Jerry Seinfeld famously said, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

Are you a homeschool student who falls into the category of being terrified of giving speeches in class? If so, this blog post is for you.

No matter where your plans post-graduation will take you, you’ll likely have to give at least one or two speeches at some point. More importantly, an estimated 70% of careers require having public speaking skills. To prepare for life during and after college, you should consider getting comfortable giving speeches. Let’s dive in!

1. Get experience giving speeches

Take opportunities where you can to get experience giving speeches. Maybe that’s at your church youth group or a homeschool co-op. Another great option is through Toastmasters. Or if you’re in a wedding, give a speech at the rehearsal dinner (if appropriate). In reality, opportunities for public speaking are everywhere. You just have to be brave enough to take them on.

2. Film yourself giving a speech

Nowadays, all of us have easy access to a camera. Recording a speech and watching it can help you spot issues like:

  • Saying “um” or “like” every five seconds
  • Constantly clearing your throat
  • Shifting uneasily in your chair
  • Scrunching up your brow for most of the speech

In this world of selfies and vlogs, you may already be super comfortable filming yourself talking. If you tend to get squeamish watching a recording of yourself, this will require you to push through your comfort zone. 

Bonus tip: For best results, set up the camera far enough away so you can see your arms and legs during the speech. This can help you spot if your body language looks off.

3. Wear shoes on your hands

Not sure what to do with your hands during a speech? My high school drama teacher taught us to wear shoes on our hands during rehearsal. The idea is that you’ll become more aware of what your hands are doing when you’re in front of people. 

So, practice that big speech for class by wearing shoes on your hands. Just remember to take them off before you give the speech!

4. Socialize

It’s important to be comfortable hanging out with friends and meeting new folks if you ever hope to feel comfortable speaking in front of a class. As a homeschool student, you have plenty of options for meeting new people (even without going to a traditional college), such as volunteering, joining a church, or joining a local sports league.

5. Take a deep breath

If you want to appear relaxed before giving a speech, practice deep breathing exercises.

I suggest using the 4-4-8 method: Inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for four seconds, and exhale for eight seconds. Deep breathing can have a calming effect that will help settle your nerves before speaking in front of your class.

6. Get enough sleep

It’s difficult to give a speech if you keep yawning throughout it. So, be sure to get enough quality sleep, so that you can be at your best when speaking. 

Shoot for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Preparing for a big speech the night before won’t help you do this. You’ll want to be well rested and alert before your speech.

To get quality sleep, there are basic sleep hygiene tips you should practice, including:

  • Washing your sheets weekly
  • Sticking to a regular sleep/wake time (even on weekends)
  • Turning off your phone, laptop, or TV at least one hour before bedtime (I think e-book readers like Kindle or Nook are typically OK since they’re designed to look like paper)
  • Avoiding caffeine after 3pm

Wrapping up

You may never feel completely comfortable giving speeches, but you can certainly feel less anxious about them. So, take a deep breath, go to bed early, and make sure you practice. You’ll be surprised how much smoother your speech will go.