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20 creative presentation ideas to captivate your audience

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Michael Lee June 17, 2019

The ultimate aim of every presentation is to etch a memorable mark that lingers in the minds of your audience long after the final slide fades away. Memorable presentations should be a creative blend of captivating design, innovative elements, and engaging delivery. To ignite your presentation prowess and set your creativity on fire, we’ve handpicked a treasure trove of 20 ingenious creative presentation ideas that will transform your presentations from bland to brilliantly unforgettable:

1. Experiment with color

It’s surprising what a little color can do. The way you use and pair colors in your presentation design can grab an otherwise disinterested audience member’s attention. Just make sure you do it tastefully and carry the theme across all frames. When in doubt, you can simply choose from one of Prezi’s existing content layouts , each with an appealing color palette.

Try experimenting with a two-toned design by adding different accents to your presentation background and other visual elements. You might start with a black-and-white design, then add a bright pop of one color throughout. Contrasting color palettes (think yellow and blue, pink and mint green, etc.) can also create this eye-popping effect. Alternatively, you can use neutral shades to give off a more subdued vibe.

Another idea? Add a color filter to your images to tie them into your color theme. Learn more about presentation colors in our guide.

2. Use a striking background theme

Looking for more presentation ideas and creative ways to present? Put some thought into your background image, as it’s what your audience will be looking at during the entire presentation. If you want to use a photo, choose one that’s beautiful, sentimental, or has action and flow. Just make sure you pick an image that has enough negative space on which to place text. You can also play around with textures and patterns, such as ripples or wood, or themes that are symbolic of your message, such as a passport, billboard, rocket launch, road trip, etc.

Additionally, make sure your chosen background image isn’t distracting. You want to keep your audience’s focus on the foreground — the graphics, text, and special effects you’ve created. Prezi already has a large library of effective and high-quality backgrounds and images you can search for when designing your presentation, so no need to source them from somewhere else.

3. Put thoughts into speech bubbles

Other creative ways to present information include using speech bubbles to communicate key points to audience members. Use them to illustrate an idea or to reveal a character’s thoughts or fears in your story. Have them pop up as notes or commentary in the frame you’re presenting. Similarly, you can use speech bubbles to show milestones on a timeline. If you’re revealing poll or survey results about a product or service, for instance, place data or participant feedback in bubbles.

But, like anything in a presentation, don’t go overboard with it. While speech bubbles can be a fantastic addition, excessive use might divert your audience’s focus from the core message. So, using speech bubbles in the right places to create impact can be effective for engaging your listeners, but scattering them throughout every slide might be a little excessive and cause the opposite effect. Balance is key when using speech bubbles. 

4. Abandon the slide-by-slide style

Free your presentations from the confines of slides. As an interactive presentation tool, Prezi allows for dynamic designs to take your audience on a journey as you tell your story. Zoom in and out on key points. Navigate between topics and sections of your presentation in any order. Go vertical instead of horizontal. Make transitions between ideas look like pathways or scenes instead of simply clicking sequentially from frame to frame. All of these elements come together to make a memorable presentation.

These types of tactics will give your presentation a cinematic feel that will captivate and inspire your audience. An open canvas design also makes it easier for you to tell a story , which people tend to process and remember more easily than straight facts. Prezi’s ready-made templates and striking graphics make it simple for you to share your narrative via one of these seemingly complex designs. If you want to transform a static PowerPoint presentation into a dynamic moving story, simply upload your file and try Prezi’s PowerPoint Converter feature .

5. Tell your story with a video

Presenters have been incorporating video into their slide decks for decades. Video is one of the most creative ways to present projects. It allows you to tell your story using visuals instead of big blocks of text. Now, however, it’s time to elevate the video so it captures your audience’s attention and enhances your narrative. Embed videos that play automatically when you navigate to certain parts of your Prezi canvas.

Just be sure to use videos that aren’t distracting and that work with the rest of your presentation’s flow. They should still complement your presentation’s overall design theme and message. If you’re not producing a video yourself, you can find thematic ones from stock video sites or on YouTube. Just be aware that you might need permission to use some videos.

It’s important to select videos beforehand and place them strategically so that they hit hard in the right places. Selecting the perfect videos is like choosing gems to adorn your presentation’s crown. These videos should harmonize seamlessly with your content, elevating the story you’re weaving.

Imagine, for instance, using a time-lapse video of a bustling cityscape to represent the rapid pace of change in the business world during your presentation on industry trends. Blending your videos with the theme of your topic in this way goes beyond just catching your audience’s eye, it actually adds depth to your story while also making your message more impactful.

6. Bring your story to life with audio

Another presentation idea to minimize text and maximize audience engagement is to add sound to your presentation. Tell your story using pre-recorded audio. This creative presentation style turns the viewer experience into just that — an experience. While the audio plays, you can move around the stage and navigate to various parts of the presentation that support the narrative visually. Again, the effect is almost movie-like.

Another auditory presentation tool is music. Use music to set the tone of your talk, or inject it periodically to regain the audience’s attention. The appropriate song choice can get the entire audience into the mood of your presentation. Choose upbeat tunes to convey excitement or dramatic ones that will trigger an emotional response . Plus, if you play a catchy tune that sticks in people’s heads, that’ll help them remember your presentation that much more.

7. Add animations

Another creative way to present is by bringing an otherwise static design to life is animation. Go beyond video by borrowing from stop-motion principles for your presentation. Stop motion is a technique in which you film objects one frame at a time to simulate motion in a scene or a story. You can recreate this effect in Prezi by using zoom, fade, and pan animations to tell a moving story frame by frame.

Animations can inspire and engage your audience, but just be sure to use them sparingly and as a complement to your story or message.

7.1. Make it fun with GIFs

Adding animated GIFs to your presentation can not only make it more fun but also help catch your audience’s eye. Because they’re trendy and often reference pop culture or common emotions, GIFs can help you get your point across without having to use just words.

However, it’s crucial to exercise moderation when employing these elements. While animations and GIFs can enhance engagement, excessive use of them can become distracting. There’ll be certain presentation topics or subjects where GIFs will look misplaced, so just make sure you think carefully about whether they correlate with your message before you use them. However, GIFs are a great way to inject humor and light-heartedness right after slides filled with heavy information. When executed skillfully, animations and GIFs transform your presentation into a dynamic and interactive visual journey, leaving an enduring impression on your audience.

8. Create a timeline

The timeline is nothing new. It’s how you apply it to a presentation that can really wow an audience. Prezi’s dynamic designs let you use the timeline as the basis or focal point of the presentation and then navigate along as you tell your story or plan of action.

Zooming in on specific elements of your timeline as you discuss them adds another layer of clarity and focus. It helps make sure your audience stays on track with your story and doesn’t get lost in the details or complexities. This laid-back way of highlighting key moments or steps keeps people interested and makes it easier for them to remember what you’re talking about.

9. Use maps

Deliver a creative presentation with maps, especially if there’s a geographic or location-based topic in your content. Set a map as your background or focal point, and prompt different regions to change colors or pop out as you navigate over them. When it comes to designing maps , make sure you’re purposefully selecting colors, as the color palette you choose can change the way people respond to your data. Don’t pick colors that are too similar when you’re making comparisons, for example. Use Prezi’s zoom function to zero in on areas for more details, or pull back to reveal the larger context.

You can also go the thinking map route, which is a visual learning technique that can convey complex ideas simply and creatively. Start with a central theme, then branch out into paths or surrounding points. The eight variations of thinking maps include circle maps, bubble maps, flow maps, treemaps, and more. These can be effective interactive aids in educational presentations as well as for small businesses.

10. Do away with bulleted lists

To truly transform your presentations, consider stepping away from the conventional bullet-point lists that often lead to passive learning. Instead, harness the power of visuals to inspire active engagement from your audience. Visual content stimulates the brain’s cognitive processes, making your message more memorable. Engage your listeners by replacing bullet points with visuals .

Prezi’s open canvas design is a valuable tool in this transformation. It shifts the focus from passive delivery to interactive engagement. By using visuals, you prompt your audience to actively process and respond to your content, fostering a deeper understanding and connection with your message. This shift from traditional bullet points to a visually driven, interactive approach can significantly enhance the impact of your presentations.

11. Communicate with images

Presentation images are nothing new. However, when standing alone, photographs, paintings, and other images can have a really powerful effect. Instead of trying to talk over an image, use it as a stepping stone in your presentation, a point of reflection. Once in a while, let visuals do the talking.

Also, a study has found that people process visuals 60,000 times faster than text . So, incorporating more images will make your presentation more memorable.

However, be careful with your selection of images – make sure that they’re relevant to the topic and aren’t just filling up an empty space.

Also, If you’re using Prezi for your presentation, you can access a huge library of images that takes away the headache of finding that one perfect shot. It’s like having a cheat code for making your presentation pop. So dive into the library and pick out visuals that’ll make your presentation not just informative, but engaging.

12. Play with transitions

Using slide transitions is one of the simple yet creative ways to present a project. They create visual continuity and add movement to slides. However, choosing the right page transition for your slides is truly a form of art. You have to consider the topic, tone of voice, and your presentation design. Page transitions should match the overall design, create flawless continuity, highlight key areas in your presentation, and do all that without stealing the show. Ultimately, you want it to compliment your presentation.

If you are looking for inspiration, check out Prezi Present ‘s wide selection of templates . You can play with transitions by adding additional animated elements that will make your presentation even more dynamic.

13. Swap for an infographic

To truly stand out and make a lasting impression, consider departing from the traditional slide-based approach and exploring infographics. Infographics are powerful visual tools that condense complex information into digestible, visually appealing formats. Instead of the conventional slide-by-slide progression, imagine scrolling through your presentation, seamlessly transitioning from one section to the next. This fluid movement allows you to verbally expand on key points while displaying the core information visually.

When you’re adding infographics, aim for designs that are easy to understand but also match your brand’s vibe. You want something that looks good and fits well with the rest of your presentation, so everything feels like it’s part of the same story. This helps make your presentation both easy to follow and hard to forget.

14. Get social

Employing a unique hashtag associated with your brand can significantly amplify the impact of your presentation, extending its reach far beyond the confines of the physical venue. This hashtag acts as a vital link between your presentation and the vast world of social media. Inviting your audience to dive into the live-tweet action with a dedicated hashtag during your talk isn’t just a savvy move; it’s a dynamic double play. You expand your reach, drawing in more eager participants, while simultaneously igniting a thriving online symphony of ongoing discussions and insights.

This approach effectively transforms your presentation into an active, two-way conversation. As you speak, people can immediately share their thoughts, favorite parts, and main lessons, creating a sense of togetherness and active involvement. Furthermore, the utilization of a branded hashtag allows you to monitor and engage in these conversations, strengthening your connection with your audience and providing an avenue for addressing questions or feedback. 

Even after your presentation concludes, these online discussions continue to thrive, ensuring that your message remains fresh in the minds of your audience members long after they’ve left the physical venue. This lively and extended interaction adds an exciting twist to your presentations, transforming them from just informative sessions into lively hubs of ongoing conversation and learning.

15. Use creative props

Physical props add a memorable dimension to your talk. Props serve as powerful visual aids, helping to illustrate key points, provide tangible examples, and offer visual cues. Props can be particularly useful for educational presentations, especially if you need to demonstrate an example. Another situation where props are paramount is if you are a brand that’s launching a new product and doing a promotional presentation. 

With Prezi’s creative tools at the forefront of your presentation along with your latest product at hand- you’re bound to persuade your audience. Integrating props at the right time in connection to your current presentation can really create a connection between you and your listeners. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes, would you take in the information by just reading and listening, or would seeing and touching physical props add a layer of interest that enhances your mental absorption?

16. Utilize virtual reality (VR)

VR technology allows you to transport your audience into a different environment or scenario closely related to your presentation topic. Transforming your presentation into a new virtual world takes it far beyond the expectations of mundane slide-by-slide presentations.

With VR, you can engage your audience with a dynamic three-dimensional world where they become active explorers, engaging directly with your content. Picture this: You’re showing off architectural wonders, recreating epic historical events, or unraveling the inner workings of intricate systems. VR takes your presentations to a whole new level, letting your audience not only see and hear but also experience and genuinely feel your message. It’s like inviting them to step right into the heart of your story.

17. Use gamification

Picture turning your presentation into an exhilarating game that dares to captivate and thrill your audience. When you add a little playfulness to your presentation, your audience is going to absorb your information without it feeling like a chore. Making aspects of your talk into fun learning experiences is going to keep your audience switched on throughout the whole presentation. 

You can achieve this by incorporating various interactive elements like puzzles, questions, or interactive storytelling that turn your presentation into an immersive and educational game. Encouraging your audience to think and respond will result in active participants rather than passive observers. 

18. Employ live demonstrations

Incorporating live demonstrations into your presentation is a potent strategy for effectively conveying your message. Whether you’re showcasing a product’s functionality, conducting a captivating science experiment, or engaging your audience in a hands-on activity, live demonstrations actively involve your audience and leave an enduring mark.

Live demonstrations can transform presentations into captivating journeys where your audience doesn’t just listen but also witnesses concepts coming to life before their eyes. This physical approach creates curiosity and entices active participation, effectively transforming your message into something tangible. When people can see, touch, or take part in live demonstrations, it makes a strong connection. It brings your audience right into your content and makes sure they take the message away with them afterward. 

19. Design comic-style frames 

Using comic strips as a presentation style is great when you want to make your presentation engaging and easy to remember. It works well for topics where you want to tell a story, explain things step by step, or simplify complex information. Comic strips contain the best of both worlds, combining visuals with storytelling. This means they’re versatile for various topics, such as education, marketing, and product demos.

The clever approach of comic strips crafts an animated, captivating experience that keeps your audience glued to their seats and sparks their eagerness to participate. Not only that, but it also makes your message highly memorable.

Creating a comic strip in Prezi is straightforward. Start by planning your content and breaking it down into bite-size sections that will be arranged in sequence. Then, use Prezi’s features to design each section as a comic frame, inserting relevant visuals and images. Prezi’s text and shape tools help you add speech bubbles or captions to guide the story you’re telling. As you present, take on the role of a storyteller, guiding your audience through each frame of your comic strip presentation with captivating explanations that hold their attention.

20. Emulate the style of TED talks

The TED-style approach is a powerful method of delivering presentations that revolves around the core principles of clarity, simplicity, emotional resonance, and compelling storytelling. In this approach, speakers focus on distilling complex ideas into easily digestible narratives, using relatable language and impactful visuals to engage their audience. TED-style talks typically center on a single compelling idea , conveyed with passion and authenticity, making them concise, memorable, and inspiring for a wide range of viewers.

Learn how you can excel in storytelling and develop TED Talk presentation skills in the following video:

Staying current with creative presentation ideas

Just as technology and communication methods constantly change, so do presentation audience preferences and expectations. Keeping your creative presentation ideas fresh and aligned with contemporary trends can significantly impact your effectiveness as a presenter.

Why keeping up matters

Adapting to audience expectations.

This is the key to making a memorable impact with your presentations. In the modern world, audiences want more than the ordinary; they seek thrilling, dynamic experiences. To make this happen, you must wholeheartedly embrace cutting-edge technologies and innovative concepts to make your presentations highly engaging. So, why stick with the mundane when you can captivate your audience’s imagination and curiosity with creative presentation ideas? Break free from the conventional and explore new concepts using Prezi. 

Maintaining relevance

Staying relevant is the cornerstone of success. To connect deeply with your audience, demonstrate your strong dedication to delivering top-notch content consistently. Your presentations should stand out with innovation and creativity, signaling that you’re not merely keeping pace with the times – you’re setting the tempo. With Prezi’s toolbox, you’ll be ready to explore a range of creative presentation ideas that leave a lasting impression on your audience. 

Fueling engagement

Elevating your presentations from mere information-sharing sessions to immersive experiences can be a game-changer. By staying in the loop on fresh creative presentation ideas and cool interactive tricks, you’re all set to captivate your audience. Adding some of these new, interactive touches can help you grab and keep people’s attention way better than just repeating the same slideshows.

Where to get your inspo 

If you’re ready to improve your creative game, there are plenty of helpful blogs, webinars, and online courses about fun presentation ideas you can dive into. Prezi offers a lot of useful tips for making your presentations stand out. Think of Prezi as your toolbox, always within reach to unlock your presentation’s potential and make a lasting impression. For presentation inspiration , check out Prezi’s presentation gallery and explore our highly engaging and creative templates .

Watch this video and learn more about creative presentation ideas:

Get inspired for more presentation ideas

The world isn’t flat, and your presentations shouldn’t be, either. Step outside your comfort zone, and play around with these 20 creative ways to present. Better yet, come up with your own creative ways to present and incorporate them into one of Prezi’s dynamic content layouts. Using this presentation software’s open canvas approach, you can tell your story conversationally and spontaneously so that audience members will engage with and remember.

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Presentation Guru

The most successful presentations use this framework.

Stories are memorable, stories make a connection and so stories stick. All good. But if you don’t consider yourself a natural raconteur where do you start? Right here… Rob D Willis shares the framework for the perfect business pitch.

“What’s in it for me?”

That’s the question every single member of your audience is asking themselves while you speak. Our job, as speakers, is to answer that, so we can engage, inspire, persuade and inform.

Many speech builders and frameworks lay out the order in which to present information, but do little to highlight what should actually be presented.

I stumbled upon the answer to this in Donald Miller’s book, Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen . I was looking for something to help me as I setup my business as a public speaking coach, but was surprised to find a framework which would also help me create speeches.

The book uses the universal elements of storytelling to help brands connect with their customers. Connection is central to public speaking, and it is formed by an understanding of what the audience wants .

The basic storytelling structure as Miller sees it is:

A character has a problem and meets a guide who gives them a plan and calls them to action that ends in success and avoids failure.

For a marketer, the character would be the customer and the guide the brand. For a public speaker, the character is your audience and the speaker the guide. This is an opinion echoed by Nancy Duarte in her book Resonate .

The great thing about the Storybrand framework is that it methodically takes you through the different steps of the storytelling structure. Using it will give you a powerful lens through which to view your relationship with your audience, and tremendous insight into building a powerful message.

Using the Storybrand Framework In Speechwriting

The Storybrand structure revolves around a worksheet. Go through the questions methodically and fill them in as you go along. I’ll provide a link to the official Storybrand builder at the end of this article.

Note: it’s vital that you limit the number of responses to each question. There should be one character, one problem, one guide and one call-to-action. Just imagine if you saw a movie which had 5 different storylines, three heroes and eighteen villains – it would be impossibly complex to follow. The same goes for presenting: convey only one coherent narrative.

A character

What do they want?

This is the audience. Who are you talking to and what are their objectives? It’s essentially answering the old question “what’s in it for me?”. The book also says that this answer should come from one of the three survival instincts: money, time or status.

…has a problem

Every good story needs a bad guy. Personify the problem that your presentation is solving and make it the bad guy of the speech.

What the problem actually is – e.g. climate change, inequality in the workplace.

How does this problem make your audience feel? Is it fear for the future? Sadness at the loss of something? Humans make decisions emotionally, so your speech has to appeal to their emotions.

Philosophical

Why is this bad? Take a stand and say why you think that the problem is a problem.

…and meets a guide

This is you!

Show that you understand the internal problem and frustrations of the character (your audience). All humans want to feel understood so state explicitly that you know how they feel. This is a vital step in building a connection with your audience.

Demonstrate why you should be the one to show them the way. This might be your credentials or experience, or it might be the extensive research you’ve done on a particular topic. Note that your authority should only relate to how you can better serve the character as a guide. No one cares about how many degrees you have, or languages you can speak, unless it helps them solve their problem.

…who gives them a plan

Whether we are speaking to inform or persuade, there are usually stepping stones towards a final goal. Make sure your audience knows what they are. This step may require some simplification as I wouldn’t recommend including more than 3-5 steps.

When you ask someone to do something, or think in a new way, that carries a fear of loss with it. Miller described the plan phase as stepping stones across a fast river; people don’t want to fall in and be swept away! Show your audience that your path is safe.

…and call to action

I believe all speeches should have a call to action. CTAs are memorable, give the audience an instant win and therefore bolster the speaker’s authority. They also make people far more likely to then go on and take further steps.

Transitional

How should they think now? Connor Neill calls this an “indirect close”, and it is reminding the audience of the pain that the audience will continue to suffer if they do not follow your message.

…that ends in success

How will the world look in the future if the audience does everything you say? You have to show people why things will be better, or there is no motivation to carry out the call to action. This promising vision of the future is great for a motivating close.

…and avoids failure

State what the stakes are and what might happen if nothing is done. How will the problem manifest itself? Using this in an introduction can be a powerful motivator for the audience to listen to the rest of the speech.

Character Transformation

Remember the audience is the hero of your speech . It’s worth considering and outlining the personal transformation which they will go through – how are they how and how will they be having listened to your speech and taken your call-to-action?

What I like most about the Storybrand framework is how it refocuses the entire message of a speech to the needs of the character , our audience. There’s no room for egocentricity in public speaking , though that is a trap many fall into. As public speakers, we must remember our place as guides, not heroes . We bring our message to the world to serve others in their own lives .

The Storybrand framework is so enlightening to both marketers and speechwriters because both attempt to do the same thing: show people – be they customers or an audience – a different vision of the world and persuade them to pursue that – either through buying a product, changing their perspective or way of life.

So next time you sit down to write a speech, take a few minutes to fill out the Storybrand framework and see what insights you can come up with.

You can find the online Storybrand builder at www.mystorybrand.com .

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Framing in PowerPoint presentations: Here’s how it works!

Even though it often seems like PowerPoint presentations are mainly about conveying facts and data , there are other important factors . Besides the content of the presentation, connecting with your audience and framing is just as important.

If you have a connection with your audience from the beginning , you can make a better impression and ensure that your audience is listening attentively. We’ve already introduced you to storytelling and how to captivate your audience with emotion in existing blog articles. Feel free to check out these posts for more information on this:

• Use Feedback to Improve Your Presentations
• Call to Action for Your Presentations
• The Final Question in Presentations – That’s Why It’s So Important!
• The 5-Act Structure for Your Storytelling in Presentations!
• Presentation Hack: Consider the Attention Curve – Summarize Key Messages at the End!

Resonate – focus on connections with your audience!

In her book “Resonate”, author Nancy Durante illustrates the importance of audience attention and thus also of framing . Resonate means, in the context of PowerPoint presentations, to establish a close connection with the audience. This works best by using framing, storytelling, and emotions.

Framing – what is it?

Framing emphasizes Nancy Durante’s intention to get the audiences’ attention. In addition to storytelling, there is another way to create a strong connection with your audience: framing. The goal here is to create a desire in your target audience that can only be fulfilled with your idea or solution.

The structure of a framing presentation

When creating a framing presentation, especially focus on structure . How you structure your message and story has a big impact on the success of your presentation.

There are three different framing models which we’ll introduce in this article:

#1: Problem-/ Solution-Framing

Problem-/Solution-Framing focuses on a specific problem or challenge and then presents a solution to that problem . This way, you can convey a sense of urgency with your presentation and motivate them to action. A call-to-action can also help with this.

To learn more, read our “Call-to-Action in Presentations” article in our blog.

#2: Before-/ After-Framing

This framing model means comparing two different states or situations . It helps you highlight the change that occurs as a result of the story.

This type of framing allows you to convey a sense of progress while demonstrating the impact of your solution.

#3: Progress-/ Journey-Framing

This framing model tells a story of progress or change and highlights the challenges and successes along the way.

Progress-/Journey-Framing allows you to create a sense of connection and shared experience with your audience.

Conclusion: Work with feedback!

Which framing model works best depends on the individual goals of the presentation, the company, and the target group. It is best to test all models , get feedback and optimize the models on this basis.

You can read how to get feedback and use it to improve your presentation in our article “Use feedback to improve your presentations” .

Do you have any questions about framing in presentations or PowerPoint in general? Do not hesitate to contact us by mail at [email protected] . We are always happy to help!

Are you looking for visually supportive and professionally designed slide templates ? Feel free to look around our store. Here we have numerous slides prepared for you to download on a wide variety of (business) topics. Have a look today! ► To the store

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The power of language: How words shape people, culture

Speaking, writing and reading are integral to everyday life, where language is the primary tool for expression and communication. Studying how people use language – what words and phrases they unconsciously choose and combine – can help us better understand ourselves and why we behave the way we do.

Linguistics scholars seek to determine what is unique and universal about the language we use, how it is acquired and the ways it changes over time. They consider language as a cultural, social and psychological phenomenon.

“Understanding why and how languages differ tells about the range of what is human,” said Dan Jurafsky , the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor in Humanities and chair of the Department of Linguistics in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford . “Discovering what’s universal about languages can help us understand the core of our humanity.”

The stories below represent some of the ways linguists have investigated many aspects of language, including its semantics and syntax, phonetics and phonology, and its social, psychological and computational aspects.

Understanding stereotypes

Stanford linguists and psychologists study how language is interpreted by people. Even the slightest differences in language use can correspond with biased beliefs of the speakers, according to research.

One study showed that a relatively harmless sentence, such as “girls are as good as boys at math,” can subtly perpetuate sexist stereotypes. Because of the statement’s grammatical structure, it implies that being good at math is more common or natural for boys than girls, the researchers said.

Language can play a big role in how we and others perceive the world, and linguists work to discover what words and phrases can influence us, unknowingly.

How well-meaning statements can spread stereotypes unintentionally

New Stanford research shows that sentences that frame one gender as the standard for the other can unintentionally perpetuate biases.

Algorithms reveal changes in stereotypes

New Stanford research shows that, over the past century, linguistic changes in gender and ethnic stereotypes correlated with major social movements and demographic changes in the U.S. Census data.

Exploring what an interruption is in conversation

Stanford doctoral candidate Katherine Hilton found that people perceive interruptions in conversation differently, and those perceptions differ depending on the listener’s own conversational style as well as gender.

Cops speak less respectfully to black community members

Professors Jennifer Eberhardt and Dan Jurafsky, along with other Stanford researchers, detected racial disparities in police officers’ speech after analyzing more than 100 hours of body camera footage from Oakland Police.

How other languages inform our own

People speak roughly 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there is a lot in common among languages, each one is unique, both in its structure and in the way it reflects the culture of the people who speak it.

Jurafsky said it’s important to study languages other than our own and how they develop over time because it can help scholars understand what lies at the foundation of humans’ unique way of communicating with one another.

“All this research can help us discover what it means to be human,” Jurafsky said.

Stanford PhD student documents indigenous language of Papua New Guinea

Fifth-year PhD student Kate Lindsey recently returned to the United States after a year of documenting an obscure language indigenous to the South Pacific nation.

Students explore Esperanto across Europe

In a research project spanning eight countries, two Stanford students search for Esperanto, a constructed language, against the backdrop of European populism.

Chris Manning: How computers are learning to understand language​

A computer scientist discusses the evolution of computational linguistics and where it’s headed next.

Stanford research explores novel perspectives on the evolution of Spanish

Using digital tools and literature to explore the evolution of the Spanish language, Stanford researcher Cuauhtémoc García-García reveals a new historical perspective on linguistic changes in Latin America and Spain.

Language as a lens into behavior

Linguists analyze how certain speech patterns correspond to particular behaviors, including how language can impact people’s buying decisions or influence their social media use.

For example, in one research paper, a group of Stanford researchers examined the differences in how Republicans and Democrats express themselves online to better understand how a polarization of beliefs can occur on social media.

“We live in a very polarized time,” Jurafsky said. “Understanding what different groups of people say and why is the first step in determining how we can help bring people together.”

Analyzing the tweets of Republicans and Democrats

New research by Dora Demszky and colleagues examined how Republicans and Democrats express themselves online in an attempt to understand how polarization of beliefs occurs on social media.

Examining bilingual behavior of children at Texas preschool

A Stanford senior studied a group of bilingual children at a Spanish immersion preschool in Texas to understand how they distinguished between their two languages.

Predicting sales of online products from advertising language

Stanford linguist Dan Jurafsky and colleagues have found that products in Japan sell better if their advertising includes polite language and words that invoke cultural traditions or authority.

Language can help the elderly cope with the challenges of aging, says Stanford professor

By examining conversations of elderly Japanese women, linguist Yoshiko Matsumoto uncovers language techniques that help people move past traumatic events and regain a sense of normalcy.

How to make a great presentation

Stressed about an upcoming presentation? These talks are full of helpful tips on how to get up in front of an audience and make a lasting impression.

The secret structure of great talks

The beauty of data visualization

TED's secret to great public speaking

How to speak so that people want to listen

How great leaders inspire action

Understanding Frame Semantics: A Linguistic Approach

Thank you for sharing the article.

Have you ever wondered how we understand the meaning of words and concepts? How do we make sense of our experiences and interpret the world around us? The answer lies in frame semantics.

Frame semantics is a linguistic theory that studies the meaning of words and concepts in the context of a frame. Simply put, frames are mental structures that help us organize and interpret our experiences.

They give us a perspective on how we perceive and categorize the world.

Semantic frames are crucial for understanding language and communication. They allow us to convey complex ideas by providing a context for our words.

For example, when we say, “I’m going to the store,” we’re invoking a frame that includes concepts like shopping, buying, money, and transportation.

Frame semantics has many practical applications. It can be used to analyze texts, understand cultural differences in communication, and even develop artificial intelligence systems to understand natural language.

A critical aspect of frame semantics is identifying semantic frames. A semantic frame is a set of related concepts that form a mental structure or “frame.”

For example, the semantic frame for “going to school” might include ideas like learning, education, teachers, students, classrooms, etc.

Understanding these semantic frames, we can better understand how language works and how people communicate.

We can also identify common patterns across different languages and cultures.

Defining and explaining frame semantics in linguistics

Frame semantics is a linguistic theory developed by Charles Fillmore in the 1970s as an alternative to traditional approaches to semantics.

It studies how words and phrases derive meaning from the context in which they are used.

According to this theory, words are not defined by their dictionary entries, but by the frames or mental structures, they activate in our minds.

The concept of frames

Frames are composed of slots or roles filled by specific entities or concepts, and they provide background knowledge that allows us to interpret language coherently.

For example, “restaurant” activates a frame with elements such as waiters, menus, tables, chairs, food, drinks, etc.

When we encounter this word in a sentence like “Let’s go to the restaurant,” we automatically fill these slots with specific entities based on our previous experiences and cultural knowledge.

The concept of frames is crucial for understanding how language works because it shows that meaning is not just about individual words or grammar rules but about the larger context in which they occur.

By analyzing the frames associated with different words and expressions, linguists can understand how people perceive and categorize reality.

The role of semantic roles

Another vital aspect of frame semantics is the notion of semantic roles. These positions within a frame correspond to different participants or agents involved in an event or situation described by language.

For example, in the sentence “John gave Mary a book,” John is the agent who performs the action (giving), Mary is the recipient who receives it, and the book is what is shown.

Semantic roles help us understand how different parts of language relate to each other and contribute to the overall meaning.

They also show how languages vary in terms of expressing these roles explicitly or implicitly through inflectional morphology or word order.

Applications of frame semantics

Frame semantics has been applied to various areas of linguistics and beyond. In syntax, it has led to the development of constructions that capture the rich interactions between frames and grammatical structures.

In semantics, it has shed light on the nature of metaphor and how it arises from our conceptual system.

Outside of linguistics, frame semantics has been used in fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive science, psychology, and anthropology.

For example, researchers have used frame analysis to study how people understand political issues or social problems by identifying the frames that shape their perceptions and attitudes.

The Relationship Between Frame Semantics and Cognitive Linguistics

Frame semantics is a theory within cognitive linguistics that studies how language reflects our conceptual understanding of the world.

This approach proposes that words and phrases are not just isolated units but are associated with mental frames that help us interpret their meaning.

These frames consist of relations between entities, events, and concepts that are activated when we encounter language in context.

Understanding Frame Semantics

To understand frame semantics, let’s consider an example. Imagine hearing, “John filled the glass filled with water.”

To fully comprehend this sentence, you need to activate a mental frame that includes several pieces of information: John is an agent who acts (filling), the glass is a container served, and water is poured into it.

All these elements combine to form a coherent mental image or frame that helps you understand what is happening.

This approach has been applied to various domains, such as metaphor, grammar, and discourse analysis.

For instance, by analyzing metaphors based on different frames, researchers have shown how our conceptual understanding of abstract concepts like time or emotions can be shaped by concrete experiences such as movement or temperature.

Similarly, by examining grammatical constructions related to causation or possession, they have revealed how specific semantic roles (such as agent or patient) are linked to particular frames and influence our interpretation of linguistic expressions.

The Importance of Relations and Associations

One crucial aspect of frame semantics is its focus on relations between entities rather than individual objects or actions.

In other words, it emphasizes how things are connected rather than what they are in isolation.

This perspective allows us to capture more accurately the complexity and richness of human experience since most phenomena involve multiple actors interacting with each other in diverse ways.

For example, suppose we take the sentence, “Mary gave John a present.” From a traditional perspective focused on isolated objects, this sentence comprises three distinct elements: Mary, John, and the present.

However, from a frame semantic viewpoint, we would recognize that these elements are related in specific ways.

Mary is the giver or donor who performs an action (giving), John is the recipient or beneficiary who receives something (a present), and both participate in a social event involving exchange or reciprocity.

By analyzing these relations and associations between entities, frame semantics can reveal how different linguistic expressions evoke mental images and affect our reasoning and decision-making.

For example, if we use passive voice instead of active voice in a sentence like “The car hit the tree,” we may shift the focus from the driver to the car or object involved, which can have implications for assigning responsibility or blame in legal contexts.

Implications of Frame Semantics for Understanding the Nature of Language

Language as a system of interconnected concepts.

Language is often considered a collection of words strung together to form sentences. However, frame semantics suggests that language is more than that – it is a system of interconnected concepts.

Frames are mental structures that organize our knowledge about the world and help us make sense of new information.

They provide a context for understanding words and phrases, allowing us to interpret meaning beyond their literal definitions.

For example, when we hear “restaurant,” we automatically activate a frame that includes food, menus, waitstaff, tables, and chairs.

This frame helps us understand what kind of place a restaurant is and what activities typically occur there.

With this shared understanding, communication is much easier.

Importance of Context and Background Knowledge

Frame semantics emphasizes context and background knowledge. Words can have multiple meanings depending on the frame.

The term “bank” can refer to a financial institution or the edge of a river. The meaning becomes clear based on the context.

Similarly, background knowledge plays a vital role in interpreting language. We draw on our experiences and cultural norms to understand what we hear or read.

For example, if someone says, “I’m going to grab some coffee,” we know that they mean they will get a drink from a café or coffee shop because we know what coffee is and where it’s typically consumed.

Appreciating Complexity and Richness

By recognizing the role frames play in shaping our understanding of language, we can better appreciate its complexity and richness.

Language is not just about exchanging information – it’s also about conveying emotions, building relationships, expressing identity, creating art, and much more.

Whole language approaches teaching language arts align well with the principles of frame semantics.

These approaches prioritize meaning-making and context over isolated skills such as grammar or vocabulary.

By engaging students in authentic, meaningful experiences with language, they can better understand how language works and how it can be used.

Use of Frame Semantics in Construction Grammar

Additional resources for readers.

External links and “see also” sections provide additional resources for readers to access related information on frame semantics.

These resources may include academic papers or books that delve deeper into the topic.

One such resource is the book “Frame Semantics in Construction Grammar” edited by Mirjam Fried and Jan-Ola Östman.

This book includes a chapter on frame semantics applied to commercial transactions, where buyers and sellers exchange goods and money, as an example of how frames are used in real-life situations.

The Use of Phrases and Words in Context

Construction grammar emphasizes using phrases and words in context rather than as isolated single words.

This approach recognizes that words gain meaning through their relationship with other words around them.

For example, the term “frame” gains its meaning through its relationship with other words like “semantics,” “construction,” or “commercial transaction.”

By understanding these relationships, we can better understand how language works.

Applying Frame Semantics to Commercial Transactions

Frame semantics can be applied to commercial transactions, where buyers and sellers exchange goods and money.

In this context, frames refer to the mental structures people use to organize their knowledge about things in the world.

For example, when a buyer purchases something from a seller, they have a mental image of what that transaction should look like based on past experiences.

The frame for a commercial transaction includes expectations about what goods will be exchanged (e.g., quality, quantity), how much money will be paid for those goods (e.g., price), who will initiate the transaction (e.g., buyer or seller), and what kind of interaction is expected between the two parties (e.g., polite conversation).

Understanding these frames is essential for successful communication between buyers and sellers.

Studies and Papers on Frame Semantics in Linguistic Theory

Frame semantics: a popular topic in linguistics theory.

Frame semantics is a popular topic in linguistics theory. It concerns how language users understand the meaning of linguistic units, such as words and sentences.

The central idea of frame semantics is that the purpose of a linguistic unit is not determined solely by its internal structure but also by the context in which it appears.

This context includes the physical and social world and our experiences and knowledge.

Understanding Linguistic Units and Meanings through Frame Semantics

Linguists use frame semantics to study linguistic units and meanings.

They examine how specific words or concepts activate different frames or mental structures, leading to varying interpretations of their meanings.

For instance, the word “bank” can activate different frames depending on the context it appears in – financial institution, river bank, etc.

The semantic principle of frame semantics is used to understand speech and knowledge.

It posits that our understanding of language relies on our ability to recognize patterns or frames activated by specific linguistic cues.

This recognition allows us to make sense of new information based on our existing knowledge.

De Gruyter Mouton’s Basic Readings in Frame Semantics: A Widely Used Resource for Studying Frame Semantics

De Gruyter Mouton’s Basic Readings in Frame Semantics is a widely used resource for studying frame semantics.

This book introduces the field with critical readings from seminal works by scholars such as Charles Fillmore, Ronald Langacker, and George Lakoff.

One important concept discussed in this book is the notion of “semantic roles.” Semantic roles refer to the relationship between different elements within a sentence and their respective functions.

For example, in the sentence “John gave Mary a book,” John is the agent (the one who acts), Mary is the recipient (the one who receives the action), and the book is the theme (the entity that undergoes the action).

Another important concept discussed in Basic Readings in Frame Semantics is “frame-to-frame coherence.” This refers to how different frames can be linked to form a coherent understanding of a larger discourse.

For example, if someone says, “I went to the bank,” we might assume they are referring to a financial institution frame, but if they follow up with “and saw ducks swimming in the pond,” we would need to shift our frame of reference to understand their meaning.

Benefits of Frame Semantics Exercises

Exercises on frame semantics involve identifying the frames used in a sentence and the roles played by different words within those frames.

Practicing these exercises can improve our understanding and use of language effectively.

Here are some benefits of doing frame semantics exercises:

1. Better understanding of language

Frame semantics exercises help us understand how language works and how we use it to convey meaning.

Analyzing sentences at the frame level can identify the underlying structure and context that gives words meaning.

2. Improved communication skills

Understanding frames allows us to communicate more effectively using appropriate language for a given situation or context.

We can also avoid misunderstandings by using words in their proper context.

3. Enhanced natural language processing

Frame semantics exercises are widely used in natural language processing (NLP) applications such as machine translation, sentiment analysis, and named entity recognition.

NLP algorithms rely on the accurate identification of frames to interpret text accurately.

Examples of Frame Semantics Exercises

Here are some examples of frame semantics exercises:

1. Identifying Frames

Identifying frames involves recognizing the underlying structure or context in which a word is used.

For example, consider the following sentence: “The cat sat on the mat.” The frame here is “sitting,” with “cat” as the agent and “mat” as the location.

2. Role Labeling

Role labeling involves identifying each word’s specific role within a given frame.

For example, consider this sentence: “The chef prepared a delicious meal in the kitchen.”

The frame here is “cooking,” with “chef” as the agent, “meal” as the patient, and “kitchen” as the location.

3. Frame Semantics in NLP

Frame semantics is widely used in natural language processing applications such as sentiment analysis and named entity recognition.

For example, sentiment analysis algorithms use frame semantics to identify the underlying emotional context of a given text.

Importance of Frame Semantics for Linguistic Analysis

Frame semantics is a powerful tool linguists use to understand better how language reflects our understanding of the world.

It allows us to identify the underlying conceptual structures that shape our use of language and gain insights into how people perceive and categorize different concepts.

This article will discuss the importance of frame semantics for linguistic analysis.

Understanding Conceptual Structures

One of the critical benefits of frame semantics is its ability to help us understand the conceptual structures that underlie language.

By analyzing frames, we can identify people’s mental models or schemas to categorize and make sense of different concepts.

For example, when we talk about “going to a restaurant,” we activate a mental model or frame that includes entities such as waiters, menus, tables, chairs, etc.

This approach can analyze various linguistic phenomena, from word meanings to sentence structure.

For instance, by looking at how verbs are used in different frames (e.g., “John gave Mary a book” vs. “John gave a book to Mary”), we can gain insights into how people conceptualize events and actions.

Practical Applications

Frame semantics has practical applications in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning. NLP algorithms often need help understanding human language’s nuances because they need an understanding of context and meaning.

Researchers can improve their accuracy in sentiment analysis, entity recognition, and question-answering tasks by incorporating frame semantic parsing into NLP systems.

In addition to NLP, frame semantics also has applications in other areas, such as information retrieval and knowledge representation.

For example, it can extract structured information from unstructured text data or build ontologies for domain-specific knowledge representation.

Conclusion: Frame Semantics

Now that you have delved into the world of frame semantics, it’s clear how it has revolutionized our understanding of language.

This linguistic theory focuses on the role of frames or mental structures in shaping our interpretation of meaning and how we understand language.

As we explored earlier, frame semantics is closely related to cognitive linguistics. Both theories emphasize the importance of context and mental representations in shaping language use and comprehension.

By studying frame semantics, we gain a deeper insight into the nature of language and how it works.

One crucial implication of frame semantics for linguistic analysis is its usefulness in constructing grammar.

Researchers have found that this theory can help us better understand how constructions are formed and used in different contexts.

If you’re interested in exploring more about frame semantics, many studies and papers are available that delve deeper into this fascinating topic.

You can also find exercises to help you practice your understanding of this theory.

In conclusion, frame semantics is essential for anyone interested in linguistics or language learning.

By understanding the role of frames in shaping our interpretation of meaning, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and richness of human communication.

So why not dive deeper into this exciting field today?

Frame semantics is a linguistic theory of understanding and categorizing the world that Charles J. Fillmore developed. It postulates that words, phrases, and sentences are understood in terms of a specific conceptual structure, or "frame," which is shaped by our experiences and knowledge.

In the context of frame semantics, frames are mental structures that help us understand the world. They contain elements and relationships which provide context for interpreting language and concepts.

Frame semantics is used in linguistic analysis to explain how words and phrases are understood within specific contexts. It highlights that the meaning of a word is not just the word itself but also involves the broader conceptual framework or "frame" within which the word is used.

Indeed, consider the phrase "buy a car." This phrase is part of a more significant "commercial transaction" frame, which includes concepts like buyer, seller, product, price, etc. Understanding the words requires knowledge of this broader frame.

Frame semantics is relevant in linguistics and fields such as artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, and communication studies. For example, it helps AI models understand natural language and provides insights into how humans process information and communicate.

Frame elements are the participants and props involved in a frame. In a "commercial transaction" frame, for example, frame elements could include the buyer, the seller, the goods being sold, and the money exchanged.

While traditional semantic theories often focus on the isolated meaning of words or sentences, frame semantics emphasizes the importance of context and the role of cognitive structures in understanding language. It posits that the definition of a word or phrase is deeply intertwined with our knowledge and experiences.

Frame semantics suggests that our use and understanding of language are not arbitrary but are shaped by the frames we have in our minds. Our cultural background, experiences, and knowledge form these frames, influencing how we understand and interpret language.

In AI, frame semantics can be used in natural language processing (NLP) to improve the understanding of language by machines. It can help design algorithms that understand language in a context, much like humans do.

Yes, like any theory, frame semantics is not without its critics. Some argue that it is too subjective or doesn't explain all aspects of language understanding. Others find it challenging to apply systematically due to frames' complex and often fuzzy boundaries.

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How To Use Body Language To Enhance Your Presentation Skills

How you physically hold and carry yourself makes a huge difference in how your audience receives your words.

Improve Your Presentation Body Language

As a manager, you know that mastering presentation skills is critical for effectively communicating ideas , motivating your team, and projecting leadership presence. But even if your message is compelling, poor body language can undermine your talk’s impact .

How you physically hold and carry yourself makes a huge difference in how your audience receives your words. Simple tweaks like standing with open posture, using natural hand gestures, maintaining eye contact, and having expressive facial reactions can dramatically boost your ability to captivate and connect with any crowd.

But how can you use all the tips to improve your next presentation ?

In this guide, we’ll help you understand all the small tweaks you can do to improve your presentation style . From building a strong stage presence to making sure that your audience doesn’t doze off , you’ll be able to become a speaker who naturally commands attention and gains trust.

So, let’s see how you can become a speaker that not only informs but also inspires.

Key Components of Effective Body Language in Presentations

Posture – conveying confidence and authority.

Proper posture is crucial for projecting confidence and professionalism while presenting. Stand tall with your shoulders comfortably back and down to achieve an open, grounded stance. Distribute your weight evenly on both feet, positioned shoulder-width apart in a power pose. This occupies space and subconsciously signals assurance and leadership capability. Avoid closed-off postures like crossed arms and legs, which telegraph discomfort or aloofness. Train yourself to stand upright often outside of presentations, as posture habits inform body language cues .

Keep your chin parallel to the floor and your head upright. This levels your gaze naturally to readily meet the audience’s eyes and establish an engaging connection . Periodically roll your shoulders back to keep your chest open if needed. Use torso twists to limber up before taking the stage. Stand with authority by clasping hands behind your lower back. Small posture adjustments like these will instantly lend you greater gravitas.

Hand Gestures – Adding Emphasis and Clarity

Hand motions are a powerful tool to punctuate words and underscore meaning, so use them with deliberate purpose. Open palm gestures fluidly direct the audience’s gaze, highlighting key points without unnecessary flourish. Sweeping hand motions also reinforce ideas spatially and describe size and shape. Avoid overuse of gestures which distract. Keep hand motions above the sternum where the audience can readily see them.

Prevent anxious habits like wringing hands or touching your face. Instead, drill smooth motions originating from the core that emphasise ideas. Calibrate hand gestures to your message’s tone using palm orientation, speed, size and range appropriate to each point. Well-executed hand motions timed to accent important content, clarify the presentation and amplify impact . But use sparingly, only when meaning is enhanced.

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Practical Application in Presentations

Integrating body language into presentation preparation.

When preparing your presentation , consciously plan how physical presence will complement the narrative. Script instances to stand tall to convey confidence at key points. Note when expansive gestures could underscore important ideas. Plan for natural eye contact with participants throughout the room. Identify areas where facial expressions might heighten engagement.

Practice fluid transitions between postures and gestures. Appropriately time movements and gestures to sync with speech patterns. Review the video to confirm body language aligns with your intentions. Refine through repetition to eliminate distracting motions and polish physical delivery.

Dynamic Body Language During Live Presentations

While presenting, let body language emerge naturally from the content while adhering to openness, purpose and confidence principles. Avoid remaining static, or you may disengage the audience. Move with an intention to occupy the stage using diagonal crossing patterns. Pivot your torso and stance when transitioning.

Continually scan the room, making eye contact . Use sustained gestures more dynamically when speaking passionately to boost energy and enthusiasm. Allow facial expressions to reflect the speech’s emotion. Respond physically to audience reactions. Adjust pacing, gestures, and proximity as needed to recapture wandering attention. An authentic , dynamic physical presence will keep your audience engaged .

Simple Exercises to Enhance Body Language Skills

Daily routines for better posture.

Building better posture requires daily practice. Set reminders so you periodically stand tall and roll your shoulders back to open your chest. Stretches like overhead reaches target tight muscles that pull shoulders forward. Yoga poses that extend the spine help counteract slouching. Perform exercises like planks to build core strength for a balanced stance.

Use visualisation techniques daily, too – imagine balancing a book atop your head as you walk. Adopt grounded public speaking stances like hands clasped behind your back. The more upright postures become an ingrained habit, the more poised and confident you’ll appear when presenting.

Practice Drills for Effective Hand Gestures

Avoid small, jittery hand motions – instead, drill broad, purposeful gestures that fluidly originate from your core. Rehearse synchronised motions in front of a mirror, timed to match speech patterns. Mark words for emphasis gestures on your script or teleprompter.

Vary gesture size and speed to fit the tone of your message. Watch TED talks and replicate speakers’ effective motions to expand your repertoire. With consistent practice, gestures will become a seamless way to emphasise key points and amplify your presentations.

If you are looking for In-House Presentation Skills Training for a group or teams, please see our

Advanced Body Language Strategies for Presentations

Adapting body language for diverse audiences.

Tailor your body language approach based on audience demographics to increase engagement:

• Research cultural norms on gestures and personal space to avoid miscommunicating with international attendees.
• Adjust formality appropriately for executives versus new hires.
• Adjust gestures to be visible and expressions to be exaggerated if presenting to an audience with visual or hearing impairments. Use simplicity, repetition, and descriptive language.
• Make body language inclusive by scanning the full room with eye contact, not just focusing on leadership.
• Naturally pace stance and gestures to resonate across generations.

Responsive, adaptive physical presence fosters audience connection.

Context-Specific Body Language Techniques

Adjust techniques based on the presentation context. Subtle, confined gestures suit lecterns, while expansive motions engage stage audiences. Convey passion facially and physically for motivational speeches. A CEO may feature formal postures, while an engineer can relax formality for tech demos. Conversational gestures engage small groups.

For video conferences, look into the camera when speaking, then pan side-to-side to show attentiveness. Lean slightly forward on intensifying words. Exaggerate nods, smiles and frowns for clarity onscreen. Contextual mastery makes every talk more effective.

Body Language in Digital Presentation Platforms

Challenges and strategies for virtual presentations.

Presenting through video conferencing poses body language challenges:

• Limited mobility due to being seated and on camera can make presentations feel static and disengaged.
• Distance from the camera may mean facial expressions and subtle gestures get lost.
• Lack of audience visual feedback is difficult.

However, some strategic tweaks can help amplify your virtual presence:

• Stand and gesture when possible to emulate live delivery . Incorporate periodic movement.
• Position the camera at eye level and look directly into it to simulate eye contact.
• Use visual aids like slides or images behind you for audience focus.
• Request audience webcams be on for virtual nods, smiles and eye contact.

Effective Use of Body Language in Video Conferencing

When presenting via video chat platforms:

• Properly position the camera at eye level to emulate eye contact.
• Look into the camera when speaking, then pan to side screens to view participants’ faces.
• Project confidence through purposeful posture and avoid distracting fidgets off-screen.
• Convey energy by varying pace, emphasis gestures, and vocal delivery.
• Use exaggerated facial expressions for clarity onscreen.
• Occasionally lean forward subtly on key points for intensified engagement.
• Send “looking to audience” visual cues before asking questions.

Proper use of virtual body language techniques makes online presentations more dynamic and impactful.

Elevate Your Presentation Skills With Impact Factory

Now armed with evidence-based techniques to amplify your body language impact, it’s time to put these tips into practice. Reflect on your upcoming presentations and identify areas needing improvement. Set goals to integrate one new technique per talk until a powerful physical presence comes naturally. Also, continue observing seasoned speakers to expand your skills repertoire .

For professionals seeking to master presentation skills beyond just body language, our Impact Factory Presentation Skills Training Course offers an intensive learning experience. The program elevates verbal delivery, content structure , audience engagement, and physical presence through hands-on sessions with expert coaches.

The course features modules dedicated to body language mastery, including stance, movement and eye contact for gravitas. However, you’ll also be able to identify your strengths, learn how to become less nervous and make your presentations more engaging.

So, whether you need to pitch ideas within the company, win over new customers, enchant stakeholders in a boardroom or talk to the public and media, you’ll become more confident and learn how to craft a presentation that allows you to reach your goals .

To learn more about our transformative presentation training, browse through our offer of courses or email [email protected]. Our knowledgeable coaches provide personalised guidance to dramatically boost your public speaking capabilities .

Contact us today to amplify your presence and confidence as a presenter.

What are soft skills for body language?

Key soft skills for mastering body language include:

• Self-awareness – recognising your natural gestures
• Empathy – reading others’ nonverbal cues
• Adaptability – adjusting body language by context
• Active listening – paying attention to others’ signals
• Authenticity – using gestures that feel natural

What are the 5 P’s of presentation skills?

The 5 P’s are a framework for excellent presentations:

• Planning – research and outline content
• Preparation – create slides, handouts, notes
• Practice – rehearse delivery out loud
• Presentation – deliver material confidently
• Post-Evaluation – review feedback afterwards

What is the 5/5/5 rule for better presentation?

The 5/5/5 rule suggests:

• 5 key points maximum per slide
• 5 words maximum per bullet point
• 5 text-heavy slides maximum in a row before visuals

This technique improves engagement by simplifying slides and varying content types.

Related Articles:

Here are more resources to help you plan your next steps:

• Presentation Skills Training – Browse through our offer to see what you can gain from the training.
• Presentation With Impact – In this course, you can find your unique presentation style and sharpen your skills to perfection. Explore what our course has to offer.
• Tips To Improve Your Presentation Skills From Industry Insiders [link to our piece] – Learn more about small yet impactful tweaks to your next presentation so you can captivate the audience and reach your goals.
• How To Create Impactful Presentation Slides [link to our piece] – The days with slides full of barely readable text are long gone. Explore our tips to make your slides more engaging.

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What Tools and Software to Use to Create the Best Work Presentations

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Framing Nature: Why Language Matters

Language is one of the most powerful tools in an animal advocate’s arsenal. Presented appropriately, conservation becomes a compelling goal for those who are not necessarily considering animal welfare in their daily lives. But what constitutes appropriate presentation? The Framing Nature Toolkit is a report addressed towards conservationists and animal advocates who seek to make better use of language to convince others of the value of their message. 

Frames are how people organize their reality. They consist of related bits of information – characters, places, feelings, emotions, etc. – that may be invoked by the use of a particular word or image. Framing involves manipulating the language of arguments to agree with positive mental structures in other people. This technique fits neatly with the goals of conservationists. 

An ever-present danger in animal advocacy is excluding groups of individuals through excessive polarization or esoteric language. For example, an argument that relies heavily on jargon words may appeal to biologists and conservationists, but is not as appealing to individuals who are not versed in animal science. Clear, simple messaging, appropriately chosen facts, and minimal decorative language are key to ensuring that jargon does not put off potential converts to the conservation cause. 

A secondary concern for animal advocates is presenting nature in a way that is compelling but not undermining. The use of metaphors is a particularly tricky language structure to navigate, because metaphors have implicit meanings and entailments. 

Entailments refer to the implications of metaphors – for example, if I talk about “wildlife management”, I am conjuring an image of nature as a commodity in the minds of my audience. The entailment of this metaphor is that people will begin to think of conservation as a transaction that they are obligated to participate in, rather than a moral good and a source of pleasure. According to this report, animal advocates should steer clear of frames that invoke associations to commerce, productivity, or transaction. If the goal of conservation is to bring forth genuine compassion and appreciation for nature, then advocates should instead employ frames that reference the intrinsic worth of wildlife. 

Words with negative connotations are also off-putting and invoke harmful frames. Overemphasizing words such as “threat”, “dramatic decline”, and “catastrophe” may evoke strong emotions in the audience, but not necessarily the emotions that will stir them to action. Conservation should be motivated by hope and optimism, which is better achieved through inspiring and uplifting language. Promoting solidarity, rather than imposing crisis, should be the focus of persuasive appeals made by animal advocates. 

Sequencing is another factor that influences the reception of a message. As a general rule, the beginning of your sentence or argument carries more weight than the end. For example, if I wanted to cite a credible source in my persuasive appeal, saying that “Prince William warns poachers are outrunning efforts to stop wildlife trade” shifts the focus to Prince William and his thoughts on wildlife trade. This detracts from the message I really want to push, which is that of wildlife trade. A better reordering of the sentence may look like this: “Together we can build on the decades of work we’ve done to stop the criminal ‘wildlife trade’, vows Prince William.” This sentence is an improvement, because it reduces the emphasis on Prince William, spotlights wildlife trade, and still lends credibility to my argument.

The report goes on to emphasize that framing is not only a matter of language. Imagery can also be selected to invoke appropriate frames. If an image or video is to be used in a conservation campaign, it helps to make it less abstract for the audience, by introducing a relatable human element. Choosing a diversity of individuals to appear in the image in conjunction with nature can reinforce a sense of oneness among the audience, encouraging them to partake in the enjoyment of nature as well. 

The report offers a practical template for incorporating fresh, compelling frames into animal advocacy campaigns. The first step involves clarifying the intent of your message–who is it for? What do you want to get across? What are the established routes for conveying a message of this sort? Once your purpose has crystallized and you are aware of how similar views are traditionally presented, you can get creative and begin brainstorming ways to subvert the conventional presentation. In some cases, parody can work. If your issue is generally presented as something grave, sidestep the seriousness and inject humor into your presentation. The goal is to shift the frame while retaining the underlying message. 

At this point, as an animal advocate, you may already be aware of your own goals. Now, it is time to understand your audience – what do they want to hear? What do they care about? Reconciling your goals with theirs is the best way to come to a compromise regarding conservation and animal advocacy. If you understand how you can “meet in the middle” over the topic of your concern, it becomes easier to execute the final step, which is carrying out the presentation in the medium of your choice.

The report also notes that framing is not only a persuasive device. It may also be used as a strategy to expand perspectives within an organization. The benefit of using alternative frames within an organization is it forces reflection and helps organizations gain clarity on their target goals. 

Of course, applying frames appropriately requires refinement of this basic framework. Once you have developed a frame, it will be necessary to test it. To carry out a test, you must identify (1) your audience, (2) what you want to test, and (3) what you hope will result from the test. There are both low-budget and high-budget ways to test the effectiveness of a frame. Overall, it doesn’t matter which testing platform you rely on, so long as you are able to evaluate and reflect on your framing devices. 

Engaging with dialogue appropriately will be important in the coming years, as both support for, and resistance to, wildlife conservation is mounting. In this climate of increased polarization, it will take creativity, sensitivity, and persuasive skills through techniques like framing in order to reinvigorate public enthusiasm for nature.

Public Interest Research Centre (2019). Framing Nature Toolkit. Retrieved from CHANGE Wildlife Consumers Website: https://www.changewildlifeconsumers.org/site/assets/files/1178/framingnaturetoolkit.pdf

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Reflections on Teaching Multilingual Learners

Multilingual Learners, SIOP and more…

Are Language Frames Good for English Learners?

The question seems sort of silly, right?

Language frames, also called sentence frames, are commonly recommended and widely used as a way of providing support for English learners in oral discussions and writing. Examples include:

I agree with ______________ but would also add _____________________.

The reason I think ___________________ is because __________________.

While there are obvious benefits to scaffolding students’ language and use of complete sentences, frames should be used strategically to be effective. Sentence frames are intended to support students in producing language that they wouldn’t be able to produce on their own. The frame provides a model of language that is just beyond their current level of proficiency (a la  i  + 1). The following are some suggestions for using sentence frames effectively:

• Differentiate frames to match students’ proficiency levels . Although ostensibly frames are designed to help students use appropriate academic language, they are restricting students’ expression and growth when the frames are too simple or too difficult. A frame such as,  I think ______ because________,  is not advancing proficiency when  all  students are required to use the frame during a lesson, even those at advanced levels of English proficiency, as well as English-speaking students. With minimal tweaking, teachers can provide a more simplified frame for beginning speakers and more complex sentence structures and vocabulary for more advanced speakers.

 In math, for example, beginning speakers benefit from a frame such as,

The strategy I used was _____________ (counting-on, double facts, doubles plus one),

which provides sentence structure and also gives words from which to choose. Teachers might offer more advanced speakers an open-ended frame that requires them to explain the procedure on their own or make connections such as,

I solved my problem by __________. Or,  Your strategy reminds me of____________.

 These frames allow students to extend their expression and use the ideas of others by linking them to solutions and strategies.

 Differentiating frames by proficiency level isn’t hard or time-consuming for teachers to do, and the effort is well worth it. Practice with the right frame may advance students’ English acquisition by allowing them to use language that is appropriate for their level.

• Avoid artificial use of frames . In some classes, teachers insist that each and every student repeat a frame when answering questions or giving their ideas/opinions rather than letting students express themselves naturally. It defeats the purpose of encouraging language growth when students are required to robotically repeat the same frame. That’s not the way authentic discussion occurs. What is intended as a beneficial support ends up being a case of students simply parroting sentences.
• Use discretion to avoid overuse . The intent of frames is to provide students with support so that they can express their ideas more coherently, using correct sentence structure and vocabulary. The idea is that, after repeated use, students internalize the vocabulary and sentence structures and it becomes part of their linguistic repertoire. However, when frames are used excessively their effectiveness is diminished. Instead of being a strategic tool to add to students’ English toolkit, frames become something that students pay little attention to and simply mimic. What is overuse? Well, one example I observed in a primary class was asking each of the 15 students sitting in a circle to say one at a time,

          “Good morning__________. How are you?”  The child replies,

          “I’m _________.  (uses a word from a list of adjectives)  And you?”

          “I’m _________. Thanks for asking.”

Having a routine using this sequence is more effective when the teacher selects a few different students each morning to practice aloud and model for the class a polite greeting using complete sentences. Or, working in partners, the class chorally practices the sequence. But, fifteen separate versions is overkill – and it takes up too much instructional time.

• Remove frames, as needed . Language frames are a scaffold and just as scaffolding is removed from a building once it is no longer needed, frames should be removed once students are proficient enough to use authentic language.  One teacher told me that she doesn’t let her advanced speakers and English-fluent students use the frames she provides for others because she found that using frames stunted the students’ expression and their flow of ideas. Ultimately, all students should have the option of expressing themselves as they like.

Language frames are valuable tools and they support English learners in expressing their ideas orally and in writing. However, they must be used strategically and for a specific purpose. Caution: Avoid sentence frame overkill as well as a one size fits all approach.

Share this:

2 replies to “are language frames good for english learners”.

Hi, Prof. Echevarria.

Thank you for this post! It’s a great reminder that with all teaching practices, we need to differentiate for the beginning, developing, and bridging speakers. I will make the modifications to my Bathroom Brief posters.

The purpose of these posters is to give content teachers a quick scaffold to help their ELLs. I didn’t want to overload them with too many concepts or it would overwhelm the teachers from taking action.

http://www.empoweringells.com/bathroom-briefs/

On a side note, THANK YOU for all your work with the SIOP model. We’ve stopped out pull-out model and moved into the sheltered immersion model. You’ve made a significant contribution to the field, in my career, and for my students.

Thank you so much for your kind words. I’ll check out your link.

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Creating and Using Presentation Slides

Different types of visuals work better than others, depending on the information you need to convey and who your audience is. Remember to complete a developed outline of your presentation before creating your slides.

When to Use a Presentation

Although what you have to say is interesting and important, you can enhance your presentation with slides, such as those used in a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation.. The visuals you create for your presentation will influence how your audience receives your information. This portion of the unit will help you determine what to include in your visuals. It also offers questions to consider when thinking about your audience.

Particular types of information are best presented in specific formats. The information will have a bigger impact, and audience members are more likely to remember what you have to say.

Emphasize Key Points

When you are driving, street signs identify where you are. Similarly, bulleted key points serve as street signs throughout your presentation. They also help mark transitions clearly and reinforce your summary and conclusions. However, avoid wordy, cluttered visuals. You should not read your presentation from the visual. To read more, choose any of the items below:

The Rules of Sixes

Make sure your visuals communicate just enough information. Your audience will follow your visual with ease if you limit the text to six words per line and six lines per visual.

Minimum Type Size

To be sure everyone can read your visuals, the minimum type size you should use is 24 point. For transparencies, a 24 point, lower case "x" would be 1/3" high. Using this size and following the Rules of Sixes will result in clean, readable visuals.

Although it may be tempting to make your visuals unique by using cursive or slanted fonts, you should avoid fancy fonts. Choose a clean, simple font style, such as the sans-serif fonts. Your visuals must be legible!

Visual Consistency

Maintain a consistent visual style. Font type, size, and color should not vary from visual to visual. You want to be sure your audience is listening to you instead of analyzing your visuals.

Masking Considerations

When you view a film, what you see corresponds with what you hear. Likewise, your presentation should correspond with your visuals. Make sure each key point is revealed as it is discussed.

Showing Trends, Patterns, Relationships

If you want your audience to gain a clear understanding of trends, patterns, or relationships in your data, consider using a chart. For instance, suppose roller blading on campus has increased by 30% over the past two years. Since this trend takes place over a period of time, a chart would best depict this.

Show Precise Data Clearly

If you need your audience to follow you through a detailed numerical analysis, consider using tables. Suppose you need to convey that 20% of students on campus drive cars to school, 20% walk, 10% roller blade, 30% bike, 10% skateboard, and another 10% use a mixture of these modes. An audience is more likely to remember these figures if they are presented in a table.

Providing Special Emphasis

Leaf through any magazine and image after image leaps out at you. Advertisers know the right visuals will attract readers. You should incorporate visuals into your presentation to spark your audience's interest. Let them see what you are talking about. Consider using iconic visual aids such as figures, drawings and pictures. Visuals also improve audience's recall and enhance the perceived clarity and organization of your presentation.

Educate Your Audience

An important consideration in creating slides is educating your audience. What you include will depend on who your audience is.

Questions to Access Your Audience

Ask yourself the following questions to analyze your audience:

• Does your audience know the jargon and/or technical terms of your topic? This will help you decide how intricate your visuals can be. A figure versus a picture can make a big difference in audience comprehension.
• What does your audience know about your topic? You may have to provide some background information about your topic, or perhaps you can assume a certain knowledge level.
• What are your audience's attitudes toward your topic? You may need to "captivate" them into your topic with simple visuals to make your presentation appealing, or perhaps you need to use more technical visuals for credibility.
• How will the information from your presentation be used? Your information may be used to make a decision, or the audience may be tested on the material.

Audience Pointers

Various audiences have particular needs; however, here are some important considerations:

• Audiences generally have a recall of seven. This means you should never introduce more than seven concepts per visual.
• Audiences learn what symbols represent. If you use a symbol repeatedly, you don't have to label it every time.
• Icons have more impact on audiences than a simple list. If you need to make a list, also create an accompanying icon.

Considering the Basic Design

You'll want your visuals to be as effective as possible. This portion of the unit reviews when and how you should use a visual aid. It will instruct you on creating a storyboard and formatting your visuals. Details such as color scheme and text readability are discussed.

After you have outlined your presentation, you will need to identify when and how you should use a visual aid. Creating a storyboard will help you determine what visuals are necessary. Once you know what visuals you'll need, follow the specific formatting rules.

Using Storyboards

A storyboard is a working paper; it helps you design your visuals and key points. To create a storyboard, you can use pieces of paper or presentation software. You'll need to draw two boxes: one for your visual and one for the accompanying text. Remember to write down the section of your report or paper on each board, so you can easily locate the information later.

Consider these pointers while creating your storyboard:

• Write down key points, ideas, concepts under consecutive storyboard frames.
• Make rough sketches of visuals for each frame. Don't worry about polish at this point; you just want the idea of the visual clearly portrayed.
• Read your presentation while looking at the storyboard and complete the storyboard checklist.

Storyboard Checklist

• Does my visual clearly display one key idea from my presentation?
• Is my aid as visually simple as I can make it?
• Can my audience understand my visual completely in less than 30 seconds?

General Formatting Guidelines

Manipulating how you present your information makes you r visuals more affective. Specific color schemes, as well as simplicity make visuals successful. To read more, choose any of the items below:

Landscape Orientation

All visuals should appear in "landscape" rather than "portrait" orientation. In other words, display your visual horizontally. When preparing transparencies for slide projectors, turn the sheet sideways and mask off a 6" by 9" area. Use only this area for your material.

Maximum Text Readability

Help your audience read your visuals by:

• Using no more than three sizes of text.
• Limiting the size of your text between 24-48 pt. fonts.
• Avoiding ALL CAPITAL text and italics.

Clarity and Simplicity

Once you've constructed your visuals, answer the following questions:

• Are the visuals as simple as I can make them?
• Are my visuals appealing to the eye?
• Do my colors differentiate my various elements well?
• Is my text easy to read and absolutely necessary?

Each visual's title should be clear and concise. A visual's title is a short, declarative sentence similar to a newspaper heading. It expresses one main idea only. Generally, more than eleven words is too lengthy for a title.

While a title needs to be short and concise, it also should accurately describe a visual. For instance,

Accelerated Electrons

is probably not going to inform your audience as well as the following:

The accelerated electrons hit a target and produce x-rays.

Here's another:

Computer Simulations

is better depicted with:

Computer simulations aid evaluation of building system elements

If you are having problems creating titles, ask yourself "So what?" about a visual's overall content. Tell your audience what the particular visual is doing or represents.

Effective Use of Color

Colors help you highlight key points and differentiate between concepts. For instance, you might use a specific color to show your audience what steps in a process are dangerous. Or perhaps you need to distinguish different elements. Colors should be used practically, and they also liven up your visuals. To read more, choose any of the items below:

As humans, we appreciate colors. Just think how quickly color televisions replaced black and white screens. We also use colors to identify and differentiate objects. You should use color in your visual aids to:

• Help the audience differentiate key elements in your visual aid.
• Assist you in emphasizing key elements in your presentation.

Color Numbers

Although colors add to your presentation, don't overwhelm your audience with too many. Keep your visual simple enough; three colors (plus black and white for lines and text) are sufficient.

Color Contrasts

Contrasts make colors appealing. Just look at trees changing in autumn. Imagine the spectacular shades of yellows, reds, oranges and browns. When choosing three colors for your visual aids, you should consider the following:

• Luminance Contrast - Luminance refers to the relative brightness of a color. Your three colors should encompass a good range of luminance values. For instance, a dark blue, a medium blue, and a light blue provide a good luminance spread.
• Hue Contrast - Hue refers to the color itself. Strive for a harmonious mix of colors rather than a strong contrast. Distinct, but related colors (red, orange and yellow) work better together than strikingly different colors (red, green and blue).

Choosing Types of Visuals

How will your audience best understand the information you convey? This portion of the unit examines different methods of presenting your information. Charts, tables, figures, drawings, pictures and models are discussed.

During your presentation, you'll present different types of information. You'll need to determine what the best way is to convey your information to a specific audience.

Charts provide easy-to-interpret visual representations of data. While charts do not provide the detail typically found in tables, they allow audiences to understand the "big picture" easily. Consider using a chart to depict group data over time. harts convey the correlation between trends and time. Depending on the information you need to depict, you'll have to use the appropriate chart.

Related Information: Bar Graphs

Bar graphs are similar to column graphs, except the bars run horizontally rather than vertically. These charts compare groups at a single point in time. For example, a bar graphs would accurately depict the number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans in the 1982 Congress.

Visually-effective bar charts should be spaced as follows:

• 1/2 bar width between single bars and
• one bar width between grouped bars.

Related Information: Column Graphs

Column graphs are easy for audiences to understand. These charts present trends over a few (or grouped) time intervals. If you need to show the number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans in Congress during specific years (1962, 1975, 1982, 1995) over a thirty year period, a column chart is a good choice.

A column graphs should have no more than eight single bars and a maximum of four bars per group. (i.e. all ethnic groups are represented under each specific year). For your column graphs to be legible, the spacing between each bar should be:

• 1/2 bar width for single bars and

Related Information: Line Graphs

Line graphs depict trends over long, continuous intervals. For instance, you would use a line graphs to show the number of women and men in Congress over thirty years.

The axis and grid provide a background for curves on a line graphs. Since you will typically have more than one trend depicted on this type of graphs, use different colors and label each trend.

Please note: If you can present your data in groups of time (i.e. 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990), consider using a column graphs instead.

Related Information: Pie Charts

A pie chart effectively displays the proportion of the parts of a whole. For instance, a pie chart can visually display the percentage of men and women in Congress during a particular session.

Each slice of the pie chart must be labeled, and the number or percentage should be placed under the corresponding label. Avoid clutter by having no more than six slices within a pie. Consider combining smaller groups to reduce the slices to six.

Related Information: Scatterplots

Scatterplots show correlations between raw data, but they are relatively difficult to see and understand. Use scatterplots only with specialized audiences. Otherwise, you may confuse your audience.

Typically, a point on a scatterplot represents thousands of cases. A scatterplot is useful to show how citizens vote during an election.

Tables are useful in conveying information to technical audiences. Tables are used to highlight precise data to technical audiences. Depending on your audience, you may need to present your information in simpler terms.

Figures, Drawings, Pictures, Models

These visual aids are different from others because they are iconic and show an image as it really is. They are most effective when the image will enhance an audience's appreciation or understanding. Do not use images simply because they are available or to fill "dead space" in a presentation, rather they should be simple and used carefully.

Using Figures, Drawings, Pictures, and Models

One of the greatest errors in using iconic visuals is having too small a visual for audiences to see well. Solve this problem by:

• Enlarging the visual to show only significant parts.
• Providing a handout before you begin your presentation. Use this technique only if critical data cannot be handled any other way.
• Inviting audience members to view them after your presentation.
• Labeling significant components clearly.

Remember, over-detailed icons will distract an audience. Consider simplifying as much as possible.

Designing Your Presentation Slides

Being prepared will help your presentation run smoothly. This portion of the unit offers numerous tips on how you can avoid disasters. 

When you can answer "Yes!" to each of the following questions for each of your presentation slides, you will be well on your way to presenting!

• Does the visual meet the specific needs for which I made it?
• Is the visual as simple and clear as I can make it?
• Have I double-checked the accuracy of all data?
• Will all text (words and numbers) be legible for the entire audience?
• Have I double-checked all spelling?
• Have I chosen harmonious, contrasting colors?
• Does the visual conform to all the guidelines for its specific type?
• Does the visual "fit" well into the presentation?

Rehearsal Checklist

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! The more you practice, the more at ease you'll be with your presentation. Use this checklist to prepare:

• Rehearse your presentation using your visual aids. Afterwards, review the integration checklist again to determine if changes to your visuals are necessary.
• Rehearse your presentation again. And again. Rehearse until you can move through the entire presentation smoothly.
• Rehearse in front of an audience. Begin with an audience of peers...you should be willing to do the same for them someday.
• Ideally, you should also rehearse with an audience as similar to your "real" audience as possible.
• Rehearse in the actual presentation room if possible.
• For one last time, go back to the integration checklist and modify your visual aids in light of your audiences' comments.
• You should be comfortable with your presentation by now. Run through it until the presentation becomes a familiar story you can tell with ease.

Presentation Tips

The following tips will help you prepare for your actual presentation. Should anything go wrong during the actual presentation, don't panic. You can always adjust your presentation--just be prepared to do so.

• The Room : If the presentation setting is unfamiliar to you, visit it ahead of time. Knowledge of the room's layout, lighting, and equipment will allow you to make adjustments and requests for adequate facilities.
• Equipment : On the day of the presentation, double-check that the equipment is there and working. Rehearse with it if possible.
• Handouts : Handouts are difficult to use effectively. Avoid them whenever possible. Otherwise, do not hand them out during a presentation. Distribute handouts either before or after your presentation, depending on whether or not your audience requires them for information throughout the presentation.
• Using Your Presentation Slides : Position yourself so the projection screen is clearly visible to the audience. Don't obstruct the audience's view. This sounds obvious, but double-check during your presentation to be sure! Also, don't talk to the screen. Talk to the audience.
• Showing Graphics : Use progressive disclosure with your graphic. This means reveal your points as you make them . Remove a visual once you are done with it, but give your audience at least 30-60 seconds with each visual.
• Time of Day : Remember, your audience is human. Their energy levels will vary depending on the time of day.

Vest, David. (1994). Creating and Using Slides. Writing@CSU . Colorado State University. https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guides.cfm?guideid=35

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What Are Frame Semantics?

Frame semantics is a linguistic idea that states that single words are not often meaningful without a larger framework of meaning. In general semantics , each word has its own associations and connotations for speakers of a given language. The idea of frame semantics is that these individual words need a larger network of words and meanings in order for a listener or reader to understand a single word in context. This idea has been studied extensively in linguistics , to see how people use individual words and units of speech.

Experts refer to frame semantics as a coherent set of related ideas that form the basis for associations with specific words. For example, in general syntax , linguists look at the various meanings and associations for the word “buy.” In frame semantics, linguists and other experts argue that the word “buy” may not be semantically useful without a greater set of words. In this example, some of those words would be the words acting in the transaction, such as “buyer” and “seller,” as well as words for other involved nouns , like “goods” and “services.” Other parts of the frame could include more abstract nouns like “transaction” or “purchase.”

One way to understand frame semantics is to look at ambiguous single words. In the above example, the word “buy” can refer to an actual trading arrangement between two people, or it can reference something more abstract. With ambiguous single words, the frame semantics shows a more concrete set of meanings. For example, if the set includes phrases like “buy time” and “make additional arrangements,” the listener or reader can understand that the word “buy” no longer refers to a single concrete financial transaction.

Another way to understand this areas of semantics is to use the context of a specific field or industry. People often refer to fields and industries is having their own jargon or lingo. Using these sets of words can make an ambiguous single word conform to the context of that specific field or industry.

Some of those who study frame semantics identify a word as a “category of experience.” These single units can make up what some call a script, and others refer to as a structural set of expectations. Linguists, psychologists, and others use these theoretical constructs to analyze how people use words and phrases in practice. Here, frame semantics provides a more specialized sub-set of overall semantic study.

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• By: Focus Pocus LTD Frame semantics is a linguistic idea that states that single words are not often meaningful without a larger framework of meaning.

Speaking With Confidence

Frames of reference.

Habitual Frame of Reference

Developing the habitual frame of reference with regard to public speaking usually comes from a combination of personal experiences and what has been witnessed. Formal public speaking opportunities are most prevalent within the context of formal education—thus, public presentations are generally student-oriented experiences which are strongly associated with being evaluated or judged. Because there is such a focus upon the grade that results from the assignment, there is much less focus upon the integrity of the presentation itself. Studies have even shown that the possibility of a negative experience can lead to many students to skip assignments or drop a class—even when that class is required for graduation (Pelias, 1989). Students will often worry more about their grade rather than what is contained in their presentation. Thus, the act of public speaking takes on the pressure of taking a final exam with everyone watching. It’s no wonder so many students report that they are stressed out by public speaking!

Personal Frame of Reference

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. – Nelson Mandela

• Chapter 11 Frames of Reference. Authored by : Alyssa G. Millner, Ph.D. and Rachel D. Price, Ph.D.. Provided by : University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock & University of Kentucky and Southern Illinois University & University of Kentucky. Located at : http://publicspeakingproject.org/psvirtualtext.html . Project : Public Speaking Project. License : CC BY-NC-ND: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives
• man on wire. Authored by : Alan. Located at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/image_munky/4441517406/ . License : CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial
• Lunch. Authored by : Mark Doliner. Located at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/markdoliner/14146558086/ . License : CC BY: Attribution

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Great Idea: Speaking and Writing Frames

What are speaking and writing frames?

Speaking and writing frames provide models of sentence construction, language structures, and vocabulary for EAL learners to use orally within a curriculum context.

There are various different types:

• Sentence starters: where learners are given the first word, or first few words, of a sentence
• Sentence frames: where learners are provided with useful structures with gaps in for them to complete
• Paragraph starts: can provide scaffolding for pieces of extended writing, by giving learners the first few words of each paragraph

Examples of activities

Speaking and writing frames can be used in any curriculum area and with any learner who has basic literacy skills. They can be differentiated according to the English language proficiency of the learner.

1. To help learners to describe a practical activity:

EAL learners who are New to English can be supported to describe what they have done after taking part in a practical activity. For example in Electrical Circuits , a simple grid with pictures and names of components ( wire, bulb etc.) is provided together with useful sequencing language ( first, next etc.).

2. Modelling the use of a particular language function :

Modelling the use of a particular language function and helping learners to organise their thoughts in a particular way, for example comparing and contrasting: ‘ One similarity between _____ and ____ is that…’, ‘A key distinction between ________ and _________ is that… ’

3. Scaffolding writing in a particular genre:

For example, writing an evaluation of a practical task and describing what they have learned from taking part. They can be given prompts in the form of sentence starters like: ‘ I learnt that…’ ‘One thing I discovered was…’, ‘I found out that…’.

How speaking and writing frames work

Speaking and writing frames can be introduced in a range of contexts, for example:

• In a guided small group activity, the teacher or teaching assistant introduces a new curriculum topic and models new vocabulary and language structures.  Learners use a speaking frame, which provides examples of the modelled language, so they can engage purposefully in the activity.
• Pair work where an EAL learner is placed with a peer who can provide a good model of English for a purposeful speaking activity (e.g. making predictions in science). The language learning focus is made explicit through the use of a speaking frame which ensures that talk is focused and accurate.
• Writing or speaking frames can be displayed in the form of mats, classroom posters, on the whiteboard
• Writing or speaking frames can be presented as worksheets or on cards
• Orally rehearse language structures with a speaking frame first, as a class, small group, or in a pair work activity, before using it to scaffold writing

Top tip : To create a speaking or writing frame, think about how to give or write a model answer and decide which of the words and phrases would be most likely to be used to frame the response.

Why are speaking and writing frames a Great Idea for EAL learners?

EAL learners need support to structure their speaking and writing, to use new language forms and functions appropriately and consistently, and eventually to speak and write independently using appropriate genres, as emphasised by NALDIC (1999).

Speaking frames offer the opportunity for EAL learners to hear, repeat and explore new language through talk and listening. This both reinforces their understanding, and encourages accurate, effective communication. EAL learners should always have the opportunity to rehearse language orally before writing.

Writing frames provide a scaffold for writing in different genres. They model how EAL learners should organise their work, the language structures they need to use for a specific genre, as well as ways to link sentences or paragraphs. Scaffolding is a key concept in Vygotsky’s work on the relationship between thought and language and Bruner’s research in the 1970s also looked at this and suggested that language learning is scaffolded by what he termed the learner’s Language Acquisition Support System (e.g. Vygotsky 1962, Bruner 1975). More recently, practitioners like Gibbons emphasised the importance of scaffolding language as well as learning when working with EAL learners (Gibbons 2015).

By using a writing frame EAL learners begin to gain familiarity with form and language relevant to a particular curriculum context, so that they can gradually use language appropriately to write independently. Practitioners like Gibbons emphasise the importance of scaffolding language when working with EAL learners (Gibbons 2015).

Bruner, J., 1975, Language as an instrument of thought, in A. Davies (Ed.), Problems of Language and Learning, London: Heinemann.

Gibbons, P., 2015, Scaffolding language scaffolding learning (2nd edition), Portsmouth NH: Heinemann.

NALDIC, 1999, The distinctiveness of English as an Additional Language: a cross-curricular discipline, National Association of Language Development in the Curriculum, Working Paper 5.

Vygotsky L. S., 1962, Thought and language. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

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More Great Ideas for Teaching EAL Learners

• Barrier Games
• Bilingual Dictionaries
• Early literacy word work
• From talk to writing
• Focusing on grammar patterns
• Enhancing classroom talk
• Questioning strategies
• Collaborative Activities
• Drama and Role Play
• Graphic Organisers
• Information gap activities
• Translanguaging
• Substitution Tables
• Scaffolding
• Reading for Meaning
• Language Drills
• Jigsaw Activities
• Building Vocabulary

Upcoming courses and webinars

Supporting new arrivals who are new to english (online course), intervention groups: supporting secondary eal learners beyond the classroom (webinar), introduction to eal assessment mooc (webinar), intervention groups: supporting primary eal learners beyond the classroom (webinar).