English Unlimited HAK/HUM 3, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM (mit Handelskorrespondenz)

169 Business communication 11 LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPLORE LOOK AGAIN EXTRAS What it is: A presentation is a short talk in which you present a specific topic to a specific audience. The aim of such a talk is mainly to inform your listeners about your topic, but you can also try to appeal to them or move them to action. Whatever your aim is, start by collecting information and ideas and organise your material. Presentations are not a good format for transferring a lot of information and should never be too long or confusing. Structure your presentation into three parts: introduction, main part and conclusion. Start off with an effective beginning which arouses interest and leads into the subject. Within the main body of your presentation, divide your message into three points and expand on them. Your conclusion should summarise the main points of your presentation. You can also finish by giving evidence that what you have just said is true. You can do so by showing statistics, pictures or by referring to media reports. Language: First of all, you must always bear in mind that a presentation is spoken, so you should never present complex written information without first turning it into spoken English. Make sure that the language you use is appropriate for your audience and can be processed easily. Use words that are easy to understand and speak in simple terms. Keep sentences short to make sure that your listeners can follow your talk. In contrast to written texts it is perfectly acceptable to repeat things. Layout of visual aids: Use visual aids such as PowerPoint, overhead transparencies, pictures and posters to illustrate your key points. When using presentation slides, do not put more than three bullet points on each slide and never write full sentences or long texts. Make sure that slides and posters can be read from the back of the room. Last but not least, check that your texts do not contain any spelling mistakes. What it is: A handout is something your audience takes away from your presentation to review later. Tell them that there is a handout, so they need not copy down all the information on your slides. Do not give it to them, however, as your audience might be distracted and focus on the handout in front of them rather than your presentation. It may be better to distribute handouts at the end of your talk. Your handout should contain the main points of your talk and should not be longer than one page. It should include graphics, references and links to further reading material rather than just the text of your slides. If relevant, add your contact details – usually, your email address. Language: If you have to use technical terms or names with unusual spellings in your presentation, make sure they are on your handout. Layout: Give your handout the same title as your presentation and keep to the same structure. If you want your audience to take notes during your presentation, leave some space between your main points. In this case you will need to distribute your handout before you start talking. How to prepare and give a presentation How to write a handout TIP: Record your presentation and listen to it before you have to give it. This gives you the chance to experience it from your audience’s point of view. See also Presenting products and services , p. 90. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv