Public Speaking Blog (reflection)

When I first started this class, I thought I would dread it. Public speaking is something I’ve never been comfortable with. I’ve always struggled with speaking in front of a large crowd, specifically when people’s gazes fall on me. Getting all that attention makes me feel unexplainably anxious, and it causes me to lose my train of thought. Stage fright is a major problem for me because I tend to become extremely nervous before and during a presentation. Even if I know the material well, the second I stand in front of a crowd, my anxiety makes it difficult to remember. Because of this, watching three different groups, including my own,  present Chapters 1 through 17 gave me the opportunity to learn not only from the class, but also from my peers and their different approaches to public speaking. 

Group 1 presented the chapters about the basics of public speaking, building confidence, listening, developing a purpose and topic, and adapting to an audience. One of the biggest things I learned from this group was that public speaking is a skill that can improve with practice. This was important for me because I tend to think that being nervous means I am horrible at public speaking. I learnt that confidence does not mean having no fear. It can also mean being prepared enough to continue even when you get nervous. I also learnt how important it is to understand your audience and purpose before presenting.

 Group 2 presented the chapters about researching a topic, supporting ideas, organizing and outlining a speech, beginning and ending a speech, and using language effectively. I found these topics especially useful because preparation and organization can help my anxiety. When I am not sure how my speech is organized, I become more nervous because I am afraid I will forget something and make a fool out of myself in front of the entire class. Learning about outlines showed me that having a clear structure can make presenting less stressful. I also learnt that introductions and conclusions are important because they help the audience understand the purpose of the speech and remember the main ideas. Moreover, the lesson about language showed me that I do not need to use “big” words to sound intelligent. Speaking naturally can make a presentation more effective. 

My group was the third, and we focused on presentation media, delivering a speech, informative speaking, persuasive speaking, and understanding arguments. Working on this project with my group helped me realize that a presentation is about more than just the words I say. Delivery is extremely important, as well as eye contact, posture, gestures, facial expressions, and tone. Those things can all affect how the audience receives a message. The presentation was helpful for me because stage fright can cause me to look at a screen instead of people, speak too quickly, or focus too much on remembering my words. However, after presenting, I realized that delivery does not have to be perfect to be effective. I also learned that informative and persuasive speeches have different purposes, which affects how information is presented. 

Group 4 presented the final chapters, including distance speaking and media appearances, as well as special occasion and group presentations. I found these topics interesting because public speaking does not always happen in person; instead, it can also happen through video calls, interviews, recordings, and other forms of media. This made me realize that the skills we are learning can be useful outside of school, like future jobs. The chapter about group presentations, funnily enough, connected to what we were actually doing in class. Since we were watching groups present together, I could see how important communication and coordination are. Everyone needs to understand their role and contribute to the presentation. 

Looking at all four presentations together, one of the most valuable things I learnt was that every speaker has a different style. Some people appeared very confident, while others were quieter or nervous/more tense, like me. Nonetheless, they were still able to give their presentations. This was important for me because I sometimes compare myself to people who seem to be comfortable speaking in front of a class and articulate their words well. As a matter of fact, I get really jealous because that doesn’t come as naturally to me. Watching my classmates made me realize that I do not have to change myself completely to become a better speaker. I can be shy and still learn how to communicate effectively if I follow the steps we presented. 

The presentations also allowed me to experience being an audience member as well as the person giving the presentation. I noticed what kept my attention and what made certain information easier to remember, but I was also able to learn what bored me or caused me to zone out. Visual aids, examples, clear explanations, and organization made the presentations easier to follow and be entertaining. I also noticed that too much information on a slide, reading directly from the screen, or not providing enough examples could make a presentation less engaging. 

Overall, the group presentations helped me understand Chapters 1 through 17 in a more practical way, and it really engraved the information in my brain because I too got to speak about the topic. The chapters gave me the information, but watching my classmates present demonstrated how those ideas actually work in front of an audience. I learnt about preparation, organization, delivery, audience awareness, research, supporting ideas, and different types of speeches. More importantly, I learnt something about myself as a speaker. I still have stage fright, and it won’t disappear magically. On the contrary, I now understand that feeling anxious is valid, and it does not mean that I will automatically give a bad presentation. With preparation and practice, I can manage my fear instead of letting it control me. My biggest takeaway from these presentations is that public speaking is not about being perfect or fearless; in contrast, it is about communicating your message, practicing, and improving every time you speak.