Language of Presentations
Language of Presentations
Language of Presentations
This handout is about the words and expressions that we use when
making presentations in English.
Do not use jargon, unless you are certain that your audience understands
it.
Use active verbs instead of passive verbs. Active verbs are much easier
to understand. They are much more powerful. Consider these two
sentences, which say the same thing:
During your introduction, you should tell your audience what the structure
of your presentation will be. You might say something like this:
Introductio Welcome
n Explanation of structure (now)
Body Europe
Asia
Africa
Conclusion Summing up
Recommendations
He will keep this image in his head during the presentation. He may even
write it down. And throughout your presentation, you will put up signposts
telling him which point you have reached and where you are going now.
When you finish Europe and want to start Asia, you might say:
Function Language
Ordering Firstly...secondly...thirdly...lastly...
First of all...then...next...after
that...finally...
To start with...later...to finish up...
1 INTRODUCTIO
N
(Questions)
2 BODY
3 CONCLUSION
Questions
In other words, use the three parts of your presentation to reinforce your
message. In the introduction, you tell your audience what your message
is going to be. In the body, you tell your audience your real message. In
the conclusion, you summarize what your message was.
Body
The body is the 'real' presentation. If the introduction was well prepared
and delivered, you will now be 'in control'. You will be relaxed and
confident.
do not hurry
be enthusiastic
give time on visuals
maintain eye contact
modulate your voice
look friendly
keep to your structure
use your notes
signpost throughout
remain polite when dealing with difficult questions
Conclusion
Use the conclusion to:
1. Sum up
2. (Give recommendations if appropriate)
3. Thank your audience
4. Invite questions
1 To conclude,...
Summing up In conclusion,...
Now, to sum up...
So let me summarise/recap what I've
said.
Finally, may I remind you of some of the
main points we've considered.
2 In conclusion, my recommendations
Giving are...
recommendations
I therefore suggest/propose/recommend
the following strategy.