Anxiety about appearing idiotic is what stops lots of students of color from sharing their thoughts in the lecture hall. I know for a time it prevented me from asking the professor questions, sharing my viewpoint, or doing whatever might possibly force me to speak out.
To be able to develop the confidence to speak up in the classroom, I started out taking tiny actions. My initial step was to be comfortable with hearing my voice in a noiseless classroom. Whenever the teacher mumbled his words or was unclear in his thoughts, I would raise my hand and ask, "Can you say that again?" This does not require a lot of forethought nor does it enable someone else to contest or question your stance. It's merely the universal, "I didn't hear what the instructor said, and I need explanation."
My next move was to respond to the queries the lecturer asked inside my head. While a different student was answering, I would reply to the query on my own, and sometimes note down my opinions. When different college students held an opinion identical to mine or made a point I possibly could add to, I would raise my hand and share my thoughts. Adding to the students who had just laid the structure to introduce my comments helped me become confident enough to chime in and share my opinion in the classroom.
With this approach, I began build the confidence for speaking in the classroom. I started voicing my thoughts and opinions frequently and was not afraid to provide a different opinion from the consensus, as was usually the case.
This lengthy process was definitely worth it. After being able to talk openly in classes with so many people from various backgrounds, speaking in public grew to be rather easy. If you are scared of speaking up in college classes, begin by getting comfortable with solely talking in the lecture hall. Next, continue on to offering your ideas. You'll witness your own sense of self-esteem boosts every time you do.
To be able to develop the confidence to speak up in the classroom, I started out taking tiny actions. My initial step was to be comfortable with hearing my voice in a noiseless classroom. Whenever the teacher mumbled his words or was unclear in his thoughts, I would raise my hand and ask, "Can you say that again?" This does not require a lot of forethought nor does it enable someone else to contest or question your stance. It's merely the universal, "I didn't hear what the instructor said, and I need explanation."
My next move was to respond to the queries the lecturer asked inside my head. While a different student was answering, I would reply to the query on my own, and sometimes note down my opinions. When different college students held an opinion identical to mine or made a point I possibly could add to, I would raise my hand and share my thoughts. Adding to the students who had just laid the structure to introduce my comments helped me become confident enough to chime in and share my opinion in the classroom.
With this approach, I began build the confidence for speaking in the classroom. I started voicing my thoughts and opinions frequently and was not afraid to provide a different opinion from the consensus, as was usually the case.
This lengthy process was definitely worth it. After being able to talk openly in classes with so many people from various backgrounds, speaking in public grew to be rather easy. If you are scared of speaking up in college classes, begin by getting comfortable with solely talking in the lecture hall. Next, continue on to offering your ideas. You'll witness your own sense of self-esteem boosts every time you do.
About the Author:
Learn how students of color can deal with other obstacles they may encounter in college by checking out the book The Only Black Student at the above link.
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