ENGLISH Reading Exercise #30 (Intermediate) Presentation Skills 8 of 28

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too slow, go to the Advanced version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #30 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 8 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

6 Advice Notes For Powerful Presentations

1) Get Attention
For maximum effect and to ensure you have the attention of your audience, when you stand up to speak,
take just one or two seconds to look around your audience,
Make sure your facial expression is relaxed – SMILE!

Then your first words will fall on an audience anticipating something, rather than on an audience that gradually stops what it’s doing as it becomes aware of the fact you have started speaking.

2) Five Introductions
Here are five introduction ideas:

i. Relate a human interest story
Human interest stories use facts and emotional language to tell stories of people which engender a feeling of empathy or sympathy from the audience.

ii. Use an illustration or anecdote
Use an imaginary scene or a short, amusing or interesting story about an event or person.

iii. Use a visual aid
Have an object with you which you then use to explain the theme of your presentation.

iv. Ask a question
This is an effective way to lead into a subject as it immediately hooks the interest of an audience.

v. Use a striking quotation
Start with shocking or surprising facts (be sure they are credible and from a trusted authority).

3) Use Similes And Metaphors
Enrich your presentation by using similes and metaphors. By just comparing two things, the subject under discussion with something that has one or more factors in common, will help you audience grasp the meaning. Metaphors go even further by speaking as though one thing actually was another. e.g. “All the world’s a stage.”

4) Illustrations
When thinking of illustrations or examples to include in your material, try and draw from subjects that are familiar to your audience.

If you are making a presentation before work colleagues for example, try and think of an illustration from your workplace or to do with the industry you are associated with.

Likewise, before larger audiences, illustrations relating to the town or city, or history of the area in which you are speaking will find fascinated listeners.

They will immediately feel a rapport with you as you obviously have taken a personal interest in them and their background.

5) Tone And Pitch
Vary the tone and pitch of your voice and you will be interesting to listen to.
A musical instrument playing one note soon becomes an irritation. A speaker with a monotone voice can have the same effect. So learn to:

Express excitement or enthusiasm with a higher pitch.
Raise the pitch of your voice at the end of a question.
When you want to appeal to the sympathy and understanding of your audience use a lower, softer tone.
The human voice has an amazing range. Learn to explore the highs and lows of your own voice in daily conversation and then employ this range when you speak before an audience.

6) Microphone Use
If you move your head remember to stop speaking until your mouth is directly in front of the microphone again. And of course, avoid sneezing or coughing into the microphone. Remember to turn your head.
Additionally, when using a microphone, make sure it is positioned about 4 to 6 inches from your mouth to avoid voice distortion.

Mastering public speaking takes time, and much practice. Keeping the above six advice notes in mind will do much to aid your progress.

Next: Suggestions for the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion