The hardest class I ever had to take in all my years of school was when I was a sophomore in college.
Public Speaking.
It was a mandatory class. Couldn’t graduate without it.
So, one summer instead of coming home, I stayed at school and decided to place this dreadful class in the short two-month summer session. Best way to get it done. Quickly.
I had such a hard time with the class that once I had finished my final five-minute speech, I needed to hold the desks to walk back to my seat as my legs were shaking so badly. My obvious physical discomfort during the speech – shaking body, blotchy face, quivering voice, inability to breathe, spurts where I was unable to talk, racing heart – had made everyone else so uncomfortable they had put their heads down right after I started.
And when I finally collapsed in my chair to try to breathe, the professor came to shake my hand.
“You did it.”
I didn’t do it well – but I did it. Done.
I understand why there is a need for the class – a lot of professionals need to give presentations in their work at times. They (THEY!) need to be prepared. But I am sure there were a lot of other kids like me, that felt like they were physically dying trying to speak in public.
So, I was especially intrigued when I came across the article found here – why teens with social anxiety should not have to give class presentations – and clicked on it right away.
I was completely in agreement with the article.
If there was a class I was interested in at college or grad school and I knew public speaking was required, I wouldn’t take it.
The world is changing. There’s more online applications than ever before. We are all so CONNECTED. Aren’t there new ways to give presentations that do not always involve standing in front of a room full of people?
It may not even ever pop up in your profession – but if it does, like it turned up to a small degree in mine, are you going to be any better at it because you took a three-credit course? I wasn’t any better at public speaking. If anything, I was more afraid because I knew what was going to happen to me in front of others.
The professors were not prepared to teach kids like me. I didn’t get, “Hey, I can see this is very distressing for you. Maybe you could try these tricks to help…” They had to teach the class and I had to take it. That’s all.
And what really connected for me in the article – that public speaking is not taking into consideration the introverts of the world. If an introvert were to run that class, wouldn’t there be a different forum like small group discussions?
THAT I could handle.
Honestly though, would there even be any public speaking if introverts ruled the world?
I think the class, public speaking, is great for those that want a profession that requires it.
And I think it is great that some schools, like my kids’, start having the kids talk in front of the class starting in Kindergarten – to get them comfortable with the concept. Maybe some will develop an anxiety around public speaking when they become teenagers, but maybe some will be more comfortable with it from all their exposure.
But I don’t think public speaking should be a requirement, as some of us are just trying to graduate and don’t benefit from the course.
Here at the US Census, they have a Toastmaster’s club that employees can join to practice their public speaking. Personally, if there are more than four people in a room with me, I start to stammer and look down.
I have always wondered if I took the class again and again, would I have gotten any better or would I have died from stress related to public speaking? I can relate – my voice shakes, I turn a multitude of different colors and just start to shake. It’s awful.
You did it. So agree with this. The stress it can cause, kids should be given an option and certainly parents should be involved. I hated having to do it. I’ve spoke to our son and agreed that if he is asked to stand in front of the class, if he doesn’t want to do it – then just refuse. The stress I went through out a professional obligation. I remember having sleepless nights for a week over a 40 minute presentation I had to give to 200 people. I got through it just but next day had to give a team talk to 5 and had a complete melt down. If you lack confidence and are introverted it’s stress off the scale.
Exactly – the only thing public speaking did was make me feel awful about myself. And you’re right – I would lose so much sleep in worry about it. I agree – if any of my kids developed my same anxiety over public speaking I would allow them to refuse and help them find an alternative with the teacher. Public speaking simply isn’t for everyone.
I know what you mean, and public speaking can mean so many things nowadays. If I thought how many people would listen to my podcast, and imagined them all lined up in a big hall, that might be quite daunting. But I record it in my office on my own. That’s still getting words out in front of an audience.
Maybe the courses need to change with the times. Even when you’re doing a presentation at work, you’re not necessarily surrounded by the people who will be watching it.
It’s hard to say because it’s not really something I struggle with – I’d rather give a talk in front of 500 people than be in the room with the same 500 people all talking at once and trying to interact, but I do think that public speaking courses should be more flexible if people have to attend them at all.
Yes, I hope that the courses change with the times. Things are so different than when I took this class 20+ years ago. Like with the podcast – that is great! And if the public speaking course is still required than I would agree – they should be more flexible to all the participants needs.
Public speaking is one of those areas that even the most confident fumbles on sometimes. It takes lots of courage and practice to perfect the act of public speaking. And truly, not everyone cares for it as there’s no need for it in their respective fields.
Yes, you are right – I’ve heard many a fumble and the speaker could just bounce back. It takes practice for everyone!
The only reason I forced myself to overcome my fear of public speaking is because my father failed at it in college! So made me I won public speaking awards at a state level, just to spite him. Yeah, it made me feel sick standing up in front of a stage of 100’s of strangers. But I DID IT!
Wow, that is so awesome!! That is motivation right there – great job, Jeanette!!
It’s horrible that you had to go through that as a requirement for graduation. I hope things have changed with the awareness of mental health issues. Anxiety can be more devastating than a broken bone. Forcing someone with social anxiety to do public speaking is just cruel.
You’re absolutely right about the technology used today. There should be no need for anyone to have to stand in front of a group of they are uncomfortable doing it.
Yes, that class was the hardest thing I had to do in all of schooling. I also hope that things have changed with, like you said, MH awareness and with level of technology available today there is just no need to. Not everyone is going to benefit from being forced to speak in public and it should stop.
Yes, in a school situation where the faculty is made up of almost 100% extroverts, there is probably little understanding of how difficult public speaking can be. At my son’s school, there is a mandatory “debate” unit that requires giving a speech… on the auditorium stage… in front of the entire eighth grade. He’s been dreading this since his sister did it three years ago. Anxiety can be a crippling disease and while exposure to the phobia is part of treatment, no counselor recommends exposing yourself to the hardest possible situation as a way to heal.
I became physically ill in high school when I needed to give presentations. This level of fear has improved to the point that now I just loathe doing them, but I can get through them. I would never select a career where presenting is a component of the job. I knew this in high school just as well as I know it now. I’m going to send your article to the principal and the social studies teacher. I agree with number eight. Accommodations need to be made.
Oh holy frijoles, that sounds awful – the entire eighth grade?! Gosh, I hope something changes for him that he doesn’t have to do that – accommodations do have to be made. Public speaking isn’t for everyone and not everyone benefits from being forced to face their fear – especially in front of their entire grade! I also knew that about myself when I was in eighth grade as much as I know it now – any job that has public speaking involved will not be the job for me.
Interesting. Not sure if I agree or disagree, but interesting!
Thank you!
I totally agree with you public speaking should not be forced on anyone. I remember taking some exams years after I had left school and I was awarded a certificate and voucher for my efforts. It was bad enough walking up to be presented with the award my legs were like jelly. All I had to do was say thank you and that 2as bad enough. Years later I held sales jobs and didn’t have any fear of speaking out in a room full of people, just as long as I didn’t hav3 to stand on a stage to do it 😉
Thank you, Elaine! I can relate to your story about collecting the rewards – and that is great you found a way to talk to a group of people that felt comfortable for you! That is great! 🙂
I hear you. There have been many times being a better public speaker would have been good for me (a presentation in which a horrible person who opposed the topic I was presenting comes to mind)…but I agree it shouldn’t be a requirement. Not everyone has the temperament to do it….
It’s hard – I feel for you. But yeah, it shouldn’t be a requirement. Sometimes it felt like all I wanted to do was get through it – but never learned anything useful or benefited from it.
That’s a good point….how many of us have just learned enough to fake it through a class without ever learning anything of value?
I don’t remember taking a public speaking class in college when I was studying to become a teacher. Isn’t that interesting? I do remember my public speaking class in high school. What I recall, though, is not my feelings about my own participation. I remember a fellow student who had speech disfluency (in those days it was called stuttering) and bravely struggled through every speech. I, and many in the class, felt so badly for that student. BUT, what I remember most was the the assignment for our last “speech” and the creativity of the teacher in designing the last assignment – a pantomime. That student’s presentation was the best in the class and was acknowledged with a standing ovation. This was in the late sixties and it was unusual for a teacher to adjust instruction in that way.
That is wonderful – such an accommodating teacher!
Oh gosh, my legs were shaking just reading this and thinking about my speech class during school too! I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get good at public speaking but I know many Introverts who have mastered it. Perhaps I will one day…🤔
You can relate – it was sooo tough! I hope to never have to try again 🙂
I can resonate with your post dear, I was extremely shy as a child and still socially awkward sometimes!!!
Thank you! Yep – that’s me!
Totally understand this, both ways! And you are like a speech twin in that I hated, hated, hated public speaking in high school and college, but forced myself to do it. Now, I can, but always get nervous. It’s one of the top phobias! Yet speech was one of the most valuable classes I ever took, that, and typing in high school. But you are right Robyn, there are times it is a detriment and you have challenged my thinking about it! Thank you!!
Typing and Home Ec were the ones I am glad I was forced to take. But not speech. I haven’t had to speak publicly in so long – maybe I would be better at it had I had to do it (but am super glad I don’t have to 🙂 )
You’re public speaking with your pen….you are doing it in a way that is comfortable to you and extremely effective!!!
I agree with you, my body physically shakes as well and I do better in small groups. I’ve taught training programs to groups of four with no problem but once the numbers grew I physically couldn’t overcome my anxiety and lost control of my words and movements, truly felt like I was dying.
Yes, I can relate. I lose all control of my body – heart rate, muscle control, breathing. Totally feels like I’m dying – so awful! That is great you can do a small group. Big win!
Glad I’m not alone in it 😊
Me too! 🙂
I dont think your alone on this, many people would rather die than public speak but like aything the more that you do it the better you become.
I agree – I think a lot of people must go through this.
Yes public speaking should not be forced. Interest should be created.