Presentation Help
Overview
Presentation skills have become more and more important in school and in jobs. The ability to communicate information effectively to an audience cannot be neglected. Not only must presenters consider what they are saying, but also how they are saying it. Moreover, presenters must think about their audience and their visual presentation.
Presentations may present an additional challenge to multilingual writers. You might find yourself concerned by some of the following questions when tasked with making a presentation: What if my audience doesn’t understand me? What if I forget everything right before the presentation? But not to worry--the resources below will help you become more comfortable with being a presenter!
As a multilingual writer, you might doubt your language abilities from time to time. Will my audience understand me? What if they ask a question that I didn't anticipate? Boston University offers a thorough module (including activities) about how to prepare for an oral presentation if you are a multilingual learner.
Tips for Online Presentations
We've all had to become comfortable with various aspects of working, studying, and living online--including online presentations.
This resource from the University of Melbourne offers tips about how to present online and includes several signal phrases to use to guide your audience. "Virtual presentation skills are important at both university and in the workplace. This resource provides tips on presenting to the camera, including how to support your message voice and body language techniques and maximize the impact of your visuals."
You and Your Audience
Our tutors may graduate, but the work that they do for us lives on! We’d like to remind you about this great video resource from our former tutor who spoke with the director of SJSU's technical writing program about tips for preparing and delivering clear, effective presentations.
The lower level of the SJSU library has a presentation practice room where you can hone down your skills. The room is equipped a camera, television screen, and Mac with Google Drive access.
We have all experienced the pain of a bad PowerPoint presentation. And even though we promise ourselves never to make the same mistakes, we can still fall prey to common issues that make our slides ineffective. If slides aren't done well, they can detract from your presentation, so make sure you're familiar with the tips provided in this resource!
Top-10-Tips-for-Managing-Presentation-Anxiety-c-Matt-Abrahams.pdfPresentation anxiety is a common experience. As a multilingual writer, it's something you've probably experienced more than once. Fortunately, there are techniques you can use to alleviate your anxiety such as deep breathing, anticipating audience reactions, and, most importantly, practicing. This handout from the University of Pittsburgh provides more details.
The linked PDF to the left presents a list of tips by Stanford professor Matt Abrahams. It offers more ways for you to manage your presentation anxiety. (Click on the image to view the full document.)
Speaking Resources Available at SJSU
This pamphlet lists resources on the SJSU campus that can help you hone your presentation skills such as the Career Center, the Communication (COMM) Center, and the SJSU Spartan Toastmaster Club.
This pamphlet also contains curated links to multiple YouTube videos to help you with body language, gestures, and voice. The guide covers topics from looking good on the camera to building your confidence.
Speaking Resouces on Campus 2023.pdf