How to make good oral presentations

Hints and pointers on how to give oral
presentations


PLANNING - 1
Preparation is crucial

 WHY?

Ask yourself:

-

to give information?
to persuade (övertyga)?
to present an argument?

 WHOM FOR?
-

who are the audience?
what do they already
know?
what do they need to
know?
what would they find
interesting?


PLANNING - 2
 HOW LONG?

- how much talk?
- how much time for visual aids
-how much time for questions?

 WHAT SOURCES?
-

written sources
interviews
study visits
visual material


Planning - 3
 IT IS ESSENTIAL TO USE A VARIETY

OF SOURCE MATERIALS!
 Once finished, it’s time for the next

step:

the PREPARATION


PREPARATION - 1
This is an ORAL PRESENTATION: TALK don’t
read.
Work from NOTES – possibly written on cards
Use your OWN LANGUAGE as much as possible.

PREPARATION - 2
Visual Aids
Can offer a variety of benefits:
something to talk to
serve as an eye catcher;
 reminder of what you’ve said
 simplify complex information e.g. statistics


PREPARATION - 3
Remember:
 keep your visual aids simple
 limit the ideas presented on each one
 LARGE LETTERS (bokstäver)
 key expressions
 use COLOR to add to the appearance
 check grammar and spelling!!!!!


PREPARATION - 4
Make an outline of the
presentation:
 What will be mentioned in the introduction (a)?
 What will be in the main part – development (b)

– of the presentation?
 What will be in the conclusion (c)?

PREPARATION - 5
a) INTRODUCTION





yourself
your subject
your purpose (syfte)
the order of your presentation

An effective introduction should be brief (kortfattad) and to the point
(koncis).
You might start with one of the following:






a surprising or unusual fact
a personal story
and interesting example
a quotation (citat) from an authority or expert
impressive or significant statistics.


PREPARATION - 6
b) DEVELOPMENT

 This is the main part of your presentation so it is important that it is clear.

Remember the audience is only listening so:

 do not give too much information too quickly
 space out the main points
 establish a logical order of points.
 c) CONCLUSION
This section should not contain any new information. It should:
 refer back to the purpose of the presentation as stated in the introduction
 summarize (sammanfatta) the main points and state your main conclusions
 ask if there are any questions


REHEARSAL
It is essential that you rehearse (repeterar, tränar) your
presentation. You should:
- if a group presentation, decide who is doing what
-check your timing – it must be right!!
- become familiar with your visual aids - Practise
- check that visual aids can be clearly seen at the back of the

room
- check your pronunciation (uttal), spelling, grammar and
intonation – especially the third person “s”!!!


DELIVERY - 1
a) Physical

CLOTHES can be important – it is part of the message
you are giving to the audience.
STANCE – do not look as if you are bored or
uncomfortable. Use gestures.
Maintain contact with your audience. Smile
occasionally (då och då).
Look reasonably confident and enthusiastic credibility


DELIVERY - 2
b) Voice:

Are you audible? (Hörs du?)
Are you speaking too fast?
Are you mumbling?
Are you talking to a visual aid instead of the
audience?
 Is your voice monotonous?
 Do you have the right intonation?





Do not sigh! (Sucka inte)


DELIVERY - 3
c) Using Visual Aids
Only when they are

appropriate – not just
because they are
pretty/funny etc.

Give your audience time to
look at them before talking
about them.

Remember not to stand in
front of them.

Use a pointer to direct the
audience’s attention to
them.
Switch off machines (OHP,
projector, VCR etc.) when
they are not being used.


SOME GENERAL ADVICE!
Make sure the furniture in the room – chairs, desks etc. – are
arranged according to your desire.
Think about whether you are going to deliver standing up or…
Where are you going to stand? Can everyone in the room see
you?


OVERCOMING NERVOUSNESS - 1
Nervousness is natural
Think of controlling your nerves

Breathe deeply
If your hands shake – do not hold anything,

make gestures.


OVERCOMING NERVOUSNESS - 2
If your knees knock – stand behind

something.
You know what to say – not the audience.
Learn from your mistakes and do better next
time.
When in doubt - SMILE


SOME USEFUL PHRASES
First of all

as you (may) know

May I begin by

in other words

I would like to start by

draw your attention to

to point out / as far as

this indicates

as you can see on this…

in other words

on the contrary

on the other hand

on the whole

in this particular/specific case

to sum up / finally

in conclusion