An Introduction to Examining Speech Anxiety
I HAVE TO GIVE A WHAT???
An Introduction to Examining Speech Anxiety
I HAVE TO GIVE A WHAT???
Public Speaking, or talking
in front of others, consistently counts as one of the foremost fears of individuals.
Indeed, many people place public speaking ahead of death itself in their
relative ranking of fears. It is no wonder, then, that a significant number
of people tend to avoid situations where they are expected to speak, communicate,
or perform in front of others. An even
greater number of people, though not avoiding public speaking situations, nevertheless
experience a degree of anxiety and stress which prevents them from communicating
as effectively as they would have liked. Students, for example, may struggle through,
or seek to avoid altogether, a required public speaking course; job candidates
consumed with anxiety may sell themselves short or project an inferior image
of themselves during an interview in front of potential employers; individuals
may choose a job or career of limited potential; business professionals or workers
may be passed up for, or even refuse outright, a promotion because of their
fears surrounding speaking in front of others.
Clearly, speech anxiety poses a real problem in many people's lives.
This website is designed specifically
to manage and/or reduce some of the symptoms and effects of communication apprehension
or speech anxiety. This is important
because communication in all of its forms (oral, written, nonverbal) permeates
every aspect of our lives. As human
beings, communication is our bridge or lifeline to others. Without communicating, we live in isolation. Without communication, no longer could we gossip
with our friends; talk over the days events or the latest sports scores with
our neighbor; accurately and positively outline our qualifications at a job
interview or promotion review; reminisce about times gone by at a family reunion;
softly whisper sweet nothings into the ear of a lover; or pass on our life experiences
to our children. To suffer from communication
apprehension limits our and restricts our activities.
Indeed, communication apprehension in its severer forms may even hinder
our growth and development as productive, fulfilled, emotionally mature human
beings.
Given the importance of communication
in our lives, this website is meant to be as useful to as broad an audience
as possible: school administrators concerned with the effects
of communication apprehension upon student learning, retention, and success;
teachers wishing to reduce student anxiety in order to create a comfortable
classroom environment more conducive to learning; high-school or college students
enrolled in an introductory speech course, or any class requiring presentations,
group work, or active individual participation; ESL (English as a Second Language)
students faced with the many anxieties of daily communicating in a nonnative
language; business professionals assigned to deliver a work-related presentation,
extended training seminar, or lead a work team; and individuals desiring to
improve their communication in interpersonal settings.
Taking into account its wide
target audience, this website will outline a working definition of speech anxiety
and communication apprehension that includes its nature, its causes, and its
effects. In addition, various helpful methods, strategies,
resources and tools for assessing and coping with speech anxiety will be given.
Last update by Lori Halverson-Wente: 1/15/02