Speaking and Listening assessment?!?!?

Question

Okay, so our English teacher has warned us that there is an upcoming speaking and listening assessment, where basically we have to do a presentation in front of the class. This will be the 4th I've done, and I'm really worrying and stressing out over it. I hate them!! I get very nervous and anxious, and I worry myself sick. Last time I ended up bursting into tears because I just panicked. The thing that scares me is that all the attention will be on me, and I could go wrong and seriously embarrass myself. Last time I didn't sleep for weeks or eat for weeks before it because I just got so stressed over it.

I simply cannot do it. Is there ANYTHING I can say to my teacher that will make him let me just do it in front of him rather than the whole class?? Please, please help me!!

Answer 1

Trust me, I know how it feels like. People can say to you (which is the best peice of advice) "don't worry, it's not worth worrying and you'll be fine" but you can never feel that way about it. But think, the last times, did anything bad happen? It may be hard to beleive, but sometimes things go better than we think they will do. Secondly, pracice it in front of the mirror, make sure you know it well. Try to look happy, and IF you make a mistake, smile, laugh and just go with. Don't get red and shrink away to nothng. But remember a very good thnig my brother told me:

"Bad things happen when you expect them the least"

I'm always worrying, about lost school books, homework and those things. I get extremely worried but it all turns out okay. Even if it does go wrong, it still dosen't matter much anymore.



Lastly, don't always look on the negative side of things. If you do this like I used to, every bit of forgotten homework led to being sent to the headmaster and put into the inclusion unit for a week! Always think positive. You may doubt it, but trust me, it works.



But if you absoloutly CANNOT do it, talk to your teacher. If not in front of the class, ask if you can him at the end of the lesson, or when he has time privatley. Tell him you get really really nervous. it may be hard, but the only other way is lying; and we all know lying is immoral. He will have the best advice as he has probably dealt with loads of other people like you who get nervous alot. I know last year I asked my teacher if I didn't have to do it. He told me excatly what I have said above and now, I don't mind at all. In fact, I enjoy them. Stay happy, strong and courageos and you'll be fine, I promise!



Good luck! :)

Answer 2

I have been in exactly the same boat. I am in year 10 and I have had a few speaking and listening presentations to perform in front of my class. I worried myself sick and kept making up excuses on why I couldn't do it and then I'd go home every night and think my life was over because I wasn't helping anyone by avoiding it. If I avoided it, I'd just have to do it the next day and so on.



A few people in my class asked my teacher if they could do it in front of them at break time, when the rest of the class wasn't there and my teacher didn't let them. Apparently because the whole point of a speaking and listening is so that the rest of the class can 'listen' and so that they can grade you on your skills of speaking in front of an audience.



The day of the presentation I had English first period and I wasn't happy that I'd have to embarrass in front of everyone. I will give you some helpful advice: Go first, second or third or anywhere near the front. It would be worse for you to go last. The reason being is because if you are one of the first, everyone else is too worried about their own presentation (it's not only you, everyone else is worried too) so they won't be focusing on your presentation that much - they will be going over their own lines. Whereas if you go last, everyone else has finished their presentation and is ready to laugh at yours because they are fine and have no reason to be worried anymore.



I gave myself the best advice before doing the presentation. I told myself "Whatever happens, it won't change the fact that I have Science last...or that I will eat some toast when I get home from school... So who cares?" and it really helped me pull through. I know it's hard and you're probably thinking "What do they know, I'm the one going through it - not them" I thought the same thing and I wouldn't take advice from anyone. No matter what we say - you're still going to be worried and a few words over the internet won't help you suddenly become not embarrassed.



You just need to realize that this isn't the end of the world. Put everything into perspective, take a deep breath and realize that this presentation won't change your life forever. No doubt you'll do great! I got a grade (A) even though I spent every minute of my life leading up to the presentation fretting and planning my embarrassing moment.

Answer 3

If it's really serious, talk to your teacher. Reason with him.



But don't worry! I always found my self shaking in front of my class. But practise really! In front of friends, families. Commit yourself to it. Record your self, practise in mirror. Do breathing exercises to help. Eye contact, move around a bit if it will help and smile! The more you practise, the more you'll be better at it! Don't worry!



If it still is serious, don't worry. Talk to your teacher. One of my friends got to do it in front of her teacher at lunch, but there was a few people.



Though don't worry about what other people think. Prove to them you don't care. As long as you don't take notice of what they think, you'll be fine. Don't hold yourself back because of embarrassment.



Hope this helps



Nisha