Aspies For Freedom

Congrats to you for giving the speech....  I didn't even know what aspergers was until recently - education is the key

Moo,

Hate to burst your bubble but you are normal (on this issue). From http://www.speaking-tips.com/Articles/Ov...nting.aspx

The top 10 fears (in order) are:

   1. Speaking Before a Group
   2. Heights
   3. Insects and Bugs
   4. Financial Problems
   5. Deep Water
   6. Sickness
   7. Death
   8. Flying
   9. Loneliness
  10. Dogs

The reason some of your classmates are watching you is that 1/2 of them are afraid of standing up in front of the class then having their own meltdown in the middle of the speech....

So why don't you start off your speech by reading off the top 10 fears then thank them for being so understanding of your meltdown? Tell them that you are proud of them & with their support that you will continue your speech.

I guarantee that you will get complete support when you continue your speech from the previous week...

Moo,

My first time public speaking was when I ran for Student's Council when I was in my early 20's. I was so nervous & my knees were shaking so much that my head got dizzy & I almost fainted (so I cut my speech short).

At this point in my life, my motto is "Give me a microphone, any time & anywhere"............

Unlike grixeldatee's advice, I am not a big fan of Toastmasters for a few reason's. The first is that the room set up is wrong - they sit around a big table and listeners are sitting right beside you which crowds your personal space. The 2nd is that they are there to critique you - while they are there to offer constructive & supportive advice - they are all there judging your speech.

So I will recommend what a friend of mine taught me. He took me into a large empty classroom. He sat halfway back (only to judge to volume of my voice) then had me read my speech.

He gave me tips such as say the first paragraph while slightly turning & looking to the left. When the paragraph (point) is finished, do a slight shift while turning my head to the right then read the second paragraph. Even today, I can go through a 15 minute speech (everyone tells me I did great) but I never (seriously) saw one person in the audience - I am making my speech to an empty room even though more than 200 people are listening.

The second part (which is important) is that I have one person (friend) standing at the back of the room who I look at when I start speaking - their job is to give me a thumbs up if I need to raise my voice or a "lowering" flat hand if I need to lower my voice. If I just get a smile & nod - my volume is perfect.

He told me (which is true) that even though I might be nervous - nobody knows that so never, ever say I am nervous - because they start staring / critiquing to see if they can spot my nervousness. Say nothing about nervousness - just start talking & they will listen to the words.

And he told me to read my speech out loud in an empty room prior to making my speech - even today, if I can not find an empty room, I go outside with my notes and read it...

The important thing he told me is that nobody knows what I am going to say. So if I miss a few words (only I know that) - they believe that what they hear is what I intended to say. So they think I did great.

On a final note, I am hyperactive so when I get nervous, I talk really, really fast. So he made me write (I still do that today) at the top of the page in large letters "Deep breath - speak slowly". People who see my notes after my speech always laugh - they realize that while I come across great, I (like them) get nervous as I go to make my speech....

Hope this helps.

Very good point I forgot to mention....

Nobody died, nobody got hurt, it was just a few minutes out of your life. So have fun with it & take the positives home...

As Tigger said "You gave the whole speech, you didn't have a melt-down, you even managed some eye-contact!"

Congratulations.......

Thanks you guys. I do feel a lot better about the speech now and i'm just happy that its over and done with and now i can focus on more important things like my mocks that are next week. Agh!
(mocks=mock exams for AS)

Hey Moo? Is it possible for you to post your speech on here? I, for one, would love to read it (since I obviously won't have a chance to hear it *grin*).

Alli

so when you think, there are no words in your head? none, at all?

I can see where part of your stage fright came from - nobody in a classroom uses words like "neurological disorder" and "high functioning" - I would have stumbled over myself if I was forced to read that...

The rest of your speech sounded fine - you are using words that people use in everyday life - words that you too probably use speaking with others.

Just something to consider for next time......

Moo, I'd like to hear what you said, too.  I chose this as a topic for my language disorders class when I was 48,  I never felt so exposed in my life; so vulnerable.

I am blown away at your bravery. I am also pleased to hear of other's kindness toward you.

Would it be improper of me to suggest you look six posts above yours.......

it would be edifying....

I see it now - thanks moo!!

I am very impressed!

Words such as "neurological disorder" and "high functioning" are never used in everyday speech...

I was not intending to criticize (because I think you did well) - I was giving the suggestion that in a speech one should always use words that come naturally to the speaker because then the speech sounds like a personal chat with the audience.

And if you ever listen to a speech that makes you go WOW - you will realize that you feel like they are having a personal conversation with you (even if you are one of hundreds in the audience)...

I did understand that you were not critising me, i just didn't know a word i could include in my reply to convey to you that i was not taking offense. I just wanted to make it clear to you that i had considered my audience.