How To Deal With Speaking Anxiety In Online Classes

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Do you feel queasy when called up to speak in your online class? You may have worried that you are alone, but this is actually very common. For this reason, we have compiled a list of tips to show you and others who struggle with the same how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes.

What Is Speaking Anxiety?

Speaking anxiety or speech anxiety refers to the unnerving or incapacitating fear that grips some people when speaking to an audience. Simply put, it is the fear of public speaking and the signs include:

  • Shaking
  • Sweating
  • Stuttering
  • Butterflies in stomach
  • Heart pounding
  • Dry mouth

Public speaking is a serious fear for many people and has hindered them from achieving their potential since they are too afraid to explore opportunities and express themselves. As such, there is a demand for a solution to these issues.

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16 Tips To Overcome Speaking Anxiety In Online Classes

Online classes mean that you and your classmates are distant and have limited modes of communication. As such, your instructor will require you to speak in class to show that you are following along well and that you are learning. It is therefore important to overcome your fear, and the following tips can help you with details on how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes:

1.  Practice speaking

Practice makes perfect applies to most things, including public speaking. Doing so, especially in front of a mirror or on camera, allows you to act as if you are indeed giving a speech. Once you find a suitable topic from our other articles, such as controversial topics for teenagers, you may present your speech to your friends and family and have them provide feedback on what to change. For example, they may inform you that your voice is cracking at some points or that you are shuffling around on your feet.

2. Prepare

It is very important to stay organized and write up a draft of what to say. For example, your instructor may require you to introduce yourself to the class, so you can write a short speech sample that is appropriate for the occasion. You also need to focus on the tools you need, such as a microphone and a good internet connection. 

If you need help coming up with a good speech idea, consider looking at our special occasion speech topics. However, if you need more help, consider placing an order, and our speech-writing experts will be happy to help.

3. Focus on a core message

Every presentation has a core message. Whether it is a speech to introduce yourself to the class or demonstrate your knowledge of a particular concept, it is important to have a core message that you can build your speech around to prevent you from stuttering and getting confused.

4. Develop a structure

Once you know how much time, on average will be allotted to you, it is important to divide your speech into parts that help you speak in a coherent manner. For example, you will need a short introductory paragraph to explain the purpose of your speech and more to explain the content e. g a speech on what you have learned in your chemistry class should begin with the point of the presentation and the different points you aim to cover. As such, it should have an introduction, body, and conclusion.

5. Check your pacing

A speech depends on your voice, and experts would advise you to talk at a conversational pace. This is because speaking faster may cause your listeners to miss out on certain points while talking too slowly will lead to boredom in your listeners. 

6. Use active voice at intervals

Active voice refers to a sentence where the subject performs the action on a particular target, while passive voice focuses on the target which receives the action. Using active voice at certain intervals can inspire your audience to take a particular path, while passive voice helps reduce redundancy since you won’t repeat yourself. This is one of the lesser-known tips for how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes, but it is very effective for a good speech that will have your listeners focused on you.

7. Know your audience

One of the most important parts of a speech is appealing to one’s audience. If your audience is a group of technical experts, it is important to be informative, but if you are preparing a speech for an event, your speech should be entertaining. As such, you should be aware of the purpose of the speech and who you can expect to show up, and why.

8. Positive thinking

Everyone makes mistakes. Even better, most people are nervous about speaking in public; hence they are likely to be sympathetic to others. Most people are also not critically thinking about you but are just listening to you talk. As such, do not overthink it since they will likely make mistakes as well.

9. Dress properly

One mistake students make with regard to online learning is poor grooming. Many even admit to not showering or changing from their pajamas. However, your appearance affects your confidence, so you should groom yourself. Wearing something you are comfortable in also helps you present before others with ease.

10. Take deep breaths

Your speech may contribute to your final score, so it is understandable that you would still feel nervous. If you feel your heart pounding, consider taking some deep breaths to regulate your heart rate. This is particularly useful when you are not particularly nervous, but your body responds like this and gives you a chance to help your body catch up to your mind.

11. Acknowledge your progress

In every journey you undertake, you will find that you will not end up at the same point you started. For example, you may find that you are no longer saying “umm” and have more coherent speech the more you practice. This is definitely worthy of celebration since it shows that you are growing your skillset. 

12. Relax

Aside from taking deep breaths, there are many techniques you could use to enhance your confidence. These include relaxing your muscles or meditation and can help you improve your speaking abilities.

13. Exercise

Exercising your body can help you release pent-up stress and reduce your anxiety in general.

14. Use anti-anxiety medication

There exists medication to help you calm down in case breathing exercises and relaxation do not work. These can be sourced from a pharmacist and tend to have very mild effects that will help you breeze through your presentation.

15. Focus on friendly people in the crowd

It is impossible not to look up when speaking publicly, as it will make you look rather nervous. As such, you will find yourself glancing at the audience. Let’s say your instructor requires you to make a presentation on a particular topic. While some will seem disinterested, look for a friendly face in the crowd, such as those who are nodding along in agreement with your point.

16. Hire a writer

In your online learning journey, you will likely give several speeches. They will often revolve around several topics which you may not have experience dealing with. As such, you may opt to hire a writer from the various tutoring services around. These experts provide specialized essays to students, so you can get help no matter the prompt. 

If you would like top-notch help, consider placing an order for our writing services, and we will deliver a good speech for your online class. For more information, the section detailing our services will explain more.

Please note that we also compile lists on various relevant topics, such as our list of demonstration speech ideas for college students. 

9 Reasons Why You Have Speaking Anxiety

It is worth noting that you may learn how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes, but there may be instances where you feel the nervousness creep up. This is because you may not have dealt with the root issue causing your anxiety. As such, it is important to learn your triggers which may be:

  1. Unfamiliar surroundings that cause stress
  2. A hostile audience that does not give you a chance
  3. Fear of failure or embarrassment
  4. Fear of judgment
  5. Little or no preparation
  6. Poor confidence in one’s abilities
  7. Comparing yourself to people with more skills or experience
  8. Narcissistic tendencies-people with these conditions tend to be self-centered and overly analytical; hence they may be anxious
  9. Trauma may lead to disordered behavior and general anxiety, no matter the source. For example, a person who has experienced head trauma may have trouble speaking and subsequently become anxious when they face a crowd.

Once you overcome this, you can extract ideas on what speech to write about from our persuasive essay topics for college students.

Situations in Online Class That May Call For Speaking

Your instructor may require you to speak up in the following scenarios:

  1. Introduce yourself to the class
  2. Make a presentation
  3. Give a speech
  4. Debate

Please note that all these situations can cause anxiety no matter how brief they may be, so it is important to focus on how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes.

Can A Student Get Professional Help For Anxiety?

Sometimes, your issues may be a result of an actual medical condition. Health conditions that could trigger symptoms similar to speaking anxiety include apraxia, dysarthria, and Parkinson's. Most of these conditions affect the nervous systems and muscles. If you are at risk of any of these, you will likely not benefit from the tips outlined in our guide on how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes.

Alternatively, you can try seeing a speech pathologist if the tips on how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes in this article do not help. These experts specialize in helping individuals of all ages with their communication problems and are generally affordable, so feel free to consult one of these experts.

However, please note that these conditions tend to be rare and often come with other serious ailments that you would have noticed. Some are also more common among older people, so you might not have them.

Frequently Asked Questions       

1. How does anxiety affect speech? 

Anxiety can lead to poor analytical and coordination skills. All this can alter your breathing and lead to stuttering and poor speech in general. 

2. Do I need to turn on a video recording when giving a presentation to my online class?

It depends. Your instructor will explain what they prefer, but if you have a faulty camera or another technical issue, you can explain it to them beforehand.

3. Can online learning increase anxiety?

Yes. Due to social isolation and lack of communication with your peers, you may feel depressed and anxious. 

4. Can drinking water help with my anxiety?

Yes! You may be facing stress due to dehydration, so it is advisable to hydrate and rest for a short period to slow down your heart rate before getting on the floor. 

5. Will better speech improve my academics?

Yes! You will be able to explain your points clearly to an individual or group, thus helping you learn how to present better. This can also help you land opportunities with firms or programs that need confident and clear speakers. However, it is important to focus from day one, and our article on tips for introducing yourself in an online class can help you achieve a good first impression.

Summary

In short, speaking anxiety refers to the irrational fear of public speaking. Those affected often exhibit signs like shaking, sweating, stuttering, heart palpitations, and dry mouth. Contrary to popular belief, many people suffer from this; hence there are speech pathologists who offer help on how to communicate better. But before that, you can try to implement our tips that offer insight into how to deal with speaking anxiety in online classes. These include relaxing, exercising before, preparing a speech, taking deep breaths, positive thinking, and many more.

However, having the confidence to speak before your online class is one thing, but presenting quality content that is sure to help your grades is another thing. Thanks to this, students still seek the help of online writers who can promise them better grades. When you place an order with these experts (in particular ours), you will experience free revisions, refunds, low pricing, and much more. So don’t hesitate to place your order today, and our writers will deliver above and beyond your expectations.

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