English for University Studies

How to plan and deliver an effective oral presentation

Effective Presentations

• Planning• Organising• Communicating• Conclusion• Q & A

Effective Presentations

Planning• Purpose• Audience

– Needs and interests– “Aim to be a speaker, not an oral reader: be a

speaker who really understands and communicates with an audience” (Lucas, 2008)

• Setting– Audience numbers?– Facilities?

Effective Presentations

Organising• Body• Planning the presentation• Organising the presentation

– Developing the body– Introductions– Conclusions– Written and spoken English– Outlining

• Delivering the presentation

(Comfort, 2010)

Effective Presentations

• Planning• Purpose• Audience• Setting• Organisation

Effective Presentations

Delivering• Introductions• Conclusions• Written and spoken English• Visual aids• Body language• Q & A session

Effective Presentations

Delivering• First impressions• Cheung (2008)

– gain attention– orientate listeners

• Last impressions– signal– overview– reinforce

Effective Presentations

Spoken Language

WrittenLanguage

•Simple words•Short sentences•Fragments•Personal pronouns•Contractions•Questions•Repetition

•Complex sentences•Passive voice•Longer words

Effective Presentations

Rehearsal• Memorise?• Detailed outline• Blueprint

Effective Presentations

• (1) Visual Aids (2) Non verbal (3) Q & A session– Visual Aids– Support your words– Simple and clear– Visible– Explain

Effective Presentations

• Non verbal Communication • “communicating without words” (Pease,

2006)– Personal appearance– Facial expressions– Eye contact– Posture– Movements– Gestures

Effective Presentations

• Q and A Session– Anticipation– Preparation

• Weaknesses and limitations

Effective Presentations

• Purpose• People• Preparation• Planning• Performance

Effective Presentations

Reference List

Cheung, Y. L. (2008). Teaching effective presentation skills to ESL/EFL students. The Internet TESL Journal, 14(6).

Comfort, J. (2001). Effective presentations. Oxford: Cornelsen & Oxford University Press.

Lucas, S. (2008). The art of public speaking. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Pease, B., & Pease, A. (2006). The definitive book of body language. New York: Bantam.