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From: Charlie Osborne
Date: 05 Oct 2008
Time: 13:21:03 -0500
Remote Name: 67.142.130.13
Vincent: A very good question! I am a teacher and often require students (graduate level) to do oral presentations in class. These are students who do not stutter (at least about 99.9% of them). Some appear very comfortable talking in front of the class, but many do not. I’m not sure how dry their palms are, but often their voices sound a little jittery. Some also stumble over words or repeat them and some use too many interjections. When I ask a question in class or try to generate a discussion, it sometimes feels like I’m pulling teeth to get a response (and I don’t think it is because I’m a scary guy; I’m not). Interestingly, the same students provide exceptional, well thought out answers when the discussion is on-line! I guess the whole point to this rambling response is that I believe it is common to feel anxious when speaking in front of a group or when answering a question in class. I don’t stutter, and I get anxious in these situations. I have had the opportunity to observe many of my clients who stutter speak in these situations and speak well (whether they stuttered when speaking or not). I don’t know if I would have the courage to do what they do if I stuttered or not. My hat is off to you for participating in these activities!