Nervousness Tips
Your own first class and classroom and you are getting the jitters.
What to do? Here are a few tips on how to settle the nerves.
Contents |
Be Prepared
If all your physical material is ready, you can concentrate on how you are going to defuse yourself in your potential frozen moment. Think you might forget your briefcase? Pack it the night before, prop it in front of the front door, and know you would have to trip over it in the morning to miss it. A pessimist would applaud your efforts to imagine and prepare for the worst... then they can surprise themselves with a 'without a hitch' presentation.
Be There First
Set the stage. YOUR Stage. In fact, try going in the night or day before to accomplish this. Then you have more than a few minutes to mentally picture the day ahead. Rehearse.
- Arrange the furniture to your preference.
- Plug in, load and test any AV aids for function, clarity and distance. Mark the floor with tape if you are afraid someone might move them before class.
- Have your handouts piled and compiled with a plan as to how you are going to distribute them.
- Posters, flip charts, markers, chalk, and all the other extras you deem necessary for your class: have them ready in a container and at hand.
- Take a break. Take a stroll. Have a snack. Have a comfortable pair of shoes waiting to change into. Smile.
Greet the first few eager beavers and put a mental label, or even a written one, beside their names on a tentative class list. "Red sweater" might help, but may not last past this day. "Glasses" might be a clue that works, unless you're holding a group eye exam.
Once everyone is settled in your pre arranged seating, let them know that your homework is to try to learn all of their names before the end of the day, or class. Test yourself frequently when asking or replying. "Julia,... mmmm, no, I'm sorry. Mark..." You get the gist. Keep it light but take it seriously. The most important thing a person brings to a class is their name. To use it is a sign of respect. To practice, and even to make mistakes, is proving you find it an important enough task to try to master. Good things, all.
Stay Seated
If you think your knees might give out try hiding behind the desk until you have yourself under control or pace back and forth across your 'stage' addressing your class. They'll never notice. They will be too busy following your eyes and voice and that gorgeous suit you're wearing. Or the shine of your polished shoes.
Use the Podium to Your Advantage
Yes, you are bodily hiding behind it. Yes, you are holding on to the sides for dear life. Your notes are close and there's no rush to leave the security it offers. When you're ready, advance.
Get Physical
Another tactic to cover up your nervousness and less than optimal dealing of the stress, is to plan an extremely physical activity as your introduction or ice breaker. Perhaps asking for ten jumping jacks from everyone instead of dry book work would pep up everyone. This is not an exercise to necessarily get you giggling, but to activate everyone. You are not "normal", you don't fit the "mold", you are not to be dismissed outright. You will hold their attention when you do the unexpected and this could be a welcome relief for some. A riddle or a tasteful joke can also get everyone's attention.
Save your nervousness for that lull in the class when everyone seems to be tuned to the clock rather than your voice or text. Signs and symptoms appearing now are actually clues to how effective your teaching plan was and where you may need to reform it.
