1. US Academic Expectations: Oral Communication Skills
By: Jillian Johnston

2. Learning Outcomes Understand the expectations of an Oral Presentation
Learn about the different skills that go into Oral Communication
Practice identifying and applying these skills
Understand how to develop presentations

3. US Academic Expectations
Participation
Presentations
US Assumptions:
Professors and students are partners in learning.
Students learn best when they are involved in the learning process.
When students participate, they are showing interest and engagement with the materials in class.

4. Participation How to participate: Share your opinions
Answer questions posed by students and professors
Ask questions to clarify or deepen your understanding
Actively interact in assigned class groups

5. Presentations When you present, you are:
Sharing your findings on an assigned topic
Engaging your audience so they can best learn the information you are sharing

6. What makes this presentation effective? What does she do well?
Stop at 1:19
How to Make Stress your Friend

7. What is an Oral Presentation

8. Oral Presentation Skills
Verbal
Non-Verbal
Breathing
Volume
Pacing
Movement
Pronunciation

9. Pronunciation Be sure to enunciate- pronounce the word clearly
Practice difficult words (e.g. names or places)
Confidence
Key words needs to be clear, smooth, and understandable
Identify words that you are unsure of how to pronunciation that the speaker pronounces clearly. Which part of the word is difficult for you? Are you making the correct mouth movements

10. Which words should you practice pronouncing?
Some people become "hangry," or irrationally irritable, upset or angry because of hunger. But how hunger turns into hangriness is a mystery, says Isabella Martinez, a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut in psychoneurobiology, who wanted to understand the phenomenon.
“hangriness”
People’s name – Isabella Martinez
Place – Connecticut
“Psychoneurobiology”
“Phenomenon”

11. Breathing When you take a breath Quiet (do not draw attention)
Usually at the end of a sentence
If you breathe during a sentence make sure it is at the right spot
Commas ( , )
Hyphens/Dash ( -- )
Semicolon ( ; )
Make a mark every time a breath is taken- including within a sentence
Is the breath distracting?

12. Volume Loudness of your voice Emphasize important points
Engage the audience with different volume
Exaggerating points for dramatic effect
Circle the words or phrases where the speaker uses a different volume
This may be LOUD or quiet

13. Pacing Talking pace Asking if there are any questions
Too fast vs. too slow
Be sure you have time to enunciate
Appropriate pauses
Asking if there are any questions
Engage with the audience to break up how often you speak and get information
Mark a pause
Mark when she talks slowly and mark when she increases the pace

14. Movement Body movement Walking or Changing Position Facial expressions
Hands, head, shoulders, legs
Walking or Changing Position
Facial expressions
Emotion, Interest
Eye Contact!
Watch for:
Hands in pockets
Arms crossed on directly at your side
Fidgety
Know the room set-up
How does the presenter move. Take note of all the different movements
Notice facial expressions, can you notice when she emphasizes something or wants to portray a certain emotion

15. Let’s try out these skills
What we are doing:
Divide into Groups, with each group taking one skill.
As you watch the video, look for how your skill is applied in the speech
In your group, discuss your final answers to share with the class.
How to Make Stress your Friend

16. What do we notice?

17. Making Good Transitions
Smooth transition from sentence to sentence
Appropriate pauses
Know what comes next
Make sure your notes flow
Can you use reference cards?
Practice, practice, practice!
In front of a mirror paying attention to other skills
With your group too!
Avoid filler words
Uh, um, & hmm
Reference cards: key points that spark interest
Why
Identify when the speaker pauses to change a thought
Does this transition feel “smooth”…why?
Which other components affect tranitioning

18. Developing your Presentation
Ask for help!
Develop key ideas
Arranging your Presentation (Introduction, Context, Conclusion)
Support and Evidence
Summary of Ideas
Ask if there are questions
Visual Aids- i.e. PowerPoint, Prezi (prezi.com)
Prepare notes and rehearse practicing verbal and non-verbal skills
Try and engage your audience
Enjoy yourself! Plan time to lower your stress levels