Well basically my teacher wants be to read out loud tomorrow. But i get nervous and the words dont come out my mouth. Kind of like a stutter. Im really worried about this and i dont know what i can do. Im in the best set, and i dont want to be moved to a lower set because the teachers may think i cant read when i can. PLEASE CAN SOMEONE GET BACK TO ME TODAY BECAUSE I START READING TOMORROW.
THANKS
Can ANY teacher please help me im a student and i need help!
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fluffyhamster
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
Take a deep breath, let it out, look at the first word, and say it. Then say the next word (breathe in and out again beforehand if you need to - don't try to say too many words in one breath). Take your time, and take it a word at a time. It will also really help if you maybe laugh (inwardly) a little as you breathe out; it will help you relax and dispel the tension that may start you stuttering. The sort of breathing I am imagining is like in the opening to a Tai chi set e.g. 24-step set. Hands palm down rise up and arms slowly straighten to shoulder height - whilst breathing in - before the arms return to rest near hips, palms slightly outward, whilst breathing out. You could say a little "Ha!" here! 
o
l, \, `--, `--- `--' `--~ `-~' `v' ''''' Ha!
That ''''' there is power, "qi" emanating from your palms!
I believe stuttering is caused by tension, and the brain racing ahead in planning and fixating on certain words/sounds/words beginning with a certain sound, and getting itself all tied in knots trying to work out ways around the problem word; basically, the "executive planning centre" gets so tangled up and ensnared in fear of failure and trying to avoid it that the failure comes true - a "self-fulfilling prophecy", if ever there was one.
So, I think the way around it is breathing, releasing tension, inward and even outward dsplays of humour and relaxation/having fun, and slowly building up to a natural rhythym once your breathing is under control.
It might help if you know the structure of the reading passage and can add some body movments or varied intonation, but don't worry about doing any of this if anticipating things makes you nervous.
You could try to show confidence, but if you don't HONESTLY try to relax and ENJOY, EXPERIENCE the experience, such confidence can end up a sham that doesn't help dispel the tension at all (it might, in fact, add to it).
Ultimately, be yourself, honest and good, willing to try and have fun at your own expense, to laugh at yourself, and you will do fine!
o
l, \, `--, `--- `--' `--~ `-~' `v' ''''' Ha!
That ''''' there is power, "qi" emanating from your palms!
I believe stuttering is caused by tension, and the brain racing ahead in planning and fixating on certain words/sounds/words beginning with a certain sound, and getting itself all tied in knots trying to work out ways around the problem word; basically, the "executive planning centre" gets so tangled up and ensnared in fear of failure and trying to avoid it that the failure comes true - a "self-fulfilling prophecy", if ever there was one.
So, I think the way around it is breathing, releasing tension, inward and even outward dsplays of humour and relaxation/having fun, and slowly building up to a natural rhythym once your breathing is under control.
It might help if you know the structure of the reading passage and can add some body movments or varied intonation, but don't worry about doing any of this if anticipating things makes you nervous.
You could try to show confidence, but if you don't HONESTLY try to relax and ENJOY, EXPERIENCE the experience, such confidence can end up a sham that doesn't help dispel the tension at all (it might, in fact, add to it).
Ultimately, be yourself, honest and good, willing to try and have fun at your own expense, to laugh at yourself, and you will do fine!
Last edited by fluffyhamster on Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Sally Olsen
- Posts: 1322
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- Location: Canada,France, Brazil, Japan, Mongolia, Greenland, Canada, Mongolia, Ethiopia next
Good advice. It seems that you haven't had much experience in reading aloud and so maybe you need to do it in your own language too. You can do it in front of a mirror or a video camera or your mother or big brother or little sister. Then you can expand to friends. Do you talk a lot to friends outside of school? That will help you gain more confidence too. If you have a video camera you can make little movies and watch yourself and then improve on your performance. You don't have to show them to anyone. Get a tape and book of an English story that you like and repeat after the person reading until you feel confident you can read at normal speed. Get a CD of some English songs and find the words on lyrics.com and sing these until you know the words by heart. Make as many opportunites to speak and read that you can in your life in as many languages as you speak and you will gradually get confident. Don't worry if you feel nervous at first. I remember my first teaching lesson I was so nervous that my knees started to shake and I had to sit down. Luckily I was teaching a music lesson and had to play the autoharp on my knee so no one noticed. I could speak to 1000 people now and not be nervous after so much practice. That is all it takes - practice.