Presentations

This course develops the skills needed to give clear, well-structured presentations in English in academic and professional contexts. It is designed for students at C1 level and above, particularly prospective English teachers.

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, students can:

  • analyse a task and an audience, and plan a presentation with a clear purpose;
  • select and structure content: an introduction, three key points with supporting details, and a conclusion;
  • turn facts into meaning through connection, contrast, and interpretation;
  • use the language of presentations in an appropriate academic register: introductions and statements of purpose, signposts and transitions, and the description of graphs and trends;
  • use their voice and body language deliberately: stress, pauses, pace, gestures, posture, and eye contact;
  • speak fluently from key cards and visuals, manage their time, and handle questions;
  • give and use specific, constructive feedback.

Course format

Each content session begins with students comparing their homework in small groups, followed by input, practice, and speaking tasks. Homework consists of exercises in the Workbook and short readings and videos on Moodle. A self-study section on Moodle covers common grammar and spelling problems. In presentation sessions, students give their presentations and receive feedback.

Presentations

  1. Structure and content (5 minutes, recorded at home): outline, three key points, and interpretation, with detailed feedback from peers and the teacher.
  2. Language and style (5 minutes, live): formal vocabulary, signposts and transitions, and the description of graphs and numbers.
  3. Academic presentation (Referat, 7–10 minutes; Studienleistung): based on an assigned article from a peer-reviewed journal, with quotations and paraphrases cited in MLA style, and with a focus on voice and body language.
  4. Exam rehearsal (5 minutes, live): an infographic prepared in 30 minutes under exam conditions.

Each presentation builds on the previous one, and feedback focuses on individual progress.

Coursebook

Weber, Joerg. Mastering English Presentations Workbook: Presentation Skills and Public Speaking Exercises for Learners of English (B2–C2). Mastering English, 2026.