Hey Aska,
i always get really nervous before asking my professor any question. by nervous i mean that my heart pounds and races off while i think about wording the question perfectly. As a result i speak really fast when i finally get the opportunity to ask the question. this occurs regardless if i speak to the professor one on one or in front of the class. I’ve been told i should ask questions even if i don’t really have one to desensitize my nervousness. is this a good idea? what other options/methods are there to ask my questions? any advice would be good.
-SX
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SX!!
It’s like going on a date with a guy/girl you’ve had the BIGGEST crush on in your ENG353 class. Your heart starts racing, your stomach gets that terrible feeling, your hands start to sweat and you know that you are going to start to stutter when they tell you that you look nice.
I feel for you, you want to answer a question and then that dweeb 4 rows down gives the exact answer you wanted to give.
I really wish we had potions class like Harry Potter and had Snapes special little book and could just conjure up a confidence potion, but we don’t.
This just might be a case of doing what scares you the most to become a better person. This does not work in the case of being afraid to jump in front of buses or off of bridges.
Coming from personal experience, when you start to ask questions, you start to realize why you are scared to ask a question. Whether its being afraid to sounds dumb, that you are going to have the wrong answer, or that the entire class is going to turn around and stare at you. So what if you’re wrong, someone else was thinking the same wrong answer and you both learn from it.
The odds are you don’t give yourself enough credit and your intelligent thoughts are just what the professor has been looking for.
Stop thinking so much about what your going to say, it will come out right as you start speaking.
The next time you’re speaking with one of your professors, tell them your concern. Who better to help you with speaking then the person who stands in front of hundreds of students a day. They have probably been in your place and can give you some suggestions.
You will enjoy your class so much more if you can participate with confidence.
I know, easier said than done. But you’ve got this.
Stay Golden,
Aska