Presentations:
Make it memorable
Präsentationen sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil des Geschäftsalltags. Doch nicht immer ist es leicht, sie auf Englisch zu halten. Damit Sie Ihre Fähigkeiten auf diesem Gebiet testen können, haben wir die fogenden Übungen für Sie zusammengestellt.
1. Practise more (7 points)
Ben practises with a coach. In the feedback below, the words in bold are not where they should be. Put them where they belong.
A. Keep eye contact with the prompts
.
B. Don’t look at the aids .
C. Learn your introduction by audience
.
D. Write some bullet on small
cards.
E. Make the visual screen
simpler.
F. Grab the audience’s heart
with a personal story.
G. Reduce the number of attention
points on each slide — or choose just one dramatic image, one impressive number or one inspiring quote on each slide instead. Less is more!
2. Pack your tools (9 points)
Complete these technology tips from Ben’s colleagues with the missing nouns. We’ve given you the first three letters.
3. Introduce yourself (6 points)
Ben has planned two kinds of presentations: one formal talk for management, and an informal one for people who know him already. Match the more formal options (A–F) to the informal ones with a similar meaning (1–6).
A. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
B. It’s a pleasure to welcome you all here today. C. I appreciate you taking the time to attend my
presentation.
D. Let me start by introducing myself.
My name is Ben Fischer.
E. I’m the new HR manager at the
UK headquarters.
F. The topic of my presentation today is our
new policy.
1. I’m responsible for HR and I’m based in
the UK.
2. Thanks for joining me today.
3. Hi, everyone.
4. I’m here today to give you a policy update. 5. As I believe you already know, I’m Ben.
Ben Fischer.
6. It’s great to see you all again today.
4. Engage with everyone (5 points)
Rearrange the words to form questions and statements for Ben’s presentation.
A. you / right / rather / be / now / would / where
? Not here, right? On a beach? Up a mountain? Down a cave? With your family? We all have a dream destination. Looking at the rain outside, I’d be quite happy on a Greek island today!
5. Structure it well (9 points)
Complete the text with the verbs from the box.
give show | interrupt | spend | take | look | move | outline | say |
The (A) purpose you of what my an presentation incredible difference is to a change in the company holiday policy can make. I’ve divided my presentation into three parts.
First of all, I’ll give you a short history of our previous holiday policy, before I (B) on to the specifics of the new programme.
Secondly, I’ll (C) at the teams where we have introduced the system already. I’ll also (D) you an overview of the feedback we’ve had — from managers and employees. We’ll (E) about five minutes on this section.
Finally, I’ll (F) a few words about our legal obligations and will (G) the reasons why this policy is perfect across the company — in every single location.
The presentation shouldn’t (H) more than 15 minutes. At the end, there will be time for your questions, but feel free to (I) me at any time if you have a question. In total, we have 30 minutes, so let’s get started!
6. Maximize and emphasize (6 points)
Ben uses a number of techniques to make his message memorable. Unscramble the letters to create the missing words.
A. Use threes:
Since introducing this system, our employees are ucmh more motivated, eenv more engaged and rfa more focused. They are happier, healthier and more productive.
B. Use intensifiers:
We sgotrnly recommend that you introduce the new policy. While we yflul appreciate that it will take time, we eholystn believe it will increase productivity and improve our company culture.
C. Emphasize The ianm your arguments: thing is that this system works. What’s peaesillcy important is its simplicity. This system in tiplarrcau doesn’t need any special training to implement or use.
D. Add arguments and examples:
So, veabo all, this policy shows that we trust our employees. In tiondiad , it helps team members to trust each other. They discuss openly when everyone needs to be in the office — for itnsncae when there is an important deadline.
E. Use visuals:
Can I wdra your attention to the next slide? As this graph clearly whoss , most people still take no more than 30 days’ holiday a year. You’ll ctieno that fewer employees have been off sick since we introduced the system. Now, that’s amazing.
F. Focus on contrasts:
On the one nhda , teams are often nervous about introducing this system. On the hoter hand, they are also excited. You might worry that your team won’t be motivated to work. On the tryarcon , we have found that teams work better together. In return for our flexibility, they are more engaged.
7. Be prepared (8 points)
Ben uses certain phrases throughout his talk to organize and keep control of his presentation and the people in the room — right till the end. Complete his favourite phrases with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.
A. (move) on to our legal obligations now, I’ll start with a few important facts.
B. Let’s (turn) now to the feedback from our managers.
C. (go) back for a moment to the results on our graph, I’d like to focus on the significance of one number: 30.
D. Would you mind (repeat) the
question?
E. Can I (come) back to that at
the end?
F. Before (talk) you through the
results, I’d like to ask you all a question.
G. If you don’t mind, I’d prefer
(deal) with that question later.
H. So, that (bring) me to the end
of my presentation. Any other questions?