1.Practice, practice, practice\u2014but don\u2019t memorize.<\/strong><\/p>\n Scripting yourself is a terrible idea for any presentation, regardless of language. It doesn\u2019t make for a very compelling or natural presentation, and you might panic if you forget or veer away from your script, especially if it\u2019s in another language!<\/p>\n Instead, narrow your focus. Acquire the specific vocabulary you need to discuss your topic, but rely on what you already know to fill in the gaps. Practice speaking about your topic out loud to yourself, so you\u2019ll be prepared to improvise when all eyes are on you.<\/p>\n 2. Prepare notes.<\/b><\/p>\n Didn’t I just tell you not to script your presentation? Yes I did, but here\u2019s the loophole: prepare notes! Add speaker notes to your slides or jot down major points on a set of notecards.\u00a0Do not read directly off these notecards!<\/i>\u00a0The less you look at them, the better.<\/p>\n The placebo effect of notecards is powerful\u2014knowing you have an important statistic or difficult word in the language written down in front of you should make you less nervous that you\u2019ll forget it. And just in case you do forget it, voila, there it is.<\/p>\n <\/b>3. Practice speaking.<\/b><\/p>\n This is an obvious one, but seriously, if you\u2019re preparing to speak in front of people for an extended period, you need to be comfortable speaking in the language in general.<\/p>\n You want to be comfortable speaking about your specific topic, but also in using the language fluidly and confidently. Talk out loud to yourself in your second language as much as you can\u2014around the house, in the shower, while driving, etc. Say whatever it is you want! Rage about that guy who cut you off on the drive home, talk about what you want to do this weekend, make up a story about your neighbors who just walked by. Get comfortable pronouncing the language and speaking it fluidly. Then practice the specifics of your presentation.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0<\/b>Keep it simple.<\/b><\/p>\n When you present, you want to sound intelligent and compelling. There\u2019s nothing wrong with that. But when you present in another language, focus first on being understood and making your point.<\/p>\n Trying to sound sophisticated only works if you actually sound\u2026 sophisticated! But if you mispronounce the big words you insisted upon using and mumble through those prolific examples you just had to include, you\u2019re actually hurting your cause. Keep it simple and within the reach of your current language skills. Impress people with your message itself, not the way you phrase the message. Besides, giving a presentation in your second language is impressive enough as it is.<\/p>\n 5. Don\u2019t apologize.<\/b><\/p>\n Do\u00a0not<\/i>\u00a0start off by apologizing for your language skills (or lack thereof). Instead of making that excuse for yourself, be aware of your shortcomings and address them without drawing attention to them.<\/p>\n If you have a thick accent when speaking in your second language, speak slower than you normally would so your audience can understand you. If you mispronounce a word, don\u2019t get flustered or laugh it off\u2014say it again once or twice so your listeners can catch on. Writing off your mistakes to the fact that \u201cthis is your second language\u201d won\u2019t challenge you to get better and do it right.<\/p>\n 6. Be culturally appropriate.<\/b><\/p>\n This isn\u2019t related to the language, but it\u2019s just as important as the advice above. Unless it\u2019s a class assignment, chances are you\u2019re giving your presentation in another language because you\u2019re abroad. \u00a0If that\u2019s the case, research the culture of your audience.<\/p>\n Be aware of hand gestures or facial expressions that are potentially offensive. Figure out if humor is well-received, or if you should show your personality in another way. Speak to colleagues or native speakers who are aware of the culture\u2014and while you\u2019re at it, practice giving your presentation to them!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Speaking in a foreign language can be a challenge in and of itself\u2014giving a presentation in a foreign language makes that challenge even more\u2026. well, challenging. Whether you\u2019re presenting to your classmates, your co-workers, or your community, you\u2019ll want to practice a little harder than normal. These tips will help you perfect your presentation, leaving…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2016\/03\/microphone-350x234.jpg\")