Giving a Presentation Warming up

Ex. 1. Look at the picture and discuss the questions below.

“My presentation has live web links, full-screen HD video clips, animated fonts, thundering surround-sound audio, and awesome 3D special effects. Now all I need is a topic.”

1. What is the main purpose of a presentation?

2. How long do you think the presentation should last? Why?

3. What visuals can the presenter use? What do you think the presenter should do to impress the audience?

4. Have you ever made a presentation? What was it about? Did the audience like it?

Ex. 2. The following useful phrases will be helpful when preparing to give the presentation.

Starting the presentation	Good morning / good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. The topic of my presentation today is ... . What I'm going to talk about today is ... .
Why you are giving this presentation	The purpose of this presentation is ... .  This is important because ... . My objective is to ... .
Stating the main points	The main points I will be talking about are: – firstly … . – secondly ... . – next, finally ... we’re going to look at ... .
Introducing the first point	Let’s start/begin with ... .
Showing graphics, transparencies, slides etc.	I’d like to illustrate this by showing you ….
Moving on to the next point	Now let’s move on to ... .
Giving more details	I’d like to expand on this aspect / problem / point. Let me elaborate on that. Would you like me to expand on / elaborate on that?
Changing to a different topic	I’d like to turn to something completely different.
Referring to something which is off the topic	I’d like to digress here for a moment and just mention that … .
Referring back to an earlier point	Let me go back to what I said earlier about ... .
Summarizing or repeating the main points	I’d like to recap the main points of my presentation: – first I covered … . – then we talked about … . – finally we looked at … . I’d now like to sum up the main points which were: … .
Conclusion	I’m going to conclude by ... saying that/inviting you to / quoting ... . In conclusion, let me ... leave you with this thought / invite you to … .
Questions	Finally, I’ll be happy to answer your questions.   Now I’d like to invite any questions you may have. Do you have any questions?

Ex. 3. Fill in these note cards with suitable language for a sales presentation on your company product or service.

Introduction

First of all, I’d like to......................................................................................... .

Let me just briefly give you some background information on ........................ .

Main ideas

Our product features and benefits include ........................................................ .

However, in contrast to our competitors, our USP is ....................................... .

Special offers

We are prepared to give you ............................................................................. .

Please pick up one of our .................................................................................. .

Conclusion

To summarize, I would like to .................. the main points of this presentation.

Are there any .....................................................................................................?

Ex. 4. a) Use a verb in column B, a noun in column C and make the sentences about the companies in column A.

A B C

Airbus industry	offers	consumer goods
Yahoo	manufactures / makes	temporary staff
Wal-Mart	provides	aircraft
Thomas Cook	recruits	financial advice
Morgan Stanley	operates	travel and holidays
Manpower	organizes	Internet Services

b) What do you know about these companies? Choose any company and make a short presentation about it.

Ex. 5. a) Make a presentation of the air company you would like to work for.

b) Make a presentation of the school where you are studying.

Ex. 6. Speak on the given topic.

You met your colleague who was not present at the last press conference, and doesn’t know anything about your air company’s new services. Tell him the main points of the given presentation.

Ex. 7. a) Match the products in A to the typical customer expectations in B. More than one combination is possible.

A B

mobile after-sales service

computer environmental friendliness

television style

refrigerator price

dryer user-friendliness

car dependability

washing machine reputation

b) Add 2–3 other features or benefits that a customer would expect from the above products. Give the reasons.

c) Make a brief list of airline expectations for its customers.

Ex. 8. Use these sales ideas to finish sentences that involve the sales sequence.

trial purchase awareness preference loyalty consumer behavior

1. First, you should research and study ... to get to know your customer base.

2. Second, you can stimulate ..., so the customer will pay attention to your product or service.

3. Next, you can offer a ... for 30 days to test the quality and performance of a product.

4. Subsequently, buyers will give ... to your products over your competitors.

5. Finally, satisfied customers will show ... to your business.