If you are among the people who have stage fear or feel nervous while speaking either during presentation or any exam. If right before that exam your hands get all wet and sweaty, your heart starts to beat fast, well, in that case this post is for you!
Below are some tips which will help you overcome your nervousness and with practice you will be able to become a confident speaker!
- Breathe – When you are nervous, it’s very important to breath. Breathe deeply and slow down your brain activity level. This will help you to calm your mind and relax yourself. Do this before entering the examiner’s room and you can feel the difference.
- Visualisation: Basically the “fake it till you make it approach”. Start your Speaking Test day with a very positive frame of mind. Visualise your success in the test and you pass out with flying colours. Don’t think too much about how the examiner will be, what un-expected questions you might get etc. Just do your best and be prepared for what comes.
- Practice – Your brain works in the same way as you practice doing a lot of time. If you practice the same expressions again and again, you don’t have to think about it anymore, they just come straight out of your mouth. Learn key expressions for example – Instead of “I think”, you can use “in my opinion” or instead of using “I like” you can use “I find this/that appealing”. If you practice for expressions, then even if you are stressed, these words still come out.
- Remember – Nobody is perfect when they speak, even native speakers do make grammar or vocabulary mistakes. It’s normal to make mistakes and people don’t judge you harshly on your mistakes. By mistakes only you will be able to learn more and more!
- Mantras – Mantras are something that we say to our self and not to people. You say them in your own mind and they usually have a good or positive message. For example, when you are learning to speak English your mantra can be – “I am a good English speaker”. Language is a powerful weapon . The way we talk about something changes the way we think about something. Speak to yourself that – “I am a good speaker”. Overcome the negative with the positive.
There is an excellent Oscar winning movie with the same theme- “The King’s Speech”, a must watch & a case study which portrays how a King of an empire overcome his fear of speech with a determined attempt.
If you believe in yourself – nothing is impossible!
For more Tips & Tricks to overcome the fear of Speaking, contact our expert consultants.
