Speaking: Public Speaking & Presentations B2 - Lesson 4: Designing & Referring to Visual Aids
Welcome back! In most modern presentations, your voice is only one part of the show. Your visual aids1 (like PowerPoint or Google Slides) are a powerful tool to support your message. This lesson will teach you how to design clear, simple slides and the key language to refer to them effectively, without losing your connection with the audience.
Principles of Clear Visual Design
The number one rule is that you are the presentation, not your slides. The slides are there to help the audience, not to be a script for you to read. Keep them simple.
The 4 Rules of Good Slide Design:
- 1. One Idea Per Slide
- Avoid clutter2. Each slide should have one clear, focused message.
- 2. Use Keywords, Not Sentences
- Your slide should be a headline, not the full story. Use short, powerful keywords. The details should come from you, the speaker.
- 3. Use High-Quality Visuals
- A clear chart, graph, or a powerful image is more effective than a lot of text. Make sure any visual is easy to read and understand.
- 4. Keep It Simple
- Use a clean, easy-to-read font and high-contrast colours (e.g., dark text on a light background). White space is your friend!
Language for Referring to Your Visuals
Use these phrases to guide your audience's attention smoothly between what you are saying and what you are showing.
- Introducing a Visual:
"Let's take a look at this next slide..."
"I'd like to show you a graph that illustrates this point." - Focusing on a Specific Detail:
"If you look at the right-hand column, you'll notice that..."
"I'd like to draw your attention to the sharp increase in the third quarter." - Explaining the Meaning:
"As you can clearly see, our market share has grown."
"What this chart shows is the breakdown of our expenses." - Transitioning Away:
"So, based on this data, we can conclude that..."
Scenario: Presenting Quarterly Data
Listen to this excerpt from a business presentation. Notice how the speaker, Chantha, directs the audience's attention to his slide.
"Good morning. **On this first slide, you can see** an overview of our sales performance for Q2. **I'd like to draw your attention to** the bar for 'Online Sales.' **As you can see,** this segment has grown by almost 30%, which is a fantastic result. **What this illustrates is** that our new digital marketing strategy is working effectively. **So, based on this, let's move on to discuss** how we can invest even more in this area for Q3."
The #1 Mistake to Avoid: Don't Talk to the Screen!
Never turn your back on the audience to read from your slide. It breaks your connection, makes your voice harder to hear, and shows a lack of confidence.
Instead, use the "Glance, Turn, Talk" method:
- Glance: Briefly glance at the screen to see your keyword or image.
- Turn: Immediately turn your head and body back to face the audience.
- Talk: Deliver your point directly to them, making eye contact.
This simple technique keeps you connected with the most important people in the room: your audience.
Practice Quiz: Choose the Best Phrase
Read the situation and choose the most effective phrase.
1. You are showing a slide with a complex diagram. You want to make sure the audience looks at one specific part first. What do you say?
A) "This slide is very complicated."
B) "The part I'd like you to focus on first is the central processor, right here in the middle."
C) "This diagram shows a lot of things."
→ Answer: B. It is direct, clear, and guides the audience's eyes exactly where you want them to go.
2. After showing a graph with rising sales figures, you want to explain what it means for the company. What do you say?
A) "The line goes up."
B) "So, what this trend demonstrates is that our strategy is effective and we are moving in the right direction."
C) "Let's move on to the next slide now."
→ Answer: B. It explains the *meaning* and *implication* of the data, which is the most important part of a presentation.
Your Mission: The "One Slide, One Minute" Challenge
Your mission is to practice designing a simple slide and presenting it effectively.
- Create just ONE presentation slide about a simple topic (e.g., "The Population of Cambodia vs. its Neighbours," "My 3 Favorite Hobbies").
- Follow the design rules: Use keywords, not sentences. Use a simple chart or images. Keep it clean.
- Practice presenting your one slide for 60 seconds. Your goal is to use at least three different phrases for referring to your visual from this lesson.
- Record yourself. Watch it back and ask: Did I talk to the audience or to the screen? Was my language clear? Did the slide support my words?
- Example: "(Slide shows 3 pictures: a book, a football, a camera). **As you can see on this slide,** I have three main hobbies. **Let's start with the first one, on the left:** reading. **This picture illustrates** my love for fantasy novels. **Now, let's look at the central image...**"
Vocabulary Glossary
- Visual Aid: (Noun Phrase) - ជំនួយមើល - An image, chart, or other visual item used to help a speaker's presentation. ↩
- Clutter: (Noun) - ការរញ៉េរញ៉ៃ - A crowded or untidy collection of things. On a slide, it means too much text or too many images. ↩
- To Illustrate: (Verb) - ពន្យល់ដោយឧទាហរណ៍ ឬរូបភាព - To explain or make something clear, especially by using pictures or examples. ↩
- Concise: (Adjective) - សង្ខេប - Giving a lot of information clearly and in just a few words. ↩
- To draw attention to: (Phrase) - ទាញចំណាប់អារម្មណ៍ទៅ - To make someone notice something. ↩