presentation skills for non native english speakers

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Presenting in English When It Isn’t Your Native Language

If you aren’t a native speaker of English, giving a presentation in the language may be very stressful. Using the right approach can help. Take extra time to prepare your delivery, and practice more than you think you need to. Yes, your PowerPoint slides matter, but rehearsing your presentation out loud matters even more. Start […]

If you aren’t a native speaker of English, giving a presentation in the language may be very stressful. Using the right approach can help. Take extra time to prepare your delivery, and practice more than you think you need to. Yes, your PowerPoint slides matter, but rehearsing your presentation out loud matters even more. Start your presentation by speaking slowly, and articulate your words carefully and confidently. This will help listeners acclimate to your voice, which is important in the first minute or two. (If you’re anxious about having an accent, don’t worry—everyone has one, including native English speakers.) As you continue speaking, pause often. Pausing will give listeners a chance to comprehend your message, and give you a break. To make sure they understand you, you can ask a question: “I know that I am making sense to myself in [your native language]. How am I doing in English?” Your goal doesn’t have to be to speak perfect English. Instead, focus on presenting with confidence.

Source: Adapted from “3 Tips for Presenting in English When You're Not a Native Speaker,” by Deborah Grayson Riegel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Plan out the information and get organized

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

3. Practice your presentation out loud

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

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

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

5. Know your technology

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

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

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

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

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

7. Don't fear a moment of silence.

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

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

 In a nutshell

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

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

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COM 82 — Presentation Skills for Non-Native English Speakers

This course is designed to sharpen and deepen students’ expertise in presenting in English. Advanced-level proficiency in spoken English is required, and students are expected to have previous experience presenting in English. Please refer to the preliminary syllabus for further details and instructions on prerequisites.

STUART FRIEDMAN CEO, Stu Friedman Associates

Textbooks for this course:.

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Presentation skills for non-native english speakers, date: , location: .

Do you lack confidence when presenting in English rather than in your native language? This workshop will offer you a supportive environment to learn some basic principles of public speaking. These tools will help you build your confidence when presenting in English, and help you overcome your fears, doubts, and negative self-talk. This program will foster tapping into your authentic self while allowing you to connect with your communication partner—even if your primary languages are not the same.

This session will be offered online using Zoom, which can be accessed on your computer or phone. Instructions will be provided with your confirmation.

About the Presenter: Jill Slye Jill Slye teaches multiple courses and professional development programs on Public Speaking, Professional Presenting, and Leadership Communication at Harvard University Extension School. She recently accepted a position teaching at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, offering the MMSc students a year long course on Leadership Communication. Her courses attract diverse people from around the globe.

Additionally, she owns her own coaching company and her clients consist of employees and executives from marketing firms, hospitals, technology companies, and non-profit organizations. Her programs focus on techniques to improve public speaking and effective communication skills. Jill’s thirty years of business experience in sales, management, and marketing provide the basis for her understanding of her audience and enhance her ability to relate to her clients and students.

In 2020 Jill was honored with the Petra T. Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award from Harvard Extension School and she released her first book, "Reinvesting in Your Rhetoric."

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

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

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

Table of contents

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

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

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

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

Let’s see how we can do that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What about my vocabulary? Should I use long words?

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

The truth is that simple is good .

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

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

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

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

Be aware of cultural differences when you present

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

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

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

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

What if my presentation is online?

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

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

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

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

Practise makes perfect

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ten tips for a great presentation

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

1 Speak slowly

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Use sentence stress to highlight important words

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

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

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

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

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

4 Start with a hook

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Find ways to make it interesting

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

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

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

6 Make it interactive

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

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

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

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

7 Use rhetorical questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

This means that rhetorical questions increase audience focus and interest.

8 Use signposting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 Predict what the audience will ask

Answering questions from the audience can also be scary!

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

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

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

“Feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions.”

“I'll try to answer all of your questions in a Q and A session after the presentation.”

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

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

10 Get inspired

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take any opportunity to present

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

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

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

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

You might also like

Pre-order “Demystifying Business English”

Translating Business English: A Guide to Corporate Jargon (for non-native Speakers)

How to Prepare for a Job Interview in English

Questions?    Just call me, Corinne (English/German) on  +49 173 1688006    ***  Virtual Tea Break ***  “Very British”

Experts! Speak English Podcast

10 top presentation tips for non-native speakers.

As a non-native speaker, you might not feel like you are the obvious option to give a presentation in English, but if you are the expert and people have turned to you to give a talk or a presentation, I want you to rise to the challenge .

In this episode I’m going to give you 10 Tips that will help you do a brilliant presentation in English. Non native speakers bring a different perspective to the table, so it is very important that you as a non native speaker, speak up as the English speaking expert.

Welcome to the Experts! Speak English! Podcast!

Together we’ll discover how to talk yourself into an international career without the bullshit. And at the end of each episode, I give you an opportunity to try out what you have just learned on the show because I give you Coco’s Communication Challenge which gives you an opportunity to get out there and try out one of the tools, techniques or tips that you will have heard on the show. I’m Corinne Wilhelm, I’m a corporate communication coach with over 20 years experience of helping leaders to secure the career that they deserve through intentional communication, intercultural awareness, and the confidence to show up as the English-speaking expert.

Judge's Top Tips

Having been a judge at a couple of international speaking competitions recently, I was reminded of the presentation skills that every speaker should be aware of, especially non native speakers who let’s face it, need to work a little bit harder to get over their key messages. That is the same for me as a non-native speaker of German or for many business experts, who need to present in their non native language – English.  If you have to present at work on an informal basis but suddenly get invited to go up on stage in front of colleagues and your bosses, you are bound to feel nervous. That makes you a down to earth, likeable person, someone who is in touch with their abilities and limitations, how refreshing! The same is true if you do plenty of presentations in your own language but suddenly you have a new boss, client or supplier who doesn’t speak your language, so the default language is suddenly English. Many of my my new clients come to me for coaching when they are catapulted into this situation overnight, it can happen to anyone, without warning, that can feel incredibly intimidating. So get ahead of the curve and start learning and practicing the right presentation skills in English.  Set yourself apart now, as an English speaking expert, without you having to get stressed, paranoid and frustrated up against a deadline. Practicing your presentations skills in English ahead of time is opening yourself up for career opportunities.  You do not need a special type of English for non-native speakers to feel included and involved, you just need to deliver with more intention and passion. Make it easier for another non-native speaker just like you to understand your message and the knowledge that they need to take action. A native speaker of English has rarely had to master another language and very few would even dream of presenting in another language so they have less empathy and tend to speak much too fast. Turn that into your advantage. In every presentation, you want to become known as the speaker that was clear and easy to understand, with strong presentations, a few selectively chosen key messages and nice and slow.  Native English speakers are actually more difficult to understand, so take advantage of that and speak nice and slowly. This gives non native speakers in your audience a better chance of understanding you – it’s actually considerate and inclusive. Believe me, nobody will get impatient that you are speaking too slowly but speaking too fast will loose people’s attention quickly. My top tip really is to    s-l-o-w   down. 

Native-Speakers Have Personality Too 

It is better to say less but have a bigger impact than trying to race to your escape. People will notice your uncertainty. Keep it structured and tight but don’t forget your personality.

If you tend to use the flip chart or paper to explain something do that, if you love anecdotes and analogies, lean into those, if you are the kind of person that makes people laugh, don’t let that part of your personality be washed out as you panic about pronunciation. Public speaking, like anything in life, gets easier with practice. Presentation skills for non-native speakers are largely the same as those for anybody but by focusing on the following pointers, you will make a better impression than your native speaking colleagues. Put that in your pipe and eat it!

Non-native English Speakers All Start Somewhere

If you want to show up as leadership potential, a speech or presentation is a good opportunity to show that you know your stuff. As our market places and teams become more and more international, it is only natural that the amount of non-native English speakers in the audience is going to increase, just like being able to present online and to a hybrid audience.  Public-speaking gives you an opportunity to raise your profile, increase your confidence and expand your reach so in a global setting, non-native speakers are just as welcome on the stage and seen as a valued part of the expertise in your company as the native speakers. So let’s look at the English presentation skills that will get you noticed, regardless of your accent, because English for non native speakers might make this harder, but a lot more rewarding too. There’s nothing quite like a round of applause to motivate you to do even better in your next presentation.

So here is a quick recap for you of the key presentation skills for non-native speakers.

1. Start with a bang 2. Ace your Accent 3. Pronunciation on Tap 4. Practice out Loud and Practice on Time 5. Punctuate your Presentation with Pauses and …. Silence! 6. Wonderful Words 7. Structure & Stretch 9. Be Authentic 10. Summarize

1. Start with a bang!

You have 4-7 seconds to grab their attention so don’t bore them with a slide about who you are and how to contact you, that can come later. Make an entrance, get their attention, get them thinking. Answer the questions “What’s in it for them?” “What will they know at the end of the presentation?”

2. Ace Your Accent

3. Pronunciation Power-Up

The easiest way to avoid making mistakes with pronunciation actually is by listening to more podcasts and the news in English. That way the correct pronunciation becomes second nature. It’s a practical approach too, right because you will be learning about your industry from the perspective of people in different cultures, industries and markets. Active listening >>> Tips to improve your pronunciation include repeating short sections out loud. So if you hear someone saying something and you think, “Ooh that sounds good!”, rewind and say it again, three times is often enough, then again three times tomorrow and another three times by the end of the week. The longer the sentence or quote, the more challenging this is, so set yourself a challenge and soon you will sound just like the native-speakers of English. If you are not speaking in your native language, don’t let the way that you pronounce things get in the way, use an online dictionary to check any names, abbreviations, terms or models that you want to say correctly or ask a native speaking colleague or friend to help you

4. Practice - out loud and on time

The more time you leave to practice your presentation, the more comfortable you will feel with the presentation.

Resist the urge to keep tweaking and adding to it and be mindful of the time-frame that you are working towards, especially if by running over, you take time away from later speakers, that is rather self-centred.

All you have to do is time yourself on your phone. If you add something, what can you take out? Your speaking speed will tend to be faster ‘on the day’ so make sure that you take that into account when you time your speech or presentation.

5. Punctuate your Presentation with Pauses and .... Silence!

If you ask a colleague a question, you give them time to answer right? It’s the same in a presentation, if you have smartly decided to interact with your audience, by asking them a thought provoking question, then PLEASE make sure that you give them some time to think about it.

A pause is polite.

It makes the question genuine not hyperthetical, a pause is puntuation for your presentation.

You can pause before you say something or after your say something or if you really want to get the message home, both before and after. If you’re brave you can add a silence, get them thinking.

6. Wonderful Words

Some words are tougher to say than others, so try them on for size, practice out loud. Sometimes the individual words are ok but used together you might feel like your tongue is doing some kind of impossible jig on speed. Use words that work for you and remember, slowing down your speaking space will give yourself more time to think and pronounce the words properly and slowly.

Aloud. That’s the name of the game here. Sit in your car if you have to or go to the loo but practice out loud. Most of you will skip this but especially as a nonnative English speakers if it is fluency that you crave practicing out loud will make a huge difference because you need to hear the awkwardness to be able to do something about it. A slower pace gives you time to think, you’ll make less mistakes and appear calmer and in control.

7. Structure

Presentations in English are easier if you have an index card with the keywords on them, this is your speech scaffolding and will keep you on track. Non-native speakers of English tend to depend too heavily on the slide deck or the presentation slides. Perhaps English-speaking experts feel that they will make less mistakes if they just stick to the script. (I used to be like this in German to be honest). If you read word for word, people will feel robbed. You could put that in an email. So don’t read – ever! If you read, you’ll make less of an impact. Your audience is not interested in your knowledge of English, they don’t care if you have been to Business English lessons, they want to be educated, entertained and inspired so make sure that you have a clear structure and step away from the podium, it’s not like you don’t have any clothes on, so own the stage. It’s anyway much easier to think and focus if you are moving around so have the structure in your head or your hand and move around.

8. Move it Baby!

9. build rapport., 10. summarize.

It seems like a no brainer, but many non-native speakers are so relieved to get to the end of their presentation that they completely forget to repeat the key points and yet it is a great leadership and communication skill to leave your audience with a summary. Often these are the only bullet points that they write down so spell it out for them. You can even try to come up with an acronym. That gives your presentation that personal touch that is unique to you. You can also use the summarized points to create a LinkedIn post, especially if you have someone in the audience making photos of you. Slide shows are particularly popular on LinkedIn at the moment, so choose 7 of your key tips and share them with a broader audience. Who knows you might be up on the stage again, faster than you thought you would be or headhunted by a training company. If you do worry about your grammar, there are a couple of ways to gain assurance, ask a native speaker whether it is a communication coach like myself of a friend or colleague or here’s a sneaky tip – use Deepl and instead of making Deepl do all of the heavy lifting, which robs you of a learning opportunity, go to the top and toggle from Deepl Translator to Deepl Write. It gives you the opportunity to optimise your text based on suggestions. This AI alternative is free at the moment so try it out for size and let me know what you think as it might have learned more for some industries than others.

Coco's Communication Challenge

So as with every Experts Speak English podcast episode, I give you Coco’s Communication Challenge and this week is no exception. Step 1: I want you to set the timer for 60 seconds, in that time I want to you to make a list of 12 things that you can talk about ‘off the cuff’, so without any planning. What can you nerd out about with a colleague, what can you talk about ‘until the cow’s come home’?. Why not do it right now if you can, put me on pause, I don’t mind. Step 2: Ok so you have your list of 12 things, now I want you to create a speech about something that you need zero research for, something that you know inside out and back to front or like the back of your hand. Take a simple structure with just three key points and take one topic, one story, one learning. Give yourself 60 minutes to write the speech, no slides, just bullet points and tell a story that teaches something. The speech should be no longer than 6 minutes. If you send it to me as a script, give yourself a pat on the back, if you send it to me as an audio file, I’ll give you some feedback by audio and if you send me a video, I’ll give you more comprehensive video feedback. You’ll need to do this quick otherwise let’s face it, it will get forgotten about so get this to me by Easter Sunday 9th April. This is exclusively open to non-native speakers at the moment because I am passionate about helping non-native speakers to secure the rewarding career that they deserve.

Book In For your ...

Ultimate Reminder For Non-Native Speakers - Slow Down

So do you see, this is not about your English skills, the most important thing to remember is slowing down your speaking pace, indulging your audience with pauses, using wonderful words that get them thinking. As your communication skills coach, I am more than happy to work with you – just book in for a virtual tea break to find out how I can help you to learn the right English for non native speakers to make a professional impression without the bullshit. 

You’ve been listening to Corinne Wilhelm on the Experts! Speak English Podcast

New Schedule

Going forward, given the commitment to the webpage that goes with each show, I’ll be making this a bimonthly podcast. I would prefer to publish fewer fabulous episodes than racing to get them done in time.  It will come out on the first and third Monday of the month , as always with Coco’s Communication Challenge to help you put what you learn into action.

If you need more Coco motivation, feedback and inspiration to take your communication and career to the next, international level let’s find out more about each other and start making a difference.

Until then have a fabulous week and be the very best communicator that you can be.

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Virtual tea break, recent posts.

#178 Getting Back to your STEM Career: Communication Strategies for Professional Mothers

Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR can boost your employer brand, encouraging your experts to make that arduous time consuming commute into the office or indeed another location. Being together though is the name of the game – not just for the sake of it, or for controlling purposes but a common goal. That’s also a great way to watch your top talent in action on various Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives whilst building a stronger employer brand.

#177 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Boost Your Employer Brand

Training categories, i'd love to hear from you, +49 173 1688006.

• IEEE Xplore Digital Library
• IEEE Standards
• IEEE Spectrum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Improve Your Technical English

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

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

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

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

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

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how to give the perfect presentation

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

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

Introduction

About Presentation Prep

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

Short courses

Presentation Skills in English for Non-Native English Speakers

Book a place.

• We don't have a date for this course yet. Please contact CPD@PaLS to register your interest.

This intensive, interactive two-day workshop will help  non-native speakers of English:

• deliver a more effective, professional presentation
• make a greater impact, build rapport and better influence an English speaking audience

This course is run by UCL's Division of Psychology and Language Sciences (PaLS).

Course content

This workshop will help you improve and develop your presentation skills , strengthen your key messages, and deliver these in a more effective and influential way.

Working step-by-step through a presentation (see 'pre-course preparation') you'll deliver your enhanced presentation on day two.

You'll receive tips, techniques, individual coaching and constructive feedback throughout the course.

Learning outcomes

This course will help you to:

• better influence English-speaking audiences
• deliver your messages with more clarity
• use more effective language
• improve your English pronunciation
• make a greater impact in English

Certification

You'll receive a certificate of attendance when you complete the course.

Pre-course preparation

For practice purposes, you'll be expected to bring along:

• a five-minute introductory presentation
• a ten-minute work-related presentation or a subject that you have to/will have to speak on, which you've designed. You'll work on this presentation during the course

Please make sure your work-related presentation doesn't exceed ten minutes.

Course team

Josette Lesser

Josette has been a media, presentation, and leadership communication skills coach and lecturer for over 16 years. In 2007 she formed her own training company, The Communication Experts. She works both nationally and internationally, with clients from both the public and private sectors. She's also a successful print and broadcast journalist, and an accredited PR practitioner.

Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 16:00

Length and time commitment

• Time commitment: 9-10 hours
• Course length: 2 days
• Chandler House, 2 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PF

Contact information

• [email protected]
• +44 (0)20 7679 4204

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Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers

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Instructor: Liesje Sandler

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

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

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• PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW
• SEARCH FOR INTERNSHIPS & JOBS
• IDENTITY PROTECTION
• CAREER & LIFE DESIGN PROGRAMS
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Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers

• Share This: Share Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers on Facebook Share Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers on LinkedIn Share Mastering Presentations for Non-Native English Speakers on X

Instructor: Liesje Sandler

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

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

• [email protected]
• +44 (0)20 3598 2840

Presentation Skills Non-native English Speakers

Are you presenting at a conference, a seminar, or even virtually, to an English speaking audience? From the language you use to your personal impact, our unique Presentation Skills for Non-native English Speakers is designed to your individual development needs. 

We run bespoke workshops and one-to-one coaching specifically to help those for whom English is not their first language.

“ My training with Josette really changed the entire way I approach presentations. Our work together certainly improved my ability to deliver energized and highly impactful presentations. Thanks again for your help. “ Federico Fregosi VP of Engineering Contino

What makes our Presentation skills for Non-native speakers of English course different is that our highly experienced presentation professionals are also TEFL qualified.

More Influential Communication

We use  psychology-based techniques  to ensure you use  more influential verbal and non-verbal communication , including  body language  appropriate for your audience.  

Enhance your Audience Engagement

As well as including everything from our Complete Skills workshop, we will provide insight into the subtleties of the English language , and the impact applying the wrong synonym can have on your message. We’ll discuss the cultural differences that affect your sentence structure . Where required, we’ll also work with you on your pronunciation and intonation to ensure that your communication is as clear as possible.

“ This course was invaluable to me. I have more confidence presenting in English, my communication is clearer and, most importantly, I am getting better results! I will definitely recommend you. ” A. Westphal Alsace-Lorraine France

Plus, we’ll look at the cultural differences and language preferences between other English speaking countries.

Giving a Virtual Presentation or Webinar?

We run highly interactive workshops via Zoom to ensure you are as effective presenting virtually as you would be in person.

All our training is bespoke.

To find out how to present more effectively to your English speaking audience contact us now .

Improve verbal and non-verbal delivery. Build your confidence.

020 3598 2840 [email protected]

Privacy Overview

Cuyahoga County Public Library offers free English classes for speakers of other languages

• Published: Aug. 28, 2024, 3:28 p.m.

Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Maple Heights branch is also home to the Centers for Families and Children. John Kuntz, cleveland.com

• Staff reports

MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Cuyahoga County Public Library has partnered with Aspire Greater Cleveland to offer free English classes for speakers of other languages. The classes, which cover beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, are designed to help non-native English speakers improve their language skills.

The classes are held at various times throughout the day, including daytime, evening and weekend sessions, to accommodate busy schedules. Students must attend an orientation session before beginning the classes. For the most up-to-date orientation schedule and registration, call 833-ASPIRE2 (833-277-4732).

Aspire Greater Cleveland, which is headquartered at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Maple Heights branch, offers free comprehensive adult education services throughout the county. It works in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Public Library and Cuyahoga County government with support from the Ohio Department of Education’s Aspire program and United Way.

In addition to in-person classes, online options are also available. Interested students can fill out a program interest form online to get started. Upcoming class schedules can be found on the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s website.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

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Georgia/Kentucky

• ESL Programs
• 7 Aspects of Vocational ESL Comprehension
• June 14, 2024

In 2023, around 1.5 billion people worldwide were either native English speakers or used it as a second language. In the U.S., having a basic grasp of the English language is a requirement for most jobs. It not only improves communication with colleagues and clients but also opens doors to better job opportunities.

Most positions—whether in tech, retail, or health care—require at least a basic understanding of English. ESL classes like the vocational ESL program at ICT help non-native speakers improve these necessary language skills.

For non-native speakers looking for English classes, this article will discuss the seven key aspects of vocational ESL comprehension.

The Different Parts of Learning English

Learning English is a comprehensive process, broken down into key parts to make it manageable. ESL classes are designed to guide learners through each of these areas, gradually building their skills.

Effective ESL classes should cover all of these aspects.

1. Vocabulary

This part of the course will grow your collection of English words. But it’s not about filling your mind with words. It’s about recognizing words and knowing when to use them. In gaining more vocabulary, you will soon articulate your thoughts more clearly and correctly.

Eventually, conversations will feel more familiar, and understanding written English will become easier.

2. Listening

Improving your listening skills means understanding spoken English more clearly. This part of ESL classes helps you catch different accents and speeds of speech. With better listening, following movies, songs, and everyday conversations will be easier.

You’ll feel more included in discussions, making social and professional interactions smoother.

In this section, learners will explore various texts, from stories to informative articles. This exposure helps them understand context, enrich their vocabulary, and grasp sentence structure.

By seeing words in action, you learn new ones and see how sentences are built. Eventually, you can read books, articles, and more. You’ll move from word-by-word to full-speed reading.

Writing well in English is not just about putting words on a page. It’s about communicating your ideas clearly. By focusing on this skill, you will improve your ability to express ideas, perspectives, and narratives in a written format.

As you write more, you’ll feel surer about sharing your thoughts, writing letters, or putting together school or work projects.

5. Speaking

In speaking exercises, you’ll practice how to share thoughts and join conversations. This part prepares you for real-life situations, from chats with friends to formal presentations. As you speak more, hesitation reduces.

The goal is to express ideas clearly and respond on the spot. By the end, talking in English will feel more comfortable and natural.

6. Pronunciation

Pronunciation training focuses on sounds and rhythm of English, teaching your mouth and ears to work together. You’ll learn the right way to say words, reducing misunderstandings. It’s not just about being understood; it’s about feeling confident.

With practice, your spoken English will sound more native, helping you blend in any English-speaking environment.

Grammar is the skeleton that gives the English language its body. In this section, students learn the rules that govern sentence construction, thus giving their thoughts a clear direction and structure. Such knowledge reduces misunderstandings and mistakes when communicating.

A firm understanding of grammar results in fluent, cohesive, and accurate use of English, which in turn results in more effective communication.