public speaking. Most classes will require some research work and at the very minimum, a formal speaking outline. Many students of mine have relied to heavily on the presumption that in "winging" the speech, they would get a grade high enough to make up for the lack of written work. They were wrong.

Written work is the foundation of a speech. Without a foundation, many speeches will stray from the main topic, falter for lack of good support and references, and the speaker will suffer from more verbal clutter than normal. (Verbal clutter includes "um", "uh", other filler words, long silences, et cetera.)

Once you have your speech planned, practice it. Practice it in front of a mirror, out loud. This sounds silly but it is the best way to see and hear for yourself what needs more work. If you cannot make a transition from one point to another, the out loud practice will highlight it and you can work through it.

Ask for Help- and don't wait until the last minute
Your teacher is there to help. If you do not understand something, ask. Make an appointment with your instructor for extra help. Do not wait until the final speech to ask. Do it as soon as you need it.

If you cannot get help from your teacher, look to a classmate who is doing well. Ask that person what they are doing to succeed.

If worse comes to worst.... here are a few solutions to common problems:

Stage Fright- If you still find yourself nervous after practicing and preparing, try some relaxation techniques before you head up to give your speech. Shoulder rolls loosen tight neck muscles, where most of the tension rests. Breathe deeply from the diaphragm, in through the nose and out through the mouth. When looking out at your audience, make "eye contact" with their foreheads and not their eyes. It gives the appearance of eye contact without the actual, nerve-wracking looks.

Lost Place- Losing your place in your speech can happen to even the most prepared speaker. If you cannot find your place, do not over-speak or say "um". Simply pause for a moment, regain your thoughts and continue. No one is the wiser.

Verbal Clutter- I mentioned this previously that verbal clutter is anything in your speech patterns that impedes communication such as repeating "like" or saying "um, uh" or clearing your throat. If your teacher mentions that verbal clutter is an issue for you, record yourself practicing your speech. Once you hear it for yourself, take steps to change it. Awareness is the first step. Many times verbal clutter is a result of lack of preparation or nervousness.

There is no magic formula for acing a speech class. While some personalities are more suited to public platforms, there is no reason why even the most introverted person cannot do well. It will be hard work, but the benefits you reap will stay with you forever.

I know. I was the most timid person in my class.

For further help with speech communications see these articles:
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking
From verbal clutter to visual aids and credibility, learn what mistakes others have made and how to avoid them.

How to Avoid the Common Pitfalls and Traps in Public Speaking
Learn what not to do when preparing and giving a speech.

Impromptu Speaking: Painless Prepping
Want to know the secret to giving the best off the cuff speech? Here's how!