Delivery

• Nerves

You will probably be nervous at the beginning of your presentation. Don't worry – most people are nervous in this situation. Try not to speak too fast during the first couple of minutes – this is the time you establish your rapport with the audience and first impressions are very important. You may find it helpful to memorize your introduction.

• Audience rapport

Try to be enthusiastic – your interest in the subject matter will carry your audience along. Look around your audience as you speak – eye contact is essential for maintaining a good rapport. You will also be able to pick up signals of boredom or disinterest, in which case you can cut your presentation short.

• Body language

Stand rather than sit when you are delivering your presentation and try to be aware of any repetitive hand gestures or awkward mannerisms that might irritate your audience.

• Voice quality

You must be clearly audible at all times - don't let your voice drop at the end of sentences. If you vary your intonation, your voice will be more interesting to listen to and you will be able to make your points more effectively.

• Visual aids

Use your visual aids confidently, making sure you allow your audience time to absorb information from flipcharts and transparencies.

• Audience reaction

Be ready to deal with any hostile questions. Polite, diplomatic answers are a good disarming tactic, but if you should find yourself 'under fire', suggest that the audience keeps any further questions until the end of the presentation and continue with your next point.

Language Practice

Study these examples of signalling devices. Then write suitable headings for the groups of phrases that follow to summarize what each is signalling. As a guide to completing the exercise, a heading for group 1 has been given.

1. Introducing the topic

Let me start by…

I’ll start by…

First of all, I’ll…

Starting with…

I’d like to begin by…

2. ……………….

Right, I’ve told you about…

We’ve looked at…

That’s all I have to say about…

So much for…

3. ………………..

Let me turn now to…

Let's move on to…

Turning to…

I'd like now to…

Next...

Let's look now at…

4. ……………….

Where does that take us?

Let's look at this in more detail.

Translated into real terms,…

What does that mean for us?

5. ………………..

For example,…

A good example of this is…

To illustrate this point,…

6. ………………..

I'll deal with this later, if I may, but for

now…

I'll come back to this question later in

my talk.

I won't comment on this now,…

We'll be examining this question in

more detail later on.

7. ………………..

Let's recap, shall we?

I'd like to sum up now…

Let me summarize briefly what I've

said.

Let me remind you, finally, of some of

the points I've made.

If I can just sum up the main points…

8. ………………..

Firstly… secondly… thirdly…lastly

First of all… then . . . next…

after that… finally…

To start with… later… to finish up…

Working in pairs, make mini-presentations to each other to practice signalling different items. Choose one of the following topics:

• The advantages and disadvantages of working for a small company.

• The advantages and disadvantages of working for a large company.

• How to motivate the workforce in large companies.

Listening 2