English Learning Content: Presentations

Dialogue

Alice: Bob, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s up?

Bob: Alice, it’s worse than a ghost. It’s… presentation day tomorrow!

Alice: Oh no! The dreaded PowerPoint monster!

Bob: Exactly! My slides are more confused than I am.

Alice: Did you practice? Even just in front of your cat?

Bob: My cat just yawned and walked away. Not a great audience.

Alice: Maybe try looking at the back wall, not people’s faces. It helps with nerves.

Bob: But what if the back wall judges me?

Alice: The back wall is notoriously forgiving. Just speak clearly.

Bob: I tend to mumble when I’m nervous. Like a very quiet, scared squirrel.

Alice: Remember to smile! Even if it feels fake.

Bob: A fake smile? I might look like I’m trying to sell something I don’t believe in.

Alice: Just imagine everyone is wearing silly hats. It works for me!

Bob: Silly hats… Okay, I’ll try it. Wish me luck, Alice.

Alice: Good luck, Bob! Don’t forget your imaginary hat-wearing audience!

Current Situation

Presentations are a very common part of school, university, and work life today. Whether you need to share information with classmates, colleagues, or clients, giving a presentation is a key skill. Many people feel nervous about public speaking, just like Bob in our dialogue. However, with practice and some simple techniques, you can improve a lot. Presentations help you share your ideas clearly, demonstrate your knowledge, and persuade others. Even if you start with “PowerPoint monster” fear, learning to present confidently is a valuable step in your English learning journey and in your career!

Key Phrases

• What’s up?: An informal way to ask “How are you?” or “What’s happening?” Hey, John! What’s up? Are you busy?
• Dreaded [something]: Something you really dislike or fear doing. The dreaded Monday morning meeting is finally over.
• PowerPoint monster: A humorous term for a difficult or intimidating presentation, often involving many slides. I have to tame the PowerPoint monster for my project next week.
• Practice: To do an activity many times to improve your skill. You should practice your speech before you give it.
• Helps with nerves: Reduces feelings of anxiety or worry. Drinking a cup of tea sometimes helps with nerves.
• Speak clearly: To articulate words well so others can understand you easily. Please speak clearly so everyone in the back can hear you.
• Tend to [do something]: To usually do something or be likely to do something. I tend to wake up early on weekdays.
• Mumble: To speak quietly and unclearly, making it hard to understand. Don’t mumble; I can’t hear what you’re saying.
• Wish me luck: An expression used when you want someone to hope for good fortune for you. I have a big exam tomorrow, wish me luck!
• Imaginary [something]: Existing only in your mind or imagination, not real. As a child, I had an imaginary friend.

Grammar Points

1. Present Simple Tense

We use the Present Simple to talk about habits, routines, general truths, and facts.

• Habits/Routines: I tend to mumble when I’m nervous. (Bob’s habit) It works for me! (Alice’s routine/strategy)
• General Truths/Facts: The back wall is notoriously forgiving. (A general observation) It helps with nerves. (A general truth)

2. Imperative Verbs

We use imperative verbs to give commands, advice, or instructions. They often start with the base form of the verb.

• Advice/Instructions: Just speak clearly. Remember to smile! Just imagine everyone is wearing silly hats.
• Negative Imperative (Don’t): Don’t forget your imaginary hat-wearing audience!

3. The Verb “To be”

The verb “to be” is one of the most common and important verbs in English. It’s used to describe states, identities, and conditions.

• Describing a state or condition: It’s presentation day tomorrow! (It is) My slides are more confused than I am. It is worse than a ghost.
• Questions with “to be”: What’s up? (What is up?)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the words from the box. Some words may be used more than once.

(practice, mumble, clearly, helps, tend, imagine, up)

1. Bob ______ to mumble when he’s nervous.
2. Alice says that looking at the back wall ______ with nerves.
3. “What’s ______?” is an informal greeting.
4. You should ______ your presentation many times.
5. Please speak ______, I can’t hear you.
6. Alice tells Bob to ______ everyone is wearing silly hats.

Answers:

1. tend
2. helps
3. up
4. practice
5. clearly
6. imagine

Exercise 2: True or False

Read the sentences and decide if they are True (T) or False (F) based on the dialogue.

1. Bob is excited about giving his presentation. (T/F)
2. Alice’s cat is a good audience for practicing presentations. (T/F)
3. Alice suggests looking at people’s faces to help with nerves. (T/F)
4. Bob worries that the back wall might judge him. (T/F)
5. Alice advises Bob to remember to smile. (T/F)

Answers:

1. F
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. T

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions

Answer the following questions in one or two simple sentences.

1. What is Bob worried about?
2. What does Bob’s cat do when he practices?
3. What is one piece of advice Alice gives to help with nerves?
4. What does Bob tend to do when he’s nervous?
5. What humorous idea does Alice suggest to make presenting easier?

Answers:

1. Bob is worried about his presentation tomorrow.
2. His cat yawns and walks away when he practices.
3. Alice suggests looking at the back wall, or remembering to smile.
4. He tends to mumble when he’s nervous.
5. Alice suggests imagining everyone in the audience is wearing silly hats.