Match the halves to build pairs from the text and use them in your sentences.
1. to share
2. to offer
3. to improve
4. to get
5. to overcome
6. to cover
7. to welcome
8. to provide
9. to make
10. to check
11. to maintain
12. to vary
13. to introduce
14. to follow
a) intonation
b) sure
c) knowledge
d) guidelines
e) the situation
f) the audience
g) the timing
h) the topic
i) a mark
j) good rapport
k) nervousness
l) the rules
m) solutions
n) the points
Exercise 2
Define the sentences as True or False.
1. You should not tell the audience what you are going to tell.
2. Visual aids can make the presentation more interesting and easy to understand.
3. You can establish your rapport with the audience during the first couple of minutes.
4. Sit rather than stand when delivering the presentation.
5. Don’t vary your voice during the presentation; the audience should get used to your voice.
6. Try to use active verbs and concrete words rather than passive verbs and concept words.
7. Use small fonts on your visual aids; it will let you place more information.
8. If you have never made a presentation before, make an excuse for this at the beginning of your presentation.
Exercise 3
Find in the text the beginnings of the sentences below.
1) … talk only about the data that is relevant to the audiences’ needs.
2) … and help you to overcome your nervousness.
3) … and cover the points you wish to make in a logical order.
4) … think about using some charts, diagrams, graphs etc. on an overhead
projector or flipchart.
5) … this will give you a chance to identify any weak points or gaps.
6) … unless you are sure all your audience will understand it.
7) … smile and look at the audience, do not look down in fear.
8) … so practice projecting your voice as there is no excuse for not being
loud enough.
9) … that you have never presented before.
Look at the following situations.
A medical congress in Tokyo with papers on new techniques in open heart surgery.
The purchasing and Product managers of a Taiwanese company interested in buying some production equipment from your company.
An internal meeting of administrative staff to discuss a new accounting procedure.
A staff meeting to discuss a charity event for earthquake.
Imagine you have to give a brief presentation in one of the above situations. Make brief notes on the following:
a) Will your talk be formal or informal?
b) What are the audience’s expectations in terms of technical detail, expertise, etc.?
c) What is the audience’s probable level of specialist knowledge? Are they experts or non-experts?
d) How long will your talk be: five minutes, twenty minutes, half a day, or longer?
e) What is your policy on questions? Will the audience interrupt or will they ask questions afterwards? Will there be any discussion?
f) How will you help the audience to remember what you tell them?
Look at the pictures. Write down 3-4 comments to each picture. Share your sentences with the rest of the group.
1
2
3
You are going to hear Alan Wroxley, Sales Manager of Brother, an electronics firm, talking about sales presentations. Listen and make notes under the following headings.
ü presentation categories and techniques
ü nerves: causes and cures
ü ways of presenting information
ü handouts
ü how to be successful
Exercise 1
Match the words with their definitions.
1) audience
2) handout
3) OHR
4) objective
5) visual aids
6) flip chart
7) marker
8) pointer
9) ice-breaker
10. autocue
11. rule of thumb
12. outline
13. rapport
14. guidelines
15. rehearsal
a) guide or principle based on practice.
b) charts, slides, etc.
c) a devise which displays words to read.
d) group of listeners or spectators.
e) a close and harmonious relationship.
f) written information given to people at a presentation.
g) rod or stick used to indicate things on a screen.
h) what one wants to achieve, aim.
i) pad of large paper sheets on a stand.
j) trial performance of something.
k) a short story that serves to relief tension.
l) overhead transparency
m) brief description
n) pen with a felt tip used for writing on a whiteboard.
o) advice or instructions
7. to start/end …
8. to focus …
9. …the beginning
10. to pick …signals
11. to be aware …
12. …all times
13. to deal…questions
14. to be comfortable…
15. to move… …smth
16. excuse …smth
17. to continue …smth
18. to speed…
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences using the verbs in the box.
flows
prepare
mark
delete
locate
make
express
read
Rehearse
Write out
Review
leave
want
number
go
….1….the presentation in rough, just like a first draft of a written report. ….2….the draft. If you find things that are irrelevant or superfluous - ….3….them. Check if the story is consistent and ….4….smoothly. If there are things you cannot easily ….5…., possibly because of doubt about your understanding, it is better to ….6…. them unsaid.
Never ….7….from a script. It is also unwise to have the talk written out in detail as a prompt sheet - the chances are you will not ….8….the thing you want to say amongst all the other text. You should know most of what you ….9…. to say - if you don't, then you should not be giving the talk! So ….10…. cue cards which have key words and phrases (and possibly sketches) on them. Postcards are ideal for this. Don't forget to ….11…. the cards in case you drop them.
Remember to ….12….on your cards the visual aids that go with them so that the right OHP or slide is shown at the right time.
….13….your presentation - to yourself at first and then in front of some colleagues. The initial rehearsal should consider how the words and the sequence of visual aids ….14….together. How will you ….15….effective use of your visual aids?
Exercise 4
In any presentation the beginning is crucial. Certainly some things are essential in an introduction and others are useful. Here is a list of what could be included in an introduction. Mark them according to how necessary they are using the following scale: as essential, useful, not necessary.