Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Campus News

How do you feel about giving a speech in front of a group of people? If you're like most people in the world, this will make you very anxious. As a matter of fact, according to schoolforchampions.com, people report that they are more fearful of public speaking than dying! It is the second most reported fear among all human beings; the first being a fear of snakes. To help students face their fear, Kean University requires the completion of a class called Speech Communication for Critical Citizenship. This class requires students to prepare speeches, which they will present to the class.

Your first assignment is to give an informative, ten minute speech. Just the thought of having to do this is making you sweat. While anticipating your presentation, you begin to feel your heart race. When you are asked to stand and speak, you find it difficult to make eye contact with your classmates, as you speak so fast that no one can keep up with what you are saying. Although you may have a lot of interesting information to share with your classmates, you are unable to deliver your presentation effectively. If this sounds familiar, it may be a good idea to stop by the Student Presentation Tutoring Lab. It is located in room 414 of the Center for Academic Success (CAS). Students may also be referred there by their professors. The goal of the Student Presentation Tutoring Lab is to make sure students feel confident while delivering a speech and are able to give a quality presentation.

The Student Presentation Tutoring Lab opened this Spring semester, and it is run by two graduate students, Daniela Petrilli and Leroy Hill. They assist students in writing informative and persuasive speeches and have already helped many students who have taken advantage of this service.

Senior English major, Dana Behr, said "The speech lab worked with me repeatedly on nonverbal skills and the more subtle emotional aspects of the speech. The techniques offered to me carried me through. Despite being nervous, I was able to give a speech in front of three hundred people." Dana presented a speech at the Foundation Scholarship reception with the help of the presentation lab.

There is a podium in the lab for students to practice giving speeches. They will also work on body gestures and eye contact. Daniela and Leroy are willing to work with the professors to help students succeed in classes that require an oral presentation. They will even fill out a checklist to keep track of the student's progress. A professor may also fill out a questionnaire about the student's progress, after they have completed their tutoring. The feedback the student receives from the questionnaire and checklist will let them know what they do well and where they need to improve. This assists in building confidence in the student and allows them to feel more comfortable while giving a presentation.

With a little practice, students can become effective speakers. Another class offered at Kean is Public Speaking, which can help perfect skills even more. In any case, these are very important skills, because many positions in the professional world require getting up in front of a group and presenting information. In order to prepare for these types of situations, the new tutoring lab is open. Don't be afraid to ask for help, if you are one of the many people who are afraid of public speaking.
 

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