Help

[lavrentis]

Hello,

Tomorrow I have got an English GCSE Oral exam and I have to explain my top ten songs which mean the most to me. I hardly speak in class though and I am very shy, do any of you have any advice please because I think when I am up there I will just bottle it, go really red and just say nothing?

Cheers,

[Joe.]

Try and practice reading aloud on your own. Then maybe to your mum/dad/brother/sister/dog/other.

[lildave3]

Try and practice reading aloud on your own. Then maybe to your mum/dad/brother/sister/dog/other.

Did we do that? I do not remember this.

[Joe.]

Did we do that? I do not remember this.

That's what I thought. Is this GCSE oral English exam new or something? We only did a written one.

[lavrentis]

That's what I thought. Is this GCSE oral English exam new or something? We only did a written one.

This is a new one apparently.

[Simi]

Hello,

Tomorrow I have got an English GCSE Oral exam and I have to explain my top ten songs which mean the most to me. I hardly speak in class though and I am very shy, do any of you have any advice please because I think when I am up there I will just bottle it, go really red and just say nothing?

Cheers,

If you're allowed to take in cue cards then use them, if I'm doing a presentation I always use them and they help a lot.

Just be confident, speak loud and make contact with the class.

Best of luck.

[Head Honcho]

Hello,

Tomorrow I have got an English GCSE Oral exam and I have to explain my top ten songs which mean the most to me. I hardly speak in class though and I am very shy, do any of you have any advice please because I think when I am up there I will just bottle it, go really red and just say nothing?

Cheers,

It's simple really.

Just get up in front of the class and imagine that everyone in front of you is naked!

You'll soon feel better

[Samilktray]

If you draw the audience, or your teacher in from the start, you should gradually feel your confidence building i find.

[danny.]

have a couple of drinks if you can (don't get drunk!) but that will help your confidence

also the more prepared you are/feel the more confident you will be.

don't look at one person for more than a few seconds and look around the room at each person and make eye contact if you can

[Samilktray]

Avoid eye contact with low cut tops.

Thats a killer.

[lavrentis]

Thanks everyone. I have included the Post Horn Gallop in the list

[WetFlannel]

Try not to stare at your notes too much, and look at the audience as much as possible. Make sure you speak with clarity, and try and not think about it too much. Thats when the nerves kick in. Just try and relax when your in front of the class and dont try and be distracted too much.

Good luck.

[AoWW]

Hello,

Tomorrow I have got an English GCSE Oral exam and I have to explain my top ten songs which mean the most to me. I hardly speak in class though and I am very shy, do any of you have any advice please because I think when I am up there I will just bottle it, go really red and just say nothing?

Cheers,

(Assuming you're allowed some notes), just jot down a few key reminders to keep you on track. Have too many notes and you will be tempted just to try to read them (never makes for a good speaker) or, when you do want to look at them, you will struggle to find the place you're up to and panic. Put your notes on thickish card too if you are inclined to get shaky - if not, whilst others probably won't notice the flimsy piece of paper shaking like a leaf, you will be very aware of it and become distracted. Remember too, that most people feel nervous (however cocky they may appear) when they have to do to a formal presentation, particularly in front of their peers - you are by no means alone in feeling like this.

Deep breathing really does help; just before you go up take a few deep breaths and try to remember to breath during your talk too - I've lost count of the times I've seen students get redder and redder and practically expire because they haven't stopped to breath. The odd pause really doesn't matter - I'd far rather see that than someone going into 'non-stop' mode or constantly 'erm' to fill the gap.

Practice really is key - it will give you confidence if you know what you are talking about. Try to pick songs too that really do mean something to you - rather than just for kudos. If there's a story behind them - be it sad, funny, embarrassing, whatever... so much the better - you'll speak in a more relaxed way if you're speaking from the heart rather than trying to make stuff up. If you haven't the time/will/inclination to practice it all at least make sure you've got your opening nailed - get this out of the way without too much of a hitch and it will give you confidence for the rest. Positive visualisation works wonders for some people - try to picture tonight how you would like your talk to go. Visualise yourself giving the perfect speech - what do you say, how do you look, how are you standing, how are the audience reacting to you, etc?... trust me, bonkers as it sounds, it works!

Anyway... hope some of this helps? I've other stuff I could add, but I think I've covered the most obvious things. If there's anything specific you want help on or that is particularly worrying you - or even just that you want to run an idea past someone - feel free to PM me. Happy to help if I can.

[Brainy]

Try and forget that you're reading to an audience.

[DB11]

I'd already fail as I am no good with music and don't even know 10 songs off by heart

Hope I don't have to do this <_<

[danny.]

Try and forget that you're reading to an audience.

fantastically bad advice

[lavrentis]

(Assuming you're allowed some notes), just jot down a few key reminders to keep you on track. Have too many notes and you will be tempted just to try to read them (never makes for a good speaker) or, when you do want to look at them, you will struggle to find the place you're up to and panic. Put your notes on thickish card too if you are inclined to get shaky - if not, whilst others probably won't notice the flimsy piece of paper shaking like a leaf, you will be very aware of it and become distracted. Remember too, that most people feel nervous (however cocky they may appear) when they have to do to a formal presentation, particularly in front of their peers - you are by no means alone in feeling like this.

Deep breathing really does help; just before you go up take a few deep breaths and try to remember to breath during your talk too - I've lost count of the times I've seen students get redder and redder and practically expire because they haven't stopped to breath. The odd pause really doesn't matter - I'd far rather see that than someone going into 'non-stop' mode or constantly 'erm' to fill the gap.

Practice really is key - it will give you confidence if you know what you are talking about. Try to pick songs too that really do mean something to you - rather than just for kudos. If there's a story behind them - be it sad, funny, embarrassing, whatever... so much the better - you'll speak in a more relaxed way if you're speaking from the heart rather than trying to make stuff up. If you haven't the time/will/inclination to practice it all at least make sure you've got your opening nailed - get this out of the way without too much of a hitch and it will give you confidence for the rest. Positive visualisation works wonders for some people - try to picture tonight how you would like your talk to go. Visualise yourself giving the perfect speech - what do you say, how do you look, how are you standing, how are the audience reacting to you, etc?... trust me, bonkers as it sounds, it works!

Anyway... hope some of this helps? I've other stuff I could add, but I think I've covered the most obvious things. If there's anything specific you want help on or that is particularly worrying you - or even just that you want to run an idea past someone - feel free to PM me. Happy to help if I can.

Thanks, really does help. On my presentation I have basically done a brief explanation of why I chose that song, as I don't think we can have notes in terms of paper. I am quite worried because the teacher has basically told us she is expecting A grades which I don't think is right. I am struggling as well to think of a starting point but I will refer to the past I suppose and maybe adapt it from another persons presentation. What you said about I wont be the only one nervous, will probably keep me going through the presentation.

To be honest though, most of the songs I have chosen are only because I like them, shall I only do these in brief rather than the ones which I have chosen from a momentous event in my life where I will explain further because I don't want to be seen as making things up.

Thanks for the advice AOWW and to everyone again.

[AoWW]

Thanks, really does help. On my presentation I have basically done a brief explanation of why I chose that song, as I don't think we can have notes in terms of paper. I am quite worried because the teacher has basically told us she is expecting A grades which I don't think is right. I am struggling as well to think of a starting point but I will refer to the past I suppose and maybe adapt it from another persons presentation. What you said about I wont be the only one nervous, will probably keep me going through the presentation.

To be honest though, most of the songs I have chosen are only because I like them, shall I only do these in brief rather than the ones which I have chosen from a momentous event in my life where I will explain further because I don't want to be seen as making things up.

Thanks for the advice AOWW and to everyone again.

Pfft, bollocks to any teacher who tells you they expect A grades. They'll get what their students are bloody well capable of on a given day in a given situation. All kinds of things can have an influence on how someone performs in this kind of 'test' and if she thinks otherwise she is, quite frankly, talking out of her arse. Being generous *grudgingly* I imagine she said that to try and motivate you.

How long is the presentation? 10 songs is a hell of a lot to talk on so, yes, I think you're right to focus on a key few that mean more to you and cover the rest in less detail. As far as building a rapport with your audience goes and having eye contact with them - well, that's all fine and dandy if you're fairly confident in the first place. Personally, I suggest to my more nervous students that they perfect the technique of visually 'glossing over' their audience. By this i mean, imagine you're looking at them as if they're behind a layer of fog / a smoke screen / in soft focus, whatever works for you. That way you appear as if you're looking at them but you're not really focussing on anyone specific. Do this at the start and see how you're getting on - if you feel more confident later on, then try to focus on one or two people and make eye contact with them - drawing them in. But pick your 'targets' carefully... plan in advance who you would feel most comfortable doing this with. For fook's sake avoid anyone that is a) gonna crack you up or b) intimidate you. Hold eye contact for no more than a second or two - nobody likes to feel they're being stared at.

I know it's much easier said than done but try to relax. In the greater scheme of your life, this really isn't such a big deal. You're clearly taking it seriously and want to do your best - but don't overly sweat it, eh? Good luck!

[lavrentis]

Thanks I shall tell you how I get on.

[Magictv]

Thanks I shall tell you how I get on.

If it helps she's probably expecting A-grades because when i did my english speaking thing. our teacher just gave us all an A anyway

Most important thing is to try and stay calm anyway in my opinion. Goodluck

[Alexikokopops]

I thrive on talking bollocks, I'd dominate an oral English GCSE.

[AoWW]

Hello,

Tomorrow I have got an English GCSE Oral exam and I have to explain my top ten songs which mean the most to me. I hardly speak in class though and I am very shy, do any of you have any advice please because I think when I am up there I will just bottle it, go really red and just say nothing?

Cheers,

How did it go?

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I was awesome at Oral exams, I just made a few points then just Winged it as i can talk absolute shite it just came easy

(Pity the rest of schooling was that easy tho)

[Webbo]

I was awesome at Oral exams, I just made a few points then just Winged it as i can talk absolute shite it just came easy

(Pity the rest of schooling was that easy tho)

Don't give me that. I watch Neighbours you know. All Australian teachers are cool and well respected by their pupils.