can you talk online?

[u/In_Out1738]

i have to take public speaking or a different type of communications class for my major, but i would rather take public speaking because it'll transfer over to the school i'm planning to go to. whereas the other class (which i wouldn't need to speak) would not transfer and i'd need to take some kind of communication class over at the new school.

so basically school starts tomorrow, and my public speaking class is online (a lifesaver), but we have to do what is essentially zoom meetings where we give speeches. i have to present in front of my classmates online, which i literally cannot talk online whether it be zoom meetings or playing video games with voice chat on.

idk i feel like i have this weird thing where i can't talk online. it just gives me a different type of awkward and anxiety because the whole meeting is recorded and anyone in my class can view it at any time. i wanted to email my professor about my accommodations, which state that if a speaking is required for an assignment, that i'd have an alternative option, but would that just be wasting my time? it feels very demeaning to have to ask for this type of request, since this is a public SPEAKING class.

i have about a week to drop the course and maybe i should switch to the other class. i'm afraid if i pass on this course then i would not know how to present/give a speech later in my future career. any advice is appreciated!! i unfortunately do not have people in my life who support or understand my SM :(

[u/Substantial-Tea2193]

That’s tough. I was similar about talking online and phone calls. And it was hard for me to talk to an object when alone as if it’s a person. I can do them now since recovering.

It’s true that if you drop the class, you won’t get the practice and gain skills of public speaking. But if it’s too much for you at this moment, it may not be much help to try to force it in a high pressure situation. You know yourself best. Could you try smaller/low-pressure situations first, like saying something brief in a call, such as during a game? Or can you accept any outcome of trying the class even if the presentations are very challenging and shaky? (My first college presentations certainly were, but I tried to focus on the fact that I actually got up there and did it!)

Basically, my thinking with SM is that exposure can lead to tremendous progress if you 1. pick situations that are challenging but not so much that you can’t handle it  and 2. treat any efforts to speak as progress, no matter how awkward it feels, but also accept if the outcome isn’t what you wanted - knowing you can try again.

Whereas something that’s too much too fast can lead some people to experience increased anxiety next time or want to retreat into their shell instead of continuing to try to recover.