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ESL Worksheets

GIVING A TALK

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APPLICATION FORM

 

Name: ___________________________   Tutor Group: ___________

Topic of Talk: _____________________________________________
 

(Be as specific as possible.  It would be impossible to cover everything about the topic.)

What sources of information do you intend to use?
 

• My own books, magazines etc.
• Library books
• Newspapers/magazines
• CD-ROMs
• The Internet
• People I know

Do you need help with any of these?  (How?)

What audio-visual aids do you think you might use?  (Only use aids that really support your talk.)
 

• Real objects
• Charts
• A tape/CD
• Photos
• Graphs
• OHP
• Maps
• Diagrams
• Other (what?)

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GIVING A TALK

1. Choose your topic

Choose a topic you already know quite a lot about or, at least, are
interested in.

2. Research your material

• What information or examples do you need?
• Background (e.g. history)?  Different types?  Equipment?  Dates?
• Statistics?  Pictures?  Diagrams?  Graphs?
• Be selective - especially with the Internet!
• Choose only what is useful.
• Summarize the information you get.
• What questions might your audience ask?  Be prepared.

3. Plan what you will say

• Do an outline, using bullet points (like these notes).
• Be very clear about the different stages of your talk – otherwise, it will sound muddled.

4. Make notes to talk from

Do not write out your entire talk and then read it aloud!

• Make brief notes, perhaps on cards or slips of paper.
• Number your points.
• Practise speaking from your notes a few times before the actual talk.

5. Keep your audience awake!

• Vary your volume and tone.
• Look at your audience (not at your shoes!).
• (Maybe) use a chart, diagram or picture – but make sure they’re big enough to see!

6. Make your talk easy to follow

• Tell the audience what you are going to cover.
• Warn them when you are about to change to a new topic – e.g. “Now I’m going to talk about …” or “So we’ve looked at …  Now, let’s turn to …”

7. Give your talk

Speak slowly and clearly.  Pause occasionally.

Make eye contact: it keeps people interested.

Smile!

Stand upright.

 
 

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FEEDBACK ON TALK

Name:

Date of Talk:

Topic:

Audience:

 

CONTENT	PRESENTATION	USE OF LANGUAGE
How much you said; whether you included enough explanation, examples etc.; whether you covered the topic fully	Organisation of content; use of voice (tone, volume, pauses); use of words/phrases to mark different sections of talk; use of notes (e.g. cue cards); use of audio-visual aids; eye contact	Fluency (smoothness) of talk; range of vocabulary; appropriateness of language; awareness of audience (e.g. explaining technical terms)
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/5	/5	/5

 
 

 Frankie Meehan