Speaking: Public Speaking & Presentations B2
Using Signposting Language Effectively
Listen to the presentation scenario here.
A Signpost for Every Stage 🗺️
Imagine driving in a new city without road signs—you would be lost. Signposting language does the same for your audience, making your presentation professional, organized, and easy to follow. Click 🔊 to hear the phrases.
- "The purpose of my presentation today is to..."
- "I've divided my talk into three main sections..."
- "This leads me to my next point, which is..."
- "Now that we've discussed X, let's turn to Y."
- "Moving on, I'd now like to talk about..."
- "This brings me to the end of my presentation."
- "To sum up..." / "So, to recap..."
- "In conclusion, my key message is..."
Scenario: A Guided Presentation 🎤
Listen to this short presentation (in the audio player above or by clicking 🔊). The signposting phrases are in bold, showing how they guide the listener from one section to the next.
Introduction
"Good morning, everyone. The topic of my talk today is 'The Future of Work'. I've divided my presentation into two parts. First, I'll look at the rise of Artificial Intelligence, and second, I'll discuss the importance of lifelong learning."
Transition & Main Point 1
"So, to begin with, let's consider AI. As you can see from this chart, the number of jobs that can be automated is increasing every year."
Transition & Main Point 2
"This leads me directly to my second point: the need for lifelong learning. Because technology is changing so fast, we must all become continuous learners."
Conclusion
"To sum up, while AI presents a challenge, the solution is to embrace a mindset of constant personal development. Thank you. Now, if there are any questions, I'd be happy to answer them."
Why This Skill is Crucial
💡 Why is Signposting So Important?
For Your Audience: Clear signposting helps your audience relax. They don't have to work hard to figure out your structure, so they can use their mental energy to understand your ideas. This makes your message more persuasive and memorable.
For You, the Speaker: Using signposting phrases acts as your own "verbal map." It keeps you on track, ensures you don't forget any sections, and makes you look and feel more organized and confident.
Test Your Knowledge 🎯
Practice Quiz: Choose the Right Signpost
Choose the best signposting phrase for each situation. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.
1. You have just finished talking about the 'Problems'. You want to start talking about the 'Solutions'. Which phrase is best?
2. You want to tell the audience your plan at the beginning of your presentation. Which is best?
Key Vocabulary
- Signposting Using words and phrases to help a listener understand the structure of a speech.
- To Transition To move smoothly from one topic or section to another.
- To Recap To restate the main points of something; to summarize.
- To Outline To give a summary of the main points that will be covered.
Your Mission: Create a Presentation Skeleton ⭐
Your mission is not to write a full presentation, but to practice creating its "skeleton" using only signposting language. Click 🔊 to hear each line.
- Choose a simple topic with three main points (e.g., "Three reasons to visit Kampot").
- Write or say ONLY the signposting phrases you would use to structure this talk.
Example Skeleton:
- "Good morning. The topic of my presentation is why you should visit Kampot."
- "I've divided my talk into three parts."
- "First, I'll talk about the atmosphere."
- "Now let's move on to the nature."
- "This leads me to my final point, the food."
- "In conclusion, Kampot is a fantastic destination."
- "Thank you. Does anyone have any questions?"