It’s not unusual for a student to hate oral recitation. Some don’t like the thought of speaking before a group of people. Others are not prepared for class, and may not be able to answer their teacher correctly. Still others are just plain shy. However, if you want to get better grades, you have to polish your recitation skills, says AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center Tutor Kristine Tria.
Here’s what you can do:
* Read up on the subject. Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more your self-confidence grows.
* Don’t be scared of making mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, even your teacher. If you don’t know the answer to your teacher’s question, then make an educated guess.
* Stand straight. Look your teacher in the eye while speaking. This means that you are sincere about what you are saying.
* Speak slowly. People who speak as fast as they think tend to stutter or eat their words. More often than not, the teacher will just ask him to repeat what he said. Slow down.
* Speak clearly. You don’t have to shout out your answer. Just speak loud enough for everyone to hear, and make sure you say each word clearly.
* Practice speaking in front of the mirror. Instead of writing down the answers, recite them in front of the mirror. Check yourself. Are there any mannerisms that you must avoid? What kind of facial expression works best?
* Don’t monopolize the conversation. Once you’re confident enough to speak in front of the class, it’s easy to monopolize the teacher’s attention. Don’t! Your classmates will hate you for it. Make sure that the others get their turn.
* Don’t be afraid to take on difficult questions, says AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center Tutor Kristine Tria. Raising one’s hands, he explains, will make you more visible to the teacher. He will not forget your eagerness to join the discussion come grading time.