Practice
English for short presentations
Sign in to saveA short presentation can feel difficult when you try to say everything. Choose one main message, give the audience a route through your ideas, and use a few clear phrases to keep the talk moving.
Plan and deliver a short English presentation with a clear purpose, a simple structure, and useful phrases for each stage.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
move on to /muːv ɒn tuː/
The short answer
Start by telling listeners your topic and main purpose. Then give two or three points in a clear order, use signpost phrases between them, and finish by repeating the message you want them to remember.
Good morning. Today I will explain how our team can make the weekly meeting shorter.
Why it works: The speaker gives a topic and a practical purpose in the first two sentences.
6 more examples
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Thank you for joining me. I am going to talk about three changes to our customer replies.
The opening names the topic and tells listeners how many main points to expect.
Not this:I have
many thingsto say about customer replies. What changes: The audience does not know the purpose or the shape of the talk. -
First, I will show the current response time. Then I will suggest one change.
Number words make the order easy to hear.
Not this:
I willshow the current response time. I will suggest one change. What changes: Both ideas are clear, but the listener does not hear the order between them. -
The second point is the cost of late deliveries.
This signpost tells the audience that the speaker is moving to a new part of the presentation.
Not this:The cost of late deliveries is
also important. What changes: The listener may not know whether this is a new main point or another detail. -
This chart shows the number of orders we received each month.
The speaker tells listeners what to look for before explaining the detail.
Not this:Here are
the numbers. What changes: The audience has no help in understanding what the numbers describe. -
To sum up, a shorter form will save time and make the first reply easier to write.
The phrase signals that the presentation is reaching its final message.
Not this:That is
all from me. What changes: The presentation ends without reminding listeners of the main point. -
I will take questions now. Please ask about any part of the proposal.
The speaker clearly changes from presenting to answering questions.
Not this:
Questions? What changes: A single word may be understood, but a complete invitation sounds clearer and more professional.
Read the full guide
Before you make slides or write notes, decide what the audience should understand or do after your talk. Write that result in one sentence. It will help you choose the points that belong in a short presentation and leave out details that do not help.
Choose one useful message
Begin with the result you want from the presentation. Perhaps you want colleagues to understand a change, choose between two options, or remember the next step. Write one sentence that states that result. A short presentation becomes easier to plan when every point supports the same message.
After this presentation, the group will know why the office is changing its booking system.
A clear result helps you decide what to include. A vague plan such as I will talk about the office can lead to unrelated details.
What should your audience understand or do after a two-minute update about a project?
Write one result, such as: The team will know which task needs a decision this week.
Open with the topic and route
In the first few sentences, greet the audience if the situation needs it, name the topic, and say what you will cover. You can also say how many main points you have. This gives listeners a route before you add details.
Hello, everyone. Today I will explain the new check-in process and the two steps staff need to follow.
The opening gives a topic and two steps. Hello, I have a presentation for you gives the audience no useful information about the talk.
Keep the middle easy to follow
Choose two or three points for a short talk. Put them in an order that makes sense for the audience. You might begin with the current situation, explain the problem, and then offer the next step. Number words such as first, next, and finally can make the order clear.
First, I will describe the delay. Next, I will show its effect on customers. Finally, I will explain the proposed change.
The numbered phrases show the sequence. A group of facts without links may force listeners to work out the order for themselves.
Put these ideas in a useful order: the current problem, your suggested solution, and the benefit of the solution.
One useful order is the current problem, the suggested solution, and the benefit. The audience can understand why the solution is needed before you describe it.
Use signposts between points
A signpost is a short phrase that tells listeners where the presentation is going next. Use one when you begin a new point, return to an earlier idea, or show that you are about to finish. You do not need a signpost before every sentence. Use it when the structure could otherwise be hard to hear.
That explains the current process. Let us move on to the change we are proposing.
The first sentence closes one point and the second introduces the next. Changing topic without a link can make a short talk feel sudden.
Choose a phrase that tells the audience you are starting your final point.
You could say: Finally, I would like to look at the cost.
Talk through each slide
A slide should support your words, not replace them. Before you show a chart, image, or list, tell listeners what they are about to see. Then explain the one detail that matters for your message. Avoid reading every word or number from the screen.
On this slide, you can see the times when most support requests arrive. The busiest period is between nine and eleven in the morning.
The speaker names the slide and directs attention to one useful detail. Reading a full table aloud can hide the point the audience needs.
How can you introduce a slide that compares two delivery options?
Say: This slide compares the cost and delivery time for the two options.
Finish with a clear next step
Your closing should bring listeners back to the main message. Repeat the most useful conclusion in different words, then say what should happen next if the presentation needs a decision or action. Pause after the final sentence so the audience can respond or ask questions.
To sum up, the new form will reduce repeated work. I recommend that we test it with one team next month.
The closing repeats the benefit and names a next step. Ending with a quick thank you alone may leave the purpose unclear.
What could you say after a short presentation when you want the group to choose an option?
You could say: My recommendation is option B. I would be happy to hear your questions before we decide.
Before you go
Remember this
Give listeners a clear route: say your purpose, present a small number of points, and use signposts when you move. End by repeating the main message, then invite questions when that suits the situation.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English for short presentations"
How do I start a short presentation in English?
Greet the audience when the situation needs it, name your topic, and say why you are speaking. You can also tell listeners how many main points you will cover so they know the shape of the talk.
Thank you for joining me. I am going to talk about three changes to our customer replies.
How many points should a short presentation have?
Two or three main points are usually enough for a short presentation. Choose points that support one message and leave out background details that do not help the audience understand your purpose.
I have many things to say about customer replies.
How can I use note cards in a presentation?
Write key words, numbers, and the order of your points on small cards. Do not write a full script unless you need exact wording. Look at a card when you need help, then speak to the audience again.
First, I will show the current response time. Then I will suggest one change.
How should I talk about a slide in English?
Tell listeners what the slide shows before you explain it. Then direct attention to the detail that matters for your message. Use the slide to support your words instead of reading every line aloud.
I will show the current response time. I will suggest one change.
What should I do if I feel nervous during a presentation?
Prepare a simple structure and practice saying the opening and closing aloud. Keep short notes with key words, speak a little more slowly than usual, and pause between points when you need time to think.
The second point is the cost of late deliveries.