Giving presentations: with focus on international audiences

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Didactics - Business economics, Economic Pedagogy, grade: 1,7, Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Fakultät für Wirtschaftswissenschaften), course: Cross Cultural Competence, language: English, abstract: Presentations are ways of communicating ideas and information to a group. Presentation skills and public speaking skills are very useful in many aspects of work and life, may they be in business, sales and selling, training, teaching, lecturing and generally entertaining an audience. Developing the confidence and capability to give good presentations, and to stand up in front of an audience and speak well, are also extremely helpful competencies for self¿development.

Even if the formats and purposes of presentations vary significantly, for example: oral (spoken), multimedia (using various media, visuals, audio, etc), PowerPoint presentations, short impromptu presentations, long planned presentations, educational or training sessions, lectures, or simply giving a talk on a subject to a group on a voluntary basis for pleasure, all successful presentations will generally use the essential techniques and structures explained here.

Aside from presentation, technique, confidence, experience and preparation are key factors. This paper will give you a good overview of key presentation and public speaking elements, aspects to

consider while preparing and useful pointers for the final delivery. In the second part I will touch on the subject of speaking to an international audience while the final segment will touch on the

importance of presentation and public speaking skills in today¿s business world.