Presentation Skills in English: How to Present with Confidence
A presentation in English combines three challenges: language, organisation and nerves in front of an audience. But most successful presentations follow a simple structure and recurring phrases, and practising them makes delivery much easier.
The structure of a strong presentation
Introduction: introduce yourself, the topic and what the audience will gain.
Roadmap: tell them the sections you'll cover.
Content: three main points at most, with an example for each.
Conclusion: repeat the key idea and the action you want.
Questions: open the floor for discussion.
Ready-made signposting phrases
Today I'd like to talk about...
First, let's look at... / Moving on to...
As you can see on this slide...
To sum up, ...
Thank you. I'm happy to take any questions.
How to handle questions
Listen to the whole question; you can rephrase it to check: So you're asking about...
If you don't know the answer, say: That's a good point. I'll check and get back to you.
Answer briefly, then ask: Does that answer your question?
How to beat nerves
Practise aloud at least three times, ideally in front of someone.
Learn your introduction well; a confident start calms the rest.
Keep slides light on words and use them as prompts, not a script.
Speak more slowly than you think you need to.
Common mistakes
Reading the text off the slides.
Trying to cover too much in too little time.
Not practising the pronunciation of key terms.
At London College UK we offer a presentation skills course for university students and employees, with hands-on practice and individual feedback.
Frequently asked questions
Should I memorise the whole presentation?
No. Learn the introduction and conclusion well and speak naturally in between, using your slides as prompts.
How many slides for a 10-minute talk?
Usually 6 to 10 slides with few words.
How can I improve my pronunciation before presenting?
Record yourself and listen back, focusing on the key terms in your topic.
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