Preface
I am frequently asked this question.Why did you decide to write a book about presentations? The answer is simple.Over many years of teaching presentation skills and observing Japanese scientists give presentations in English，I have realized two things.Firstly，that there are still a lot of Japanese presenters who have difficulty in presenting their research in English.These are the presenters who simply read from a prepared script.Their presentations are flat and the audience has difficulty following the main points.Such presenters also have difficulty in handling questions.Secondly，I realized that with training，practice and the use of appropriate English，the above kind of presenters could rapidly transform themselves from poor or average presenters to good presenters.It was with the intention of promoting such training that I started to write this book.Throughout，I have relied on my own experience of teaching presentation skills and also on data collected at the numerous presentations I have attended over the years.There are，without doubt，omissions and oversimplifications.These are entirely of my own making.
Acknowledgments
This book came about as a result of teaching presentation skills to groups of scientists，researchers and undergraduates over a period of more than twenty years in Japan.It would be impossible to list all the people who have asked me questions about presenting in English and，in doing so，contributed to this book.I wish，however，to acknowledge the contribution of all those people I have taught past and present.I wish also to thank my colleagues at Nihon University，School of Dentistry，Ochanomizu，Tokyo.I am particularly indebted to Professor N.Koshikawa，Department of Pharmacology who assisted me with gathering data and showed an interest in this work.My thanks also go to the following people who kindly allowed me access to their presentations，data and graphics.Professor A.R.Cools，Department of Psychoneuropharmacology，Nijmegen University，the Netherlands and Professor John L.Waddington，Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics，Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
I have also benefited greatly from comments on earlier drafts of this book from the following people： Yohko Gotoh，Hiroaki Ikeda，Kenji Maeda，Ichiko Misumi，Ryuichi Nagaosa，John Nevara，Yasushi Okubo，Sonko Osawa，Kiyoko Taniai，Kazunaga Ueda，Dan Waldhoff and Yasuhiro Yoshida.I also wish to acknowledge my colleague and friend，Brian Purdue of Tsukuba University，with whom over the years I have had many valuable discussions concerning presentation techniques.Finally，I should like to thank Professor J.Patrick Barron of the International Medical Communications Center，Tokyo Medical University for his comments on the manuscript.
Clive Langham
Nihon University
School of Dentistry
Ochanomizu，Tokyo
March 1st，2007
Introduction
This book is for people who need to present their work in English at conferences and meetings.It contains advice for creating effective presentations and lists many examples of sentences used by native speakers in their presentations.It covers oral and poster presentations，and also provides example sentences to use when acting as a chairperson，master of ceremonies at a banquet and spokesperson in group discussions.The example sentences and advice contained in this book can be used to dramatically improve the impact of your presentation and give you increased confidence.I sincerely hope you will find this book useful.
I am frequently asked this question.Why did you decide to write a book about presentations? The answer is simple.Over many years of teaching presentation skills and observing Japanese scientists give presentations in English，I have realized two things.Firstly，that there are still a lot of Japanese presenters who have difficulty in presenting their research in English.These are the presenters who simply read from a prepared script.Their presentations are flat and the audience has difficulty following the main points.Such presenters also have difficulty in handling questions.Secondly，I realized that with training，practice and the use of appropriate English，the above kind of presenters could rapidly transform themselves from poor or average presenters to good presenters.It was with the intention of promoting such training that I started to write this book.Throughout，I have relied on my own experience of teaching presentation skills and also on data collected at the numerous presentations I have attended over the years.There are，without doubt，omissions and oversimplifications.These are entirely of my own making.
Acknowledgments
This book came about as a result of teaching presentation skills to groups of scientists，researchers and undergraduates over a period of more than twenty years in Japan.It would be impossible to list all the people who have asked me questions about presenting in English and，in doing so，contributed to this book.I wish，however，to acknowledge the contribution of all those people I have taught past and present.I wish also to thank my colleagues at Nihon University，School of Dentistry，Ochanomizu，Tokyo.I am particularly indebted to Professor N.Koshikawa，Department of Pharmacology who assisted me with gathering data and showed an interest in this work.My thanks also go to the following people who kindly allowed me access to their presentations，data and graphics.Professor A.R.Cools，Department of Psychoneuropharmacology，Nijmegen University，the Netherlands and Professor John L.Waddington，Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics，Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
I have also benefited greatly from comments on earlier drafts of this book from the following people： Yohko Gotoh，Hiroaki Ikeda，Kenji Maeda，Ichiko Misumi，Ryuichi Nagaosa，John Nevara，Yasushi Okubo，Sonko Osawa，Kiyoko Taniai，Kazunaga Ueda，Dan Waldhoff and Yasuhiro Yoshida.I also wish to acknowledge my colleague and friend，Brian Purdue of Tsukuba University，with whom over the years I have had many valuable discussions concerning presentation techniques.Finally，I should like to thank Professor J.Patrick Barron of the International Medical Communications Center，Tokyo Medical University for his comments on the manuscript.
Clive Langham
Nihon University
School of Dentistry
Ochanomizu，Tokyo
March 1st，2007
Introduction
This book is for people who need to present their work in English at conferences and meetings.It contains advice for creating effective presentations and lists many examples of sentences used by native speakers in their presentations.It covers oral and poster presentations，and also provides example sentences to use when acting as a chairperson，master of ceremonies at a banquet and spokesperson in group discussions.The example sentences and advice contained in this book can be used to dramatically improve the impact of your presentation and give you increased confidence.I sincerely hope you will find this book useful.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part1 Oral presentations
1 What makes a good presentation?
Part2 Effective introductions
1 Thanking the chairperson
2 Opening comments
3 Thanking the organizers
4 Starting a presentation
5 Showing the contents of your presentation
6 Explaining the parts of your presentation
7 Starting the main part of the presentation
Part3 How to handle sections in the main body
1 Starting a section
2 Emphasizing important information within a section
3 Giving mini-summaries at the end of sections
4 Concluding a section
5 Moving on to a new section
6 Forward movement
7 Referring back
8 Skipping information
9 Explaining more simply
10 Repeating information
11 Using questions to focus on important information in a section
12 Introducing a technical term
13 Defining a technical term
14 Contrasting known/accepted and new information
15 Introducing graphics（Step 1）
16 Talking about data shown in graphics（Step 2）
17 Focusing on important information in graphics
18 Describing an apparatus/machine/experimental set up
19 Using questions to focus on a topic or point
20 Correcting yourself
Part4 Effective conclusions
1 Starting a conclusion
2 Introducing the main points of your conclusion
3 Degrees of certainty
4 Finishing a conclusion
5 Acknowledgments
6 Inviting questions when there is no chairperson present
7 Advice for effective conclusions
Part5 Techniques for handling questions
1 Asking for repetition
2 Asking for clarification(1)Getting the questioner to rephrase a question
3 Asking for clarification(2)Getting the questioner to define a question
4 Asking for clarification(3)Getting the questioner to be specific
5 Fielding a question
6 Giving a general answer
7 Giving a tentative answer
8 Avoiding a question
9 Handling unrelated questions
10 Asking someone to contact you later
11 Handling multiple questions
12 Asking the questioner to repeat a question that you have forgotten
13 Introducing your answer to each question
14 Handling a question you cannot answer
15 Checking the questioner understands your answer
16 Showing you have finished an answer
17 How to prepare for questions
Part6 Was that a question or a comment?
1 Formal comments
2 Informal comments
3 Comments that put forward an alternative explanation
4 Comments that bring in other data/work
5 Comments that are in general agreement but suggest an alternative
6 Comments that ask for a general answer/comment on a topic/point
7 Fielding a comment
8 Accepting an alternative point of view
9 Correcting someone who has misunderstood your data
10 Arguing against an alternative point of view
11 Generalizing
Part7 Improving your question technique
1 Asking simple questions
2 Getting more information
3 Referring to specific information
4 Making comparisons
5 Asking for a general comment
6 Stating your own opinion and asking for a comment
7 Repairing communication breakdown
Presentation evaluation checklist
Part8 English for poster presentations
1 Making contact with and greeting visitors to your poster
2 Finding out about your visitors
3 Giving a general idea of the contents of the poster
4 Giving an outline of the research
5 Inviting questions at any time during your explanation
6 Stating objectives
7 Giving an overview of the main points of the poster
8 Introducing graphics
9 Giving mini-summaries at the end of sections
10 Skipping information
11 Moving on to the next part of the poster
12 Repeating information
13 Concluding your poster presentation
14 Introducing the main points of your conclusion
15 Finishing your poster presentation
16 Inviting questions
17 Fielding questions
18 Dealing with difficult questions
19 Giving a general answer
20 Correcting someone who misunderstands your data
21 Welcoming newcomers to your poster
22 Thanking someone for visiting your poster
23 Giving contact details
24 Getting contact details
Part9 Acting as a chairperson
1 Opening a session
2 Introducing yourself
3 Stating the title of the session
4 Stating the time limits
5 Asking people to switch off their mobile phones
6 Introducing a speaker
7 Asking a presenter to conclude a presentation
8 Stopping a presentation
9 Thanking a speaker
10 Inviting questions immediately after the presentation
11 Inviting more questions midway through the Q and A session
12 Nominating questioners
13 Controlling difficult situations
14 Helping a presenter who cannot answer a question
15 Asking a questioner to speak more loudly
16 Stopping questions that are too long
17 Stopping answers that are too long
18 When there is little or no time for Q and A
19 Questions from the chairperson
20 When there are no more questions
21 Moving on to the next presentation
22 Announcing cancellations
23 Closing a session
24 Giving announcements
Part10 Acting as a master of ceremonies（MC） at a banquet
1 Opening a banquet
2 Making general comments
3 Introducing people
4 Inviting someone to come to the front and speak
5 Thanking a speaker
6 Thanking people who have helped with the conference
7 Proposing a toast
8 Asking someone to propose a toast
9 Giving announcements
10 Closing a banquet
Part11 Acting as a spokesperson in group discussions
1 Reporting back
2 Summarizing
3 Reporting what other people said
4 Talking about points in sequence
5 Giving your own opinion
6 Stalling
7 Concluding
Presentation notes
I Preparing for a presentation
II Jokes and apologies
III Preparing for questions
IV The first couple of minutes are crucial
V Verbs in presentations
VI Attend guest lectures whenever possible
VII Should I read or speak from notes?
VIII Improve your listening skills
IX Don't forget the's'!
X Join a class or form a presenters' group
XI Pronouns in presentations；It，I，We，You
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part1 Oral presentations
1 What makes a good presentation?
Part2 Effective introductions
1 Thanking the chairperson
2 Opening comments
3 Thanking the organizers
4 Starting a presentation
5 Showing the contents of your presentation
6 Explaining the parts of your presentation
7 Starting the main part of the presentation
Part3 How to handle sections in the main body
1 Starting a section
2 Emphasizing important information within a section
3 Giving mini-summaries at the end of sections
4 Concluding a section
5 Moving on to a new section
6 Forward movement
7 Referring back
8 Skipping information
9 Explaining more simply
10 Repeating information
11 Using questions to focus on important information in a section
12 Introducing a technical term
13 Defining a technical term
14 Contrasting known/accepted and new information
15 Introducing graphics（Step 1）
16 Talking about data shown in graphics（Step 2）
17 Focusing on important information in graphics
18 Describing an apparatus/machine/experimental set up
19 Using questions to focus on a topic or point
20 Correcting yourself
Part4 Effective conclusions
1 Starting a conclusion
2 Introducing the main points of your conclusion
3 Degrees of certainty
4 Finishing a conclusion
5 Acknowledgments
6 Inviting questions when there is no chairperson present
7 Advice for effective conclusions
Part5 Techniques for handling questions
1 Asking for repetition
2 Asking for clarification(1)Getting the questioner to rephrase a question
3 Asking for clarification(2)Getting the questioner to define a question
4 Asking for clarification(3)Getting the questioner to be specific
5 Fielding a question
6 Giving a general answer
7 Giving a tentative answer
8 Avoiding a question
9 Handling unrelated questions
10 Asking someone to contact you later
11 Handling multiple questions
12 Asking the questioner to repeat a question that you have forgotten
13 Introducing your answer to each question
14 Handling a question you cannot answer
15 Checking the questioner understands your answer
16 Showing you have finished an answer
17 How to prepare for questions
Part6 Was that a question or a comment?
1 Formal comments
2 Informal comments
3 Comments that put forward an alternative explanation
4 Comments that bring in other data/work
5 Comments that are in general agreement but suggest an alternative
6 Comments that ask for a general answer/comment on a topic/point
7 Fielding a comment
8 Accepting an alternative point of view
9 Correcting someone who has misunderstood your data
10 Arguing against an alternative point of view
11 Generalizing
Part7 Improving your question technique
1 Asking simple questions
2 Getting more information
3 Referring to specific information
4 Making comparisons
5 Asking for a general comment
6 Stating your own opinion and asking for a comment
7 Repairing communication breakdown
Presentation evaluation checklist
Part8 English for poster presentations
1 Making contact with and greeting visitors to your poster
2 Finding out about your visitors
3 Giving a general idea of the contents of the poster
4 Giving an outline of the research
5 Inviting questions at any time during your explanation
6 Stating objectives
7 Giving an overview of the main points of the poster
8 Introducing graphics
9 Giving mini-summaries at the end of sections
10 Skipping information
11 Moving on to the next part of the poster
12 Repeating information
13 Concluding your poster presentation
14 Introducing the main points of your conclusion
15 Finishing your poster presentation
16 Inviting questions
17 Fielding questions
18 Dealing with difficult questions
19 Giving a general answer
20 Correcting someone who misunderstands your data
21 Welcoming newcomers to your poster
22 Thanking someone for visiting your poster
23 Giving contact details
24 Getting contact details
Part9 Acting as a chairperson
1 Opening a session
2 Introducing yourself
3 Stating the title of the session
4 Stating the time limits
5 Asking people to switch off their mobile phones
6 Introducing a speaker
7 Asking a presenter to conclude a presentation
8 Stopping a presentation
9 Thanking a speaker
10 Inviting questions immediately after the presentation
11 Inviting more questions midway through the Q and A session
12 Nominating questioners
13 Controlling difficult situations
14 Helping a presenter who cannot answer a question
15 Asking a questioner to speak more loudly
16 Stopping questions that are too long
17 Stopping answers that are too long
18 When there is little or no time for Q and A
19 Questions from the chairperson
20 When there are no more questions
21 Moving on to the next presentation
22 Announcing cancellations
23 Closing a session
24 Giving announcements
Part10 Acting as a master of ceremonies（MC） at a banquet
1 Opening a banquet
2 Making general comments
3 Introducing people
4 Inviting someone to come to the front and speak
5 Thanking a speaker
6 Thanking people who have helped with the conference
7 Proposing a toast
8 Asking someone to propose a toast
9 Giving announcements
10 Closing a banquet
Part11 Acting as a spokesperson in group discussions
1 Reporting back
2 Summarizing
3 Reporting what other people said
4 Talking about points in sequence
5 Giving your own opinion
6 Stalling
7 Concluding
Presentation notes
I Preparing for a presentation
II Jokes and apologies
III Preparing for questions
IV The first couple of minutes are crucial
V Verbs in presentations
VI Attend guest lectures whenever possible
VII Should I read or speak from notes?
VIII Improve your listening skills
IX Don't forget the's'!
X Join a class or form a presenters' group
XI Pronouns in presentations；It，I，We，You
