Virtual Classroom English

Recording ideas
Equipment and visual aids
Meeting management
Dealing with questions

Vocab Storming | Equipment and its function

Podium:
Sometimes for formal presentations, the speaker stands at a podium with notes resting on the
podium.

Laser pointer:
To point to specific things on the screen.

Screen:
Where the presentation is projected for all the audience to see.

USB flash drive:

To hold PPT, documents, etc. that will be shown on a projector.

Computer:
Where we can put a USB flash drive or find a document PPT etc. to share with others.

Extension cord:
Is sometimes needed for the computer or other equipment if the speaker is not close to a wall
electrical outlet.

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Keyboard:
Used to type in commands to the computer.

Tablet:
Sometimes used in place of a computer as the "brain" to contact the projector to show our
information on the screen.

Projector:
The machine with a light beam that "throws" our PPT or another document on the screen for all
to see.

Tell us about it | How do you prepare?

Note cards or index cards

Computer aids
Key words
Rehearse
Jot down
Apps
…

I usually jot down some notes in my notebook, and because I make presentations all the time, I
know the information really well and usually don't have to rehearse.

I hardly ever make presentations, but I need to conduct training in a couple months so I'm
preparing my slides and information really well. I keep all my notes on the Evernote app, so I
can use it with whatever device I have.

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Idea storming | When are the phrases used?

Can everyone hear me?

Usually when a speaker starts to talk and gets feedback from the group

Can everyone see the slide?

When a presentation starts being used or when there is something smaller than previous slides

Can everyone hear the question?

Often if no microphone is used, or if there was a problem with the sound and it wasn´t all clear

I'm afraid I've run out of time.

When a speaker´s time deadline has been reached

I'm going to have to move on to the next topic.

When a speaker has a time limit and notices the time to try to judge correctly

I'm going to take questions at the end.

At the beginning of a presentation when he or she is setting the ground rules for the talk.

I'll try to stick to the schedule.

Usually in the beginning when setting the ground rules

Over to you! | Managing the meeting

1. What does the term 'meeting management' mean to you with regard to presentations?
How to manage technical issues, support people to help, dealing with interruptions of people
talking, cell phones, questions and comments, etc.

2. What are some of the benefits of effective presentations?

Informing people about regulations, new procedures, new ideas, sharing ideas, and best
practices, motivating people.

3. What are some things you can do as a participant to help presentations run smoothly?
Be punctual, be quiet and respectful, do not make loud noises and not interrupt others who are
listening, ask questions at the right time, be participative and not working on something else.

4. What should happen in your company to make presentations run better?

Perhaps stick to time deadlines and punctuality better, have more of a culture of not talking
when presentations are being made, etc.

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Discuss! | Dealing with questions

1. When do you prefer to handle questions at a presentation? Why?

All the way through the presentation, as questions arise, at the end of each slide, all at the end.
I prefer to take questions at the end so I'm sure to get through the information I have to give
them, and because many times I will answer questions as I move through the presentation.

2. People often spend a lot of time on the presentation itself and little time on the questions.
Why do you think this is?
Maybe because the answers to questions are unexpected and the presenter cannot prepare
easily for them.
They don´t want awkward silences if nobody asking questions.

3. What do you do when you don't know the answer to a question?

Take the person´s contact and tell them you will research the answer and let them know later,
guess the answer, if you know the group, maybe ask the group who knows the answer.

Dig deeper! | Presentation do's and don'ts

Dos:
Speak slowly and clearly
Use eye contact and gesture
Try to capture everyone's attention
Walk around close to the attendees when possible
Use humor where appropriate
Give others a chance to speak

Don’ts:
Only look at the people who are paying attention
Use small print to fit everything on the slide
Use several videos in every presentation
Stand behind the podium at all times
Speak while looking down at your notes
Answer questions at the end of the presentation

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I think it's really important to use eye contact and gesture to keep people attentive and
interested. It also engages me with the audience and I can be more sure that they will go away
with all the information instead of daydreaming.

I think humor and videos are really important. I usually give presentations to creative design
people and they're really into action and videos so it's more effective for them.

Speaking slowly and clearly is really important in my presentations because I present to people
from different countries and nobody is a native English speaker, so I need to be sure they
understand me.

What do you think? | Do you agree?

During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members
that you are not going to waste their time and attention.
― Dale Ludwig

I totally agree with this statement because I work with very busy people and they need to know
that what I'm presenting is really important for them and that there is no better way to present it.

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