Presentation Skills Worksheet: Speaking with Confidence

A | Read the Presentation Skills box on page 40 of your Student Book.

B | When speakers are confident in front of an audience, it is usually because they have taken time to
prepare and practice their presentations.

1. Read the steps below about preparing for a presentation. Put a check () next to the steps that you
usually complete before you give a presentation.

 Preparing for a Presentation Time

Research the presentation.
Organize notes.
Practice the presentation in front of a mirror.
Practice the presentation for an audience (friends or family).
Focus on speaking slowly and clearly when practicing.
Identify words that are hard to pronounce and practice pronunciation.
Practice hand gestures, body language, and eye contact.

2. Imagine that you have three hours to prepare for a three-minute presentation. How much time will
you spend on each of the steps in the chart above? Work with a partner and write times for each step.
Then discuss your answers with a group.

C | Presenters sometimes sway from side-to-side, scratch

their head, or do other things that make them appear
nervous or unsure. It can be helpful to have someone give
you feedback on your body language before you present.

1. Look at your answers to exercise C on page 29 of your

Student Book. Choose one of the statements from the
page and prepare a one-minute presentation about the
statement. For example, if you choose item 1, explain
where you want to travel and why you want to visit each
location.

2. Practice your presentation to yourself. Then stand up

and practice out loud in front of a partner.

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 Presentation Skills Worksheet: Speaking with Confidence

3. Listen and evaluate your partner’s presentation. Circle yes or no for each statement. Share your
ratings with your partner. Brainstorm ideas on how you and your partner can improve each skill.

a. My partner spoke at the appropriate speed—not too fast or too slow. Yes No
b. My partner made appropriate eye contact. Yes No
c. I could understand my partner’s pronunciation. Yes No
d. My partner used hand gestures appropriately. Yes No

e. My partner showed confident body language. Yes No

4. Work with a new partner and give your presentation again. Focus on the areas that you needed to
work on from the evaluation in Step 3 above.

D | Evaluate your partner’s presentation and give them a rating related to how confident they appeared.
Choose a number from 1 to 10.

Ratings: 1 = My partner was not confident about what he/she was saying.
10 = My partner was extremely confident about what he/she was saying.

My partner’s confidence level: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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