Have to Talk Infront of Class

So today our English teacher told us that we would have a Listening and Speaking Session next week. She said we had to pick out a topic from a jar (how classy) and we would have exactly one minute to compose our thoughts and start speaking about it.

The thing is, I was never good at speaking infront of large amounts of people. I can if what I want to say is written down, but I'm not used to making up sentences on the spot. And many of my classmates would probably snicker if I mess up on a word or have a blank mind. Ugh. This is just horrible.

And to top that off, I tend to speak really quickly when I'm nervous (and I will probably be very nervous when it's my time to speak). I'm scared that maybe I'll start mumbling so quickly that no one would be able to comprehend what I'm blurting. And what if I pick out a topic I know nothing about? I really hope the topics don't have to do with politics, because if they do, I'm ever so dead.

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post this thread. I wasn't really sure whether it's here or the General Social Chat. I thought about the section for anxiety... but I don't think I have that. I mean I am pretty nervous. Very very nervous. Though not that nervous. Still pretty nervous. Ugh.

What I guess I'm asking for is advice from people who might have dealt/are dealing with this. Especially the part with talking really fast. And does anyone have any tips that make it less likely for me to fall at a blank? Because that would be pretty terrible.

I know I'm asking for so much, but I'm just really anxious about next week. Actually she said it could be this week. OH MY GOD.

deep breath. ok..everyone is going to be feeling the same as you...few people feel comfortable just speaking in front of a crowd of friends for 1 minute on an unknown topic. so you will all be feeling nervous, stupid, crappy...etc.

if they laugh at you it's because they are nervous...not because you are stupid. because they are afraid they might make the same mistake...it's normal for a lot of people to laugh when nervous...it's a release of tension. don't sweat it or take it personally

that day...eat breakfast. a good one...protien. so your body has something to run on. wear your favorite clothes...something lucky.

when it's your turn....stand up there take a deep breath, stand relaxed, like you are chatting with your friends...which you are...& talk as best you can about the topic. say what you can...don't sweat it. if you can't look at peoples faces pick a spot just above someone's face & watch that...but look around at a few different spots...so it looks like you are making contact with a few people.

be yourself. if you are funny...be funny. have fun with it. if jokes come to mind..tell them...as long as it's on topic you are meeting the criteria of your assignment.

it's 1 minute. not very long...it will feel long but really it will be over in a heartbeat. & i hate to say it but this teacher is giving you a good skill..to be able to stand & think on your feet like this is awesome. it will come in handy in the future for you...plus speaking in front of your peers will too.

i love speaking in front of crowds...did it for my work...some crowds were good, some not so good...don't try to speak to adults..you are talking to your friends...always tailor to your group.

you will survive & do fine. don't worry about it.

The previous poster has great advice.
One thing I would like to add: is there a possibility that you could practice this with someone at home? A friend or a family member?
In my case it helped me a lot: just practicing public speaking in advance. I know in your case it is more difficult because you don't know the topic yet but even that scenario could be practiced with someone.

You will be fine, I promise. Let us know how it went.

deep breaths seem to work, I'm a nervous person who tends to blush badly when speaking in public but after my last one where I controlled my breathing the lecturer said I seemed more confident than my last presentation.

Burning Aroma- Oh talking in front of a big group in high school was so hard for me, even now days with talking at work at times- but I agree with the above posters, take a deep breath, others are as nervous as you are.

Hopefully your teacher after words of this can give you some structure suggestions. I remember I used to always sway back and forth, fidget, pop my knuckles and all.... It was so hard, then asked to speak louder was so hard- but ya know one of the best suggestions I got was to just look at the posters at the back of the room to keep my head up, or to look at the top of the heads of people and not directly at them they aren't really going to note that you are not looking at their eyes I was told, who knows though...... it helped a bit

Wish you good luck on this, and remember, take it as an experience and try to learn from it

I may have a few pointers...

First and foremost, don't think of it as a presentation; think of it as a conversation. It is, essentially. Have fun with it.

Beyond deep breathing, which other posters have mentioned... Stand/sit up straight. Good posture looks good and is likely to benefit your grade... But, more importantly, it will help you feel more confident and relaxed. When you hunch over, you compress your organs, and your lungs are more constricted, which will cause you to feel stressed. Good posture actually has a lot of physical benefits, but I won't get into that...

Maintain eye contact. I noticed that another poster mentioned to look just above someone. Only do this if you absolutely cannot look someone in the eyes. If you can't, I highly encourage you to practice this skill in the future. If you have friends or acquaintances with whom you're more comfortable, look at them more often.

Take your time and articulate what you're trying to say. Don't be afraid of long pauses or silence. A well placed pause is very effective, and it gives you some time to think about what you're going to say next.

I don't know if the topics pertain to something you've been studying recently. If they do, then simply look over what you've been studying so you have some idea of what the topics may be and how you would answer. If they don't, then just wing it... Don't try to imagine each and every question that may be asked and formulate responses. It's highly unlikely you'll even get one of those questions, and you'll only succeed in making yourself more anxious. The only practice I would recommend is getting a few of your friends and having them act as an audience while you talk about any given topic, preferably one they pick for you.

Organize your thoughts. You only have a minute; don't try to write an essay. After you get your topic, scribble a few key words for subtopics that you could go over on a note card. For best results, try to use subtopics that are similar. It'll make the discussion much more comfortable for you if you can easily translate from one subtopic to the next. The key words will help jog your memory if you get stuck, but don't rely on them. Notes are an unnecessary crutch, and the vast majority of speakers do much better without them. You know more about a topic than you think you do.

I remember Speech class over 35 years ago... So nervous. And then I discovered that everyone else was at least as nervous as me!

When you pick your topic, breathe in, breathe out and then summon up some experience/something you've seen at the movies or elsewhere, etc. Or, if you really know nothing about the topic - then go ahead and start by saying you haven't had time to read up on the topic!

To slow your speech down, say something, then tap your foot 3 times. Say something else and repeat the foot tap.

OMG - I'm old - but I have had to go through this stuff so many times in my working life.

It gets better - it really does!

Let us know how it goes.

Thank you so much for the advice, everyone. I will definitely update with what happens.

Thinking about it, all my other classmates are probably just as (or even more) anxious than I am. All the tips given do help me feel more confident about speaking. Practicing is a very good idea, I'll try to ask others to be my audience.

Oh, and by the way, the topics aren't related to things that we necessarily studied. Though how I wish that they were.

Thanks again, everyone! I appreciate it very, very much.

I had to do that stuff when I was in school. I was mental paranoid about it as a 'learner' (which I still am).
My teacher told me some great advice though, she said " as long as I know the subject, I have nothing to worry about", she would notice, screw the others trying to make me feel out of place. They were the ones who never read the required work..lol...tough for them, they never got the 'teachers advice', thats probably because they were bullies.

To only read and know the subject is required at lessons where you are required to read in front of the class.

I got great benifits from it, I became an actor..

Loves.

Thank you as well Sanada for the advice.

And by the way, the speaking thing was scheduled for next Thursday... again, I'll be sure to update.