School of Languages and Area Studies (SLAS)

English for Academic Purposes Courses

Presentation and Seminar Skills

slas - jig presentations

This course will give you the opportunity to improve the presentation and seminar skills needed for academic study at university.  The class will discuss and consider various aspects of these skills, with student input playing a vital role. Throughout the course you will:

  • Practise the delivery of a presentation
  • Study the format and language of various parts of the presentation
  • Consider and practise the role of participants in seminar groups
This is a very practical course, in that each weekly session involves students practising various aspects – from delivery,  to strategies for engaging the audience, to giving mini presentations either in groups or as individuals , thereby building confidence and expertise in both presenting and participating in seminars.

Course description audio recording:

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Course Outline:

Week
Course Content
Assessment tasks
1
 The assessment
What is a Seminar? Effective participation
Delivery 1: Word stress enunciation pace
In-class practice		  
2
 What makes a good presentation?
Structure of the presentation
The introduction
Engaging your audience 1: Asking questions
Delivery  2: Chunking and pausing (pace)
In-class practice		  
3
 Presentation : Structure and language of the outline:
Engaging your audience 2: Interesting facts
Delivery 3: Stress and intonation ; Sounding enthusiastic
In-class practice		  
4
 Formative assessment Presenting the  Introduction and outline of a presentation (groups)
5
 Presentation: Structure and language of the main body.
In-class practice		  
6
 Language for using visuals in the presentation 
In-class practice		  
7
 Formative Assessment   Group Presentation (5 Minutes) (Introduction, outline, main body and using visuals)
8
 The ending (Stages and language)
Dealing with questions (Strategies and language for dealing with questions)
In-class practice		  
9
 The seminar : Language for participating effectively and appropriately  
10
 Developing confidence
Body language		  
11
 Review and practice  
12
 Summative Assessment: 
 (7 Minutes)		 Individual Presentation