Photo by: Dany Kurniawan via Canva
In part one of this blog series, I shared four preparation tips I learned in my university public speaking course. Each one helped me in my current role as a virtual classroom producer at Langevin. Now, let’s move on to being face-to-face with your audience. As I mentioned in my last blog, public speaking can stir up a lot of complex feelings and anxiety. So, I’m here to save the day! Here are my suggestions for managing speaker’s anxiety.
Arrive in Your Classroom Early
Whether you’re teaching in person or virtually, get there early to ensure the classroom is set up and ready. This is the time to ensure all technology is working and to set the atmosphere for a successful session. If you’re conducting an in-person session, play some upbeat or calming music while your participants enter the room. Greet them and take part in some light chit-chat before you begin.
Take 2 or 3 Deep Breaths Before Starting Your Session
Physiologically, being anxious or nervous is pretty much the same as being excited. Before starting your session, take some deep breaths to help calm yourself. Take that time to reframe the emotions that may be stressful. Tell yourself you’re excited about the session. And know that being nervous is completely normal, and any remaining nerves will shake off in the first few minutes of class.
Check for Understanding
Allow plenty of opportunities for your participants to ask questions. Do this after discussing a complicated task, after providing instructions for an activity, and before moving on to a new lesson. It’s okay to not have all the answers. You can redirect the question back to the group or let them know that, while you may not know the answer off the top of your head, you will look into it and get back to them.
Conduct an Icebreaker
Before jumping into the content of your lesson plan, set the tone for your course by doing a quick icebreaker. These short activities allow learners to ease into the classroom environment and get to know each other at a basic level, as well as helping to build a sense of community within the group. This will ultimately help the learners feel more comfortable and prepared to work in small groups.
Check out The Virtual Trainer, New Trainer’s Survival Skills, and Instructional Techniques for New Instructors workshops for more useful tips!
