Public Speaking...

Okay so I have to give out a speech this weekend with appropriate hand gestures and such...Also i will we reciting a memorized speech o i won't have a transcript infront of me...I get nervous enough as it is just going up but having to include all of the above is stressing me out because i don't usually talk with my hands....So my question is how should I prepare, how do YOU prepare?

Oh i forgot to add...don't tell me to picture them all in their underwear

I've had a bunch of public speaking classes.

First thing they tell you is not to talk with the paper in front of your mouth. You should also re-read your work before presenting so that it's familiar to you and nothing suprises you. Make eye contact regularly, project your voice but not too loudly. I've seen speaker start off very loud and fade down to a soft voice. Speak slowly, take your time. Another piece of advice I got was pretend like your holding in a fart to distract yourself from the stage fright. Good luck.

Use eye contact. Use whatever hand gestures seem natural. Never use "um" (silence is better than um) and always be confident.

Oh yeah, and avoid contractions. not using contractions makes you seem so much smarterhamstergeddon

"Like" is a big one too.