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chamoisee
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25 Aug 2008, 8:32 pm

Communications 101 (speech) is mandatory for the degree I'm pursuing, in case you're wondering why an aspie would so torment themselves. I think it could actually be highly beneficial.

Except, the text keeps underscoring the following idea (paraphrased): "Make sure to look all parts of your audience directly in the eye during your speech". How on earth am I supposed to retain what I was about to say *and* maintain eye contact with not just one but a number of other people, and speak fluidly?

I'd rather not use my AS as an excuse, because the fact of the matter is that I need to be able to learn and use these skills for job and college interviews in the future.



Kauf039
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25 Aug 2008, 9:00 pm

Actually the larger the group the easier it is to have eye contact without actually looking them in the eye. Lots of time I will skim the top of people's heads, pausing at certain hair styles or whenever I have a point to make. If they aren't right next to you, lots of time they cannot tell the difference... and better than that, any of my teachers could not tell the difference. As long as the audience THINKS you are connecting with them, then you are.

Good luck


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Adrenaline
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25 Aug 2008, 9:04 pm

chamoisee wrote:
Communications 101 (speech) is mandatory for the degree I'm pursuing.


What Degree are you pursuing that requires these things?
Whats all your class's? 1 year, 2 year, 3 year, 4 year courses?
Just curiose.

What May help is picture all the people wearing funny masks.
or do not look at them but passed them.
or look at all of them at once and not focus on any single person looking at you.



chamoisee
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25 Aug 2008, 9:48 pm

I'm majoring in Botany (4 year degree) with a long term goal of medical school.



chever
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25 Aug 2008, 9:51 pm

I had to take that course

Just look up from your paper every few seconds

Hell, that's what President Clinton did


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Adrenaline
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25 Aug 2008, 11:51 pm

chamoisee wrote:
I'm majoring in Botany (4 year degree) with a long term goal of medical school.


What field in Medical?



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26 Aug 2008, 12:03 am

chamoisee wrote:
Communications 101 (speech) is mandatory for the degree I'm pursuing, in case you're wondering why an aspie would so torment themselves. I think it could actually be highly beneficial.

Except, the text keeps underscoring the following idea (paraphrased): "Make sure to look all parts of your audience directly in the eye during your speech". How on earth am I supposed to retain what I was about to say *and* maintain eye contact with not just one but a number of other people, and speak fluidly?

I'd rather not use my AS as an excuse, because the fact of the matter is that I need to be able to learn and use these skills for job and college interviews in the future.


I had a bear of a time when I took Comm 101 too. I started by just looking around the room, not looking at any one in particular. Sometimes I saw something interesting, like a hair accessory, or a freckle, or a zit, and my classmates thought I was looking them in the eye. My instructor was nice enough to allow note cards for the first few classes, but a lot of practice in front of the mirror actually helped more than notes. It helped me remember more of the speech than notes did. Best wishes!



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26 Aug 2008, 12:29 am

I do fine when lecturing, teaching or giving a speech, because they aren't "people," they are "the audience."

After class, however, when they come up, one by one, with questions, it gets quite difficult. I've had over 50 years experience at that and it is still hard.

Read here for someting I did that helped.
http://aspergers.ning.com/profiles/blog ... ost%3A1542

Pops


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chamoisee
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26 Aug 2008, 8:45 am

Adrenaline wrote:
chamoisee wrote:
I'm majoring in Botany (4 year degree) with a long term goal of medical school.


What field in Medical?


M.D.



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26 Aug 2008, 10:38 am

Speech is usually required for everybody, regardless of major.

Depending on the school, there might be a lot of projects, while a lot of it is mostly concepts.

In my speech class, I had to do an interview, and do a mock infomercial.


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Triangular_Trees
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27 Aug 2008, 12:26 pm

chamoisee wrote:
Communications 101 (speech) is mandatory for the degree I'm pursuing, in case you're wondering why an aspie would so torment themselves. I think it could actually be highly beneficial.

Except, the text keeps underscoring the following idea (paraphrased): "Make sure to look all parts of your audience directly in the eye during your speech". How on earth am I supposed to retain what I was about to say *and* maintain eye contact with not just one but a number of other people, and speak fluidly?

I'd rather not use my AS as an excuse, because the fact of the matter is that I need to be able to learn and use these skills for job and college interviews in the future.


In my public speaking course we were told to look right at the top of people's heads if we couldn't make eye contact - no one is ever the wiser.

Also, take it during night at a community college in the summer and transfer the credits - you'll have a much smaller audience. Likely under 15.



chamoisee
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01 Sep 2008, 11:24 pm

Thanks all! This class is really small. There are only 21 students total because the college itself is small (still seems like a river of people to me though). I finally got hooked up with the center for educational access (they help accomodate disable students). I didn't want to do this, but I think it's going to be necessary, and this will allow me extended testing time in a small, very quiet room as opposed to taking a difficult math test in a roomful of fifty fidgeting,scuffling students. The lady at the CEA office arranged a meeting for me, her, and my speech teacher to see what sort of understanding we can come to. I realize I need to work on eye contact, but there is a mandatory 70% eye contect during the speech...there is no way on earth I'd be able to *think* and make that much eye contact at the same time.



chamoisee
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01 Sep 2008, 11:24 pm

Thanks all! This class is really small. There are only 21 students total because the college itself is small (still seems like a river of people to me though). I finally got hooked up with the center for educational access (they help accomodate disable students). I didn't want to do this, but I think it's going to be necessary, and this will allow me extended testing time in a small, very quiet room as opposed to taking a difficult math test in a roomful of fifty fidgeting,scuffling students. The lady at the CEA office arranged a meeting for me, her, and my speech teacher to see what sort of understanding we can come to. I realize I need to work on eye contact, but there is a mandatory 70% eye contect during the speech...there is no way on earth I'd be able to *think* and make that much eye contact at the same time.



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01 Sep 2008, 11:36 pm

Eye contact is easy to fake from a distance. Just look up from your notes often and focus on the aisles and spaces betwen the people. 8O

And smile a lot. :D


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Triangular_Trees
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02 Sep 2008, 2:50 am

Fnord wrote:
Eye contact is easy to fake from a distance. Just look up from your notes often and focus on the aisles and spaces betwen the people. 8O

And smile a lot. :D


That reminds me of a speech I was given in high school. The teacher criticised me for not memorizing my speech and just reading from my notecards so I showed her the cards I had been holding -They were blank :D . I hadn't been reading from that, I just hadn't been looking at the audience. I was using them so I wouldn't have to worry about where to put my hands



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02 Sep 2008, 10:05 am

Look at peoples foreheads...they can't tell the difference from a distance. This helped me many a time through high school and college.