First and foremost, sorry about not making it in today: my son is ill, so I need to stay home and look after him. As he's tucked up in bed at this very moment, I'll take the time to explain what I intended to cover in class.
My plan today was to first have a chat about how people are getting on with the resources that Alma showed us before the holiday. Some students have commented positively on them already. Nearly all of these resources are only available to students who set up an ATHENS account. If you missed that class, read the blog entry on "Research and sources" (16 October). You'll need to get an application form for an ATHENS account from the library as well. If you have any problems with that let me know. It's important to get your head around ATHENS now as it is an invaluable resource for research in university.
The main focus for today's class was going to be an introduction to presentations. I was going to show you a DVD on presentations and get you to discuss and write about the DVD and your feelings on presentations in general. I think my colleague Madeleine will cover part of the class and she may show the DVD. I'll take it up from there next week.
However, what I would like you to do now, is to share your initial thoughts about presentations. For example, how do you feel about having to give presentations? Have you given presentations before? You may have, but not in English. What concerns (if any) do you have about presentations? Have you learned anything from presentations you have given in the past?
Please post your comments and thoughts on presentations as a response to this blog entry.
I need to go now, I hear a frail voice whimpering "daddy" from the bedroom ...
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10 comments:
Hi Jerry,
I'm sorry to hear that your son is ill,I hope he feels better soon.
About the Athens, once again just want to say that it is very useful as I am looking for various info there for my topics.It is so many features there I haven't even figured out all yet.
The Oral presentations, I actually have done some back in school and they were in english, it was such a long time ago that I can hardly remember subjects, oh, actually one was about The Dead Sea Scrolls. So for me the most important thing is planning the presentation and write down key points so I can use them if I get too nervous.And reading it to myself out loud as well is crucial, at least couple of times.
That's my experience.
Hi Jerry,
Sorry to hear that your son is ill, I hope he feels better soon.
Presentations, well, erm...yeah. I, like others, haven't done one for a while. The last one I did was at least 3 years ago.
As long as I'm sure of my topic and what I can say on it, I usually do ok. It's just the nerves I gotta watch.
The video talked about the transference from sitting down and talking to standing in front of a bunch of people being unsettling for those that are inexperienced speakers.
Hi there!!
Athens is great! I've been checking it out to try and expand my Education essay and make it a bit more argumentative, and it has proved to be very helpful and rather easy to use!
About presentational skills... well... They intimidate me a bit, but they also excite me. I can get very nervous when talking in front of people, but I love the rush you get once you've done it and you see that you did do Ok. My main concerns are that if I have any notes, I tend to ignore them because when I'm nervous I tend to rush things, I open my mouth and let my tongue do its work, which leads to my main concers: *Speed = I speak faster the more nervous I get and that affects my speech making it unintelligible: and *Structure = I jump back and forth, I start talking and the path I wanted to follow in my talk disappears (and I don't check my notes to stay on track!) and I start messing things up.
Funny thing is, from the other side, as it is not known how I was going to do it, it may seem like I'm in control and that 'm doing alright, when in actuality I'm panicking!
Uhm... I guess that kinda covers it!!
Last bit! Madeline(?) told us to think of an orator we admire or like and point out 5 key features we could identify that makes him/her so. I can't think of anyone, but I can think of features I consider important for an orator and that I would like to acquire: 1) Speed/ pace. 2) Tone. 3) Keeping the audience interested. 4) Body language. 5) Confidence.
Arturo out!!
Hi Jerry,
I'm sorry to hear about Your son, i hope he feels better soon.
Presentation...well i don't really have much experience but i now i get very nervous when i now i have to do one. My main concern is a lenguage.Also talk in front of people makes me feel very nervous.I haven't done one for a while. I think the last time was some school project . I just remember my red face for all day long after my speach. The was thing is that befir i get so nervous. For all week it's nothing more impotant that how i 'll do it, what people will think. It helps a lot if you have to do it in front of people you know. I can't imagne to go and introduce my subject to people i don't know in a language i still don't know well enough.
See You next week
Afternoon Jerry.
Hope Tom(?) gets well soon.
Believe it or not, I 'posted' a long and wonderful post regarding public speaking and the class this morning.
Unfortunately, I seemed to have merely previewed it and I'm a bit bereft at its sudden disappearance into cyberspace as I clicked away onto other sites of interest. I did not write it on Word and it was therefore not saved. I feel empty now.
I enjoyed the class today - thank you, Madeline - and reflected much on what I need to do for our presentation session.
I have done talks before but a long time ago. Nevertheless, I'm sure with great preparation things will be fine.
Madeline asked us to choose an orator we admired and to list 5 of their speaking and presentation qualities for this blog.
In my original post I wrote about people like Spielberg and experienced performers who are nervous to the point of puking backstage but come across as natural performers on it. I picked Billy Connolly from that showbiz world as an example and listed areas such as naturalness, passion, knowing the subject matter, confidence and articulacy. I contrasted his style of presentation with the likes of politicians Blair and Cameron, with their use of learned public speaking techniques which actually make them come across as robotic and fake - exaggerated pauses in speech and gesticulations for point-making emphasis being examples. I then apologised to the people they nonetheless appealed to having called them Stepford supporters.
And on and on...and mentioned wearing brown trousers on the day of the talk.
It was such a lovely post.
I still feel empty. I've learnt a real lesson today, and in more ways than one.
: (
Good morning to You all.
According to what Madeline asked us to do, I would like to show You one of the best speeches that I ever came across. It is performed by well known to You all David Linch.What amazed me about it apart from the content, obviously, was the lightness, simplicity and cheerfulness of the speaker.It lasts for a 109min, which seems to be quite long comparing to what we have to perform in the class. Nevertheless try to listen to it and let me know what You think.
I am not sure if that will work but I will try to embed it the Simon's way.In case it want work here is the link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2200642823213458442
Hello Jerry'
Sorry to hear about the wee man. I really have been wanting to speak to you regarding the 2 topics for both my essays. My lack of progress and indecision has been getting me down. For the fact based essay I am going to write about The Moorish conquest of Spain and It's influences on Spanish culture, architecture and general way of life, but I've yet to come up with a succinct and suitable title for this piece of writing. The other topic would be The Suffragettes, the movement and whether women would have received the right to vote if it had not been for the outbreak of the Great War? On a more positive note, I have managed to set up an Athens A/C with the kind help of Alma, but untill I come up with 2 definite titles for both fact and opinion based compositions, this will be of no great use to me and may confuse me even more. To this end, for the opinion based essay, I am going to broach the delicate topic of immigration - What impact have Eastern European immigrants had on British culture and it's economy since their joining the E.U. and do we need these immigrants to tackle the skills shortage and fill the void in certain jobs markets? Please help me come up with a catchy, punchy title for this essay, as it is rath er disheartening and very frustrating.
In last weeks class Madeleine asked us to chose an effective orator and give 5 saliant points on what makes the so adept at presesenting visually. I chose Trevor McDonald who is extremely articulate, has clarity of speech and topical relevance which is essential as a news bradcaster. He employs a variety of pitch, tone and expression to his voice in articulating the news to the British audience. He also maintains eye contact throughout and has limited body movements: not using any gesticulations in order to remain subjective, unbiased and to deliver the news in an appropriate, matter of fact style.
As regards presentations, I must say that the oral presentation is not something which I relish the prospect of one iota!! I can recall a presentation which I had to deliver for Spanish, in Spanish using Powerpoint. Suffice to say, it was a nightmare during which I suffered mental block. I coldn't seem to maintain any fluidity and continuity as the nerves got the better of me. I stuttered my way through this presentation on Galicia annd felt I could have done a much better job. To this end, I recently gave a rather short account and analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet 65 for English Literature, but seemed to do a whole lot better, although we were permitted to use our notes on the subject.
AS an inexperienced speaker, the mere thought of having to stand up in front of the class, srikes the fear of god into me, but I am sure that I am not alone in this respect.
I believe that planning, organising and practicing out loud one's oral presentation is vital to one's succes and self-confidence. Perparation is key and noting down the main points (for reference to) in an orderly, methodical and systematic style will help greatly in terms of maintaining fluidity and in not losing track during the actual presentation itself. Having said this, I still beieve that I need some pointers to help me communicate effectively and confidently in an oral format, to a bunch of expectant classmates. Oh visual aids like maps, posters, cuttings e.t.c. could also be very useful. Talk to you A.S.A.P. and thanks in advance!!!
Great comments from everyone so far - keep them coming. Greig, I've emailed you about the essays.
With regards to the task we were given last week it’s probably of no surprise that I have chosen a sport personality. I think Jose Morinho is one of the best speakers in the sports world. The things that make him an excellent speaker are firstly his confidence (or arrogance) nothing fazes this man and can put him off his stride.
He is always well presented in the best of clothes. He speaks slowly and clearly in whatever language he is speaking in. he normally says things that are somewhat controversial in order to get the attention of the listeners.
Thanks to everyone who posted comments about presentations. There are lots of ideas and opinions for us to reflect upon. We'll discuss these comments tomorrow in class.
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