Presenting in English : A Practical Guide

This practical guide introduces students to the language and other skills needed to deliver a presentation in English. Concise and accessible, the guide will be particularly helpful to learners of English.The book: covers different types of presentations, including group and online presentations, common structures of presentations, presentation tools, and the main message that each presentation should have introduces the language skills necessary for presentations: useful English words, phrases, and sentences to use in the various parts of presentations, and how one's pronunciation can become clearer to an international audience explains how to control voice and vocal tract usage and how to effectively use the body as a communicator discusses how to communicate with the audience, including how to handle questions, and explores different types of audiences includes culturally diverse examples, case studies, and exercises Accompanied by online support material with recordings, the book is an essential guide to delivering a successful presentation in English. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Foreword Part A The Presentation 1 Presentation Types This Chapter 1. Academic Versus Professional Presentation Professional Presentations Academic Presentations 2. Single, Duo, Or Group Presentation 3. Information Delivery Manuscript Speaking Extemporaneous Speaking Memorised Speaking Impromptu Speaking 4. Audience Participation The Silent Audience Presentation Question/answer Presentation The Participatory Presentation 5. Level Differences Academic Levels 6. Sitting, Standing, Or Walking 7. Online Or Live Presentation CHECKLIST 2 Online and Joint Presentations This Chapter 1. The Rise of Online Presentations 2. Advantages of Online Presentations Less Anxiety Controlling the Q&A Pre-recording Option 3. Drawbacks of Online Presentations Technical Limitations Physical Position Camera Issues Microphone Issues Audience Camera and Microphone Options Interaction Rules 4. Joint Presentations Prepare Together Divide Roles CHECKLIST For Online Presentations For Joint Presentations 3 Presentation Structure This Chapter 1. Purpose Which Experience Should the Audience Undergo? What Do You Want to Gain From the Presentation? 2. Communicating Your Goal to the Audience Informative Persuasive Instructional 3. Main Message Selecting Information Importance of Messages One Main Message Only More Examples 4. Information Sources 5. The Structure of the Presentation CHECKLIST 4 Digital Slide Shows This Chapter 1. Showing the Slides Managing Information Delivery Running the Presentation 2. Visuals Pictures Video and Sound Clips Social Media 3. Dealing With Technical Problems Internet Issues Slide Show Issues Video/sound Issues 4. Timing Presentation Parts Number of Slides and Slide Show Duration CHECKLIST 5 Slide Design This Chapter 1. General Design Slide 1 Slide 2 Slide 3 2. Screen Colours 3. Readability Slide 4 Slide 5 Slide 6 4. Filling the Slides Slide 7 Slide 8 Slide 9a Slide 9b Slide 10a Slide 10b Slide 10c 5. Transitions and Effects Effects Between Slides Effects Within Slides 6. Amount of Information On Each Slide Slide 11a Slide 11b Slide 11c Slide 11d Slide 11e Slide 11f Slide 11g Slide 11h Slide 11i Slide 11j 7. Pointing at Information CHECKLIST Part B The Language 6 Useful Sentences This Chapter 1. Introduction Greet the Audience Introduce Yourself Raise Awareness Introduce the Topic Give the Presentation Purpose Reveal the Structure 2. Body Introduce the Start of the Body Introducing the End of a Part Giving Interim Conclusions Introducing Transitions Giving Examples Giving Details Linking to Other Parts of the Presentation Referring to the Main Point Or Purpose Referring to Sources Referring to Visuals Emphasis Paraphrase 3. Conclusion Summarise Give the Main Conclusion Reiterate the Main Point Compare With Other Findings Limitations Explain Implications and Practical Applications Sign Off Open Up Q&A Start a Discussion Hand Over to the Next Presenter Or the Moderator 4. Redundant Comments Apologetic Explaining Meta Comments CHECKLIST 7 Useful Words This Chapter 1. Purpose 2. Extending Your Active Vocabulary 3. Improving Your Spoken Vocabulary Create a Transcript Complete the Transcript Focus On Specialised Vocabulary Find Alternatives Address Formulaic Language Discover Collocations Standardise Register Check Social Appropriateness Remove Most Discourse Markers Reconsider Advanced Words and Phrases CHECKLIST 8 Clear Vowels and Consonants This Chapter 1. Instructions 2. Vowels Pronouncing D.a.rk and D.i.rk [ɑː, ɜː] Pronouncing D.i.rk and D.o.rk [ɜː, ɔː] Pronouncing D.o.rk and D.o.ke [ɔː, oʊ] Pronouncing D.o.ke and D.o.ck [oʊ, ɒ] Pronouncing D.o.ck and D.u.ck [ɒ, ʌ] Pronouncing L.oo.k and L.u.ke [ʊ, uː] Pronouncing L.i.ck and L.ee.k [ɪ, iː] Pronouncing M.a.rry, M.e.rry, and M.a.ry [æ, ɛ, ɛː] 3. Consonants Pronouncing .p.ea, .t.ea, and .k.ey [p, T, K] Pronouncing .t.eeth and .t.eethe [θ, ð] Pronouncing .v.eer, .b.eer, and .W.ear [v, B, W] Pronouncing .s.ee and .sh.e [s, ʃ] Pronouncing .v.eal and .z.eal [v, Z] Pronouncing The.r.e, Ba.r., Ca.r.t, and Bea.r.s Pronouncing .r.ight and .l.ight [ɹ, l] CHECKLIST 9 Tongue Twisters This Chapter 1. Rule-Based Versus Unique Pronunciation Problems Rule-based Pronunciation Difficulties Rule 1: Stress the Second Syllable in Verbs If the Word Could Also Be a Noun Or Adjective Rule 2: Certain Word-Final Syllables Are Likely to Be Unstressed Rule 3: Teens and Tens Get a Different Stress Rule 4: Trust Spelling Only for Less Common Words Unique Pronunciation Problems Stress and Vowel Choices 2. The List CHECKLIST 10 The Music of Your English This Chapter 1. Basic Rhythmic Systems of Languages 2. Getting the Stress Right What Is Stress? The Functions of Sentence Stress 3. Intonation 4. Two Basic Intonation Patterns Fall Intonation: Low and High Rise Intonation: Low and High 5. Silences Silences Make You More Pleasant to Listen to Silences Can Change Meaning Silences Separate Sentences Silences Can Forefront Information CHECKLIST Part C The Presenter 11 Speaking Style This Chapter 1. Good Versus Clear Articulation 2. The Vocal Tract 3. The Voice 4. Your Throat 5. Breathing 6. Speech Rate 7. Over-/underarticulation Night-candle Style Slow-burner Style CHECKLIST 12 Posture This Chapter 1. Body Language 2. Posture Communicative Effects The Ideal Posture 3. Sitting, Standing, and Moving Around Sitting Standing Still Standing and Moving Around 4. Communicating Messages With Your Body Open and Closed Postures Position Relative to the Audience CHECKLIST 13 Face, Arms, and Hands This Chapter 1. Face The Natural Shape of Your Face Smiling Cultural Differences 2. Eyes Eye Contact Gazing Blinking Cultural Differences 3. Arms 4. Hands Handshake Cultural Differences CHECKLIST 14 Emotions Before Presentation Day This Chapter 1. State of Mind Tips 2. Tips to Prepare Your Presentation 3. Tips for Preparing for Questions 4. Trial Run Tips 5. Tips to Discover the Venue Conditions 6. Tips for Safeguarding the Presentation CHECKLIST 15 Emotions On Presentation Day This Chapter 1. Nerves 2. Dealing With Nerves in the Hours Before the Presentation Practical Tips Eating and Drinking Exercise 3. Dealing With Nerves During Your Presentation General State of Mind Tips The Very Beginning of the Presentation Breathing and Speaking Eating and Drinking Improvising CHECKLIST Part D The Audience 16 Knowing Your Audience This Chapter 1. General Features of Your Audience Audience Size Audience Role During the Presentation Command of English of Audience Members Cultural Background Expectations Known and Unknown Audience Members 2. Audience State of Mind Attention Span Physical Comfort 3. Communicating With Your Audience Rapport Exceptional Audience Members Dealing With Hecklers Use of Laptops CHECKLIST 17 Handling Audience Diversity This Chapter 1. General Tips 2. Language Competence 3. Culture and Personality Information Presentation Previous Knowledge Showing Respect Time Perception Proximity Showing Emotion Personal Topics Smiling Silences 4. Gender Identity 5. Disabilities Hearing Impaired Audience Members Physical Disabilities CHECKLIST 18 Engaging Your Audience This Chapter 1. Grabbing Attention Have a Positive Demeanour Be Active Dress Well Address the Presentation Structure Make Slides Easy On the Eye 2. Keeping Attention Present in Steps Create Suspense Show Rather Than Tell Work With Highlights 3. Revitalising Attention Vary Presentation Tools Consider Humour Clap Your Hands Raise Your Voice Move Closer Make Eye Contact Interact With the Audience Single Out Audience Members Make the Audience Think Organise an Activity Use an Anecdote Refer to a Handout CHECKLIST 19 Convincing Your Audience This Chapter 1. Presenter Authority Trustworthiness of the Presenter Introducing Yourself Delay Bad News 2. An Experience for the Audience Visualise Content Share Experiences Entertain Show a Picture Or Object Metaphors Stories 3. A Convincing Message Original Content Unambiguous Content A Foregrounded Main Message Examples Activate the Audience Memorable Ending CHECKLIST 20 Audience Questions This Chapter 1. Audience Role The Silent Audience Presentation The Question/answer Presentation The Participatory Presentation The Demonstration Presentation 2. Before the Questions Start Announce Number of Questions Demands for Attention Granting Permission to Speak Processing the Question 3. Answering the Question Easy Questions Difficult Questions Critical Questions After Answering a Question No Questions The Quality of the Answer 4. After Answering the Final Question CHECKLIST References Index