Page 44 - 2_studijní opora - modul 8ANG
P. 44

Physical relaxation

                  If you have the chance before your presentation, try some relaxation exercises.
                  You can start with this:
                  Stand with your feet about 15 cm apart, arms and fingers hanging free by your
                  sides. Gently shake each part of your body, starting with your hands, then arms,

                  shoulders, body, and legs. Concentrate on shaking out the tension. Then slowly
                  rotate your shoulders forwards and backwards. Move your head, rotate it slowly
                  in both directions.


                  Speaking ability

                  As with any other human behaviour, success in public speaking depends on two
                  factors:  confidence  and  competence.  Becoming  a  good  speaker  requires
                  creating balance between personal and public component of your personality.

                  First, you should start by building your self-confidence. When you focus on the
                  personal and professional benefits of speaking and realize your strengths, it can
                  help put fear in its place. Some experienced speakers admit that their fear has
                  never completely disappeared, but they have learned how to manage it.

                  The  best  way  to  get  rid  of  public  speaking  fear  is  practising.  Each  speaking
                  experience means that the next presentation will be less stressful. Over time, the
                  focus  on  your  own  fears  shifts  toward  an  interest  in  the  reactions  of  people
                  listening  to  you.  The  best  way  of  learning  is  doing  it;  so  practise  as  much  as
                  possible.  Ask  you  friend  to  spend  some  time  with  you  so  that  you  can  get
                  feedback,  or  videotape  your  talks.  Focus  on  positives,  not  negatives.
                  Concentrate  on  what  you  can  already  do  well  and  develop  it.  If  there´s
                  something that ruins your presentations, just leave it, don´t use it.
                  If you know you make mistakes in grammar, don´t get nervous; mistakes are all
                  right (unless they change the meaning of your message!), they make you appear
                  more human. The point is to continue your talk naturally after the mistake and
                  forget it for the rest of the presentation. You can analyse later and avoid it next
                  time.

                  As a rule, we enjoy doing things at which we are good. And as we practise, we
                  get  better  at  an  activity  and  therefore  feel  more  confident.  So,  confidence
                  correlates in the real world with competence. Even if some people are "naturally"
                  gifted at speaking (it may not be your case), exercises can help everyone. Yu
                  must continually improve your speaking skills. Your goal should be a speech that



                                                                                                     44
                                          From the beginner to the mentor (Supporting strategies of education of teachers in Zlin region)
                                                      Fund of Educational Policy project, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49