This is important as most students like to feel they have rapport with their instructors. That is difficult if you rely on totally PowerPoint ... plus it is so boring. So mix it up for a good balance. Spend time filming yourself everyday until you start to feel natural and comfortable in front of the camera. Be aware of any nervous tics you have, things like clearing your throat, scrunching or wiggling your eyebrows, wringing your hands, cracking your knuckles, tapping your foot, shifting back and forth or swaying, blinking excessively, swallowing hard, and saying “um”, “uh”, or “like” too often. If you catch yourself tensing up, take deep breaths and relax your shoulders to pull yourself out of it. Relax. For me this is my morning yoga and meditating, for you it maybe goi g for a run, or dancing. Slow down as most of us speed up our speech when they are nervous. Try speaking a little slower than normal, especially if you have an accent. Develop a love for the lens and look directly into the camera as if it were a person you were speaking to. Do not over or under do the makeup (gentlemen, too!). Check it in different lighting. Mmm I am notorious not not wearing any makeup.... I really loathe the stuff! Do not go for perfect. As you are speaking, if you go off-script a bit, but it still makes sense, keep going instead of stopping or making the “uh-oh” face. You audience will never know!
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