Skip to main content

How to Participate More in Class (Even If You’re Nervous)

Speaking up in class can feel intimidating, especially if you’re shy or afraid of making a mistake. But participating is important—it helps you learn, shows your teacher that you’re engaged, and can even boost your grades. Some teachers even count class participation as part of your final grade, so speaking up can make a real difference.

If you’re nervous about participating, here are some ways to get more comfortable.

1. Start Small

You don’t have to give long, detailed answers right away. Try starting with simple contributions, like agreeing with a classmate, reading a sentence from the textbook, or asking a quick question.

2. Prepare Before Class

Review the material ahead of time so you feel more confident about the topic. Jot down a few thoughts or questions so you have something ready to say when the opportunity comes up.

3. Use Nonverbal Participation

Even if you’re not ready to speak up a lot, you can show engagement by nodding, making eye contact, or taking notes. This helps you stay involved and might make it easier to jump in later.

4. Ask Questions Instead of Answering

If answering a question feels overwhelming, start by asking one instead. Teachers love when students ask thoughtful questions, and it can take some pressure off compared to giving an answer.

5. Speak Early in Class

The longer you wait, the harder it can feel to jump into the discussion. Try speaking up early—once you get it out of the way, you may feel more relaxed for the rest of the class.

6. Practice Outside of Class

If you’re really nervous, practice speaking about class topics with a friend, family member, or even in front of a mirror. Getting used to saying things out loud can help make it easier in class.

7. Remember That Everyone Makes Mistakes

No one expects you to be perfect. Even if you say something wrong, it’s okay—learning from mistakes is part of school. Chances are, most of your classmates are too focused on themselves to even notice!

8. Set Participation Goals

Challenge yourself to participate at least once per class or a few times per week. Over time, it will start to feel more natural, and you might even enjoy it!

Speaking up in class can feel scary at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Just take small steps, be prepared, and remind yourself that your thoughts and questions are valuable.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Double Check Your Work

Sounds simple, but so many students forget to double check their work.  Spending 5 or 10 extra minutes here and there will really make a difference. Especially on tests and quizzes, use the time productively if you finish early.  Rather than socializing with your friends, be sure to look over as many answers as possible.  Correcting one or two careless mistakes might be the difference between receiving a B or an A. It's also not just about tests and quizzes.  Do it with your homework as well!  At the end of the evening, be sure to do a quick final check.  Did you finish all the work for every class, and did you remember to put every assignment neatly into your backpack?  Don't give away these easy points by forgetting to finish something -- or worse yet, finishing it but leaving it at home!
Post a Comment
Read more

Use the Process of Elimination

On multiple choice tests and quizzes, all that matters is picking the right answer.  Obviously, the best way to do well is to figure out the right answer to each question.  But sometimes you won't know the right answer to certain questions.  What should you do then? One of the best approaches is to use the process of elimination.  Take a look at all of the multiple choice answer options, and see if there are any obviously incorrect answers.  For example, if you can estimate the answer to a multiple choice math question is between 50 and 100, then you could eliminate the choices for 25 and 150.  Then, make a guess from the remaining options.  If you manage to eliminate 2 out of 4 options, you've significantly improved your odds of making the right guess. Of course, use process of elimination guessing as a last resort.  The best approach is always to study hard and avoid the need to guess in the first place.
Post a Comment
Read more

Focus Your Studying

In order to ace your tests and succeed in school, you obviously need to study. Studying can sometimes be a grind, so in order to be both efficient and effective with your time, you need to be ultra-focused in your study habits.  Unfocused studying can be nearly as bad as no studying at all.  Here are some best practices for how to stay focused while studying: Find a quiet study environment : It's hard to concentrate and absorb your study materials if there's loud music, a television, or talking friends and family in the background. Establish a clean workspace : It may be hard to believe, but having a clean desk is a simple way to get yourself comfortable and into a good frame of mind for studying. Avoid the computer and cell phone : You will learn at a faster pace when you can focus for a reasonable period of time without distraction.  Don't break up your thinking by continually checking your text messages or status updates on your favorite social network. Take perio...
2 comments
Read more