I have noticed that some of my students get really nervous and anxious while they are speaking in English especially when it comes to speaking tests. Their stress and anxiety has terrible effects on their performance. When they get anxious they tend to make more mistakes. The following ways will help you to control and manage your stress in speaking tests:
1. Know the environment: Become familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early and walk around the room including the speaking area
2. Know the test: If you are not familiar with the test or you are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase.Try to find out everything you need to know about the test (The procedure of the test, the test takers and etc,).
3. Learn How to relax: You can ease tension by doing exercises. Sit comfortably with your back straight. Breathe in slowly, hold your breath for 4 to 5 seconds, and then slowly exhale. To relax facial muscles, open your mouth and eyes wide, and then close them tightly.
4. Visualize yourself speaking: Imagine yourself walking confidently to the room. Imagine yourself speaking, with your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
5. Realize that the interviewer is not there to make you feel uncomfortable: An interviewer knows that he or she must do everything to make you feel comfortable. This is their job and they are told to do so. Consider the interviewer as one of your friends with whom you are going to have a friendly chat.
6. Don't Apologize: Most of the time your nervousness does not show at all. If you don't say anything about it, nobody will notice. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you'll only be calling attention to it. If you don’t say anything about it, your listener may not notice anything.
7. Concentrate on Your Message: Your nervous feelings will dissipate if you focus your attention away from your anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience, not yourself.
8. Turn nervousness into positive energy: The same nervous energy that causes platform panic can be an asset to a speaker. Harness it, and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
9. Gain Experience: Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. Most beginners find their anxieties decrease after each speech they give. We all know that practice makes perfect. The more you practice the more confident you will become. So whenever you are practicing speaking consider it an speaking test.
10.Record your voice: Record your voice when you are practicing speaking and then listen to it to find your mistakes.
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