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Paul Sparks, Online Business English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas for Grade 2 English Conversation Lessons at Xiangtan Normal University...

PRESENTATIONS:

Check for grammar and spelling errors
When using slides or any computerised presentation make sure that your presentation is free of any spelling or grammatical errors. Let someone proof read your work. You don't want to be embarrassed by spelling errors during your presentation.

Practice your presentation
Practice your presentation by yourself or with a friend. Make sure you keep within the time frame allowed for the presentation. The more you practice it before the time, the more confident you will feel when you give the presentation.

Have a plan B
Remember when you make use of slide shows, you are using technology. We all know that technology is not always to be trusted. Have a Plan B ready. For example, have a paper copy of your presentation and transparencies available for emergencies.

Test your Presentation
Allow time before you start your presentation to test the equipment you are going to use. Familiarise yourself with the set-up so that you can focus on your presentation and not on where the next button is. Check the clarity of the content and the colours again, and make changes if necessary.

Introduce yourself
Always introduce yourself and your topic, and briefly explain the process that you are going to follow with your presentation.

Be professional
Your appearance (dress and grooming), the quality of your handouts and your visual presentation, etc., are very important.

Timing
Start promptly and keep within your time frame. Remember to leave enough time for questions afterwards.

Be enthusiastic
Be enthusiastic about your presentation and remember to smile - this will help to relieve some of the stress.

Make eye contact
Remember to make eye contact with your audience. Never read your presentation - this is boring and you will lose the attention of your audience.

Speaking
Speak as loudly and clearly as you can to make sure that all the members in your audience can hear your presentation. There is no point in giving a presentation if most of the audience has trouble hearing you. If you struggle to speak louder, make use of a microphone system. Don't speak too rapidly.

Thank you
At the end of your presentation, thank your audience for their time.

It is important to keep the following in mind when you design transparencies or slides for your presentation:

Keep it short and simple
Your slide show or transparencies should include only important and relevant key words to remind you of what you want to talk about. Limit the amount of information per slide. You will lose your audience if there is too much information on the slides. Rather have more detailed hand-outs available for your audience.

Use correct Font and Size
Use a font and font size that will be easy to read. An example of an easy to read font is "Arial". Make sure your font size is big enough so your audience will be able to read the information that you are presenting. The normal typing font size "12" is too small for slides and transparencies. It should at least be "18" points or larger. Do not make use of too many different font types - keep it simple and clear.

Colour combinations
When you make use of colour, be aware of the colours that you are using. Certain colours, like certain yellows, etc., are difficult to see. The text and the background colours you use should complement each other. Make sure your foreground colour (text) is clear and soft on the eyes when combined with the background colour. 

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