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Here are some tips for ESL learners on how to give a great presentation in English. (In fact, many of these tips will help you give a great presentation in any language!)
Getting up in front of a group, or even a crowd, of people is hard for most people. Having to do this while also speaking a language that is not your native language adds an extra layer of difficulty. To help you prepare for the next presentation you have to give in English I have gathered together some great tips. This advice is helpful whether your next presentation will be to your English classmates or to a client at a business meeting.
If you have any tips to add to this list, please write them in the comments section below.
Presenting in English
Do your research.
Make sure you know the topic you are going to talk about well. This way if you lose track of what to say or if someone asks you an odd question you won’t feel lost or get too nervous.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
It is very important to practice what you are going to do and say before you present in front of others. Practicing in front of a mirror is good, but practicing in front of a friend or two is even better. In English we call this ‘a dry run’ when you practice as though you are doing the actual presentation.
Practice pronunciation.
There are always going to be a few words that you have more trouble with than others in a foreign language. Focus on these troublesome words specifically before your presentation. Practice saying them often. If you still are having trouble with them after a few days of practice, try to find synonyms you can use that are easier for you to say.
Write notes. Use key words.
Don’t write out your whole presentation – you don’t want to read to people – you want to talk to them. Write yourself notes (short sentences or key words) and practice using these notes. Using key words in your notes is a good way to help you remember your main points.
Be aware of your body language.
Body language says a lot; are you confident, nervous, shy, etc? Remember body language is different in different cultures too. In the English-speaking world it is important to project authority and confidence when presenting.
Keep focused.
Make sure your presentation is focused on the topic you are presenting on. You don’t want to ramble, present too much or too little information. It is better to have a short concise presentation than a long meandering one.
Make things interesting.
Making your presentation into a story, or sharing a story, joke, or antidote is often a good idea. You want to keep your presentation interesting so your audience listens. Asking the audience questions and encouraging them to ask you questions can also help keep things interesting.
Use visual aids to aid not distract.
People love to include pictures, PowerPoint slides, and videos in their presentations, but these aren’t always effective. Only use visual aids if they are really needed and effective. Don’t try to use them just so you can talk less.
Slow down.
Most people talk faster when they are nervous. Talking too fast makes it harder for other people to understand you, especially if you are speaking English as a second language. Remember to slow down, take breaths, and annunciate (or speak clearly).
If you want read more about how to give a great presentation, here is an article that I recommend:
https://hbr.org/2013/06/how-to-give-a-killer-presentation
