By now students may have been called on to speak in class. Some professors cold call, while others announce who will be on panel in advance. In either case, being relaxed and alert in class is important. For those who are subject to cold calling, the act of random calling in and of itself can cause anxiety. Rather than anticipating the discussion, students worry about hearing their name and not knowing the “answer.”
Some strategies for being called on in class are:
If a you are called on in class and freeze, take a deep breath in and out through your nose. What seems like an eternity to you will only be a couple of seconds, as perceived by others. This will give you time to center your thoughts and gain control of your voice.
Before it is your turn to be on panel, or before you choose to volunteer, listen to what the professor asks. Pay attention to what other students say and what the professor’s follow up questions are. You should try and answer the question silently in your mind and compare how well you do.
If you book brief, be sure to write meaningful phrases in the margins. Do not simply write “issue” next to where the issue is in the case. Write out what might be used as a prompt to remember what the issue was, and therefore be able to speak about it aloud. Develop a coding system for identifying where in the case the issue is I = issue, then write the phrases.
Regardless of how prepared you feel to speak, you should speak clearly and loudly enough for the class to hear.
If you are in a study group, members can practice being on panel with each other. This benefits both the student who will be called on in class as well as the others who must know enough about the topic to ask questions, and follow up questions as a professor would.
The professional competency of thinking on one’s feet is developed over time by these experiences. Take advantage of the opportunity, it does get better with practice. (Bonnie Stepleton)
