articulate my thoughts more clearly

I think that my goal was fairly specific towards my teaching, but I also think that one on one and also in front of 100 students, I do alright with this.

I find the words I need, I can explain new concepts before the professor gets to them in a clear and understandable manner, and other than some stuttering that seems to be a newish thing, I do alright speaking. I still get nervous in front of the group, but it isn’t too bad.

I think I also do a good job in other parts of my life being clear when I speak. I don’t get too many people saying they don’t understand me or being confused after a conversation with me.

I think I have come a long way in my self-confidence on this because since making this goal I have won a TA award and passed a really stressful and advanced oral exam and seem to be doing okay with communication in life :)

I’ve always had problems with getting my ideas out and communicate them to others, I also have a problem with overexplaining things. example:
I went to a store, walked up to a salesperson and said the following: I got an email saying that the chair I had ordered from here is ready to be picked up. So here I am. Can I have my chair?
That’s what I’m talking about

i want to have to stop explaining what i mean to people
to get it across to them the first time

I tend to be a better writer than speaker, at least that way I can go over my thoughts,structure my argument etc, it’s why I hate presentations without notes, I get nervous and uncomfortable and the fact I’m so aware of my nervousness and my unease makes me more bumbly. However, when I am relaxed and just chatty, i seem to calm down and just say what i feel and it comes out logical and thoughtful and measured which is nice.
Basically, i had a long chat with a housemate about Britain, immigration, benefit fraud, the NHS, and it was really interesting, we are completely differently minded politically but we conceded to the points of each other, it was thoroughly interesting and I was proud that I articulated myself well, so yeah :)

tough stuff when you’re trying to communicate. i guess i tend to think to much when i’m talking, instead of just using my natural gut instinct to communicate. it’s difficult sometimes, and then you become self-conscious. and then when that happens, you start thinking about the way you talk instead of the message you’re trying to convey. i’m trying though. hard hard

I’ve come a long way from where I used to be a year or so ago, but I still need a lot of improvement. I’m alright if I have a chance to think aboutr what I’m going to say, but when I have to come up with a responce quickly, it just doesn’t come out as what I mean to say. I think I’m going to try to improve my vocabulary a bit, see if it helps any. Because it’s probably better if I have more words to chose to express my thoughts from.

i’ve got to get into the habit of answering the question i was asked FIRST. then i can prattle on.

In front of 35 students I get tongue-tied. And, apparently, I’m boring. I can work problems on the board easy enough, but explaining new concepts does not go well.

So, I am going to be working on being clear and concise and using appropriate words to explain what I need to explain. My students deserve that.

My mind is so scatterbrained it’s quite pathetic actually.

to read A LOT!! you wouldn’t believe the whole new things you’ll be able to express and share (isn’t that all about?)