Courses offering graded participation can leave students feeling anxious but it can be overcome.
Participating in class for a course’s requirement is an overwhelming notion for Marcy Driehaus, a freshman studying journalism.
“I think it’s really nerve-wracking because some people aren’t super comfortable with that setting,” she said. “They probably won’t talk to their full potential, or what they’re actually thinking because they’re too nervous.”
Students who become anxious to speak in front of others may be experiencing communication apprehension, a form of social anxiety when someone fears communicating with others.
It’s a term Andrew Frisbie, a Ph.D. student studying communication, uses when teaching public speaking.
“I like to use the term communication apprehension because it works as a framework to teach the students that this is something that can be altered,” Frisbie said. “It’s not something that will always affect your speaking, but it is something we do have to deal with.”
Public speaking was among the top 10 fears in America, according to a Washington Post report.
Some Ohio University courses, such as public speaking, require class participation for a grade, where students are required to express their thoughts or give presentations for points.
Frisbie says his students vary in confidence for public speaking.
“A lot of times when we’re anxious or nervous about speaking or we feel that we have something like social anxiety that it probably skims from some past experience or some expectation that we’re putting on ourselves to be perfect in front of a crowd,” he said.
Frisbie said when he grades his students’ speeches he doesn’t take into account their speaking confidence. His primary focus is how organized the speech was and the student had taken the time to practice his or her speech.
Counseling and Psychological Services has seen multiple students with that form of anxiety, said Erika Gray, outreach and consultation coordinator.
Gray thinks it’s unfortunate that students have to be persuaded to participate, and it should be something that is assumed when one is in college, that they will participate and be active learners. She added she thinks the requirement wouldn’t be there if professors hadn’t faced “hours and hours” of silent students.
Alexa Hoynacke, a sophomore studying engineering, said she likes when her professors make participation count toward a grade because it helps not only by giving her feedback but increasing her grade in the course.
“I definitely appreciate it … when (professors) offer these points for participation,” she said. “We feel a little bit better about our grades just by having the extra 5 percent just to show we put effort into the class.”
Hoynacke said most of her classes have 30 students in the classroom so the students feel comfortable and don’t have any problems speaking out.
Gray recommends students with communication apprehension to participate as much as possible.
“Go to every class, especially the ones that terrify you. Push back against the urge to flee. Your brain is setting off a false alarm, don’t be fooled and don’t give in,” Gray said in an emailed statement.
Frisbie said it’s very fulfilling to see those students from day one who are extremely nervous to the last day of class giving a very well polished, confident and controlled speech on the platform.
“I firmly believe that it is something that can be learned to control and improve on throughout the semester, ” Frisbie said.
Students with communication apprehension can visit Counseling and Psychological Services at Hudson Health Center for assistance.
“Anxiety is a bully, but when you stand up to it, it stands down,” Gray said. “It might not go away immediately, but over time it diminishes. Life does not have to be dictated by anxiety.”
@annachristine38
ag836912@ohio.edu
