Presenting in Englis s 14

7/29/2019 Presenting in Englis s 14

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presenting in english 2.3 exploiting visual....

Change and Development 1

In many professional presentations you need to talk about changes and

developments. Usually a visual will explain these for you. But if you do not

have a visual to illustrate a particular point, you need the specialized

language of change and development.

TASK 1

Here are the most important verbs used to talk about change and development. Complete

them by adding the vowels a, e. i, 0and u.

~ - - - - .

\1. ncr __ s _ 3. d _ c r __ s_

2. r s 4. f _ II

5. s h __ t _ p

6. t _k _ _ ff

7 . p 1 _ ( g_8. s I_I~

9. fl_c t __ t_

\J10. r _ c _ v _ r 12 . s t biz

---~

14.r_m __ n st __ dy

l1.p_ck _p 13.1_ v _ ff

~-.~ ~-+~

17.b_tt_m __ t 19._xp_nd

15 . p __ k

TASK 2

16. h _ t 1_ w 18. g r_w 20. s h r _ n k

21. d cl n

Now answer the following questions:

1. Which of these verbs are irregular (eg. rise - rose - risen)?

2. Which can be both a verb and a noun (eg. to rise - a rise)?

3. Which can be changed into a noun (eg. fluctuate - fluctuation)?

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presenting in english 2.4 exploiting visuals

Change and Development 2~

")': ,::.~"": ":, ~;;':'

Sometimes it is not enough to talk about increases and decreases. You may

also want to draw your audience's attention to the scale and speed of the .

change and comment on its significance.. .

TASK 1

Write the following adjectives in the correct space on the diagram below according to what

kind of change they describe:

a(n)substantial rapid encouraging slight spectacular

disastrous moderate disappointing steadyincrease

enormous

BIG

I. .

2 .

3 .

4 .

SMALL

FAST

5 .

6 .

SLOW

GOOD

7 .

8 .

9 .

10 .

BAD

Which of the words above mean more or less the same as the following:

a. massive .

b. gradual .

c. significant .

d. tremendous .

TASK 2

Cross out the word which does not fit in the following sentences:

I. Demand increased slightly / steadily / tremendously / disappointingly.

2. Interest rates rose sharply / considerably / keenly / marginally.

3. Profitability slumped moderately / disastrously / suddenly / rapidly.

4. The price of oil fluctuated enormously / wildly / gradually / dramatically.

Now re-write the sentences above using a noun instead of a verb:

I. There was a(n) .

2. There was a(n) .

3. There was a(n) .

4. There was a(n) .


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Change and Development 3

Except if) complex technical and scientific presentations, you don't usually

need to quote precise figures. It is better to include these in a ha[ldout orreport given out before or after your talk.

It c.anbe helpful, however, when describing very detailed visual aids, to

m~ntio~ overall trends and approximate figures.

1 / 1 ; 1 TASK 1Below you will find an extract from a presentation comparing stock market performance in

four European countries. Complete it using the words given in the lists.

P A R T 1

around at downs so upward ofl oNDON

First, let's have a look at this graph, which shows us the

ups and 1) in the 'footsie' over the last three

months. As you can see, the overall trend is (2) .

with the index finishing up (3) (4) .

3,200 in mid-May. This trend, however, can't hide the factthat there was a fall (5) some eighty points or

(6) between the middle of February and the

beginning of March. We'll be looking at the reasons for

this unexpected dip in a moment.

P A R T 2

FT-SE 100

at about of over to fromPARIS

In Paris it's been the same story, with the CAC falling

(1) just (2) 1850 in mid-February

(3) (4) 1720 three weeks later. Again, Jthough, overall performance has been good, the CAe

putting on roughly 120 points over the three-month ~

period, peaking (5) just short (6) 2020,

give or take a point. I'.

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PART 3


down between over of by downward

MILAN

As you can see, the picture in Milan is rather different.

The early trend was decidedly (1) . . . . . . .. . In fact, the

MIBTel had already fallen (2) . . . . . . . . in excess(3) 1400 points by mid-March.

It then fluctuated (4) 9700 and 9300 for the best

part of a month, before partially recovering to end up well

(5) a hundred points (6) on the figure

for mid-February.

PART 4

for

Jin below near down up

FRANKFURT

If anything, the DAX has fared rather worse.

In mid-February it was well (l) at getting on

(2) 2200 and looking strong. But by the end of

March it was way (3) the 1950 threshold and

nowhere (4) where our forecasts had put it. And it's still well (5) at somewhere (6) the

region of 2080.

TASK 2

Now try to remember some of the phrases from the presentation which could be of use to

you:

1. and downs

2. a rise of ten points

3. give or a point

4. just of 2000

5. the part of a week

Source of graphs: The European

6. the overall .

7. an unexpected .

8. in the of 1080

9. a couple of weeks .

10. getting for 1800


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presenting in english 2.5 exploitin,R visuals

PRESENTATION

Complete the visuals below with information relevant to your work, company or interests.

Make a few notes on each before you present them. You don't need to describe the visuals in

detail. Give approximate figures and point out the overall trends and developments.

notes .

notes .

notes C .

well under

more or less

nowhere near

well over

roughly

just short of

USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

just over just under

about / around approximately

in the region of getting on for

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Cause, Effect and Purpose

pre....enting in english 2.6 exploiting visuals

As a presenter, your job is not just to present facts, but also to explain the

reasons behind the facts and their likely causes and effects.English has a lot of expressions which are used to link cause, effect and

purpose, but these are mostly used in written reports. The language used in

presentations is often much simpler. Compare the following:

REPORT

TOM was introduced

in order to increase efficiency.

The introduction of TOM

led to a 20% increase in efficiency.

The 20% increase in efficiency wasa result of the introduction of TOM.

PRESENTATION

We introduced TOM

to increase efficiency.

We introduced TOM

and efficiency increased by 20%.

Efficiency increased by 20%because we introduced TOM.

Notice also how noun phrases (the introduction of TOM, a 20% increase in

efficiency) are more common in reports, and verb phrases (we introduced

TOM, efficiency increased by 20%) are more common in speech.

TASK 1

Look at the folIowing extracts from a report. Change them into what you might say in a

presentation, using and, because and to. Remember to change noun phrases into verb

phrases where possible. The first words are given:

1. TV coverage of the launch led to a significant increase in customer response rate.

The launch .

2. There has been a dramatic falI in operating costs as a result of last year's efforts.

Operating costs .

3. Product modifications may be needed in order to remain internationally competitive.

W e .

4. Market entry was successful due to our competitive pricing strategy.

W e .

5. Investment was increased so as to take advantage of the upturn in the economy.

W e .

6. The slowdown in growth was caused by a loss of corporate confidence.

Growth .

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Presenting in Englis s 14