OMG! I have to take Speech

[NoOne]

I'm graduating soon. And I've prolonged the possibility of taking speech till the last minute. I just hate these general education requirements! But time has caught up :(

I'm sure that a lot of you have taken speech or some relevant communications course in college.

How does one handle such a situation? I am so scared. I feel like this course is such a brick wall. Twenty minute long solo presentations done in front about 40 people at regular intervals throughout the semester. I'm pissing my pants here. I think I should drop out of college and become a professional hermit.

Thanks.

[andrewg818]

I know it's hard for you to accept, but most of the other students in your class are just as frightened [however, they use a different rationale on the SURFACE than you do]...
The only one scaring you, stopping you, or dropping you out of college is... YOU.
I suggest you join Toastmasters first..Also, call me at 352-429-5448 and practice your speech(es) w/ me--I can help

[Mr Fingers]

I found that speech therapists actually don't know a whole lot about stuttering, i thought stuttering was their main subject but it's one of many.
I find their techniques don't help, maybe for young children but as an adult & all the adult stammerers i've talked to, the therapists have been of no use.

[Vermillion]

I suggest you look into drugs-particularly benzos (klonopin or xanax) and beta-blockers (inderal) and see if they help., if not maybe try an SSRI (citalopram). Nothing is more embarrassing than to stutter like crazy in a presentation.

[happy7117]

Nothing is more embarrassing than to stutter like crazy in a presentation.

Or stutter like crazy anywhere with me. It makes me feel like an embarrassed ass.

[Danny]

Nothing to worry about, NoOne, and no need to take drugs ;) You can always join Toastmasters or just explain on your first speech that you stutter. It's hard to do at first but you will quickly grow relaxed towards speaking in front of your class.

I think you will do fine. After all, *I* did! Of all people! :)

[happy7117]

Nothing to worry about, NoOne, and no need to take drugs ;) You can always join Toastmasters or just explain on your first speech that you stutter. It's hard to do at first but you will quickly grow relaxed towards speaking in front of your class.

I think you will do fine. After all, *I* did! Of all people! :)

Is there a Toastmasters for stuttering??

If there was a toastmasters in my area for stuttering, I would jump at the chance to join!

[andrewg818]

Toastmasters is an international organization around the world [ironic that Adrian doesn't blast me for selfishly promoting it--and getting a kickback--sorry, had to throw that in].. A number of members stutter but the organization is not specifically for people w/ any speech problem-- other than a grave fear of public speaking. In a wonderfully supportive environment, you will deliver speeches and perform various speaking roles at each meeting--and I assure--as a veteran member--you will be VERY welcomed w/ your stutter. So, the only thing stopping you from going is YOU ! I'd put in the link to Toastmasters, but ADrian might yell at me : )

[ratboy]

I'm sure that a lot of you have taken speech or some relevant communications course in college.

I think I should drop out of college and become a professional hermit.

Thanks.

Two years ago I was in business school before I changed to something else. I had to make presentations in many of my courses for fake products, about income reports... And! it was OK. Really, in some I'd stutter my ass off, in others not more than the average shy girl giving a presentation. You'll just have to read over your presentation a few more times than the other people, remember to make eye-contact and tell the professor when you have the chance (or email them) that you stutter (many will think you're so courageous by being there they'll give you an A without much trouble).

PS., I changed from business school because it was boring, not because of the presentations.

PS. PS., I Aced all 4 classes.

PS. PS. PS, I got to go out with some of the girls that where in the classes I gave presentations in; and in which i stuttered badly.

Good luck

[longwindingroad]

[QUOTE=andrewg818;17944]I know it's hard for you to accept, but most of the other students in your class are just as frightened [however, they use a different rationale on the SURFACE than you do. [Quote]



Yes, most of the other students may be frightened but a lot of their anxiety is at a different level. Most! I think you're underestimating the degree of this person's anxiety about a speech class.

Joing Toastmasters may be beneficial for some stutterers but not for others. Not everyone comes out of Toastmasters with flying colors. I have social phobia and joining Toastmasters would be of no benefit to me.

Failing the Toastmasters' program could be psychologically damaging for some stutterers, just like every failed attempt at speech therapy could be psychologically damaging.

Having positive speaking experiences, especially when you're young, are important. If you're not having positive experiences, your self-esteem is going to take a hit.

[emily445455]

Sometimes if your prof is cool, you can talk to them about it and they'll do private speeches.

Or just grin and bear it...you're outta there soon anyways! :)

[Josh]

Hi all,

In my required speech class I was allowed to videotape myself giving speeches. So, you could look into whether your professor would let you videotape yourself giving a speech. My situation was a long drawn out process (I will explain below), but in hindsight I might have been able to just ask the professor, who seemed nice enough, and avoided all the other trouble.

Anyway, in order to be allowed to videotape myself I had to register with the university educational accessibility office (as it was called at my university, others may have a different name), which helps people with disabilities, and then I had to have a note faxed over from a doctor or certified speech therapist saying that I really did have a stuttering problem. Then they gave me specific rules on how to videotape myself, namely it has to be in one setting, and not edited. All other rules of speech giving applied, no reading from a paper, proper eye contact, etc.

After all that was done I tried to test out of the class, by taking a test and giving a presentation, but was told it was not good enough, so I will have to take the class. I guess my evaluator tried to lessen the blow by saying that the skills learned in speech class are useful for much more than just public speaking. Talk about patronizing.:rolleyes: Most of the stuff is just common sense. I rarely studied out of the book and aced the written tests.

So, at the start of the next semester I took the class, was allowed to videotape myself, and ended up getting an 'A' in the class, although I wondered if I deserved it or if the professor felt sorry for me.

Anyway, I see this thread was started a while ago (I wish I would have seen it back then so as to offer my advice), so good luck with the class, if you haven't taken it yet, otherwise, congratulations on successfully conquering it.:D

[longwindingroad]

Hi all,

In my required speech class I was allowed to videotape myself giving speeches. So, you could look into whether your professor would let you videotape yourself giving a speech. My situation was a long drawn out process (I will explain below), but in hindsight I might have been able to just ask the professor, who seemed nice enough, and avoided all the other trouble.

Anyway, in order to be allowed to videotape myself I had to register with the university educational accessibility office (as it was called at my university, others may have a different name), which helps people with disabilities, and then I had to have a note faxed over from a doctor or certified speech therapist saying that I really did have a stuttering problem. Then they gave me specific rules on how to videotape myself, namely it has to be in one setting, and not edited. All other rules of speech giving applied, no reading from a paper, proper eye contact, etc.

After all that was done I tried to test out of the class, by taking a test and giving a presentation, but was told it was not good enough, so I will have to take the class. I guess my evaluator tried to lessen the blow by saying that the skills learned in speech class are useful for much more than just public speaking. Talk about patronizing.:rolleyes: Most of the stuff is just common sense. I rarely studied out of the book and aced the written tests.

So, at the start of the next semester I took the class, was allowed to videotape myself, and ended up getting an 'A' in the class, although I wondered if I deserved it or if the professor felt sorry for me.

Anyway, I see this thread was started a while ago (I wish I would have seen it back then so as to offer my advice), so good luck with the class, if you haven't taken it yet, otherwise, congratulations on successfully conquering it.:D



I suppose videotaping a speech is a bit easier than speaking in front of a class. A bit!!!!! Speaking in front of a camera would make me nervous.

[climberszen]

All I can say is don't run from it... when I give talks I plainly say... "I stutter, I have lived with it for my entire speaking life, you will have to for the next X time". You will never be marked down for your perfemance... of course I did have an issue with that... but at the end... everyone kinda just understands its a class you must take to graduate...

[sickVisionz]

Talk to your teacher. I got out of having to take speech because I loaded up on some other stuff. In my other classes, I can say that i've never had a teacher who marked my grade down for stuttering. Some of them let me do alternate assignments, but those who did force me to speak all gave me a good grade.

Definitely talk to the prof though.

[mjella]

i am soooo lucky that my college did not force me to take a speech class. i am terrified of speaking in front of a lot of people. i did have to make a presentation two semesters ago, and i was so nervous that i was stuttering so bad, but everyone there was a friend, so they were very supportive. as long as you show that you are there and you mean it and you're working hard, it'll be ok. and you'll be proud of yourself in the end, no matter how it goes. just remember- stuttering doesn't kill you (it's just ridiculously embarressing!)