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Chapter ThreeChapter Three Managing Speech AnxietyManaging Speech Anxiety

Professor Michelle GarciaProfessor Michelle GarciaProfessor Valerie GammonProfessor Valerie Gammon

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Why are you anxious about speaking?Why are you anxious about speaking?

Lack of experienceLack of experience Past bad experiencePast bad experience Worry over appearance, faults, or being Worry over appearance, faults, or being

different from othersdifferent from others Being the center of attentionBeing the center of attention Not being prepared enoughNot being prepared enough

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Worried about your lack of experience?Worried about your lack of experience?

1.1. Prepare diligently.Prepare diligently.2.2. Practice many times.Practice many times.3.3. Practice in front of friends and family.Practice in front of friends and family.4.4. Ask a tutor or instructor to proofread your Ask a tutor or instructor to proofread your

outline before your speech day.outline before your speech day.5.5. Practice your speaking skills by giving mini-Practice your speaking skills by giving mini-

speeches outside of class.speeches outside of class.

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Worried about being different?Worried about being different?

1.1. Remember everyone is different.Remember everyone is different.

2.2. Dress appropriately and be well Dress appropriately and be well groomed.groomed.

3.3. Think positively! You will make a Think positively! You will make a good impression!good impression!

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Feel uncomfortable being in front of the Feel uncomfortable being in front of the audience?audience?

The audience is looking The audience is looking at you, because they like at you, because they like you and want to listen to you and want to listen to your speech. your speech.

Put your focus on the Put your focus on the speech, and don’t think speech, and don’t think about yourself.about yourself.

Audiences don’t see Audiences don’t see anything you don’t reveal anything you don’t reveal or bring to their attention. or bring to their attention.

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Public Speaking AnxietyPublic Speaking Anxiety

Contains four stages:Contains four stages:• Pre-preparation anxietyPre-preparation anxiety

• Preparation anxietyPreparation anxiety

• Pre-performance anxietyPre-performance anxiety

• Performance anxietyPerformance anxiety

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Pre-preparation AnxietyPre-preparation Anxiety

May cause some students to procrastinate May cause some students to procrastinate on beginning the speech writing processon beginning the speech writing process

May act as interference during the May act as interference during the listening process by blocking the reception listening process by blocking the reception of vital information about the speaking of vital information about the speaking assignmentassignment

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Create a plan of actionCreate a plan of action

Pre-preparation anxiety can be calmed by Pre-preparation anxiety can be calmed by reviewing speech assignment instructions and reviewing speech assignment instructions and creating a plan of actioncreating a plan of action

Create a plan of action now:Step 1: Record your speech due date in your

calendar.Step 2: Count the days and divide up the speechmaking steps to fit the days available.Step 3: Set aside a specific time period each day to work on your speech.Step 4: Focus on completing each small task as it comes.

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Preparation AnxietyPreparation Anxiety

May cause overwhelming feelings about the May cause overwhelming feelings about the amount of time and effort required to write and amount of time and effort required to write and plan a speechplan a speech

May be caused by difficulty in locating materials May be caused by difficulty in locating materials or information needed for speechor information needed for speech

Can be averted by working on your speech a Can be averted by working on your speech a short session each day rather than several short session each day rather than several hours on the same dayhours on the same day

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Pre-performance & Performance Pre-performance & Performance AnxietyAnxiety

Plan time to practice!Plan time to practice! Practice many times!Practice many times! When anxiety occurs while practicing, When anxiety occurs while practicing,

force yourself to practice again!force yourself to practice again! No matter how much you practice, you will No matter how much you practice, you will

probably experience some anxiety just probably experience some anxiety just before or just as you begin your speech.before or just as you begin your speech.

If you’ll just keep going, the anxiety will If you’ll just keep going, the anxiety will subside.subside.

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BibliographyBibliography

O’ Hair, Dan, Stewart, Rob, Rubenstein, Hannah, A Speaker’s Guidebook, Bedford St. Martin (2009)