Are you nervous when you're asked to make a speech in public?

Oh yes! i have the same problem, whenever i am asked to speak in front of a crowd i just freeze! it doesnt matter how well i have prepared for the subject, how much research i have done when the time to face the audience comes my tongue gets tied, my knees start to buckle and i start to sweat a lot. I wonder if its some kinda phobia?

Yes, i am almost in panic. Even i am a good comunicator, but for me it`s quite easier to write then to speak. And when i was a school-girl it was very problematic for me to have oral tests. I still feel the same shyness.

of course, i'm so nervous and i haven't tried to speech in public because i'm not that confident in making speech..i'm a shy person, and no eagerness to do that specially in public..even i have a copy on what i need to speech, still my heart pumps so fast, my knees are shaking..hehehe

Yes, I have been a teacher for many years and used to stand before my students talking. I don't feel any uncomfort in classroom. But if I were asked to talk or to make a speech in front of other people than my students, I would feel very uncomfortable and nervous even though I was familiar with what I were to give. I always encourage my students to speech in the public, but I do understand what they feel to make one, because I am no different from them.

a big YES! i remember on my 18th bday party where they asked me to have a speech thanking all the people who came, i'm already reading what i have to say but, i was trembling and can't read properly ha! ha! ha! i thought i would faint too... another time was when my friend got married and im the bride's maid, during the wedding ceremony it has to be the bride's maid who should read on the gospel, i'm so shy of myself coz im reading it like a grade school child!!!!coz i was not used to public speaking...

Im a very shy person so everytime I get the chance to talk infront of a big audience I would always tremble and it's quite obvious in my voice.. hehe.. I hope I can conquer that fear someday.. A friend said that I should try placing a coin in my shoe while making a speech infront of so many people.. haha I haven't tried it yet.. But a lot of people says that it really works..

I was the first time but as I had to testify in court many time in my job I eventually got over it.

Oh Dear I am not a shy one but when I was in the States and my Hubby asked me to co host his TV show which is about politics and currant affiars, I thought I was going to freeze on screan lol. I have sung many times in public but not spoken about politics lol on the TV. But after a few good comments from the audience, who phoned in, I got a bit more confident and said my piece lol. One man asked for my number and could he take me to a restaurant. I had a good giggle and told him I was married to the man in the chair next to me, every one had such a laugh and it was fun. I was seriously dressed by the way, not showing off my boobs or anything like that lol. I am a very old fashioned girl.

if speaking infront of public is not a big problem.but if it is for the first time it will be nervous for anyone. even i am one of that, but no more now. i have done many shows on stage..so now not feeling any nervousness to perform or speak in public,,

I've always been the quiet type. When I joined a school organization in college and became one of the officers I never thought of the speeches and seminars that the officers before us did. Needless to say, I had no choice but to speak in public and talk to different types of people from students to entrepreneurs to executives. It gave me self-confidence in facing people and not be intimidated by presidents of international organizations, owners of companies, etc. It also erased my fear of going through job interviews.

I always hated public speaking. No, actually that's not true. When I became a teenager my world kind've turned upside down, and since that moment I've hated public speaking. Before that it was okay, and really did not bother me at all. What is interesting is that I am a Musician, and often work in sales to pay the bills. These are both careers that involve being the center of attention and lots of public speech. I still have a hard time on stage though. I will say, "hello," smile and wave, or say "thank you," or "goodbye" and occasionally, "Shut the hell up you're in the presence of greatness," but that's about it. It does get easier though as other have said. Practice those speeches before hand, know them by rote. Have them memorized to every pause. Then just ignore the audience and recite (with passion, as you practiced) and you should do just fine.

It's always scary for me to speak in public. I've done it numerous times but it still gets to me. Just now my friend and I were talking about submitting a paper for a conference. I have just been thinking about presenting the paper and my hands are already getting sweaty and cold. What I'm scared about the most is if the audience would ask me a question and I would not know the answer.

In spite of the fact that I have been standing on the platform for many many years as a teacher, I still feel very nervous when asked to make a speech to the public. My heart beats fast and my limps shaking. It's different from talking to students in class.

Hmmm, i'm just like you. I have a stage freight and i always shake and tremble even if i am just thinking about being in the stage. And if i am in the stage already, i am mumbling what i am saying....

Yeah sometimes. Especially if it's impromptu. Usually, at work, when something went wrong or anything important occurred and there's a need to address the concern people, I had to stand in front of them and explain. At first i am nervous, but once I started talking, I'm unstoppable. =)

it depends.i mean,i will be very nervous to make a speech in front of my acquaintance,such as my classmates and teachers.but in contrast,i will be very easy to do in front of strangers.this is weird and somebody may don't understand it.but it is true.i think to make a wonderful speech,confidence should come first.and i am more confident in front of strangers than in front of my acquaintance.why?because strangers don't know my drawbacks and personality,i am a really empty paper to them.and i can paint colorfully.furthermore they may not find out some fake story i make up-it is a white lie and is good for theme of speech.but when making in front of my acquaintance i may lose my confidence.i may always doubt that whether they believe what i say or not and how they judge of me.so i am not confident enough to look at them and make it active.but now i am trying to improve myself.because i find that my classmates are all very friendly and they encourage me a lot.

Absolutely! I am always very nervous when I have to make a presentation. No matter how well I have prepared it. Even if it is just around a few class mates that I already know I will still get butterflies in the stomach and tremble. It is wierd standing there making a presentation or a speech when everyone is looking at you. I find it helps in a way to pretend the room is empty, or even imagine that everyone is just sitting there naked. ;) Don't think about it too much though! lol or you will forget your speech. Good luck with your future speeches and presentations. Hope they go well for you.

I hate public speaking. I get extremely nervous, I shake and my face goes red which then makes me get even more embarrassed. I talk really fast when I am up there too. I once had a teacher who started making buzzing noises while I was reading half way through my presentation, so I looked up and he said thats all I can uinderstand, he said slow it down and start from the begining. I was humilated.

Usually,I don't feel nervous when I am asked to make a speech in public.I think that's because I have practised it a lot. I think being confident is important,as well as do more practice.