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Presentations All your ever wanted to know about presentations and never dared ask . . . Five easy pieces: 5 wh-questions, then 5 do's and don'ts. What is a presentation? A presentation is a short, original, and spontaneous talk prepared by students for their classmates in a speaking class with the aim of stimulating discussion. Who is involved? All regular students (étudiants assidus) prepare presentations to give in class, both English majors (LCE) and students in applied languages (LEA). Why prepare a presentation? For the student: it provides an opportunity to speak uninterrupted in front of an audience for an extended period (generally five to ten minutes). It provides a stimulus for outside listening and speaking work, particularly if the source of the talk is audio (e.g., film, radio) and if students practice beforehand (highly recommended!). For the teacher: it provides a framework for class activities and insights into students’ interests and abilities. By having students choose topics and activities, we hope to make our classes more relevant to their needs and more conducive to active participation! It also allows for more accurate evaluation of students’ abilities, since it frees teachers from their responsibility to ‘keep things going’ and gives students the chance to shine on topics where they are expert and motivated. How should I go about preparing a presentation? Consult the specific presentation requirements under programme descriptions for each class. Remember that your presentation can only be as interesting/useful/challenging as you make them; use a little imagination in your choice of topic and the way you present it. When your presentation is ready, make sure you practice it before you come to class. Practicing means actually giving your talk aloud, either on your own, with a friend, or into a microphone to make a recording. This allows you to adjust your presentation for length and to anticipate other problems, such as vocabulary gaps. When will my presentation be evaluated? During the semester, students give their presentations in speaking classes; sometimes these are recorded for playback by students and teachers after class. Teachers always give oral feedback, either in class or afterwards, and may also provide written comments. You will not receive a written grade until the end of the semester, however, since your class grade is also based on other factors such as general oral proficiency, participation and attendance (see speaking evaluation). Do’s
and don’ts for presentations
DO 1. Choose a topic that motivates you, rather than something that you think is suitably academic or, conversely, easy to handle. 2. Find an interesting angle for your talk: try to convey what makes the topic interesting to you personally, rather than giving an exhaustive exposé of the whole field. 3. Practice your talk: out loud, at home, with a friend, into a microphone, whatever. Time yourself and make adjustments if your talk is too short or too long. Ask your friend to judge whether you are speaking too softly or too loudly. This part is more important than the research process. 4. Find an interesting way of introducing your topic, preferably involving your audience (e.g., a quick question to be answered by a show of hands: ‘How many of you like Sex and the City?'). Close your talk with a short follow-up activity, again involving your classmates. 5. Make sure you are ready on the day of your presentation. Simple respect for your teacher and classmates means being present and prepared for your talk as scheduled. DON’T 1. Don’t write out your presentation. It is harder to read well than speak well, so take only brief notes, and make sure you make eye contact with your audience. 2. Don’t provide an encyclopedic overview of your topic; your audience will be less interested in exact historical detail than in your interpretation of events. 3. Don’t learn passages by heart to recite in class or the exam: this is not your spontaneous spoken English and we will interrupt you. 4. Don’t talk for too long. Everyone is more favourably impressed by a speaker who is short and to the point, and then leads an interesting follow-up activity! 5. Don’t miss your presentation slot! Remember the teacher and your classmates are counting on your contribution to make the class work. Advice for presentations from elsewhere http://www.livhope.ac.uk/gnu/stuhelp/pres.htm
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