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"According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy."

The last time I had to do any public speaking was at the British Council ELTon awards in 2008. When I gave my acceptance speech, in front of about 200 people, it was simultaneously broadcast on a huge screen behind me - this picture is of me on the big screen.

I remember in the middle of my speech, turning round and getting the fright of my life when I saw a huge figure looking down on me! I remember thinking, Who's that nervous looking woman and why is she blushing so badly?

So I really empathise with you Emilio, public speaking can be quite terrifying, can't it? But I'm glad to hear that you've broken your duck. Public speaking is one of those major life events. It's always nice to tick one more off your list.

Your tip - 'just do it' - I think is a really useful one. There's no point saying 'I'm scared, I'm petrified ' if you're not prepared to try do something to overcome your fear. So congrats to you for taking the bull by the horns.

If you want some more hints and tips on public speaking, have a look at The Speaker, a good site linked to a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TV programme that was on last year. It's about young people public speaking but there's lots there for grown ups too!

Turning now to the language aspects of your blog, I thought we'd look at a few very common verbs and some of the nouns that collocate, or go together, with them, as well as the expressions not enough, too many and a few.

Collocations
In your blog there were a few slips with your verbs:

... he persuaded me to make the speaking
... to make great presentations
The first question I did them was about their experience

Can you choose the correct verb for each of these blanks? Choose from make, go, give, have, do or ask. Almost all these verbs should be in the past simple tense.

1. He _________ a great presentation at the conference yesterday.
2. I told him to _________ for it!
3. We _________ a huge argument and now I'll have to apologise.
4. She _________ them a question about history.
5. They _________ her the correct answer.
6. She _________ her homework last week.
7. But she _________ a few mistakes in it.
8. I _________ a speech at my best friend's wedding a few years ago.
9. I'll _________ this favour for you, but you have to buy me a coffee in return.
10. I said I'll _________ the speaking if she looked after the technical side of the presentation

Not enough, too many and a few
These three expressions are sometimes quite confusing, and the difference between them often depends on the speaker's attitude - do you think the thing you're talking about is a good thing or a bad thing?

not enough means a smaller number than I think is good
too many means a number that I think is bigger than I think is acceptable
a few means a small number but I think the number is OK

Here are a few examples, with a further explanation in each sentence to highlight the speaker's attitude.

There weren't enough people at the meeting so we had to cancel it.
There were too many people so not everyone was able to have a seat.
There were a few people at my presentation, so I wasn't as nervous as if I'd been speaking in front of the whole university.

How would you change this sentence from your blog?

11. Luckily for me there weren't enough people.

Before I sign off, I'd just like to say how clear and easy to understand your blogs have been so far Emilio. In each posting you've used some great vocabulary. Some stand out words from your latest blog were: persuaded me, luckily for me, so I had to improvise. (And of course there are loads more too from your previous blogs too!)

That's all for now.

All for now,

Nuala

vocabulary
struck a chord - (fixed phrase) If something strikes a chord, it makes people approve of or agree with it
funeral - ceremony after someone's dies
casket - coffin or container that a dead person's body is put in
eulogy - short speech that someone makes at a funeral
simultaneously - happening at the same time as something else
blushing - when your skin changes colour, as a sign of embarrassment, worry or fear
empathise - the ability to understand how someone else feels
you've broken your duck - you have done something for the first time
tick one more off your list - make a note (actually by writing something down or merely by thinking about it) that you have accomplished or done something
petrified - very frightened
congrats - short for congratulations
taking the bull by the horns - (idiom) dealing with a difficult or frightening situation, rather than just ignoring it
grown ups - adults (not children)
attitude - feelings or thoughts
stand out - very good