Managing Nerves

Year 9 Power of Speech • Impromptu • Nerves

Impromptu speaking can feel more nerve-racking than a prepared speech because there is no script to hide behind. The goal is not to feel calm. It is to speak while feeling nervous. This page offers a routine for before, during and after an impromptu response.

Why impromptu feels different

Feature	What it does to nerves	What helps
No preparation time	Feels like being thrown in.	A practised structure and opening.
Uncertainty	The mind tries to plan and panic at once.	One angle, one structure.
Audience watching	Increases self-consciousness.	Look at one person at a time.
Time limit	Creates pressure.	A visible timer and timed drills.
Public mistakes	Feels catastrophic.	Recovery practice and norms.

Before the prompt

Step	What to do	Why
Breathe	One slow breath out before the prompt is read.	Lowers the initial spike.
Ground	Feel both feet on the floor.	Brings attention to the body.
Look	Look at the audience before you start.	Establishes presence.
Decide	Choose one angle and one structure.	Reduces decision load.
Start	Say the first sentence within ten seconds.	Stops the pause becoming panic.

During the response

If nerves rise mid-response, use a pause. Stop, breathe out, look at one person and say the next sentence. The audience will read the pause as emphasis. If your hands shake, hold them together or rest them on the side of your legs. If your mouth is dry, swallow and continue.

Sign	Practical response
Racing heart	Slow the exhale; speak on the out-breath.
Shaking hands	Hold a cue card or rest your hands.
Dry mouth	Swallow; sip water if available.
Fast speech	Pause after the next sentence.
Blank mind	Repeat the prompt; return to the last point.
Urge to apologise	Do not; continue with the next sentence.

Reframing

Nerves are energy. The physical signs of anxiety and excitement are similar: faster heart rate, heightened attention, adrenaline. Reframing does not make the feeling disappear; it changes the story you tell yourself about it.

Unhelpful thought	More useful thought
“I have to be perfect.”	“I have to make one clear point.”
“Everyone will notice my hands shaking.”	“Most people are listening to the idea.”
“I have nothing to say.”	“I have one example and one structure.”
“A pause means I have failed.”	“A pause is part of speaking.”
“I am not a natural speaker.”	“I am practising a skill.”

Accepting uncertainty

Impromptu speaking asks you to begin before you know exactly how the response will end. That uncertainty is the form, not a flaw. Trying to eliminate it makes the nerves worse. Accept that the middle may surprise you.

You do not need to know the whole speech before you start. You need to know the first sentence and the structure. The rest can be discovered while speaking.

After the response

Adrenaline takes time to settle. Do something physical, drink water and write down one thing that worked before you analyse what did not. Avoid immediately asking everyone for criticism.

When to seek help

If fear of speaking is causing significant distress, panic attacks or avoidance of school and daily life, speak to a trusted adult, school counsellor or health professional. A teacher can offer alternatives and support, but they are not a substitute for professional care. Do not require students to disclose personal mental health information in class.

Building a routine

Routine element	Example
Before	One slow breath out; feet on the floor; look at the room.
Prompt	Read twice; choose one angle; choose one structure.
Start	Say the first sentence within ten seconds.
Mid-response	Pause; breathe; return to the structure.
Close	Slow down; land the final sentence; stop.
After	One breath; one note about what worked.

Activity: build a routine card

Choose one before-speech action.
Choose one mid-speech reset.
Choose one sentence you will use if you blank.
Write them on a small card.
Test the routine in three low-stakes responses.
Revise it after each round.

Nerves are not a verdict on your ability. Some of the best impromptu speakers feel nervous every time. They have simply practised what to do next.

Common errors

Waiting to feel calm before speaking. You can speak while nervous.
Apologising for nerves. It primes the audience to expect failure.
Over-caffeinating. It increases shaking and heart rate.
Avoiding all impromptu practice. Avoidance makes anxiety stronger.
Comparing yourself to confident speakers. You do not know what they feel inside.
Treating a pause as a catastrophe. It is part of speech.

Next, study impromptu drills to build fluency through repetition. The delivering an impromptu page brings the skills together.