Making a presentation

Many students find giving a presentation stressful. But good preparation is half the battle and takes away a lot of the stress!

Action Plan for making a presentation

1. Choose an interesting topic. You might have a choice of several topics provided by your lecturer, or you may be free to choose for yourself. An interesting topic will make it easier to be enthusiastic about your presentation!
2. Define you topic, be specific and to the point, or you’ll lose your audience’s attention.
3. Collect information on the topic.
4. Make an outline of your presentation. A mind-map could help with this. 
5. If your prefer, write the text out in full. A presentation consists of an introduction, a main section (the actual information) and an ending. Separate the main topics from the minor points, to make it easier for the audience to follow you. Repeat the most important information several times in different words, and give examples. This will clarify your message and make it easier for listeners to remember the main points. You can also use visual images to support your presentation. At the end of your presentation, summarize your message briefly and clearly.
6. Choose your tools; use PowerPoint or a similar program.
7. Practice! Your posture and body language determine a large part of the effect of your presentation on the audience. Practise your presentation at home, in front of a mirror. Pay attention to your facial expression and to your hands, for example.
8. Check your material: be at the location in good time and make sure that your PowerPoint works, whether the beamer works, where the flip-over is. Technical problems will disrupt your presentation and make you unnecessarily stressed.

Ten tips for presentations

Do	Don’t
1. Start preparing your presentation in good time.	1. Put off preparing until the last minute.
2. Write down the main points of the presentation.	2. Come up with a story without a clear structure or plan.
3. Make a clear and interesting PowerPoint presentation as a basis.	3. Pack your PowerPoint with information.
4. Stand up, you will be more convincing that way.	4. Keep your hands in your pockets.
5. Have an open posture.	5. Fidget or move your hands around too much.
6. Find an original opening statement.	6. Read the whole presentation from your notes.
7. Make eye contact with the audience.	7. Stare at your notes or at one particular point in the room.
8. Provide examples to clarify abstract/theoretical information.	8. Just rattle off facts.
9. End with a catchy final sentence.	9. Rush through your story.
10. Take the time to answer questions.	10. Doubt your knowledge on your chosen subject.

English as a Global Language: What are 'Kachru's Three Circles of English'?

Braj Kachru was a Professor of Linguistics who coined the term 'World English'. 

'World English' refers to the fact that the English language has been used as a global means of communication in numerous dialects worldwide. It also refers to the movement towards an 'international standard' of the English language. 

Kachru constructed a model of the different uses of English around the world. This model is comprised of three concentric circles, which he labelled: the inner circle, the outer circle and the expanding circle. 

1) The inner circle 

The inner circle is comprised of those countries who are considered the 'traditional bases' of English, such as the U.K., U.S.A, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and anglophone Canada. English in these countries are classed as a 'first' language. Kachru labels the inner circle countries as 'norm-providing' - the norms of the English language are produced there.

2) The outer circle 

The outer circle is comprised of countries where English is not spoken natively but is still maintained as an important language for communication (e.g. as an official 'second' language or as the nation's official language for business and commerce) largely due to historical reasons. These countries include: India, Nigeria, the Phillippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Tanzania, Kenya, non-anglophone South Africa and Canada. Kachru labels these countries as 'norm-developing' - the norms prodcued by the inner circle are further developed and reproduced in the outer circle.

3) The expanding circle 

The expanding circle includes much of the rest of the world's population -  countries that do not hold historical or governmental importance towards English, but class it as a foreign language or lingua franca. Main examples of such countries include: most of Europe, China, Russia, Japan, Korea, Egypt and Indonesia. These countries are 'norm-dependent' - they fully depend on the norms originally produced by the native speakers of the inner circle. They generally do not develop or reproduce 'Englishes'.