Benefits
Why learn English?
English has become a world-wide language, with numerous countries adopting it as an
official language. English is the dominant international language in science, business,
aviation, entertainment, and diplomacy, and also on the Internet.
In most fields of work your ability to speak English can help you advance your career,
helping you get the job you want and earn more money. No matter what your area of
expertise, skill in English will contribute substantially to your success.
How can Speak English help?
There are a variety of ways to learn English. Schools and books dedicated to the
language are common throughout the world. English classes and textbooks will help
you learn vocabulary and basic grammar principles, but their use is limited.
If you want to become truly proficient at speaking and understanding English, you have
to practice with native English-speakers. Unfortunately, such opportunities can be hard
to find. Not everyone has the chance to study abroad in the US, UK, or other English-
speaking nations.
At Speak English, you don't have to travel abroad to practice English. From the
convenience of your own home you can converse with Americans. You can practice
your English as frequently as you would like. Your speaking and understanding abilities
will improve dramatically.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert in learning English, Speak English can help
you take your English to the next level. And not only will your English improve, it will
improve faster than it would any other way.
Speak with an American
Become Fluent
Becoming fluent in a foreign language takes hard work, but it is fully within your ability.
Here are some tips about using the Speak English program:
Do two to three sessions each week. Practicing a language is like working out
muscles, it's important to do it regularly to improve. Just like lifting weights or
jogging once a year won't help your body get in shape, practicing English
infrequently will not be much of a benefit. Set a goal for practicing regularly and
stick with it.
Be patient. Speaking with a native English-speaker may be very difficult at first,
but it's ok. Perhaps you are used to hearing your teachers or friends speak with
an accent and they are easier to understand. The more you practice with native
English-speakers the better you will get. Have patience and keep working at it.
Don't get frustrated. Of course there will be plenty that you do not understand,
that's part of learning. You will get better. If you feel silly trying to speak to
someone who speaks English fluently, just remember: You speak their language
better than they speak yours!
Write down words that you do not understand. Our staff will be happy to spell
any words you have difficulty with, just ask. After your conversation, work on
memorizing those words so the next time you hear them, you will understand.
Use your English conversations to practice whatever you need to work
on. If you have a job interview coming up, practice job interview questions. If you
have an oral exam the next day on traveling in Europe, talk about traveling in
Europe.
Read English books. Reading English books will improve your vocabulary and
your grammar, which will help you get more out of your Speak English sessions.
Don't give up on studying. Just because you are practicing speaking doesn't
mean you should give up studying other ways too. Continue memorizing
vocabulary, taking English classes, and reading English.
About Us
At Speak English, we know the importance of practicing a new language. Our team
members know how hard it is to learn a language from only textbooks and worksheets,
and the success that comes from conversing regularly with natives
Our personal language-learning experience is what has driven us to provide
opportunities for others to learn English from native English-speakers. Not everyone can
travel to other countries to learn a language. Now, with Speak English, you don't have
to.
"I am confident your English skills will improve tremendously when you practice with
native English-speakers. Whether you need English for school, business, or recreation,
your hard work will pay off with our Speak English program." - Brian Krueger (Speak
English, Founder)
Speak with an American
Why should I learn English?
It’s a good question! And here are some good answers!
Communication
English, whether you like it or not, is the chosen language of international communication.
English has official or special status in at least seventy five countries with a total population of over two
billion.
Speakers of English as a second language probably outnumber those who speak it as a first language.
Around 750 million people are believed to speak English as a foreign language.
One out of four of the world's population speak English to some level of competence; demand from the other
three-quarters is increasing.
Nearly one in two European Union citizens claim to be able to converse in English* according to a survey
carried out in 1998, and 69 per cent of survey respondents who did not speak English as their first language felt that it
was the most important language for them to learn or use.
Sources: British Council & Eurobarometer 50 *This includes the 16 per cent of EU citizens who speak English as their
first language.
Information & Research
English is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air-traffic control, international business
and academic conferences, science, technology, diplomacy, sport, international competitions, pop music and
advertising.
Over two-thirds of the world's scientists read in English.
Three quarters of the world's mail is written in English
80% of the world's electronically stored information is in English.
Of the estimated 200 million users of the Internet, some 36% communicate in English.
Develop your career
Most professional jobs require a good level in English – think how impressive "excellent level in English"
will look on your CV.
Business and commerce are increasingly driven by international trade and if you are going to grow in your
job you need to be able to follow this trend.
Technical skills are essential in modern industries and you need to be able to both read and write technical
English if you are going to maintain your technical competence.
You may need to attend International Symposiums and Exhibitions either as a visitor or a presenter and
the chances are you’ll have to work in the English language.
Why learn English with My English Teacher?
English lessons can be fun!
Best technology
The My English Teachers Virtual Classroom (MET-VC) provides an unequalled level of interactivity that will truly
bring your lessons alive.
Maximum flexibility
The My English Teacher Learning Management System (MET-LMS) allows you to plan, schedule and change your
lessons to suit your lifestyle.
Freedom of choice
My English Teacher (MET) enables you to structure your lessons, choose or change your teachers, record your
progress and much more. MET really gives you control of your learning experience.
Quality of teaching
Real qualified and experienced teachers to tutor and guide you. My English Teacherprovides the personal link
between student and teacher that can normally only be achieved in a physical classroom.
Community
As a student with My English Teacher you will become part of a wider community of learners and teachers. With us
you will be able to extend the use of your English beyond the virtual classroom and into the global My English
Teacher community where you will meet friends and fellow learners who all share one common objective – to
improve their English and communicate.
ENGLISH FOR ORAL COMMUNICATION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
There are two parts to this assignment. In part one covers two aspects. First, write a speech for an oral
presentation. Secondly, it discusses the stages that a presenter will have to undertake or go through
before facing an audience to give a presentation. we have discussed the topics related to making early
preparations for an oral presentation.
Before encountering an audience to present a paper, it is advisable that presenters do their home work.
This would range from investigating on the audience, researching and writing the topic to presenting in
front of audience members, and interacting with them. It is very important for the presenter to make
the initial preparations such as analysing the audience, determining the purpose, gathering materials,
organising and writing main ideas,and preparing visual materials.
In this part, have covered aspects related to making early preparations for presentation. Aspects that
have been touched were completing a profile of the occasion, audience and location, determining the
purpose and objectives of the presentation, collecting materials and structuring your presentation. We
also have gone through an interesting component, that is the use of visual aids.
In part two, it provides information with respect to what the presenter would have to know when
presenting orally.
we covered tips related to a presenter having to stand in front of the audience and to make a verbal
presentation. Areas that have been covered are preparing an oral presentation, approaching an oral
presentation, principles of effective presentation and tackling questions
2.0 PREPARATION ON ORAL PRESENTATION
2.1 SPEECH
2.2 PREPARING THE ORAL PRESENTATION
According to speaking consultant Lilyan Wilder (1999), two of the greatest myths about delivering oral
presentations are that you’re better off “winging it” and that good speakers are “naturals.”
In order to give an effective presentation, it is necessary to prepare and practice, practice, practice.
Despite the need to prepare, one of your goals still should be to sound spontaneous and comfortable
while delivering your message in a clear, organized, and stimulating fashion. The information below
should help you achieve this goal (http://www.ecf.toronto.edu/writing/ oral.html)
According to OUMH 1303 (2005), It is very important for the presenter to make the initial preparations
such as analysing the audience, determining the purpose, gathering materials, organising and writing
main ideas,and preparing visual materials.
As a presenter, one would need first and foremost to profile three factors:
• the occasion for the speech;
• the audience whom the speech is intended; and
• the location where the speech would be made.
Completing this profile would enable the speaker to be better prepared and also improve his/her focus,
and hence would prevent him/her from delving into other irrelevant aspects.
Once a presenter knows the occasion, the audience and the location, he/she is then ready to set the
aims and objectives of the presentation. For instance, the speaker might want to convey, inform, relay,
relate, influence, persuade, appease, encourage, motivate, illustrate, clarify, appeal, to name but a few.
After determining the purpose, the speaker can then determine the topic. If the purpose is to motivate,
then the speaker would need to come up with a topic that suits the purpose.
Collecting material related to the topic of presentation would be one of the most important initial steps
in preparing an oral presentation. If the content area that the speaker has been requested to talk about
is unfamiliar to him/her, starting from scratch should be the practice.
The speaker should be aware from which sources to obtain the materials. Materials can also be in the
form of drawing from one’s experiences. Materials obtained need to be adapted so as not to go beyond
the limitation of the content and also the time allocated for the presentation.
The manner in which the oral presentation is structured must reflect clarity and smoothness. The
speaker should bear in mind that the audience is a listening audience and not a reading one. They do
not have the opportunity to go back to certain information if they do not comprehend certain issues. It
is therefore important for the speaker to frame his points systematically so that the presentation paper
could be effectively delivered.
After developing a structure, the presenter can proceed with writing. The writing process can be a lot
smoother if the presenter adheres to the outline. The speaker is at a stage where he/she has most of
the materials ready. There are two aspects that a presenter should bear in mind when writing: first is
language use; and second is style.
Lastly, sentences constructed should be grammatically acceptable so that clarity and comprehensibility
would be the outcome.
The utilisation of visual aids is important in any form of presentation or speeches. A speech without
visual aids will make it less effective compared to one using visual aids. If the speaker wants to achieve
his/her goals that have been set, visual aids should be used. Visual aids would contribute to a good
speech and are significant if the main aim is to sell a product or to attract audience or students to enroll
in a private college. The presenter can make use of several kinds of aids. He/She can utilise a
combination of aids if the need arises. This can add variety to his/her presentation.
3.0 MAKING AN ORAL PRESENTATION
Having made preparations for most of the written aspects of the presentation, the presenter now has to
make preparations mentally and physically so that he/she is ready to give an effective verbal
presentation to a live audience. Embarking on a mock presentation using notes would help to build up
confidence. Apart from that, the presenter has to employ other strategies such as elements related to
approaches of delivery, principles of effective presentation, and dealing with questions.
3.1 PREPARING AN ORAL PRESENTATION
The presenter can be said to be all set to deliver if he/she gives himself/herself some time to practise.
Practise should be accompanied by the use of presenter’s notes. Many presenters do not resort to these
practises because they do no have adequate time. Presenters should allow themselves room for such
practises as they can provide them with more confidence in tackling difficulties that may be
encountered on the actual day.
3.1.1 Presenter’s Notes
The presenter’s notes can be in the form of white cards measuring 15cm by 10 cm. What the presenter
needs to do is to include the key words and the detailed points pertaining to the content. If the
presenter is not comfortable with just including the main points, he/she can include the detailed points
with longer sentences or phrases written on the cards.
The main aim of having the cards is to ensure a smooth delivery. One can forget easily what one is
talking about, when one is in front of so many pairs of eyes. If there are no cards, there is nothing that a
presenter could fall back to if he/she forgets in the midst of the delivery
3.1.2 Mock Delivery
The presenter can practise alone or with his/her peers. The presenter can audio or video record his/her
delivery. The presenter should practise presenting with visual aids in mind. Further, it is not enough to
practise delivering the content;
The obvious reason for having a mock is to be adequately prepared mentally and physically.After the
mock, if the presenter feels that he/she has gone over the time limit then the content and probably the
visual aids need to be adjusted and reduced according to the stipulated time. The practise would
heighten the presenter’s confidence because the feeling of panic could be avoided and the feeling of
nervousness could be controlled. For instance, practicing switching on the visual equipment may seem
unnecessary and trivial; however, if the presenter encounters this problem on that day, this can add to
his nervousness and this would not be a
good start for the presenter.
3.2 APPROACHING AN ORAL PRESENTATION
During the presentation, there are certain key points that a presenter should bear in mind. These points
constitute presentation skills and if closely adhered to and well applied and displayed would result in
successful delivery
3.2.1 The Opening
Since this phase is the most important stage in a presentation, the presenter should do something
interesting to arrest the audience’s attention because if this is not done it might be difficult to capture
their focus after the presentation has started.
3.2.2 Use of the Voice
The presenter needs to speak in a clear voice; the words need to be pronounced clearly. The voice needs
to be projected and not swallowed. Presenters should avoid from speaking in monotone. Lively, friendly,
expressive and enthusiastic intonation would make the presenter sound more convincing. The speed of
the voice production should be appropriate. The presenter should not speak so rapidly as to leave the
audience restless, neither should he/she speak so slowly as to cause boredom.
3.2.3 Non-verbal Elements
Nonverbal elements such as physical appearance and body movements can convey certain meanings to
the audience. Body language could also enhance the listeners’ understanding and provide a better
interpretation of what the presenter is trying to say. This shall be discussed in terms of physical
appearance, body posture, gestures and facial expression.
3.2.4 Eye Contact
Establishing eye contact can improve rapport with members of the audience. Eye contact would also
improve our voice projection because it forces us to raise our heads. Besides, maintaining eye contact
also would give some clues of whether the audience is still with us or has gone adrift. The presenter
should move his eyes all round the audience and not just glue his/her eyes to a particular person or just
a particular group in the audience
3.2.5 Overcoming Nervousness
Feeling nervous and anxious is natural for anybody who is going to face an audience in a public speaking
situation. For some individuals the entire body would shake, but for others the hands and fingers could
be seen shaking, and yet there are others who would produce trembling voice. It is impossible to get rid
of this feeling but it is possible to reduce it so that the presenter can have good control of the situation.
There are some strategies that the presenter can employ to minimise fear, anxiety, uneasiness and
nervousness.
3.2.6 The Ending
The finishing part of a speech is another phase that is important. The audience should be made to feel
that the speech is worth listening. A good conclusion should leave an impact on the audience. Some of
the ways to end a speech is by asking thought-provoking questions, reciting a short poem, reading a
brief philosophical phrase, and by showing a brief summary of the presentation on visuals.
3.3 PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION
It is advisable that the presenter adheres to some principles that can guide him/her to produce a
successful delivery. These constitute strategies that can promote communicative effectiveness and
prevent communication disruption. Senders and receivers display differences in beliefs, attitudes,
values, experiences and perceptions. Messages tend to be interpreted differently by different groups of
people. Hence, principles such as being credible, clear, accurate, appropriate and enthusiastic can help
increase presentation effectiveness and reduce communication barriers.
3.3.1 Credible
Being credible is to be believable because trustworthiness is exhibited. What the presenter should
prepare is a content that displays truth value. Just as the written presentation that has been prepared is
credible, the presenter must also exhibit credibility when presenting. He/ She must be knowledgeable
and well-versed in the subject that is being dealt with. If he/she is knowledgeable, confidence would
appear. The ideas and issues forwarded should be backed by reliable and valid research findings
conducted by the presenter or by researchers who are experts in the field.
3.3.2 Clear
The presenter should adhere to the standard language acceptable by the community as this can also
promote credibility. Sentences should be grammatically and semantically acceptable while the
vocabulary used should not include too much jargon. The verbal presentation must be clear and audible.
The presenter needs to speak and pronounce his/her words clearly and correctly according to the
standard language so that he/ she is intelligible.
3.3.3 Accurate
To be accurate, one needs to be precise and exact. The content of the paper presentation must be
characterised by this quality so as to be more specific. There must be strong agreement between the
message conveyed and the subject matter to which the message refers. The presenter should use words
that exactly denote the intended meaning. For the description of colour, for instance, attempt to use
words or groups of words that would give a better representation of the colour.
3.3.4 Appropriate
Appropriateness in context encompasses the suitability of the:
• content to the aims, occasion and audience;
• appearance and attire; and
• gestures.
3.3.5 Enthusiastic
Presenters must show real interest in their topics so that they can be lively, active and dynamic. In this
way, the listeners’ attention and participation can be heightened. If not much interest is shown on the
topic presented, the presenter will end up producing a very dull presentation.
3.3.6 Prevent Distractions
The listeners’ attention should be sustained so that objectives can be achieved. If the presenter is too
fidgety, the concentration of audience members would be distracted. If the presenter overuses the term
“OK” the listeners may end up counting this term instead of listening and paying attention. If the
presenter always looks at the watch, the audience would show the eagerness to go home. This is why
videotaping one’s presentation is very important so that one is more aware of the distractions that
might appear in the delivery which need to be eradicated.
3.4 TACKLING QUESTIONS
At the end of a verbal delivery, there would usually be a question-an-answer session. Listeners are often
inquisitive. They should be given an opportunity to ask questions to clarify certain issues. There are
some strategies that the presenter could employ to overcome this if they follow the rules of handling
questions.
3.4.1 Anticipate Questions
Anticipating the right kind of questions is a good strategy. Not only must a presenter phrase out some
expected questions, he/she must also prepare answers to the questions. The expected questions and
answers can be written on the presenter’s notes. Thus, having questions and answers prepared on white
cards can reduce panic. The presenter must also verbally practise answering to the audience’s queries.
3.4.2 Rules in Handling Questions
There are several rules that the presenter could follow when handling questions:
• Listen to the questions carefully and attentively.
• Ask the listeners to repeat the questions if they are not clear.
• Try to figure out appropriate answers while the questions are being asked.
• If audience members offer their point of view or suggestion, express appreciation.
• Always be courteous and do not lose your temper.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Speaking is a productive language skill. When we speak in public we are giving a speech or saying
something in front of an audience. Many people believe that speaking in public is a terrifying task or a
frightening piece of work to be done in front of a group of people. If possible, we would like to avoid this
problem entirely but eventually we will need to speak in public to get a certain task accomplished.
To me, speaking in public is not a terrifying task. We are born positive but it is our attitude that makes
our life negative. No doubt, the first thing that we usually face when speaking in public is nervousness.
It’s normal to be nervous and have a lot of anxiety when speaking in public. Therefore we must
understand our fear or nervousness and the only way to conquer fear is doing the things we fear to do.
Face the fear and find ways to overcome it and always think positively. In order to over overcome our
nervousness, we can always take a deep breath or even exercise such as running around the room or
meditate before we speak in public can help us conquer the tension.
Lack of preparation or confidence is another problem that we usually need to overcome when speaking
in public. In fact, confidence comes from early preparation. Therefore we need to be well prepared
before speaking in public. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect’ and we must always remember
that we are speaking for the audience benefit. We should organise our presentation as well as know
how to connect it with our audience. Most importantly, we need to know the needs of our audience and
match the contents to their needs.
