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Three Methods to Improve Your Presentations

时间:2017-03-29 23:15来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

 

Giving a presentation can be a scary task. It can be even more worrisome when the presentation is not in your native language. You may forget the English words for what you want to say. Or, like a lot of people, you may get nervous.

But, the good news is there are many tools you can use. Learning1 these tools can help you become a confident and effective presenter2 – even in English!

Anna Uhl Chamot, a retired3 professor at George Washington University, developed a way of teaching4 language learners. Called CALLA, the method explains how to use learning strategies5 to understand academic language and content. Learning strategies are thoughts and actions that help people learn better, or perform tasks effectively.

CALLA stands for Cognitive6 Academic Language Learning Approach. Think of these strategies as tools that will make presentations easier and more enjoyable – for the presenter and the audience.

Many of the CALLA strategies are useful for giving a presentation in your second language. But Chamot says three are especially useful: Planning, Monitoring and Self-Evaluation7.

Let’s start with planning.

Learning Strategy8 #1: Planning

Planning involves everything you do to prepare and practice before giving your presentation.

This includes deciding what your main ideas are and making notes of the points you want to make. Chamot emphasizes9 that having a good understanding of your subject is very important. This understanding makes it possible to talk about your topic fluidly10 and confidently during your presentation.

After deciding on main ideas and notes, some people even like to write out every word they’re going to say.

“I know a lot of learners, and I mean not just learners of English but people in general, even native speakers, feel that they want to write out everything they’re going to say. This gives them some comfort.”

If you do this, Chamot says, once you are satisfied with the wording, then it’s time to reduce those words to very, very short notes.

During the planning period, you will also prepare your visuals, such as on PowerPoint, Prezi or some other program.

Chamot recommends that each visual only have a few bullets12 of your points and very few words on it.

Or, even better is if you have only images or easy-to-see graphics13 and no words. For example, if you are giving a presentation about things to do during summer in Washington, D.C., your visual might be an image of something exciting that takes place in that season:

That next step of planning is practice. Chamot says practicing is the most important step because it will help remind you of the points that the short phrases on your visuals represent.

Practice saying what you want to say about each visual. The more you verbalize everything you want to say, the easier it will be to talk comfortably about the points.

Practicing will also help you avoid doing two things: reading from your notes or memorizing any part of your presentation.

When you practice, do so in front of another person, or a few people. Even your electronics14 can help you, Chamot says.

“Use a friend or a family member as your audience or/and practice in front of a mirror, looking at yourself, and turn on your smart phone and record yourself. Then you can listen to what you really sound like.”

And, as you practice, visualize15 being in front of the real audience.

“Imagine in your head the audience, see all those faces and expressions and imagine that they’re there right in front of you.”

Chamot also recommends a tactic16 that can quickly get any audience interested and helps to decrease the nervous feeling: ask your audience a question.

For example, if your topic is summer activities in Washington, D.C., you might ask a question like, “How many of you have ever gone to an outdoor concert in Washington, D.C.?”

Asking a question also makes a presentation more like a two-way conversation and less like a lecture.

When you spend time preparing and practicing, you gain confidence and comfort and will feel less worry on presentation day.

Learning Strategy #2: Monitoring

The next strategy is monitoring. Monitoring is watching, listening to, or checking something for a special purpose over a period of time.

You should monitor yourself at two different points: during your practice sessions18 and during the actual presentation.

During Practice:

To monitor during practice, Chamot says make a list of questions to ask yourself.

“Some examples are: ‘Did I state my topic and objectives19 at the beginning?’ ‘Did I provide some examples and details for each main idea?’ ‘Did I restate the topic and conclusions at the end?’”

A big part of developing comfort in front of a group, she says, comes from the effort you put into practicing. If you practice enough, you will not need to monitor much during the actual presentation.

During the Presentation:

When you’re in front of the real audience, monitoring can help you quickly observe issues and find solutions.

“One of the most important things to monitor is: ‘Am I nervous?’ ‘What can I do about it?’ One of the things about monitoring is that, when you’re monitoring your performance, you notice problems and it allows you an opportunity to try to solve those problems.”

Chamot says, if you realize you’re feeling nervous, a good learning strategy to use is Self-Talk: mentally telling yourself you are going to do well.

“Like, ‘I really worked hard on this. I know my PowerPoint looks good. I’m going to take a deep breath. And I have practiced so much. I know I can do this.’”

And, if you forget English words during your presentation, you can use the strategy called Substitution: choosing different words to say what you want to say.

Other questions to keep in mind while you’re giving your presentation are: “Am I speaking too fast or too slow?” “Am I looking at my audience?” “Am I smiling from time to time?”

Learning Strategy #3: Self-Evaluation

That brings us to Self-Evaluation, our third learning strategy.

In Self-Evaluation, you examine how well you did. The main difference between monitoring and self-evaluation is when it happens. Self-evaluation takes place after each practice session17 and after your actual presentation.

Chamot suggests making a list of questions for these two evaluation periods. For after your practice sessions, include questions such as: “Did I look at the audience enough?” “How much more do I need to practice?” and “How well did I do?”

And, for after the actual presentation, ask yourself, “What did I do well?” and “What do I need to improve?”

The CALLA method says understanding what strategies work well for you is important. That is especially true when you evaluate a time you did something well. Those strategies that helped you do well are the ones you want to use again.

Giving a presentation in your second language can indeed be frightening. But, if you have a strong understanding of your subject and use these helpful tools, it will become easier and easier to speak in public!

Words in This Story

task - n. a piece of work that has been given to someone; a job for someone to do

retired - adj. not working anymore; having ended your working or professional career

bullet11 - n. a large dot in a document, book, etc., that brings attention to separate pieces of information in a list

phrase - n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence

verbalize - v. to express something in words

evaluate - v. to judge the value or condition of someone or something in a careful and thoughtful way


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
2 presenter llRzYi     
n.(电视、广播的)主持人,赠与者
参考例句:
  • Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
  • The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。
3 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
4 teaching ngEziT     
n.教学,执教,任教,讲授;(复数)教诲
参考例句:
  • We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
  • He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。
5 strategies cffbc1eff1ec962c6fe0afc3f56145c7     
n.策略( strategy的名词复数 );战略;战略学;对策
参考例句:
  • Several steps and strategies have been developed to minimize these risks. 有关人士发展了若干措施和方法以减少这些风险。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
  • Different threats require different strategies. 对付不同的威胁需要不同的策略。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
6 cognitive Uqwz0     
adj.认知的,认识的,有感知的
参考例句:
  • As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大,他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
  • The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。
7 evaluation onFxd     
n.估价,评价;赋值
参考例句:
  • I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
  • The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。
8 strategy ctOwn     
n.方法,策略,战略
参考例句:
  • The only way to take the enemy position is by strategy,not by forceful attack.只可智取,不可强攻。
  • Tactics differs from strategy.战术有别于战略。
9 emphasizes a5ffa689d9ab12662d089c915d991a66     
强调( emphasize的第三人称单数 ); 加强语气; 重读; 使突出
参考例句:
  • Marx concentrates on the alienation of labour and emphasizes the invidious aspects. 马克思集中论述了劳动的异化,强调它令人厌恶的方面。
  • What he emphasizes most is that we must walk the mass line. 他最强调的是我们必须走群众路线。
10 fluidly 8aa16bea9ccdcd936e8010eabe57979d     
液体,流体
参考例句:
  • You can add the fluid to the powder, or, conversely, the powder to the fluid. 可把液体加入粉末,或者相反,把粉末加入液体。
  • The plant exudes a sticky fluid. 这种植物分泌出一种黏液。
11 bullet GSUyA     
n.枪弹,子弹
参考例句:
  • The bullet wound in his shoulder was opened up for treatment.切开他肩上的枪伤进行治疗。
  • The bullet missed me by a hair's s breadth.那颗子弹差一点就打中了我。
12 bullets lxFzBH     
n.弹药;军火
参考例句:
  • The bodies of the hostages were found riddled with bullets. 在人质的尸体上发现了很多弹孔。
  • The bullets and cannon-balls were flying in all directions. 子弹和炮弹到处乱飞。
13 graphics CrxzuL     
n.制图法,制图学;图形显示
参考例句:
  • You've leveraged your graphics experience into the video area.你们把图形设计业务的经验运用到录像业务中去。
  • Improved graphics took computer games into a new era.经改进的制图技术将电脑游戏带进了一个新时代。
14 electronics 5q0xB     
n.电子器件,电子学,电子技术
参考例句:
  • About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
  • He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。
15 visualize yeJzsZ     
vt.使看得见,使具体化,想象,设想
参考例句:
  • I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人,但他的样子我想不起来了。
  • She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。
16 tactic Yqowc     
n.战略,策略;adj.战术的,有策略的
参考例句:
  • Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
  • She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。
17 session Kz1wC     
n.会议,开庭期,市盘,学期;adj.短期的
参考例句:
  • This matter will go over until the next session.这件事将留待下次会议讨论。
  • Congress is now in session.国会现在正在开会。
18 sessions 161bca2e917335e125291a00fd76a80f     
n.(尤指法庭、议会等)开庭( session的名词复数 );(自发或俱乐部的)聚会;会期;(进行某活动连续的)一段时间
参考例句:
  • A few sessions talking to a counsellor should straighten him out. 跟辅道员谈几次就会使他改正过来的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The sessions will enable you to discuss problems with fellow asthma sufferers. 这些环节让你和其他哮喘病患者一起讨论问题。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 objectives 861802a819f42ceaafcbf9a7c7fab2c7     
n.目标( objective的名词复数 );[光学](望远镜、显微镜、照相机及其他光学仪器上的)物镜;[语法学]1)。 宾语 2)。 宾格;[军事]出击目标
参考例句:
  • Our objectives need to be precisely delineated. 我们的目标需详细解释清楚。
  • Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives. 要实现我们的目标,钱是至关重要的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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