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Video: The science of stage fright (and how to overcome it) – Mikael Cho
A B2 Business English lesson on speaking in public, built on a TED-Ed animation. Students learn phrases for nerves and for giving a good talk, find out what happens in the body when we speak in front of others, then use the video's tips to plan presentations, pitches and interviews at work.
Discuss the questions.
Read the sentences and match the phrases in bold with the correct meanings below.
a)I had butterflies all morning before my first meeting with the new client.
b)The interviewer asked me about my weaknesses, and my mind went blank.
c)Before a big presentation, I go for a short walk to calm my nerves.
d)She took a public speaking course to overcome her fear of talking to large groups.
e)When the microphone stopped working, he took a deep breath and carried on.
f)We ran through the whole pitch twice before the investors arrived.
g)It's hard to make eye contact with people when you're reading from your notes.
h)Her slides were simple, but she got her message across clearly.
Complete the gaps with the phrases from ex. 2. Then, choose four questions to ask your partner.
You may need to change the form of the verb.
a)When did you last before something important? What was it?
b)Can you remember a time when in an exam or an interview? What did you do?
c)What do you do to before a difficult conversation?
d)Have you ever of something? How did you do it?
e)Does it really help to when you feel stressed? Why/Why not?
f)Before a presentation, how many times do you it?
g)In your culture, is it polite to with someone more senior than you?
h)What is the best way to in a short meeting: slides, a story or a handout?
Look at the questions in ex. 3 again and discuss the points below with a new partner.
Read the statements about nerves and speaking in public and decide if they are true or false. Then, watch the first part of a video [https://youtu.be/K93fMnFKwfI] (to 02:22) and check your answers. Correct the false ones.
a)According to the video, some people think speaking in public is worse than dying.
b)We get nervous because we worry about what other people will think of us.
c)The fear comes from a modern part of the brain, so it is easy to control.
d)Charles Darwin studied fear by watching snakes at a zoo.
e)Darwin found that he could overcome his fear by thinking about it calmly.
f)When we are nervous, we can get a dry mouth and have butterflies.
g)Nerves make it easier to read the notes in your hand.
Watch the second part of the video (from 02:22) and answer the questions.
a)Why does the video say the problem 'isn't all in your head'?
b)Why do some people feel more nervous than others?
c)What does the example of John Lennon show?
d)Since we can't stop nerves completely, what should we focus on?
e)How did Steve Jobs prepare for his famous talks?
f)What should you do just before you go on stage, and why?
g)In the end, does the speaker in the video get rid of their fear?
Discuss the questions.
Choose two of the people below. Then, discuss the questions with a partner, using the phrases in the box.
Summarise what you learnt in the lesson using some of the points below and the phrases in the box.
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
The 8 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in one set.
Other words and phrases you'll hear, to help you follow the video. The lesson doesn't practise them.