Nervous When Speaking in Front of the Class? Here are the Reasons and Solutions!

Source: Personal Document

Everyone has the right to a good education. One part of this is learning to speak in public. However, many people feel nervous about this, and there is no reason why they should. This is particularly the case for students and college students. The simple fact is that most people are unable to speak in public due to anxiety.

So, what are the root causes and how can we tackle them? Let's have a chat!

Aspects of Anxiety

According to (Semiun, Y, 2006) anxiety is divided into 4 aspects, namely:

1. Mood Aspect

This aspect of mood is about feelings of tension, panic or worry. People who feel this way are afraid of punishment that will threaten them. This feeling arises when a person is afraid of the consequences they will get when they speak in public. For example, they might be afraid of other people's opinions.

2. Cognitive Aspect

The cognitive aspect of anxiety is how we think to avoid worrying. For example, someone who is afraid of public speaking will think about public speaking and then how to avoid worrying about it.

3. Somatic Aspect

The somatic aspect of anxiety is how our bodies react when we're stressed. It can cause things like sweaty hands, nausea, dizziness and other physical symptoms that can disrupt our bodies.

4. Motor Aspect

The motor aspect of anxiety is what you feel when you feel unsafe. For example, you might play with your fingers, tap your fingers, shake your body, or be startled by loud sounds.

What Causes Public Speaking Anxiety?

According to (Radhitya, D, 2013) the causes of anxiety in public speaking are:

1. Not knowing what to talk about

We all get nervous about speaking in public sometimes. It can be really hard to prepare for a talk or presentation if we don't know what we're going to say. This can make it harder to relax and speak naturally in front of an audience.

2. Being nervous about what the audience thinks

When we're up front as speakers, we can feel a bit intimidated by our audience. We're often afraid to hear their feedback. We might worry that what we say will trigger a negative response from the audience.

3. Fear of ridicule

We can't control people. So we are afraid of the things that will be triggered by others. We are afraid that what we bring to the audience will make them laugh at us. We fear of being humiliated.

5. Fear of making mistakes

Mistakes are just part and parcel of life. But when it comes to speaking in front of others, mistakes can be pretty embarrassing. That's why there's often a fear of making mistakes when speaking in public – because the impact can be pretty significant.

How to Overcome Anxiety When Speaking in Public?

1. Stay calm and focused.

2. Prepare everything that will be delivered.

3. Mastering the material.

4. Practise speaking on your own before speaking in front of the public.

5. Be yourself.

6. Think positively.

7. Pray for success.

That's the topic of anxiety in public speaking. Do you have a similar experience?

References:

Alawiyah, D., Nurasmi, N., Asmila, N., & Fatasyah, R. (2022). Upaya Meningkatkan Kepercayaan Diri Terhadap Kecemasan Berbicara Di Depan Umum Pada Mahasiswa. RETORIKA : Jurnal Kajian Komunikasi Dan Penyiaran Islam, 4(2), 104–113. https://doi.org/10.47435/retorika.v4i2.1201

Wahyuni, S. (2013). Hubungan Antara Kepercayaan Diri Dengan Kecemasan Berbicara di Depan Umum Pada Mahasiswa Psikologi. Psikoborneo: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi, 1(4), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.30872/psikoborneo.v1i4.3519