Speaking: Public Speaking & Presentations B2
Structuring & Delivering Clear, Engaging Presentations
Listen to presentation phrase examples here.
Why Structure is Everything
A B2-level presentation isn't just about reading facts. It's about taking your audience on a journey. A clear structure is the map for that journey. Without it, your audience gets lost.
CONFUSING 😵
"So, our sales were good. And we had some problems with marketing. Also, the new product is late. The sales were good in Q4, but Q3 was bad. Let's talk about the competition..."
CLEAR ✨
"Good morning. Today, I'm going to cover three main topics: First, our sales performance; second, our marketing challenges; and third, an update on the new product. Let's start with sales..."
The second example is clear and professional because it has a structure and uses signposting.
The "Tell 'Em" Framework (A Simple, Powerful Structure)
The most famous structure for presentations is simple:
The Introduction: Grab their attention and give them a clear map (a "roadmap").
- Hook: "Have you ever wondered...?"
- Objective: "My goal today is to..."
- Roadmap: "I've divided my talk into three parts..."
The Body: This is your main content, usually 2-3 key points. Use signposting to move between them.
- Point 1: "My first point is..."
- Point 2: "This brings me to..."
- Point 3: "Finally, let's look at..."
The Conclusion: Summarize the journey and give a final, memorable message.
- Summary: "To sum up, we've seen..."
- Takeaway: "The most important thing to remember is..."
- Close: "Thank you. I'd be happy to answer any questions."
Your Speaker's Toolkit: Signposting Language Signposting (ភាសាសញ្ញា)
Signposting phrases are like road signs. They tell your audience where you are and where you are going next. This is the most important skill for a clear presentation.
Phrases for Starting & Introducing
- "Good morning. My name is... and I'm here to talk about..."
- "The purpose of my presentation today is to..."
- "I've divided my talk into three main sections."
Phrases for Moving Between Points
- "Okay, let's start with my first point."
- "This brings me to my next point, which is..."
- "Now, let's move on to..."
- "Finally, I'd like to look at..."
Phrases for Concluding & Summarizing
- "To sum up..." / "In conclusion..."
- "So, to quickly recap the main points..."
- "The key takeaway here is..."
- "Thank you for listening. I'd now be happy to answer any questions."
Practice Your Structure 🎯
Practice Quiz: Match the Signpost to its Function
Match the signposting phrase to its correct job in a presentation. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.
1. "This brings me to my next point..."
2. "To sum up, we've discussed three main issues."
3. "The purpose of my talk today is to..."
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
- Structure The arrangement of parts in a presentation; the plan.
- Signposting Using phrases to tell the listener where you are in the presentation.
- Roadmap A plan for your presentation, usually given in the introduction. (e.g., "First, I'll... Second, I'll...")
- Engaging Interesting; keeping your audience's attention.
- Objective The main goal or purpose of your presentation.
- To Recap / To Summarize To restate the main points at the end.
- Key Takeaway The single most important message you want your audience to remember.
Your Mission: The 2-Minute Presentation ⭐
Your mission is to create a short, 2-minute presentation on a topic you know well. Focus 100% on the structure.
Choose a topic: "The benefits of tourism in my province," "My 3 favorite Khmer foods," or "How to succeed at university."
Record yourself. Your presentation MUST include:
- An Introduction: Greet your audience and state your objective (e.g., "Today, I'm going to tell you...").
- A Clear Body: Use signposting phrases (e.g., "My first point is...", "Secondly...").
- A Conclusion: Use a summary phrase (e.g., "In conclusion, we've looked at...") and a final "Thank you."