By the time we reach University, lots of us assume that our days of standing up in front of the classroom would be over. However, you will often find that some modules will require you to contribute to seminars or do presentations that will make up a percentage of your final grade.
Personally, I find speaking in front of people my age to be one of the most terrifying experiences a person can have. There is nothing more daunting than having to share an original thought in front of a whole room of people that you feel probably have five times the knowledge you do. This is exactly why I could likely count on two hands the number of times I spoke during a seminar throughout my first term. Anyhow, at the start of my second year, I decided that this needed to change and I was determined to push myself out of my comfort zone by picking a module that required not only extensive public speaking, but part of my grade was also my contribution during seminars. While I found the module incredibly difficult at times, it was extremely beneficial to me both personally and academically.
In regards to improving my communication skills throughout the module, I used the peer assessment criteria that my module leader was using when marking the presentations, to focus on areas where I needed to improve. It focused heavily on engaging with the audience, such as maintaining eye contact and ensuring that my tone and pace were clear and easy to follow. However, a lot of the steps to achieving a good grade in a presentation are far easier said than done, especially if you’re nervous about doing it. Before any presentation, I always write everything I am going to say from start to finish, as it allows me to see if any areas may not make sense when I read them out loud or if the length of any sections may need cutting down. From here I will practice a few times the day before and the day of to make sure I’m fully familiarised with the content. However, the best advice I can give is to not over-practice as you run the risk of making the presentation feel unnatural.
Overall, while it may sound harsh, I have come to realise that in the long term, no one will remember what you said in a presentation or during a seminar, let alone if you stumbled or messed up a question. Therefore, it is okay to put your hand up or put forward your opinion – no one is rooting for you to fail.
Written by Charlotte, a BA Politics and International Relations student
