MAKING ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Ever been to a really bad presentation ?

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the speaker stands behind the podium,

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uses slides that mirror what he is saying directly,

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includes lots of data tables to validate his position.

Result

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boring your audience to the point where they start for a fire alarm to go off so they can escape.

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And once you lose someone, it is next to impossible to bring his or her attention back.

Planning is crucial Ask yourself:

Planning 1

Why?

1.

To give information?

2.

To persuade?

3.

To present an argument Whom for Who are the audience?

What do they already know?

What do they need to know?

What would they find interesting?

Planning 2

How long

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How much talk?

How much time for visual aids?

How much time for answering questions?

Be prepared

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Preparation is underrated. In fact, it is one of the most important factors in determining your communication successes.

Preperation1

This is an Oral Presentation: TALK don’t read Work from notes- possibly written on cards Use your own language as much as possible

Preperation2

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Remember Keep your visual aid simple Limit the ideas presented on each one LARGE LETTERS Use color to add the appearance Check grammar and spellings

Preparation3

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Make an outline of the presentation

a)

What will be mentioned in the introduction?

b)

What will be in the main part?

c)

What will be in the conclusion?

Preparation 4

Introduction

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Yourself Your subject Your purpose You might start with one of the following: A surprising or unusual fact A personal story An interesting example A quotation from an authority or expert

Rehearsal

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You should: If a group presentation, decide who is doing what.

Check your timing, it must be right.

Become familiar with your visual aids.

Check that visual aids can be seen at the back of the room.

Check your pronunciation, intonation, grammar and spelling.

Unforgettable delivery

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Some useful tips for keeping your presentation vivid include: Use examples to bring your points to life Keep your body language up-beat – don't stay stuck behind a rostrum Don't talk to fast. Less is more here too. Pauses are effective. Use a variety of tones of voice Use visual aids

Delivery

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Physical Clothes can be important Stance- do not show that you are bored or uncomfortable. Use body gestures Maintain eye contact with your audience. Smile occasionally Look confident and enthusiastic.

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Voice Are you audible?

Are you speaking too fast?

Are you mumbling?

Are you talking to the visual aid instead of the audience?

Is your voice monotonous?

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Using visual aids Remember not to stand in front of them.

Give your audience time to look at them , before talking about them.

Switch off machines when they are not being used.

Some useful phrases

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First of all May I begin by I would like to start by To point out \ as far as As you can see on this On the contrary On the whole To sum up

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As you may know In other words Draw your attention to This indicates In other words On the other hand In conclusion

The presentation itself

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Arrive a little early and if possible check the equipments and the set up

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Don’t rush; stand comfortably, look around the room, take a deep breath and smile

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Try to make your uppermost thought “ I would really like them to understand and enjoy this talk” rather than “ how am I ever going to get through this”.

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If you get your overheads in the wrong order or miss a point, don’t panic or don’t leave your audience in silence. Instead say for example “ I just want to show you another over head , excuse me a minute while I find it”

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Keep track of time

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Mark your transitions from one section to another with a longer pause and a scan of the room.

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If the audience is looking puzzled you may need to recap , restate or even ask if they are with you.

Handling questions and discussions •

Often it is necessary for you to restate the question.

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Answer questions as briefly as possible.

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If the question requires a deep answer off the main track, give a brief answer and offer to answer more fully after the talk

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Sometimes you don’t know the answer, admit this and offer to find out the answer for the next week.

Follow-up • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXILI9Q1jIw

Assignment to be submitted in the next session.

No late submissions.