Taking a Speech Class... Never Gonna Pass :(

[FtMitch]

I have a very useful BA from the University of Texas in World Religious Studies (I know you can't actually hear the sarcasm in my tone when I declare said degree "useful", but I'm guessing you get my drift), and I have decided to go back to university and get a second bachelor's, this one a BS in Math.  Anyhoo, I am starting out at a local community college for the AS in Math before transferring to get my BS to my local branch of UT 'cause it's cheaper that way.  The downside?  They are making me take classes that thirty year old men who have already done college once really don't need to be taking, like Introduction to Speech Communications.  This would be absolutely no problem as I am a former teacher and have NO problems with public speaking or anything else in speech, except for the fact that my voice is in that HORRIBLE state where it's in between a normal female voice (I was the Lord of Sopranos before T) and a passing male voice--and I haven't had any drops in the last 2 months.    I am now almost 10 months on T, and I still sound like a deep, gravelly chick.  I feel like this, more than anything else, keeps me from passing.  Sure, people on campus are gonna think I'm a recent high school grad instead of someone who may have actually taught their high school English class 'cause I look about 17, but other than my voice I'm doing pretty well.  But SPEECH CLASS???  UGH.  Anyone have any suggestions for me on passing in this kind of class?  Or should I just give up any hope?

[FTMax]

Are you not able to transfer the credit from your completed BA for general education credits? You may not going the AS route, but I'd be very surprised if UT wouldn't take them (especially since they're from there in the first place!). I'd call there and see if you can talk to an admissions counselor and explain the situation if you haven't already. It seems very silly to me that you'd have to do courses like this when you already have a BA.

I've had my voice drop slightly after a year on T, and I think if you look at some of the guys on YouTube you can definitely hear some differences in their voices over time. So don't give up hope yet!

There are some apps out there for pitch and whatnot. I'd maybe try one of those to see if you can improve that with some practice.

I would also focus on body language and male speech patterns. These wouldn't be as relevant during a speech per se, but it may help you blend in more during other interactions with classmates.

[FtMitch]

I was able to transfer a lot of credits, but my first degree didn't require me to take speech as part of the core curriculum and this one does for some insane reason.  I also have to take Texas Government, kill me now.    I am definitely crossing my fingers that my voice will continue to drop...  How do you guys remember to do things like speak slower?  I try to talk more masculine, but when I get into a subject, I find myself forgetting.

[FTMax]

Ugh, that sucks dude. I'm sorry. I've been thinking about a second bachelor's in something more technical but the idea of paying to take classes in things that I already know how to do doesn't seem pleasant.

I didn't struggle with fast talking, but for a really long time I had issues with inflection. I had conditioned myself to use upward inflection at the end of sentences, and that's a very female pattern of speech. It just took repetitive practice to kick it. Think about some guys whose style of speech you like (or whose personality is similar to yours, because I feel like this influences the way we speak) and just watch and listen to them talk. That'll give you a base to work off of, so you'll know when you're departing from that.

[Elis]

I have a similar problem; I thought my voice would sound a lot more like a man's voice by now; instead of a cross between a female's and a teenage boy :/. It's getting subtly better but it's kind of up and down. I'm also just starting to look for a job for the first time as male; plus starting a barbering course. So looking and sounding like a 17 yr old gets to me. I find that I talk in a quieter voice to strangers or people I don't know very well which helps me sound somewhat better; plus I talk in a slower more monotonous way; plus I just tend to stand up straighter and try to be stereotypically masculine; even though that's far from my personality which is a struggle. I'm so self conscious that it helps to remind me to do those things with the added fear of being outed.

[Mal]

I had to take a public speaking course and was also a college advisor, so I understand your frustration about having to take courses like that and Texas government. In my experience though speech classes are easier at community colleges than at universities, but even they nitpick things like saying um or having too long of pauses. You may have to sacrifice passing for the sake of using your normal voice and getting a better grade. Is it possible to wait a little longer on taking the class, so you try to let your voice deepen more or get comfortable using one of the suggestions to make your voice deeper?

[AnxietyDisord3r]

You have to speak slower for public speaking anyway. I had to practice it.

I think it takes a while for the voice to change. There are plenty of men who speak in their upper register but they sound like men because of the effects of years of testosterone.

Have you checked out those videos on youtube about exercises to temporarily deepen your voice?

[FtMitch]

I'm actually an awesome public speaker (champion debate team member back in high school).  I have given many lectures throughout the years, etc, so I am not too worried about the grade.  However I talk I am positive I will pass grade-wise.  I just do NOT want to be seen as a chick, LOL.  My voice isn't the worst, though, so I am working right now on making a habit of keeping it lowered as well as checking out some of those YouTube videos.  The people I work with just tend to think I'm a queer dude (I work as a fashion stylist, so this surprises no one).  UGH I just hate the fact that I am actually a little nervous about doing something I have never been nervous about doing in my entire life (aka talking in front of crowds).

[AnxietyDisord3r]

Yeah, that. Transition seems to be full of surprises. I never used to think about singing on pitch but now I'm struggling. Voice cracking, whole nine yards. It's humbling.