Calm before you speak

Nerves before a talk, an interview or a call: settle the body, then the voice.

Nerves before speaking are normal; even experienced speakers feel them. The trick is not to remove them but to settle the body, so the voice comes out steady. Two minutes before you go in is enough.

For the voice itself, the Articulation stage of Speak English has a five-minute warm-up.

The steps

• Stand tall (Mountain): Feet planted, shoulders back and down, chin level. Shake out your hands.
• Two sighs: A full breath in through the nose, a second sip on top, and a long sigh out. Twice.
• Slow breaths: Now slow breaths with a long out-breath.
• Your first line: Say your first sentence silently, slowly, the way you will say it out loud.
• Smile: A small smile: it changes the sound of your voice. Then go.

Tips

• Have water nearby, and sip before you start.
• Pause before your first word. A pause looks calm, even when you are not.
• Look for one friendly face, and speak to them first.

Related

• The five-minute voice warm-up, in Speak English
• The English practice studio
• Notice it, name it, breathe
• Tense and release
• The 20-20-20 screen break
• Worry time
• All the calm lessons

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