Preparing and delivering a presentation in English, especially when it’s not your first language, can feel challenging. Through careful reflection and feedback, I’ve identified areas where I struggled and learned how to refine my approach. Here’s a breakdown of key lessons to help improve future presentations:
1. Matching Content with Titles
One of the first issues I encountered was the mismatch between slide titles and their content. For instance, a slide titled „Key Areas of Astronomy Education“ didn’t truly reflect the content, which was more about where astronomy education takes place. This taught me the importance of crafting titles that directly align with the core message of each slide.
Lesson: Make sure the title concisely represents the main idea of the slide. If necessary, consider rephrasing titles to be more descriptive or action-oriented.
2. Using Clear and Precise Vocabulary
I discovered some phrases that, while grammatically correct, could have been clearer or more precise. For example:
- „Tailor programs and tools for diverse needs“ was correct but could feel slightly generic.
- „Tailored programs and tools for diverse needs“ had a different focus, emphasizing completed work rather than an action plan.
Lesson: Pay attention to the nuances of similar phrases in English. Depending on the context (action vs. outcome), subtle shifts in wording can change the tone and impact of your message.
3. Responding to Feedback on Text Power
Feedback such as „remove low power text“ made me rethink how to keep my slides concise and impactful. For example, long explanations like „Not all visual impairments are the same“ were rephrased to focus on specific insights, such as „Visual impairments vary widely.“
Lesson: Avoid „low-power“ text by cutting redundant words and focusing on concise, meaningful points. Remember, slides are a visual aid, not the full script of your presentation.
4. Adapting Technical Terms for the Audience
Another challenge was using terms that might not be familiar to an English-speaking audience. For instance, I initially used „Typhlography“ for tactile graphics, a term more common in Czech as „tyflografika“. After consideration, I decided to switch to the more widely recognized „Tactile Graphics.“
Lesson: When using technical terms, prioritize the ones that are most familiar to your audience. If a term is rare, provide a brief explanation or use a more common equivalent.
5. Simplifying for Readability
In English, simplicity often enhances clarity. This was especially relevant when crafting lists or summaries. For instance:
Instead of „Blindness is rarely absolute. Some individuals are completely blind, while others have partial vision,“ I used a simpler list format.
Lesson: Favor bullet points, lists, or concise sentences to make slides easy to digest. Avoid dense paragraphs or overly formal phrasing.
6. Balancing Formality in Closing Slides
For the final slide, I initially leaned towards a minimalist style: „Thank you! QA? petr.dusek@silenceplease.cz.“ However, after reviewing, I added small visual elements (like 📧) to enhance the contact information while keeping the tone professional.
Lesson: Use closing slides to leave a lasting impression. Include essential details like contact information but ensure it’s visually engaging and aligned with the overall tone.
Moving Forward
This experience highlighted the importance of attention to detail, from choosing the right words to aligning titles with content. It also reinforced the value of feedback and adaptation. In future presentations, I’ll focus on:
- Ensuring titles accurately reflect slide content.
- Using concise and audience-friendly language.
- Simplifying information for clarity and impact.
- Remaining open to feedback and making improvements accordingly.
English presentations are not just about correctness—they’re about clarity, precision, and connection with the audience. By applying these lessons, I aim to elevate my future presentations to be more engaging and effective.
Facing First-Time Nerves
This was my very first live presentation in English, and it’s no surprise that I felt nervous. My mind was preoccupied with questions like, “What if I make too many mistakes?” or “What if they don’t understand me?” However, reflecting on the experience, I realized a few key things:
- A Safe Learning Environment Helps Immensely
Presenting in the supportive context of university English, where the focus is on growth and learning, was invaluable. Everyone understands that mistakes are part of the process. This makes it easier to take risks and experiment with language. - Challenges Are Opportunities
It would have been easy to avoid this challenge altogether, but by stepping up, I learned far more than I would have by staying in my comfort zone. Facing these situations head-on helps build not just language skills, but also confidence. - Mistakes Aren’t the End of the World
Yes, I made mistakes—some minor, others more significant. But in the end, it didn’t ruin the presentation. In fact, some of those moments turned out to be funny or even charming to the audience, as long as I kept my composure. - Improvise and Have Fun
One of the most liberating realizations was that it’s okay to improvise. Even when my English wasn’t perfect, I could get my point across, adapt on the fly, and even make light of my own errors. This turned the experience into something positive rather than stressful.