Presentations --- Choosing A Presentation Topic

비즈니스 프레젠테이션

Lesson 31

Presentations --- Choosing A Presentation Topic

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Lesson 31

Presentations --- CHOOSING A PRESENTATION TOPIC

Describe what is happening now

Business 25 min Speaking 75%

Warm-up

Discuss these questions with your teacher before reading.

  1. If you had to give a 10-minute presentation next week on any topic of your choice, what would you talk about?
    다음 주에 자유 주제로 10분간 프레젠테이션을 해야 한다면 무엇에 대해 이야기하시겠습니까?
  2. Do you think choosing the right topic is more important than how you deliver it? Why?
    올바른 주제를 선택하는 것이 전달 방식보다 더 중요하다고 생각하시나요? 왜요?

Vocabulary

Key words and expressions from the reading.

passionate /ˈpæʃənət/
having or showing strong feelings or enthusiasm for something  |  열정적인
"Pick a subject you are passionate about."
retention /rɪˈtenʃən/
the ability to keep or remember information  |  기억 유지, 보유
"You could increase message retention dramatically if you use pictures."
setback /ˈsɛtbæk/
a problem or difficulty that delays or reverses progress  |  좌절, 차질
"Got the end result despite all the setbacks."
illustrate /ˈɪləstreɪt/
to explain or make clear by using examples or visuals  |  설명하다, 보여주다
"Pick a topic that could be illustrated by pictures."
feedback /ˈfiːdbæk/
comments and evaluations about one's work or performance  |  피드백, 의견
"Ideally one where you received lots of positive feedback."
well received /wɛl rɪˈsiːvd/
positively accepted or welcomed by others  |  호평 받은
"Pick a project or area of your work that was well received."
5 min

Reading

Read the passage with your teacher.
선생님과 함께 지문을 읽어보세요.

Reading Comprehension
Choosing a presentation topic
These are questions that the Presentation Doctor is asked all the time.
The right presentation topic.
It is easy to pick the topic. Just follow these two simples rules.
Pick a subject you are passionate about. The passion will come out in your voice and in your body language and will be naturally picked up by your audience.
Pick a topic that could be illustrated by pictures. A lot of the research shows that you could increase message retention dramatically if you use pictures rather than bullet points.
Job interview topics
Pick a project or area of your work that was well received. Ideally one where you received lots of positive feedback and got the end result despite all the setbacks. This will show you as someone who can get things done and is well liked. If you can please do include the feedback you received.
If you are going for a management or leaders position it is a good idea ask your team to describe your leadership style. If you have not lead a team before - just ask the people you work with to describe your style.
Personal topics
The key is the passion. Examples that can work well are hobbies and holidays. These are both topics that can be well illustrated.
Your holidays should have lost of photos and most hobbies have lots of photos available. You can probably find lots of travel photos on the web, but please do ensure that you have the permission of the copyright owners.
If you pick a hobby make sure that you keep the jargon out of it and bring the topic down to a simple enough level everybody will be able to understand it. This is an area where your fellow hobbyists should be able to help you with lots of pictures. Here are some of the great hobby presentations that I have seen - all very visual
Steam trains
Archaeology
Lorries and trucks
Needlework
ateur radio expeditions
Professional topics
If you are looking to speak on professional (paid) basis the best topic is one that grabs people's attention. Here are a few examples
The seven deadly sins of presentations
Motivating people in boring jobs
The physics of football
PowerPoint poisoning - the antidote
CRM - holy grail or holy smoke

Korean Trap

Korean speakers often make this mistake in presentation English.

❌ "My hobby is to travel. I am passionate to traveling."
✅ "My hobby is traveling. I am passionate about traveling."

한국어 화자가 'passionate'와 함께 전치사를 잘못 사용하는 경우가 많습니다. passionate 다음에는 about을 사용합니다(to가 아님). 또한 취미를 말할 때 동명사(~ing)를 사용하는 것이 자연스럽습니다.

Discussion

Discuss these questions with your teacher after reading.

  1. The passage says to "pick a subject you are passionate about" because passion shows in your voice and body language. Have you ever presented on a topic you were not passionate about? How did it affect your performance?
    본문에서 '열정을 가진 주제를 선택하라'고 합니다. 열정이 없는 주제로 발표한 적이 있나요? 성과에 어떤 영향이 있었나요?
  2. For job interview presentations, the text advises choosing a project that was "well received" and showing how you overcame setbacks. What project from your career would you choose?
    면접 프레젠테이션에서는 '좋은 평가를 받은' 프로젝트를 선택하고 어려움을 극복한 과정을 보여주라고 합니다. 경력에서 어떤 프로젝트를 선택하시겠습니까?
  3. The text suggests using pictures rather than bullet points to increase message retention. How practical is this advice for your typical work presentations?
    본문에서 메시지 기억력을 높이기 위해 글머리 기호 대신 사진을 사용하라고 합니다. 일반적인 업무 프레젠테이션에서 이 조언이 얼마나 실용적인가요?
  4. The Presentation Doctor mentions asking your team to describe your leadership style. How comfortable would you be doing this? What might you learn?
    프레젠테이션 닥터가 팀에게 당신의 리더십 스타일을 설명해 달라고 하라고 합니다. 이렇게 하는 것이 얼마나 편하시겠어요? 무엇을 배울 수 있을까요?

Lesson Summary / 수업 요약

Today's Topic: Presentations --- CHOOSING A PRESENTATION TOPIC

Level: Business (BIZ)

Review this lesson before your next class! / 다음 수업 전에 복습하세요!