Students combat speech anxiety
Public speaking courses offered at Eau Claire, professor attempts to help organize thoughts, calm fears
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 2/13/06 Section: Money/Health
In the 11 years he has taught a public speaking course, assistant professor of communication and journalism Aryln Anderson said he has had only one student who had so much speech anxiety that he dropped the class.
"I thought he was going up to the front to give his speech, and he just kept on walking out the door," Anderson said. "I never saw him since."
Aside from this rather rare, extreme case, Anderson said the fear of public speaking is fairly common among not only students but also among professionals.
"Most people have some apprehension when they have to speak publicly," he said, adding that while he usually has about one to five students in each class who comment on being nervous, half the class shows signs of a little apprehension.
Anderson, who currently teaches two sections of CJ 202, "Fundamentals of Speech," said he believes the fear stems from people's perceptions of themselves that they have acquired from a very early age.
"I am presently convinced that most people approach most of their human interactions with a feeling of inferiority," he said. "There is an inescapable helpless state I think that still lurks in people from the time of infancy."
It is this feeling of helplessness, Anderson said, that serves as the basis for an "emotional and psychological nakedness."
"It's akin to having to stand up in front of people naked," he said. "They are subjected to everybody's gaze and analysis."
Anderson said students who get nervous while giving a speech usually speak quickely.
Others will go off on tangents and not stick to their main points.
"They think the more they fill in the air, the more they'll be able to cover up their perceived apprehension," he said.
Anderson said he doesn't teach about what he calls "communication anxiety" until the end of the semester, since he wants students to find their own ways of coping with the pressure of speaking in front of the class.
By doing enough background research on the topic, people increase their chances of doing well, he said.
"I thought he was going up to the front to give his speech, and he just kept on walking out the door," Anderson said. "I never saw him since."
Aside from this rather rare, extreme case, Anderson said the fear of public speaking is fairly common among not only students but also among professionals.
"Most people have some apprehension when they have to speak publicly," he said, adding that while he usually has about one to five students in each class who comment on being nervous, half the class shows signs of a little apprehension.
Anderson, who currently teaches two sections of CJ 202, "Fundamentals of Speech," said he believes the fear stems from people's perceptions of themselves that they have acquired from a very early age.
"I am presently convinced that most people approach most of their human interactions with a feeling of inferiority," he said. "There is an inescapable helpless state I think that still lurks in people from the time of infancy."
It is this feeling of helplessness, Anderson said, that serves as the basis for an "emotional and psychological nakedness."
"It's akin to having to stand up in front of people naked," he said. "They are subjected to everybody's gaze and analysis."
Anderson said students who get nervous while giving a speech usually speak quickely.
Others will go off on tangents and not stick to their main points.
"They think the more they fill in the air, the more they'll be able to cover up their perceived apprehension," he said.
Anderson said he doesn't teach about what he calls "communication anxiety" until the end of the semester, since he wants students to find their own ways of coping with the pressure of speaking in front of the class.
By doing enough background research on the topic, people increase their chances of doing well, he said.