Speaking Formally and Giving Presentations
Use Standard English confidently in formal and informal spoken contexts. Give short speeches and presentations expressing your own ideas clearly, keeping to the point, and adapting register and vocabulary to the audience.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Deliver a 2-3 minute presentation on a topic with a clear opening, organised points, and a conclusion
- Adapt language between formal and informal registers depending on the context and audience
- Speak at an understandable pace with clear articulation, using notes and audience-facing attention in ways suited to the speaker's access needs
1 · Read
You have practised choosing language for an audience. A planned talk also needs a clear path through your ideas. For a short class presentation, start by naming the topic, explain your main points with examples, and end by summarising. Other talks may use different structures. Check what this task asks you to do.
Register is the style chosen for a situation. Standard English is a grammar variety, not a level of formality. It can be formal or informal. If a class task asks for formal language without slang, follow that instruction. Standard English contractions such as 'we're' can suit a spoken talk unless the task asks you to expand them. A relaxed chat may use a different style. Keep the facts unchanged.
Ade prepares a three-minute talk about her class recycling plan. She opens by naming the plan, explains two actions with examples, and ends with a short summary. She removes a story about her weekend because it does not explain the plan. She practises aloud with a timer and short notes.
Use a pace your listeners can follow. Pause between points and pronounce words clearly. Check that people can hear you. You can glance at notes and look towards the audience in a way that feels comfortable. Direct eye contact is optional. Looking towards listeners can help you connect with them, but it does not guarantee their attention.
Practise the whole talk aloud and time it. If it is too long, cut details that do not support the topic before cutting the conclusion. Ask a listener which parts were clear and which need work. You can use notes, visual aids or other support. Choose support that helps you share your ideas.
Plan a clear route through your ideas. Match the task's language, keep relevant details, and practise a pace listeners can follow.
Readings written for this dataset. Linked video: 'How to communicate clearly', TED-Ed. Video rights remain with its publisher.
2 · Watch
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Where it sits
Where this leads
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8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.