Speech class is coming to an end.

We only have one speech class left and I am amazed by how quickly this quarter went by. In the beginning of Spring quarter I was most nervous about my speech class. However, it ended up being my favorite class. I have learned so much and have become a much more confident and comfortable speaker. It wouldn’t have been as easy as it was without the support of my classmates and my instructor, Candee Basford who is extremely encouraging. I believe that every single person in the class gained confidence from this class. As the quarter drew to an end, everyone’s speeches had become better and better. I was impressed with each person’s speeches and I wish you all luck with any future speech you may have to give!

 

Julie

Demonstration Speeches are the best!

This past week we have been giving demonstration speeches and I have enjoyed them more than any of the other speeches we have given. I like them better because they are more entertaining and you get to learn how to do new things and if someone demonstrates how to make a certain kind of food, then we get to eat it! I enjoyed giving my demonstrative more than any of the other speeches I have given so far because instead of just talking, I also got to be doing something else, which in my case was making chocolate chip cookies. It made me feel more relaxed because I wasn’t so concentrated on what I was saying, I was also  focusing on making the cookies.  There are still a few more people that have to give their speeches, but everyone that has gone so far has done a great job. In my opinion, I think that each person’s speeches gets better each speech they give. Confidence is definitely growing in all of us and that is one of the many great things that we will take with us after this class is over.

Julie

Two down, two to go

Last week most of the class tackled their second speech. However, this speech actually had to be memorized for the most part and we had to write it ourselves, unlike the books, poems, etc. that we read for our first speech. I wasn’t really nervous before I gave my speech but the second I started talking I got very nervous for some reason and I’m sure it was obvious because I could hear it in my voice. I didn’t have anything to be worried about but I think the reason I was so much more nervous during this speech than I was my last one is because this speech was much easier to lose my train of thought and more difficult to pick up where I left off. Everyone else that went last week did an awesome job. Hardly any of them sounded nervous at all and I envy them for that! I think another reason I was nervous is because everyone that had gone before me did so good and that made it more nerve- wracking for me. There are always people in the class that give very touching and inspirational speeches and I really enjoy those. My speech last week was about Kamp Dovetail and on our response sheets that we get back from each student, someone told me that they want to get involved in Kamp Dovetail and they would like their daughter too as well. Even if I get just one person to start volunteering there then that makes my speech about Kamp Dovetail well worth my time. Kamp Dovetail is such a great place to be involved at and I encourage everyone to try and be a part of such a great cause!

Julie

Our first speech

We presented our first speeches last week but they were just readings. Even though all we had to do was read a book, poem, song lyrics, etc., it was still a little nerve-wracking. I was nervous when it was almost my turn to get up and read the book that I chose to read but once I got up there, I wasn’t near as nervous as I thought I would be. Each person had another classmate come up with them and introduce them before they started reading and I think that helped calm my nerves because I didn’t have to go up in front of the class all by myself. I was very impressed with everyone elses’ readings because none of them showed signs of nervousness and everyone presented their material very well. That’s one of the reasons why I was nervous before it was my turn to read because everyone else that had already gone before me did so well. Now that we got through the first speech without too much trouble, I am excited to see how the rest of our speeches turn out!

- Julie

We’re All In This Together

I’ve always had mixed emotions about taking a speech class because I tend to get nervous when speaking in front of a class/crowd. However, I have also had the urge to take a speech class because I want to try to get rid of my nervousness and learn how to speak more effectively in front of others. On the first day of class most of us students all agreed that nervousness is our main fear coming into this class. It was comforting for me to hear that not just me, but almost every single student in the class feared speaking in front of others.

We have given two group speeches now and I thought I would be nervous doing that even though I’d have other people up there with me, but I came to find out that it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. Unfortunately, when I have to give my own speech I don’t think I’ll be as relaxed as I have been when giving group speeches, but I believe I might not be quite as nervous as I have anticipated. After all, it’s basically the same thing just minus two or three other people being up there with me! It can’t be that bad right?

I believe that with the encouragement of Candee and my fellow classmates, I will be able to get through this class without completely stressing myself out. I already feel comfortable speaking in front of these particular classmates and I hope they feel comfortable speaking in front of me as well. All in all, I have positive thoughts and expectations about this class. I think this class will be a good experience for me and I know that it will help me throughout the rest of my life because whether I like it or not, I will probably have to speak in front of the public again at some point in my life. Many people make public speaking seem worse than it really is, but even after just being in this class for a little over a week, I have came to the realization that it’s not all that bad. There are many things in life worth stressing about, but giving a speech should not be one of them.  

Julie Shafer