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3 Tips for Presenting in English When You’re Not a Native Speaker

  • Deborah Grayson Riegel

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Spend most of your time practicing, not perfecting your slides.

Many leaders quickly lose their confidence and competence when making business presentations. For a subset of them — those who need to present in English when it isn’t their native language — the stakes and the stress can feel even higher. Meanwhile, the need for leaders to be able to present in English is required for global collaboration. There are several strategies nonnative English speakers can employ to help them feel more confident before, during, and after a presentation. Rehearsal and repetition are crucial steps. The goal here is “overlearning” your presentation. This will help your presentation to become embedded in your long-term memory and therefore less susceptible to the effects of stress. It will also help you speak spontaneously, if you can trust that your core content is safely stored (and able to be retrieved) from your long-term memory. Don’t agonize about your accent, but do slow your speaking speed. And pause early and often, which serves two benefits – first, to help your audience comprehend your message, and second, to give you a break.

As a coach and international business school instructor, I have worked with hundreds of current and future leaders who are accomplished, bright, and capable — and who quickly lose their confidence and competence when making business presentations. For a subset of these leaders — those who need to present in English when it isn’t their native language — the stakes and the stress can feel even higher. Meanwhile, the need for leaders to be able to present in English is growing at a rapid pace. According to Harvard Business School Associate Professor Tsedal Neely , author of The Language of Global Success , “English is required for global collaboration and global work.”

presentation tips for non native english speakers

  • Deborah Grayson Riegel is a professional speaker and facilitator, as well as a communication and presentation skills coach. She teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and has taught for Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and Peking University’s International MBA Program. She is the author of Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life and the best-selling Go To Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help .

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Beyond Language Barriers: A Non-Native English Speaker's Guide to Powerful Presentations

Tom Tran

I'm delighted to have guest contributor, Aaron Yamamoto, provide his perspective on how non-native English speakers can successfully prepare for and deliver a great presentation. Aaron's bio and contact info can be found at the end of the post.

What Makes a Successful Presentation?

The best way to share your information with your audience depends entirely on the situation. While TED-talk style interactive presentations might sound cool, they are a poor format when you need to bring across very detailed information or share the latest financial figures or research results.

Conversely, when your aim is to move your audience to action and inspire them, overloading them with data-heavy consulting-style documents will also be off-putting. The truth of the matter is most everyday business presentations will land somewhere in between - combining the right level of content with some visuals that make the content more engaging is key.

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Check out a few of the presentation design ideas here for inspiration on what a great balance can look like. By following this balanced approach, you will be able to create a successful presentation document in 90% of situations.

As a non-native speaker, having a few more words on the page will help you for the actual presentation, as you will have pointers on what to say. Keep that in mind as we dive into how to create a great document and present it in a way to grab the audience's attention.

Top 5 Skills Successful Non-Native Presenters Have

If you are a non-native speaker like me, you might feel you are at an immediate disadvantage when having to share documents and data in a foreign language, in this case, English. It is important to remember that the fact you are attempting to deliver a presentation in a language other than your mother tongue is an amazing feat and achievement on its own, and it is important to feel this confidence as you get into the preparation and delivery of your document.

Successful non-native presenters have some winning skills in common, and by honing these for yourself, you can ensure your document and presentation will be very well received.

1. Diligent preparation

Non-native speakers know they cannot make a presentation up, and their chance to "talk their way out of a difficult situation" is harder than if they had to do it in their native language. That is why you will not find them doing a quick last-minute rush of putting together a few thoughtless words like a few native-speaker presenters do. Instead, non-native speakers take the time necessary to plan and prepare their documents properly, reviewing them multiple times until they have them just right. Furthermore, they will do the homework, comb through all relevant data, and double-check that all facts, data, and figures are accurate.

2. Clear structure

Non-native speakers know that it is vitally important for the audience to be able to follow them - even if their sentences might be a bit different or their accents sometimes harder to understand. The key to that is the structure: by making the document and presentation very clearly structured, it becomes easier for the audience to follow. A few ways to organize and structure information include:

  • Timeline structuring: tell the story based on the actual timeline when it happened. This is great for presentations on the history of a company or a deal
  • Problem-Solution structuring: here, the starting problem or question is explained, and then how it can be/was resolved. This is great when explaining how to address a challenge, like low revenue in the business report, or a failed experiment during scientific research
  • Numbered structuring: similar to this chapter, it helps the audience to be prepared if you tell them how many points you will have. At the beginning of this segment, I told you we would be looking into the 5 top skills successful non-native presenters have. We are now at number 2 out of the 5, and I am sure it will be much easier for you to remember the points I am sharing here, as it will be anchored in your head around the number 5. You might not remember all of them in the end, but chances are high you will remember many, making this a successful way of sharing information.

You can learn more about structuring in this post about How To Structure Anything

3. Professional language

Non-native speakers know that sounding professional and confident in both their written communication and oral presentations can give them an edge at work. Therefore, non-native speakers take great caution in choosing the right words since they may not be familiar with more casual expressions. This helps avoid fluffy language and buzzwords, which are hallmarks of overconfident presenters with little content depth.

4. Combining words with powerful images

Non-native speakers know they need the words on the document to help guide them during the presentation - but also that images can carry a lot of the meaning and aid the audience in understanding, even if their sentences are not perfect. This is why they carefully choose visual elements that go along well with the words in their presentation. Don't forget: not just a light background or dark background, text boxes, and visual elements such as pictures and graphics can be visually appealing. Especially the white space, "the nothing" in between words and pictures can help in structuring and conveying the meaning and ideas.

5. Humility and resourcefulness

Last but not least is a trait or mindset that many successful non-native speakers have in common: humility and resourcefulness. They know they are not perfect, and they may stumble over words, but they are also not too proud to leverage help where possible. This is why they often use tools that can support them, such as spelling and grammar checks through Grammarly and even more advanced tools like JasperAi. More about great tools that can help non-native speakers can be found in this guide on the best AI tools and further down in this blog post.

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Step-By-Step Guide for Making and Delivering a Successful Presentation

The ideation: how to create a good outline from a blank presentation, 1. brainstorm your ideas.

At the beginning of a presentation, it can be difficult to start with an empty slide – that's why successful presenters always brainstorm their ideas before starting with the actual outline.

To help you get started, go through open-ended questions like: What is the goal of this presentation? Who is my audience? What information do I need to include?

2. Create a basic structure

Once you have all the necessary information, create a skeleton outline of the presentation. This helps identify topics and order so that the flow of the presentation is logical and easy for the audience. Refer to different structuring techniques. A simple "Introduction - Main part for today - Outlook" is a decent structure to start with.

My personal recommendation is to do this in a simple table with 2 columns, with column 1 labeled "main point" and column 2 labeled "content." Each row represents one major point to bring across, for example, row one could have under "main point": Sales forecast 2025.

3. Build on the structure

Once you have the basic outline, you can start to fill in the gaps with more detailed content. What is the main content that needs to be described in order to support the key content outlined for every point? This is where additional research and reading come in handy – to make sure that all points are supported by evidence or examples and that the presentation has enough depth for a better understanding of the topic.

The writing: how to write good content like a native speaker

Unless you have been in an English-speaking environment for a long time, chances are writing a perfect native-English-sounding text is a challenge for you. It certainly is for me. This is where having the small but incredible book The Elements Of Style by Strunk and White next to your laptop will come in incredibly helpful. It will ensure your grammar is top-notch. You can further boost the grammar through digital tools - my favorite (and free) choice is Grammarly . You can also consider using a professional writing and copyediting tool such as JasperAi , which cannot only complete sentences for you, but also can suggest an outline for you, write lists, and more. I have been using both tools to write this blog post. It is still all my thoughts and ideas, but perhaps a bit more fluently expressed.

Outside of the incorrect spelling and grammar, it is key to remember less is more - don't overload your document with unnecessary sentences and words. The shorter you keep your messages, the more natural and effortless they will sound.

The design: how to make a great PowerPoint presentation

Coming back to the point mentioned before, it is important to keep your presentations simple and try to focus on one key topic per page. Have a short and clear title, so your audience knows what your page is about. Explain the content in as few words as possible, and avoid fluff and filler words. Bullet points (also called bullet lists) work very well. Avoid serif fonts (the ones with the extra lines in the letters), and stick to simple fonts like Arial and mind your font size. The content on your PowerPoint slide should not be below a font size of 12 in Arial. Compliment your text with a few well-fitting visuals, don't add random pictures of sunsets when your text is on the latest business performance.

The practice: how to prepare for the big day

You will only be able to deliver a great presentation if you have prepared well before the big day. Read through your text multiple times and make sure you are familiar with all of its contents. If needed, write out notes for each slide so that you don't forget about vital points during the presentation. It is also important to practice a few times in front of a mirror or, even better yet, in front of family and friends. This way, you can gain an understanding of the time it takes to read through the content and make sure you are able to memorize your key points and phrases. I also like to record myself on my phone and watch the recording. It is super embarrassing at first but makes me realize quickly what to tweak.

The delivery: how to present confidently

Finally, don't forget that confidence is key: if you look confident and speak with clarity, most people won't mind that you stumble over a word here and there. To this point, I recommend you to watch this TED talk on power posing - " Fake It Till You Make It ". Spend a moment before your presentation in such a powerful pose. If you cannot do it in public, why not head for the bathroom where nobody will look at you. It might sound a bit wacky, but bringing your body into a confident position will do wonders for your self-confidence

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Getting Started: a Few Resources To Help You

Writing tools.

Grammarly is a free spell-checker that you can install on your desktop and use as a browser plugin. No matter what and where you write text, it will automatically (in the background) check your sentences and highlights any words and phrases that need to be improved. There is a premium version that helps you even more with the tone and such, but I personally am fine with the free version.

ChatGPT4 , the latest release from the renowned AI tool , has added some incredible features to its repertoire. It can now create text in any language and style – a powerful asset for brainstorming projects! Though this automated writing assistance is invaluable, you'll want to ensure that it's used as a supplemental aid since ChaptGPT (and most AI tools) output is easily identified with an AI detector. Additionally, be sure to fact-check your generated content; though useful for jumpstarting ideas creation processes, sometimes wild facts are concocted by these machines!

Jasper is a unique AI tool that can help you brainstorm ideas for your PowerPoint presentation. It works by analyzing the inputs to discover patterns or relationships between factors, which you can then utilize in crafting your presentations. Additionally, JasperAI provides a library of ready-made templates that you can modify to fit your needs. These features make it a great choice for brainstorming creative and effective presentations.

How-to-guides and blog posts

  • How to Create a Persuasive Presentation with ChatGPT
  • How to Prompt ChatGPT while using PowerPoint
  • The art of the headline: How to make your PowerPoint slides stand out
  • MBA Business Presentation Design for New Grads and Non-Business Majors
  • Mastering Audience Engagement: The Ultimate Guide to Captivating Presentations
  • Fake It Till You Make It
  • A word game to communicate in any language
  • Presenting in English When English Isn't Your Native Language
  • How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking

About the Author

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Aaron Yamamoto

Aaron is the founder of jiishinya. where he helps people independent of their gender, background, or education, achieve success financially and privately. Despite learning English much later in his life (his native language is Japanese), he has been able to successfully navigate the professional business world in English.

  • IEEE Xplore Digital Library
  • IEEE Standards
  • IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Innovation at Work

Three Simple Ways Non-Native English Speakers Can Improve Their Presentation Skills

improve-presentation-skills

Public speaking is a necessary but often dreaded part of almost everyone’s job. If you’re a technical professional whose first language is not English, you may find the prospect of speaking before an English-speaking audience particularly nerve-wracking. 

According to Deborah Grayson Riegel, co-author of the book Tips of the Tongue: The Nonnative English Speaker’s Guide to Mastering Public Speaking , writing in Harvard Business Review, it’s normal for these professionals to be great at their jobs but lose confidence when they have to talk in front of an audience. If you’re experiencing this problem, Grayson Riegel recommends these tips for sharpening your presentation skills:

Over-learn your presentation: Many non-native English speakers report spending much more time preparing their PowerPoint slides than they do practicing what they will say, according to Grayson Riegel. Instead of spending endless hours on your slide deck, make time to rehearse your presentation and do so repeatedly. This will go much further in helping you prepare for the moment you are up before a live audience. 

“The goal here is ‘overlearning’ your presentation — pushing on with practice even when it seems like you’ve done enough,” writes Grayson Riegel. “This will help your presentation to become embedded in your long-term memory and therefore less susceptible to the effects of stress. It will also help you speak spontaneously, if you can trust that your core content is safely stored (and able to be retrieved) from your long-term memory.”

Speak slowly: As a non-native speaker of English, you may be self-conscious about your accent. You’re not alone. Even native speakers can have heavy regional dialects that make them self-conscious during presentations. However, it’s important to keep in mind that pronounced accents and dialects can impede an audience’s ability to understand you. But don’t worry— you can help solve this problem simply by slowing down. 

“By slowing down your speaking pace, you help your audience to better manage the barriers to really hearing and understanding you,” states Grayson Riegel. The key is to make sure you take your time pronouncing your words to improve clarity. As the crowd becomes accustomed to your accent, they will be able to more easily understand you.

Take frequent pauses: When standing before an audience, it’s normal to get nervous. As such, you may feel a need to speed through your presentation. However, doing this will further impede your audience’s ability to understand you. In addition to talking slowly, be sure to take frequent pauses. Not only will this give your audience more time to process what you are saying, it will also give you a mental break to gather your thoughts, look at notes, and observe your audience’s faces. “You can also use a pause to build rapport with your audience by checking with them about your pace and pronunciation by saying something like, “Let me pause for a  moment here. I know that I am making complete sense to myself in [Spanish/French/Japanese/Hindi/your native language]. How am I doing in English?” Grayson Riegel writes. Not only does this help you through audience feedback, but it also gives you the chance to take a break. 

While you can certainly improve your presentation skills with these tips, taking courses specifically designed to improve technical English for non-native speakers can help you improve even more.

Improve Your Technical English

Available on IEEE Xplore and the IEEE Learning Network, IEEE English for Technical Professionals is an online learning program that uses real-life interactive scenarios to provide non-native speakers with a working knowledge of English techniques and vocabulary that are essential for today’s technical workplace. Designed to help learners master essential English skills, this mobile-friendly program is ideal for both working professionals, as well as students who are preparing to enter the field.

Enable technical professionals whose first language is not English to improve their language skills in a way that fits the needs and priorities of working adults in technical fields. Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about this program and how to get access to it for your organization.

Interested in the program for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network.

Riegel, Deborah Grayson. (6 April 2018). 3 Tips for Presenting in English When You’re Not a Native Speaker . Harvard Business Review.

communication , communication skills , engineering professional , english , english for technical professionals

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10 Ways To Give A More Effective Presentation in English - A Guide for Non-native Speakers

Published on, november 15, 2022, this article may contain affiliate links.

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Does the idea of giving a presentation in English make you nervous? It doesn’t need to be this way. Here’s our guide for non-native speakers to deliver a powerful presentation, with 10 tips you can use today.

10 Ways To Give A More Effective Presentation in English - A Guide for Non-native Speakers

Table of contents

As an English teacher, my students often ask me, “ Is my English good enough to give a presentation? ”

This question makes me laugh. Why? Because I even get my beginners’ class to give presentations! Some of them give fantastic presentations on topics like ‘My House’ or ‘My Family’.

So, yes, your English is definitely good enough to give a presentation. 

In fact, instead of worrying about your English, you should be looking at ways to make your presentations more interesting and more powerful.

Let’s see how we can do that.

Does presenting make you nervous? Maybe that’s a good thing!

Nearly everyone gets nervous when they have to give a presentation. It’s normal!

Mark Twain even famously said (about speaking in public):

“There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars”

But non-native speakers have extra things to worry about: What if I make an English mistake? What if people don’t understand me?

Let’s cut out all this worrying. If you make a mistake when you speak, that’s fine. Everyone makes mistakes, including native speakers.

You should, on the other hand, try to minimise the mistakes in your PowerPoint slides. After all, people will be staring at each one for a few minutes. I recommend asking a friend to help you proofread them.

But let’s focus on your vocal skills. After all, it’s your spoken words that people will remember more than your slides.

Although I said you shouldn’t worry about giving a presentation, it’s impossible not to be a little bit nervous. And that’s a good thing!

Wait… it’s good to be nervous? Yes, you read that correctly. When you’re nervous, you have more energy and your mind is more focused .

Convert that nervous energy to ‘positive’ energy, become excited about your topic and move around. Use gestures .

Think about a boring teacher you had at school. Wouldn’t they have been more interesting if they had some nervous energy?

What about my vocabulary? Should I use long words?

Many non-native speakers worry that their vocabulary is too simple.

The truth is that simple is good .

I prefer to listen to a presentation with simple vocabulary rather than the long-winded jargon used by professors and politicians.

Remember, we want to use precise words, not long words.

As an example, a word like ‘empathy’ is good. It’s precise and it’s easier than saying ‘understanding others’ feelings’.

But a phrase like ‘conceptualisation of developmental strategies’ is jargon and it will just annoy the audience.

Be aware of cultural differences when you present

Are there cultural differences when presenting? Yes, there are some that you should be aware of when presenting to an international audience.

1 Eye contact is good. Some cultures avoid eye contact, but eye contact with the audience is very important for an effective presentation.

2 Don’t point at people . In some cultures, it is okay to point your finger at people, but in other cultures, this is very rude! Point with the flat part of your hand instead.

presentation tips for non native english speakers

3 Avoid offensive jokes . A joke that is accepted in your culture might not be accepted in others. Humour is great, but avoid topics like religion and politics, and certainly don’t make jokes that might be considered offensive to certain groups.

What if my presentation is online?

All of the tips we are going to cover are great for both online and offline presentations.

And when presenting online, remember that body language still matters . The purpose of using gestures is to show your excitement and energy about the topic.

Even if the audience can’t see you (for example, when you are presenting a slide), you should still use positive body language to show you are passionate about your topic.

In fact, these tips will work well even in situations that are not technically presentations; they are tips that will serve you well whenever you need to speak in English.

Practise makes perfect

The most effective way to practise is not ‘in the mirror’ as many might tell you, but in front of a video camera.

Record yourself . Play it back and see where you can improve. It’s also a good way to spot and get rid of distracting gestures, such as scratching your nose!

You could write out a script to help you. But you should consider this very carefully.

A script might help you to practise, but you should not use a script when you deliver your actual presentation. People don’t want to see you read from a script - they want to feel like you are speaking directly to them.

And don’t try to memorise a script either. Instead, speak from simple notes.

Remember that if you are using PowerPoint, the slides are your notes . Write them in point form, so that you don’t end up just reading from the slides.

Ten tips for a great presentation

Here are ten simple tips that you can use immediately to improve any presentation, online or in person.

1 Speak slowly

As I mentioned, when you are nervous, you have more energy. This can cause you to speak faster than normal.

Instead, use that extra energy to project your voice and use more gestures.

If you find yourself speaking too quickly, simply stop and take a breath between points. Take a sip of water if you have it.

You are familiar with punctuation in writing, but what about ‘spoken punctuation’?

Where you might write a comma, insert a short pause. Where you might write a full stop, insert a longer pause. Where you begin a new topic, insert an even longer break.

A good public speaker feels confident pausing for a long time, but it does take some practice.

3 Use sentence stress to highlight important words

You should also use something called sentence stress . Don’t worry! It’s simpler than it sounds.

It just means that you need to stress – make louder and longer – some words in a sentence. Which words? The important ones!

This is an excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Try saying it slowly and stressing the words in bold:

Friends , Romans , countrymen , lend me your ears ; I come to bury Caesar , not to praise him.

Try saying it a few times until you feel confident. Why not compare it to a professional ?

4 Start with a hook

You want to start with a powerful opening. One way to do this is to use a ‘hook’.

What’s a hook? It is simply a statement – or picture, or video – that gets the audience to sit up and pay attention.

I like to use WHAT-IF statements to do this. A WHAT-IF statement challenges the audience to think about a certain scenario.

“What if I told you that you could retire before age 40?” “What if you found out that you were adopted?” “What if you had one insurance plan that could meet all of your needs?”

Another great lead in is “think of a time”.

Think of a time when you experienced terrible customer service. How did you feel? Think of a time when you were overwhelmed by work. How did it affect your productivity?

5 Find ways to make it interesting

A hook makes the introduction interesting, but the rest of the presentation should be interesting too.

You can do this by sharing personal stories, telling jokes, highlighting interesting facts and quotes, showing images or videos or bringing something to show the audience. Perhaps you've learned something interesting in the latest episode of English Learning for Curious Minds .

Check out how this fireman gives a talk in his firefighting outfit .

6 Make it interactive

Getting the audience to interact guarantees that your presentation will be fun.

The most common way to get audience interaction is to ask them questions.

But this isn’t the only way. You could give them puzzles or even ask them to discuss things in groups.

For online presentations, you can set up interactive quizzes using Kahoot! , Quizizz or Mentimeter . Mentimeter also offers interactive surveys.

7 Use rhetorical questions

I mentioned that questions are a great way to make a presentation more interactive.

Let’s look at a certain kind of question: rhetorical questions.

A rhetorical question is simply a question that you ask without expecting an answer. Here’s an example.

Have you ever wondered what happens to the 800 kilograms of garbage that the average American produces per year?

When we ask a question like this, we don’t stop and wait for the audience members to answer. We simply ask it for rhetorical effect .

However, even though we don’t wait for the audience to give answers, each person will think about the answer in their own mind .

This means that rhetorical questions increase audience focus and interest.

8 Use signposting

Have you ever considered that a presentation is like an essay? There’s an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

When someone reads an essay, they know exactly where they are on the page. In fact, people also like to know “where they are” in a presentation.

To do this, we use a simple but effective technique called signposting. This just means signalling the structure of the presentation to the audience .

For a longer presentation, people like to have a preview of what’s to come. Note the language in bold, which you can use in your own presentations:

First , I’ll be discussing cryptocurrency basics. Then , I’ll move on to how blockchain works. Finally , I’ll cover the pros and cons of the most common cryptocurrencies.

It’s very important to show people when you are moving on to a new point and you can make this clear with signposting:

Okay, so we have learned cryptocurrency basics. The next important topic that I want to cover is blockchain…

9 Predict what the audience will ask

Answering questions from the audience can also be scary!

To prepare for this, write down a list of questions that you expect the audience might ask and prepare answers.

Some people like to answer questions anytime during the presentation (it’s more interactive). Others like to have a Q & A session at the end (it’s easier to manage your time).

You can make your preference clear to the audience at the beginning of your talk:

“Feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions.”
“I'll try to answer all of your questions in a Q and A session after the presentation.”

Occasionally, someone might ask you a question that you don’t know the answer to. This happens to all presenters, so don’t worry.

Simply ask the person for their email address or give them yours. You can find the answer later, after the presentation, and continue the discussion via email or chat group.

10 Get inspired

A great way to prepare for an upcoming presentation is to watch other people present.

TED.com can help you do this; it’s a website that offers thousands of short presentation videos that you can watch for free.

If you have, say, a big presentation to give on Monday, why not spend an hour or two on Sunday night watching TED talks to put you in the zone .

You can learn interesting techniques from Ted speakers and look for examples of the tips in this article.

I recommend this Ted Talk by Matt Cutts . How about a good example of an online presentation? Try this talk by Ashley Whillans .

Each Ted Talk comes with a transcript, so you can explore the language the speaker uses.

Take any opportunity to present

The tips here can help you to give a powerful presentation.

But you won’t become a good presenter just by reading about it. You have to do it!

Take every opportunity that you can to practise presenting. Volunteer when you get the chance, or join Toastmasters .

Only by stepping up to the challenge can you really improve.

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how to give the perfect presentation

Presentation language for non-native speakers, useful expressions for non-native speakers giving presentations.

Presenting well is a challenge for everyone. As a non-native English speaker, you may find it particularly frightening to do presentations in English. The table below will help you learn the English phrases and expressions you need to deliver more effective presentations. You don’t need to learn all of them; read them aloud and mark just the one or two expressions, in each category, that you feel most comfortable with. Then, use them as you rehearse for your upcoming presentations.

Introduction

About presentation prep.

created by Rebecca Ezekiel

Being able to speak in public can change your life! Presentation Prep is your complete, free guide to delivering speeches, lectures, and presentations more successfully and confidently. Whether you're a native English-speaker who suffers from public speaking anxiety, or a non-native speaker who needs guidelines for presenting to international audiences, this site will give you everything you need. Presentation Prep is written by Rebecca Ezekiel, an experienced corporate trainer who specializes in the areas of communications, presentations, and cross-cultural skills. Her online English language training videos are watched by millions of students worldwide.

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  • 7 tips to improve your presentation skills for non-native speakers of English

How to Improve your presentation skills and overcome your fear of public speaking if you are not a native speaker of English

Presentation Skills Course for nonnative speakers of English

Many people with this fear avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice.

To overcome your fear you will need to identify what exactly you are afraid of. Some fears are usually based on personal negative experiences. For example, not being understood when speaking English in front of an audience .

The following are powerful tips to improve your presentation skills in English that would help you overcome your fear of public speaking.

1. Make sure that you know you know your topic well

The more you care about the topic and the better you understand what you're talking about — the less likely you'll get off track or make a mistake. And if you do get lost, you'll be able to recover quickly. Think about what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready.

The more you practice public speaking in English and prepare for situations in which you feel fear, like speaking English in front of an audience, the more you will replace that fear with confidence.

Look at any mistakes you made as an opportunity to improve your presentation skills .

2. Plan out the information and get organized

Public speaking skills

Carefully plan out all the information you want to present ahead of time, including any visual or audio aids. The more organized you are, the less nervous you'll be. Use an outline on a small card to stay on track. It is always helpful to visit the place where you'll be speaking and review available equipment before your presentation.

3. Practice your presentation out loud

Practice your presentation from start to finish a few times for some people you're comfortable with and ask for their feedback. Also practice with a few people with whom you're less familiar. Make a video of your presentation so you can watch yourself presenting and see opportunities for improvement.

4. Prepare for things that could go wrong to eliminate specific worries

List all the things that could go wrong. Then directly challenge them by identifying probable and alternative outcomes.  Prepare for things that could go wrong in advance. Example: Have a backup copy of your presentation in case technology fails.

5. Know your technology

Technology should not form the basis of your presentation, content should. If you expect to be using technology, make sure you know what tools are available in the location where you will be presenting.

Take the time to confirm what equipment you will have at your disposal, and make sure you know how to use it. If you are giving a presentation in your own building, you can just walk over to your scheduled room and check out the physical setup.

Make sure that you are comfortable using any technology and equipment that is part of your presentation.

6. Focus on your material, not on your audience.

People mainly pay attention to new information — not how it's presented. They may not notice your nervousness. However, if audience members do notice that you're nervous, they may root for you and want your presentation to be a success.

7. Don't fear a moment of silence.

If you lose track of what you're saying or start to feel nervous and your mind goes blank, it may seem like you've been silent for an eternity. In reality, it's probably only a few seconds. Even if it's longer, it's likely your audience won't mind a pause to consider what you've been saying

  Good speakers know to take pauses during their presentations to hold the audience’s attention. If you rush through your presentation too fast, the audience will begin feeling lost and stop paying attention.

 In a nutshell

A lot of the work for giving a presentation comes before you deliver it. Developing informative content, creating clear visual aids, and making sure you are prepared will all make a presentation go more smoothly, even if you are nervous.

“Fear is not your enemy, it is a compass pointing you to the areas where you need to grow” (Steve Pavlina)

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Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers

Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers

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Instructor: Liesje Sandler

Giving presentations can be challenging and uncomfortable—even more so when they are not in your native language. In this course, Liesje Sandler, an English coach at Speexx, teaches how to give a successful presentation that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Learn how to prepare a good presentation, master transitions during the presentation, and deal with questions. Plus, get tips and the necessary wording to ensure that the presentation runs smoothly from start to finish.

This course is part of a Business English for Non-Native Speakers series aimed at anyone with a basic knowledge of English who wants to improve their business English skills.

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3 Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

The Power of the Pause

3 Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

A written cleaning proposal is sometimes not enough. Many customers now expect their cleaning contractors to give oral reports, starting when they first present their proposal and continuing as long as they service the facility. This expectation can cause complications for cleaning contractors who are not fluent in English or speak English as a second language.

The ability to speak before a group of people in English is a necessity, because in today’s globalized world, English is the language of business. “English is required for global collaboration and global work,” says Harvard Business School Associate Professor Tsedal Neely.

Fortunately, it is possible to give a presentation clearly and comfortably, even when you’re not 100% confident in your ability to speak English. Consider the following three tips:

Overlearn Your Presentation

Many contractors spend too much time on the PowerPoint slides and not enough time on rehearing their talk. Practice your presentation three or more times aloud until you are comfortable with how you sound.

Your Accent Does Not Matter

Everyone in the United States has an accent. Most of us can tell immediately if someone is from Texas, Alabama, or New York. But we don’t notice the accent anymore after a couple of minutes. If you have an accent, just realize your audience will be listening to your words, not your accent, in about two minutes.

Slow Down and Pause

People who speak English as a second language often get the most nervous and make the most mistakes when they talk too quickly. Slow down. Speak slowly and carefully. Also, feel free to pause occasionally. This allows you to catch your breath and get a sip of water. Also, pausing before a critical point makes that point more powerful. Every famous speaker is aware of the power of the pause

presentation tips for non native english speakers

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6 tips for speaking English to non-native speakers

Mannerofspeaking.

  • January 8, 2020

speaking English to non-native speakers

Speaking English to an audience of non-native speakers is tricky. Because so many people speak English, many native English speakers forget how complicated English can be for others.

The difference between the United Nations and the National Hockey League

For 17 years, I worked in the United Nations system. I was based in Geneva, but traveled extensively, particularly throughout the Middle East.

Once I went on mission—UN language for a business trip—to Boston with Thierry, a friend and colleague from France. He and I spoke French to each other but in office meetings, the working language was English. Thierry’s English was excellent as he had spent some time studying in the United States.  In Boston, we had several meetings, always in English.

One evening, Thierry and I headed into town. The Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League were playing the Ottawa Senators that night. Being Canadian, hockey is in my blood so I was excited by the prospect of seeing a live NHL game and introducing Thierry to the sport. We settled into our seats and had a great time, particularly chatting with the Bostonians b eside us.

After the game, we headed to a bar for a drink. As we walked, Thierry said to me, in French, “John, I have to tell you something and it’s very strange. When we’re in Geneva and working in English, you are clear and easy to understand. Tonight, I couldn’t understand half of what you said when you were speaking to the people beside us.”

I was puzzled for a moment, but then realized what he meant. Because I was back in North America and speaking English with other North Americans, I spoke faster than I did when at work in Geneva. I also used a lot of slang and colloquialisms that would confuse non-native speakers. In short, I was speaking a different English.

After 20+ years living in Switzerland, I have learned to modify my English when speaking to an audience of non-native speakers. This does not mean that I “dumb down” my speech because that would be an insult to people who are as intelligent, or more intelligent, than me. It means that I avoid jargon and complicated words. I speak more slowly than normal and  pause more often so that people can follow.

Native English speakers are confusing everyone else

In an excellent article entitled, “How native English speakers can stop confusing everyone else” ,  Financial Times columnist Michael Skapinker examines the seriousness of the problem. He writes that it is widely recognized that many non-native English speakers don’t understand what native English speakers are saying. Furthermore, Brits, Americans, Australians, Canadians and others who have spoken English all their lives “are largely oblivious to the incomprehension they leave behind at conferences, business meetings and on conference calls”.

I am not surprised. While at the UN, I frequently moderated conference calls and face-to-face meetings between native English speakers and native Arabic speakers. All involved were thoughtful, intelligent professionals with impressive educational and work credentials. But the language of communication was English.

Many times I had to provide English-to-English interpretation because I knew that the native Arabic speakers did not understand an expression used by the native English speakers. Even when I stressed the importance of avoiding confusing English to the native speakers before a call or meeting, they would often forget and lapse into colloquialisms.

In his article, Skapinker cites a 2015 survey of a Nato working group that found that “native speakers of English are not always good at adjusting their English to the manner and level that is used”. This is a problem, not just for audiences but also for speakers who think that their message is getting through when the opposite is true.

Tips for native English speakers

So what can native English speakers do to rectify the situation? Drawing on advice from the book,  Is That Clear?: Effective Communications in a Multilingual World by Zanne Gaynor and Kathryn Alevizos, Skapinker offers the following advice:

1.  Speak slower than you would with native speakers.

2.  Avoid idiomatic language . This is language where the meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words used. For example: “hold your horses” (be patient); “piece of cake” (very easy); “loose cannon” (unpredictable).

3. Be careful with phrasal verbs , which are verbs that are combined with prepositions or other words. Different words result in completely different meanings. English has thousands of phrasal verbs.

Take the word “run” which means to move quickly. If you add different prepositions, you get different meanings: “run down” (in bad condition; exhausted); “run into” (to collide with something; to unexpectedly meet someone; to unexpectedly encounter a situation); “run through” (to stab someone through their body; to rehearse).

Another example is the verb “to break”. I hate to break it to you, but if you break into your girlfriend’s apartment, she might think that society is starting to break down and she will probably break up with you.

4. Avoid colloquialisms. For example, don’t say, “we need to up our game”; instead, say “we need to improve”.

5. Be careful with overly polite language. For example, don’t say, “To be honest, we were a little upset with the 1st quarter results”; instead, say “The 1st quarter results were disappointing” or “We were disappointed by the 1st quarter results”.

6.  Don’t fill your slides with words. “Native speakers find them hard enough to read; second language speakers find them even harder. But do put numbers on slides, they say. Numbers can be hard to understand in your second language and seeing the figures on a slide makes it easier.”

Ultimately, it is about respecting your audience . When speaking in English to non-native speakers, you have to adjust your English .

For more advice on the use of the English, particularly written English, see this post that examines George Orwell’s classic essay, Politics and the English Language .

Like this article?

mannerofspeaking

Hi John, great post again, I enjoyed reading it. Wishing you a great year for 2020! Warm wishes, Daphne

Hi Daphne. Efcharisto! All the best to you as well for 2020.

I wouldn’t say speak slowly, but definitely speak slower than you would with other native speakers. I extend the same courtesy to English speakers communicating with me in Spanish, my mother tongue. Spanish – as a general rule – is spoken quite fast. A lot faster than English between native English speakers, I’m told. So is French. So for us, romance language speakers, normal speed English isn’t too difficult but if you do slow it down a bit, it definitely helps us at the beginning. And this is even truer for people who aren’t immersed in English all day long. Say, conference calls with business partners from other countries, as opposed to immigrants.

Speaking too slow is definitely insulting as would be interpreted as “dumbing” down things. I imagine it takes practice to find that sweet spot. But I can tell you from experience, if anyone spoke slowly to me, I’d be offended. I speak English as a second language, that doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with my cognitive skills. PS: Phrasal verbs are the bane of my existence. After 18 years living in Canada, some of them still give me much trouble. I have said foreskin when I meant forehead.

True story.

Great comment. Many thanks! Fair point on “slower” vs “slowly”; I definitely had the former in mind. I will amend the post accordingly.

I know Spanish is a fast language. I work in Spain from time to time. I speak French and Italian and have a basic grasp of Spanish so when people speaker slower, I can follow much of what is being said. However, they almost always quickly accelerate and I am left behind. So we have to switch to English or French or Italian, assuming that any of those are possibilities for the people with whom I am speaking.

And brilliant story about foreskin/head!

Heh, we do tend to pick up the pace of the conversation as we go, especially if we get excited hahaha

I also have great difficulty. With the verb to blow. So confusing! Like, why isn’t drying your hair with a hair dryer a blow job instead of the other thing? Guess how many times I’ve said the latter when i mean the former

Thank you John for this post. It is very true and worth mentioning. All the best to you for 2020.

Many thanks for the comment, Christiane. All the best for a terrific 2020.

Amazing information, John sir.

Thank you for the comment.

Great point about phrasal verbs. That’s something I would’ve thought of, but I see what you mean now!

Great article, John! And don’t use abbreviation such as OOO instead of Out Of Office… this is very confusing for us, non-native speakers.

Many thanks, Pierre-Yves.

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Testimonials

presentation tips for non native english speakers

John delivered a keynote address about the importance of public speaking to 80 senior members of Gore’s Medical Device Europe team at an important sales event. He was informative, engaging and inspirational. Everyone was motivated to improve their public speaking skills. Following his keynote, John has led public speaking workshops for Gore in Barcelona and Munich. He is an outstanding speaker who thinks carefully about the needs of his audience well before he steps on stage.

Karsta Goetze

TA Leader, Gore and Associates

presentation tips for non native english speakers

I first got in touch with John while preparing to speak at TED Global about my work on ProtonMail. John helped me to sharpen the presentation and get on point faster, making the talk more focused and impactful. My speech was very well received, has since reached almost 1.8 million people and was successful in explaining a complex subject (email encryption) to a general audience.

CEO, Proton Technologies

presentation tips for non native english speakers

John gave the opening keynote on the second day of our unit’s recent offsite in Geneva, addressing an audience of 100+ attendees with a wealth of tips and techniques to deliver powerful, memorable presentations. I applied some of these techniques the very next week in an internal presentation, and I’ve been asked to give that presentation again to senior management, which has NEVER happened before. John is one of the greatest speakers I know and I can recommend his services without reservation.

David Lindelöf

Senior Data Scientist, Expedia Group

presentation tips for non native english speakers

After a morning of team building activities using improvisation as the conduit, John came on stage to close the staff event which was organised in Chamonix, France. His energy and presence were immediately felt by all the members of staff. The work put into the preparation of his speech was evident and by sharing some his own stories, he was able to conduct a closing inspirational speech which was relevant, powerful and impactful for all at IRU. The whole team left feeling engaged and motivated to tackle the 2019 objectives ahead. Thank you, John.

Umberto de Pretto

Secretary General, World Road Transport Organization

presentation tips for non native english speakers

I was expecting a few speaking tips and tricks and a few fun exercises, but you went above and beyond – and sideways. You taught me to stand tall. You taught me to anchor myself. You taught me to breathe. You taught me to open up. You taught me to look people in the eye. You taught me to tell the truth. You taught me to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. I got more than I bargained for in the best possible way.

Thuy Khoc-Bilon

World Cancer Day Campaign Manager, Union for International Cancer Control

presentation tips for non native english speakers

John gave a brilliant presentation on public speaking during the UN EMERGE programme in Geneva (a two days workshop on leadership development for a group of female staff members working in the UN organizations in Geneva). His talk was inspirational and practical, thanks to the many techniques and tips he shared with the audience. His teaching can dramatically change our public speaking performance and enable us as presenters to have a real and powerful impact. Thank you, John, for your great contribution!

HR Specialist, World Health Organization

presentation tips for non native english speakers

John is a genuine communication innovator. His seminars on gamification of public speaking learning and his interactive Rhetoric game at our conference set the tone for change and improvement in our organisation. The quality of his input, the impact he made with his audience and his effortlessly engaging style made it easy to get on board with his core messages and won over some delegates who were extremely skeptical as to the efficacy of games for learning. I simply cannot recommend him highly enough.

Thomas Scott

National Education Director, Association of Speakers Clubs UK

presentation tips for non native english speakers

John joined our Global Sales Meeting in Segovia, Spain and we all participated in his "Improv(e) your Work!" session. I say “all” because it really was all interactive, participatory, learning and enjoyable. The session surprised everybody and was a fresh-air activity that brought a lot of self-reflection and insights to improve trust and confidence in each other inside our team. It´s all about communication and a good manner of speaking!"

General Manager Europe, Hayward Industries

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Thank you very much for the excellent presentation skills session. The feedback I received was very positive. Everyone enjoyed the good mix of listening to your speech, co-developing a concrete take-away and the personal learning experience. We all feel more devoted to the task ahead, more able to succeed and an elevated team spirit. Delivering this in a short time, both in session and in preparation, is outstanding!

Henning Dehler

CFO European Dairy Supply Chain & Operations, Danone

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Thanks to John’s excellent workshop, I have learned many important tips and techniques to become an effective public speaker. John is a fantastic speaker and teacher, with extensive knowledge of the field. His workshop was a great experience and has proven extremely useful for me in my professional and personal life.

Eric Thuillard

Senior Sales Manager, Sunrise Communications

presentation tips for non native english speakers

John’s presentation skills training was a terrific investment of my time. I increased my skills in this important area and feel more comfortable when speaking to an audience. John provided the right mix between theory and practice.

Diego Brait

Director of the Jura Region, BKW Energie AG

presentation tips for non native english speakers

Be BOLD. Those two words got stuck in my head and in the heads of all those ADP leaders and associates that had the privilege to see John on stage. He was our keynote speaker at our annual convention in Barcelona, and his message still remains! John puts his heart in every word. Few speakers are so credible, humble and yet super strong with large audiences!

Guadalupe Garcia

Senior Director and Talent Partner, ADP International

Ryan Avery

9 Speaking Tips for Non-Native Speakers

According to the U. S. Census Bureau , there are more than 35 million adults in the United States who are non-native English speakers.

Many of these people are looking for work, to advance in their career and speak up and out for the causes they believe in. Non-native speakers can experience difficulties in developing and delivering their message when speaking to a group of people on stage, in a board room or during one-on-one conversations.

Non-native speakers might hear things like “I don’t understand what you are saying” or “Your accent is too thick” or “It’s hard to focus on what you are saying. ” If you are are a non-native speaker who would like to improve the way your message gets translated into minds of those listening to you or you know someone struggling with their accent, here are nine tips you can use to improve the way you communicate:

Record yourself: Take the time to record what you are saying during your next speech or presentation. Then listen to it. Get a friend to listen to it. Identify the words that are hard to hear, understand or process. When you record yourself, you will pick up on things that you might not have noticed before.

Get a partner: Get someone to help you with your 2nd language who you trust. Someone who can call you out when you say a word wrong, aren’t pronouncing things correctly or using the right grammar. A partner can help you advance your communication skills by helping you see and hear the things you are not picking up on.

Be proud of your accent: Many of my non-native speaking clients say,  “I need to get rid of my accent.” I think this is the wrong way to look at your voice. You should be proud of your voice and where you come from. You should’t get rid of your accent, you should embrace your accent. Keep the accent but make it so others can understand what you are saying. When you are proud, others will listen. This also will help you build confidence in what you are saying and remind yourself you speak two languages! Not many people can say that!

Be open to feedback: Listen. Listen. Listen. Ask around for feedback. When you are giving a speech or presenting a proposal at work, ask three or four of your colleagues to take notes and give you feedback on specifics you can improve on. Listen to what they say. Be open to asking for feedback anytime you are speaking to get better at communicating.

Find synonyms for words you can’t pronounce: There are words in English I have trouble pronouncing (I am no longer allowed to say prerequisite and familiarity in public). I avoid them at all cost. There are words some people cannot pronounce. You are not alone, just don’t use them! Find words that are similar to them and use those instead.

Speak slower: This is for all speakers and communicators. Slow down! Most of the time you are speaking too fast and it is distracting. It slurs your words together and on top of your accent it can be hard to digest what you are saying. Remember to pause, slow down and enunciate your words.

Practice one letter at a time: Find the letter that is the hardest for you to say (V or R or W or P). Practice just saying those letters over and over again. Pick words that have those letters in them and get your mouth comfortable with finding out how to properly say them without being distracting. Practice one letter at a time.

Find speakers you like: Find speakers who are speaking like you want to be speaking. Find speakers who might even have the same accent as you but are doing it the way you want to. What are they doing to get their message across or communicate in a way that people are focused more on their words than how they say them? Find speakers you like to feel more confident in knowing that if they can do it, so can you!

Practice everyday: Practice. Practice. Practice. Get good at practicing. Remember, how you practice is how you play so use these nine steps everyday to get better at speaking in your non-native language.

Please don’t think you ever need to get rid of your accent, you only need to focus on making sure you are speaking in a way that adds value, people understand what you are saying and enjoying your message. Keep using your voice to make a difference and as always…

Dream BIG, Ryan

P.S. Know someone, or a group, who could benefit from this article? Share it with them on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn by clicking on one of the buttons below!  

Ryan Avery

Author Ryan Avery

Hi, my name is Ryan Avery! Every Sunday I share the "notes" I use to build my keynotes. They are personal stories and tangible strategies we can use to improve the way we communicate at work, at home and with ourselves.

Join the discussion 6 Comments

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How fast you speak makes a big difference. I work with people around the world. One thing that really helps when we go to audio on Skype is to speak slower than usual and separate

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Thank you Gail, great reminder for all of us!

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I’ve been thinking about this recently, since a fellow who speaks English as a second language joined my Toastmasters club. His grammar is excellent, but his accent makes it extremely difficult to understand his words. I wonder—would listening to Sinatra and singing along help him with pronunciations?

Great idea John. I think it would help and could be very valuable for those to practice! Thanks for the tip and sharing your idea!

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Thanks for sharing your idea. More tips here Engage – What NOT To Do When Presenting . Verity can help you be a great public speaker!

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Thanks for the tips.

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presentation tips for non native english speakers

Top 5 Presenting Tips For Non Native English Speakers - The English Training Company

Top 5 presenting tips for non native english speakers.

Top 5 Presenting Tips For Non Native English Speakers. Business Communication Skills in English.

(Watch our 3 minute video explanation of the top 5 presenting tips for non native English speakers).

Giving a presentation can be hard and more so in a second language like English.

From our training we asked our trainers as well as many professionals what were there best presentation tips.

What are your best tips for doing presentations?

———-

?? Here are our top 5 presenting tips from our training to help you:

✅ Manage your nerves (e.g. be kind to yourself, be patient and take deep breathes 30 minutes before your presentation to manage your nerves)

✅ Speak in short sentences (e.g. use short sentences to keep your key messages clear and concise and for your audience to easily follow what you say)

✅ Simple stories and specific examples (e.g. simple stories are easy to explain. Specific examples help you to explain and expand key points)

✅ Make it easy for your audience (e.g. project your voice, slow down, use pauses, emphasise key ideas and use a speaking speed of 130 to 150 words per minute recommended by TED.com)

✅ Check and clarify (e.g. interact with your audience, check they are following you and clarify key points. It shows your audience that you’re confident and have empathy)

Two extra points:

✅ Body language (e.g. align your key messages with your body language, facial gestures and hand gestures for maximum impact).

✅ Use a speaking speed of 130 to 150 words per minute as recommended by www.TED.com . This is a little slower than native speakers but it easier to achieve as a non native English speaker

Read more of our blog posts about Presentations in English .

The English Training Company, we help companies and professionals to become Advanced Business English Speakers.

For more top Business English resources sign up to our popular Business English newsletter at  www.englishtco.com

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  3. How to Make a Presentation in English When It’s Not Your Native Language

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  4. 6 Winning Public Speaking Tips For Non-Native English Speakers

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VIDEO

  1. Here's how I practice English speaking / repeat after native speakers

  2. Understanding "Brand Assets": A Guide for Non-Native English Speakers

  3. Why do Some Native Speakers Hate your English?

  4. 1 Minute to Be a Fluent Speaker

  5. When non-native English speakers communicate #shorts

COMMENTS

  1. 3 Tips for Presenting in English When You're Not a Native Speaker

    There are several strategies nonnative English speakers can employ to help them feel more confident before, during, and after a presentation. Rehearsal and repetition are crucial steps. The...

  2. How to Present Effectively as a Non-Native English Speaker

    What are the most effective presentation tips for non-native English speakers? Powered by AI and the LinkedIn community 1 Know your audience 2 Simplify your language 3 Practice your pronunciation...

  3. Presenting in English when you're not a native speaker

    14 ways to present more easily & confidently Presenting well is a challenge at the best of times. However, if your native language is not English, you may find yourself especially worried before your presentation. The following tips will help you deliver a more successful presentation with style, ease, and confidence. Use simple language.

  4. Presentation Tips for Non-Native Speakers

    Use visual support. Here's one area where it's okay for non-native speakers to defy the conventional wisdom.

  5. Beyond Language Barriers: A Non-Native English Speaker's Guide to

    1. Diligent preparation Non-native speakers know they cannot make a presentation up, and their chance to "talk their way out of a difficult situation" is harder than if they had to do it in their native language.

  6. Three Simple Ways Non-Native English Speakers Can Improve Their

    Over-learn your presentation: Many non-native English speakers report spending much more time preparing their PowerPoint slides than they do practicing what they will say, according to Grayson Riegel. Instead of spending endless hours on your slide deck, make time to rehearse your presentation and do so repeatedly.

  7. Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers

    Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers With Liesje Sandler Liked by 735 users Duration: 52m Skill level: General Released: 1/13/2023 Start my 1-month free trial Buy this...

  8. Best 25 Presenter Tips for success for non-native speakers

    Therefore, I can imagine that a non-native speaker's anxiety levels must be ten times greater than mine when delivering a presentation. Over the years, I've taught thousands of non-native speakers the art of delivering a successful presentation. As a starting point, I always give my students 'The Top 25 Presenter Tips for Success' Tips ...

  9. 10 Ways To Give A More Effective Presentation in English

    Practise makes perfect Ten tips for a great presentation 1 Speak slowly 2 Pause 3 Use sentence stress to highlight important words 4 Start with a hook 5 Find ways to make it interesting 6 Make it interactive 7 Use rhetorical questions 8 Use signposting 9 Predict what the audience will ask 10 Get inspired Take any opportunity to present

  10. Presentation Language for Non-native Speakers

    Presentation Prep is your complete, free guide to delivering speeches, lectures, and presentations more successfully and confidently. Whether you're a native English-speaker who suffers from public speaking anxiety, or a non-native speaker who needs guidelines for presenting to international audiences, this site will give you everything you need.

  11. 10 Top Presentation Tips for Non-Native Speakers

    As a non-native speaker, you might not feel like you are the obvious option to give a presentation in English, but if you are the expert and people have turned to you to give a talk or a presentation, I want you to In this episode I'm going to give you 10 Tips that will help you do a brilliant presentation in English.

  12. 7 Killer Tips for Presenting in English as a Non-Native English Speaker

    Practice, practice, practice. Many of my colleagues, some of whom are non-native English speakers, make public speaking look so easy. But, they achieve that ease and comfort through hours of ...

  13. 7 tips to improve your presentation skills for non-native speakers

    4. Prepare for things that could go wrong to eliminate specific worries. List all the things that could go wrong. Then directly challenge them by identifying probable and alternative outcomes. Prepare for things that could go wrong in advance. Example: Have a backup copy of your presentation in case technology fails. 5.

  14. Public Speaking Tips for Non Native English Speakers

    Public Speaking Tips for Non Native English Speakers — Wolf & Heron Read Me There are several things non-native English speakers can do when putting together a big speech or presentation in order to increase their confidence, preparedness and presence.

  15. Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers

    Plus, get tips and the necessary wording to ensure that the presentation runs smoothly from start to finish. This course is part of a Business English for Non-Native Speakers series aimed at anyone with a basic knowledge of English who wants to improve their business English skills.

  16. 6 Winning Public Speaking Tips For Non-Native English Speakers

    Eye contact works in similar ways. When you're speaking, try holding eye contact with individual audience members for 10 to 15 seconds at a time. Avoid scanning the entire audience - this can make ...

  17. 3 Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

    People who speak English as a second language often get the most nervous and make the most mistakes when they talk too quickly. Slow down. Speak slowly and carefully. Also, feel free to pause occasionally. This allows you to catch your breath and get a sip of water. Also, pausing before a critical point makes that point more powerful.

  18. 6 tips for speaking English to non-native speakers

    1. Speak slower than you would with native speakers. 2. Avoid idiomatic language. This is language where the meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words used. For example: "hold your horses" (be patient); "piece of cake" (very easy); "loose cannon" (unpredictable). 3.

  19. 9 Speaking Tips for Non-Native Speakers

    Practice everyday: Practice. Practice. Practice. Get good at practicing. Remember, how you practice is how you play so use these nine steps everyday to get better at speaking in your non-native language. Please don't think you ever need to get rid of your accent, you only need to focus on making sure you are speaking in a way that adds value ...

  20. Members Only: Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

    Members Only: Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers - YouTube Important presentation tips and advice for non-native English speakers. Important presentation tips and...

  21. Top 5 Presenting Tips For Non Native English Speakers

    This is a little slower than native speakers but it easier to achieve as a non native English speaker ———-Read more of our blog posts about Presentations in English. ———- The English Training Company, we help companies and professionals to become Advanced Business English Speakers.

  22. 6 tips for speaking English to non-native speakers

    John Zimmer Published Jan 28, 2020 + Follow Speaking English to an audience of non-native speakers is tricky. Because English is so widely spoken around the world, many native English...

  23. Presentation Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

    Check out this 3min video with 3 presentation tips for non-native English speakers. 1. Add stress2. Use discourse markers3. Learn some key phrasesHope this h...

  24. Accent Reduction for Non-Native English Speakers

    Topics covered will include where and how speech sounds are produced; individual sounds of American English in isolation, with close attention to typically problematic consonants and vowels; difficult combinations of sounds; word stress; intonation; and pronunciation differences between formal and casual speech. Neil Jacobs

  25. Science Research Writing For Non Native Speakers Of English

    In many cases, Science Research Writing For Non Native Speakers Of English eBooks are more cost-effective than their print counterparts. No printing, shipping, or warehousing costs mean lower prices for readers. Science Research Writing For Non Native Speakers Of English eBooks contribute to a more sustainable planet. By reducing the demand for