Oral Presentation（self-evaluation）

Elle Hsu 

Having the ability to speak English fluently is what I thought a good speaker is required to do, especially when she/he is an English major.  But nowadays more and more people who are not English majors can also speak English well.  That is, our advantage is disappearing and job opportunities are decreasing.  So, besides oral fluency, we have to gain other powerful and professional skills in order to stand out among the competitors.  The last segment of this class was devoted to professional oral training for tour guides, flight attendants and receptionists.  We learned how to use a fake voice and jargons as a way to show we’re well-trained and extremely well-skilled.  The most unforgettable experience in this class happened when I finally came face to face with the fear in my mind.  I remembered one time all the students have to pretend they’re flight attendants and recite the guidelines in front of everyone else.  Though I did prepare for it, my brains went totally blank when I was called to stand up and recite the lines.  I couldn’t even think of one single word.  However, Jo said,” The way to overcome your stage fright is to face it.”  So I stood there probably for three minutes until I felt a little better.  I still didn’t perform well in that event but I did face directly the fear in my mind; in fact, I will not evade it anymore.  I am learning to dismiss and overcome the stage fright.  When my roommates left the dorm, I’d recite some English articles loudly and pretend that I’m standing on stage.  I also read Time and Newsweek to broaden my English vocabulary beyond the literary one.  I am opening my eyes to see what’s going on in this world so that I would never feel small and meager again.