I like to talk.
In all of the time I have spent taking graduate courses, I have never minded having to give presentations. I am so used to being in front of people and teaching, that giving a presentation is no big deal. I am usually surprised to find out that there are teachers that actually have issues with speaking in front of others, but I guess there is a difference between kids and adults. I usually reason that grownups are just big kids so my presentations are typically accompanied by a little bit of chocolate!
Today I am working on my presentation for my Comparative International Education class. I wrote a 23 page paper, which should be the hard part, but I have having a really tough time getting my presentation together! I created a power point and now I have to add in voice overs since I won't actually be present for the class session to give my presentation in person. I could do it over skype except the class takes place at 6:00 pm in Portland which is 2:00 am in Germany. No thanks! So I am attempting to record my voice and make comments that go along with my slides.
You would think that this would be easier than actually getting up in front of a real audience, but it's tough! Yes, I am just a voice, which means I can do this in my pj's without makeup because they are only hearing my voice and not actually seeing me, yet I keep on getting totally tripped up when I start recording. Since I am able to go back and listen to what I said and how it sounds, I am getting annoyed at every little um, pause, and mispronunciation, so I keep deleting the sound bites. This should be easier! I need to have a 15 minute presentation which means a little more than 1 minute per slide, which is not a lot at all. I can definitely talk about all my research more than that, so it's hard to just be concise and word everything just right so it's informative yet short.
I do not want to sound like a total dork, so this process is taking a lot longer than I thought it would! At least the slides are done! It really is cool that I can record my voice with the presentation and send it off to the class in the U.S., but I kind feel like I would prefer to just get up and speak in front of them rather than all this techie stuff! Then at least there would not be the option to go back and try again! Maybe I am too much of a pefectionist, but it seems like this might take all day!
How do you feel about speaking in front of a group?
Should I just get this done and not worry if it's perfect or keep trying until I am really happy with the way it sounds?
5 comments:
Good luck I'm sure you sound fine you are your worst critic. I hate talking in front of a crowd....worst thing for me I get so nervous.
I would agree that talking in front of a group of children is MUCH easier than talking to a group of adults, who are your peers! I used to get REALLY nervous! I mean sick at my stomach, I think I am going to puke nervous but since being in grad school I think I sort of got use to it!
Also in my current position as Lit coach I am have to lead staff development trainings or meetings so it's getting easier all the time! I will admit sometimes I still get a few nerves but nothing like it use to be before!
Good luck! I can definitely see how it would be a harder doing it the way you're doing it! Knowing you it'll turn out Great!!
Recording a voice over sounds difficult to me. I'm sure I'd be like you and re-doing it to strive for perfection. After all, you may get tired of it but your audience will only hear it once. I've made powerpoint presentations but never with audio. I wouldn't have a clue how to do that.
Good Luck! I have to agree that talking in front of a group of adults is a bit more intimidating than speaking in front of children. I've played a little with voive overs before and since we are in fact our own worse critics, I decided it was never perfect and gave up :( Keep at it, but don't be try not to be too hard on yourself.
I don't mind public speaking, but I still get a little nervous doing it. I obviously don't get nervous in front of my own class, but if I had to go to another class it would probably be the same thing. I don't really mind it though, just get a little nervous.
I can see how what you are doing is a little worse because you can listen to it back. I would just do the best you can and then stop- you can't possibly have no "ums" or pauses!
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