Being a Great Presenter
Before you Read
What do you think these phrasal verbs/words means? When you read try to guess the meaning.
pick up
goes into
hone
profound
draws listeners in
sit up and take notice
ponder
on the road to being
One of my favorite public speakers is Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple.. If you watch his presentations you can pick up a lot of interesting points from the way he uses his voice and his passion for his products. There is so much that goes into making a great presentation but one thing that we can all hone is how we use our voices. The best presenters are skillful at showing passion and creating interest through their voice. For example there is a big difference between
"what I will show you today will make a profound difference to your bottom line"
and
"what I will show you today will make a profound difference to your bottom line"
Another useful strategy is pause. Excellent speakers will pause and this draws listeners in and focuses their attention to a point that the speaker want to make. Pausing creates expectation it makes your audience sit up and take notice and gives them time to ponder what you said. Compare the way these two sentences are said
"17% - Our sales are up 17% on last year"
"our sales are up 17% on last year"
There are of course many other things that go into a great presentation but if practice these two points then you are already on the road to being a great presenter.
Guessing Meaning From Context
Now, match the letters of the phrasal verbs/words with the closest numbered meaning in the right column. The answers are at the bottom.
|
pick up |
A |
1 |
Make something more accurate. Develop |
|
goes into |
B |
2 |
Attract to, like a magnet |
|
hone |
C |
3 |
A surprise that makes you look |
|
profound |
D |
4 |
To think about deeply |
|
Draws someone of something in |
E |
5 |
To collect, understand, discover |
|
sit up and take notice |
F |
6 |
Become part of |
|
ponder |
G |
7 |
Developing, changing into something different or new. |
|
on the road to being/becoming |
H |
8 |
A great discovery or increase in knowledge. Amazing! |
A=5, B=6, C=1, D=8, E=2, F=3, G=4, H=7
Some Questions to help you use the new words/phrases
1. What was one of the hardest subjects for you to pick up at school? Why?
2. What new ideas did you pick up from today’s reading?
3. What are some other things that go into making a great presentation?
4. How do you think you could hone your English ability?
5. What is one of the profound movies you’ve seen? What kind of event would be profoundly life changing for someone? In your life?
6. What would draw you into a shop to look around?
7. Tell me about a news event that made you sit up and take notice.
8. Are there any issues that you are pondering these days?
9. Describe someone you know of, for example sports, music, etc who is on the road to becoming something great.
Some example sentences using the new words/phrases.
1. I had a lot of trouble picking up algebra when I was in school, I just don’t have much ability in mathematical subjects.
2. My friend was asking me about my ex-girlfriend, but I said that was not a subject that I wanted to go into.
3.. If you go to the golf driving range everyday, then you must hone your golfing skills.
4. In Steve Jobs’s speech, he said that knowing that he had cancer had a profound effect on his thinking about life.
5. Advertising is clever, it draws you into learn about their product by entertaining you.
6. The financial crisis of 2008, really made the world sit up and take notice about how banking business is done.
7. The scientist Stephen Hawkins ponders the beginning of everything.
8. I can see this young golfer has great skills; he’s really on the road to being one of the greatest golfers.
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