Tips for managing stress before an oral - L'Etudiant

ByAlexandre Malesson,published May 10, 20214 min

Grand oral, French oral, masterpiece oral... In 2021, the orals have become essential exams for the baccalaureate, in first class as well as in final year. And represent a stressful time for students. L'Etudiant gives you the secrets to staying zen before going before the jury.

Stress and anxiety. If some high school students were to sum up the feelings elicited by the baccalaureate orals, it would undoubtedly be with these two words.

In many areas, managing stress is learned through work. "Above all, you have to be well prepared," explains Nelson Kamen, public speaking trainer with the Graine d'orateur 93 association. I often quote Arthur Ashe, an American tennis player: "One of the keys to success is Self-confidence. One of the keys to self-confidence is preparation . The more you practice, the more accustomed you will be and the more familiar this ordeal will be for you."

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Train at home and participate in class

Alone in front of a camera, in front of family or friends… There are many possibilities for becoming familiar with speaking. “You have to know your strengths and your room for improvement, adds Anne-Laure Hernandez, professor of economics and social sciences at the Léonard de Vinci high school, in Monistrol-sur-Loire (43). Each student must identify their weaknesses in order to be able to to correct."

No secrets, therefore, we must treat evil with evil. For Sophie Guérin, French teacher at Lycée Lapicque, in Epinal (88), "all opportunities can be seized: participate in class, make the effort to speak in public, practice answering questions ... have the impression that it is insurmountable. In reality, if we have worked well, it goes well."

Relax before the oral

But even well prepared, the stress can very quickly return to a few minutes of the oral. “In these cases, I recommend breathing exercises to my students, specifies Anne-Laure Hernandez. A bit like yoga: anchoring yourself in the ground, doing long inspirations and expirations or abdominal breathing… We concentrate, we clear our minds and we think of something else."

“Do not revise in the last minutes, completes Nelson Kamen. It is better to occupy yourself with something that you are used to doing: read a book, listen to music or even go on Tik Tok. This will calm your anxieties. !"

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Create a chat room

Once in front of the jury, both content and form are important. Dress well but comfortably, without going overboard (no flip flops or suits). "We are going to pay attention to the quality of the speaking and the interaction: a fluid speech, an effective argumentation and a good respect of time, explains Anne-Laure Hernandez. We must create a discussion with the jury, not simply answer yes or no to their questions. Don't learn everything by heart, spontaneity is very important."

Without indulging in improvisation, it is indeed very unadvisable to leave no room for the unexpected: "It can happen during the oral that we say nonsense or that we get the wrong answers, warns Nelson Kamen. Feel free to correct yourself and warn the jury." A piece of advice shared by all the specialists: knowing how to accept an error and correct it in full oral shows that you are mature and ready to begin higher education.