So far in this study block on Presentation Skills you have focused on the content, structuring and oral delivery of your presentation. However, the physical aspects of presenting are also important. This lesson looks at the effect of body language and visual aids on your audience.
There are four basic types of gesture used in presentations for different effects. Can you match the gesture types with their descriptions. Put the appropriate letter (A – D) next to the correct gesture type.
1.01
   Descriptive gestures A ... are used to reinforce an idea. Examples: bringing the fist down into the palm of the hand to suggest refusal or determination, shaking one's head to express disagreement.
1.02
   Emphatic gestures B ... generally communicate how the speaker feels about what they are describing. Examples: shrugging the shoulders to suggest ignorance or indifference, clutching the temples with both hands to express despair or frustration.
1.03
   Counting gestures C ... express ideas of size, shape, place or movement. Examples: holding the hands wide apart to suggest great size, moving one hand downwards to suggest a decline.
1.04
   Attitude gestures D ... using the fingers of one hand, help the audience to follow a series of steps in a description or a list of points in an argument.

2.01     In conversation, people tend to move their hands in all sorts of ways without being consciously aware of            it. In fact, it is so much a part of instinct to accompany what you say with hand movements that many            people do it on the telephone - when it is impossible for the other person to see!

       Is this something you do?

2.02     Some of these gestures may be just mannerisms, that is, movements which have no real meaning or            purpose, and which may simply annoy the people you are talking to.

       Can you think of anyone you know who does this?

2.03     However, many of the gestures which occur naturally in conversation can also be used in more formal            speaking situations. But it is important to remember that your audience is larger than in a one-to-one            conversation, is probably less attentive, and usually further away from you. So you may have to make            your hand movements more definite - make your hands move a greater distance and make them move            more slowly.

       The next time you watch someone speaking to an audience, make notes on their hand gestures.

2.04     A gesture that looks forced, rehearsed, or in any way unnatural, probably acts as a distraction. By all            means practise gestures before your presentation, but when you get up to speak, make sure your mind            is on what you are saying and not on what your hands are doing!

      Practise a short presentation in front of the mirror. What do you notice about your hand gestures?       
   
What kind of gestures would you use to accompany these statements? Make some notes for each one.

3.01

Our ignorance of these problems is like a vast desert.
e.g. Hands and arms move outwards in an open gesture to indicate a large area.

3.02

Cohesion means sticking together tightly.

3.03

We must keep costs down, so as to be more efficient.

3.04

These two parts join at an angle, making a kind of corner.

3.05

If the air-conditioning is too cold, people will sit all huddled up, trying to keep warm.

3.06

They’re always adding new parts, and the result is, the equipment gets bigger and bigger.

3.07

This matter is finished. We don’t want to hear any more about it.
Now try presenting each statement with an appropriate gesture.
Are the notes you made above appropriate for each example or do you need to make changes after having practised?
Think about your own experience of presentations as part of the audience. Focus on how well the presenter used visuals. Visual aids could include PowerPoint slides, transparencies shown on an overhead projector (OHP), or simply using a whiteboard or flipchart to write on.
In this activity put the statements in the correct column according to their effectiveness.
It’s better to face the screen so you can read what you’ve written. Read aloud everything on the screen to make sure your audience understands all the data.
Point to the data on your transparency from a distance – you don’t want to get in the way. Let the audience read the details on your slide for themselves.
Face the audience rather than turning your back on them to read from your PowerPoint presentation. Make sure you are always the focus – don’t let the visuals take your place.
Use a pointer (a pen would do) to draw the audience’s attention to certain points. Take a back seat and stand to one side to allow the audience to absorb important points on the screen.
[4.01] Effective [4.02] Less effective
   
   
   
Visuals can make your presentation more dynamic, more interesting and more effective. However, you need to know how to get the most impact from the visuals you use.

Look at these statements about the use of visual aids. Which statements offer good advice and which would you choose to ignore? Give reasons for your decisions.

5.01

Visual aids help to clarify a presentation.

5.02

Using different colours can confuse and distract the audience.

5.03

Always leave your visuals on display throughout the whole presentation for the audience to look at.

5.04

Include as many details as possible on your transparency to impress the audience with your knowledge.

5.05

Always point to the visual to make sure the audience is in step with your explanation.

5.06

Plan your visuals carefully before your presentation.

5.07

Display your transparency, give your audience time to skim it, and then begin talking.

5.08

While your visual is on display, speak more slowly than usual – your audience is trying to focus on two things at the same time.
Now look at these diagrams. Label each one using the phrases below.

pie chart
line graph
bar chart
organogram
Can you unscramble the letters to find 4 different media used to present visuals?
6.01
lipcrafth
flipchart
6.02
oerppoitnw
6.03
withbeardo
6.04
cransparenty
Now match each one to the advantages and disadvantages then add some of your own ideas to each list.
This is a useful checklist to help you use body language more effectively and to deliver your presentations more confidently.
Stand up straight
Don't jingle coins in your pocket
Speak slowly at first
Speak clearly
Look at everyone
Do not speak with your back to the audience
Gesture naturally - as your enthusiasm demands
Smile
Pause after making important points
You can learn a great deal from observing others giving presentations. Use this form (or adapt it to your own design) when you have the opportunity to observe a presenter in action.
 

In this lesson you have:
Looked at how to use hand gestures appropriately
Considered the effects of body language on an audience
Explored different types of visual aid and looked at their advantages and disadvantages
In this study block – Work: Presentations – you have looked at how to structure a presentation. You have also explored different techniques to help you deliver your presentation effectively. Finally, you have considered the importance of body language and visual aids in presentations. You should now feel more confident when preparing and delivering a presentation.

The next LearnEnglish Professionals e-m@il lessons study block focuses on job hunting and lifestyle issues.