ENGLISH Reading Exercise #35 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 13 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 fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #35 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 13 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)

Do You Want People to Believe You? Be Specific!
If a friend says: “Yes, we must meet up again sometime, somewhere” you can be forgiven for doubting their sincerity! On the other hand, when a friend says, “Yes, we must meet up again. How about next Saturday at around 5 pm?” you know they genuinely would like to see you again, and soon!
What makes the difference? Specifics!

When a person makes a presentation which lacks specifics, it’s not so much their sincerity which comes under question, it’s their credibility!

When a speaker says things like: “I read the other day that in New York, at least, I think it was New York. Or was it Washington? Anyway, I read that…” can you really put confidence in the rest of the story?

People are more engaged by concrete details than vague generalities. Telling a compelling story with real characters, events, and outcomes grabs attention, helping you keep your audience’s focus.

Here then is an important ingredient towards establishing your credibility when making a presentation…
Presentations with specific facts, numbers, or stories are more memorable. Details help the audience recall the key points later because they paint a vivid mental picture.

So again, to emphasize the main point, get facts, be specific!

“But They Won’t Remember Anyway”
Did someone say, “What’s the point of sweating over details when they probably won’t remember them anyway?”
Whoever said that is missing the point.
Facts and specifics may or may not be remembered, but the very fact you stated them to back up your point indicates you have researched the material and know what you are talking about.

When referring to an event, how much better to state the day, month and year rather than, “some time ago”.
When giving a report, how much better to state the specific number, e.g. 3,192 rather than, “over three thousand.” (Depending on the context, a large number, e.g. millions, can be rounded up for effect, as noted in our previous lesson.)

Perception Counts
Carefully researched material containing specific details about events, places, times, numbers, add weight to the presentation and establish the speaker as an authority on the subject.

The perception of the speaker the audience is left with is POSITIVE.
They are far more likely to trust what you say through the rest of the presentation when you speak in specifics. Of course, a balance must be maintained. You can go overboard.

Introducing too many specifics and numbers will load the audience down making the presentation tiresome so be judicious in which facts and specifics you decide to relate.

Note: Mark Twain is quoted as humorously saying: “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” No, No!

Just remember when you use facts and specifics to make sure you get your facts right! In other words, use the facts in the way they were intended. If members of the audience know the facts, and see you are misusing them, your credibility is destroyed, once and for all!

So To Summarize…
To gain the respect and trust of your audience and establish your credibility as a speaker, use specifics in your information but be careful!

Too many generalities and you lose credibility.
Too many facts and specifics and the presentation becomes irritating and arduous.
Strike the balance and you have climbed another step towards effective speaking.

Next: Let Your Body Do The Talking – Gestures