• This week focuses on oral communication skills, including presentation techniques, discussion strategies, confidence building, pronunciation, and audience engagement.

    • Welcome to Week 4

      This week, you step into the spotlight. Academic communication is not only written — it also happens in seminars, tutorials, presentations, and group discussions. This week, you will develop the skills to present your ideas clearly and confidently, and to participate actively and respectfully in academic discussions.

       

      By the end of this week, you will be able to:

      •     Structure a short academic presentation with an introduction, main points, and conclusion

      •     Use effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques

      •     Engage an audience through appropriate eye contact, pacing, and signposting language

      •     Participate constructively in a group discussion, using academic discussion phrases

       

      Activities this week: Video tutorials, a 3-minute recorded presentation, a group discussion activity, a self-evaluation of your presentation, and a knowledge check quiz.

      Open-Access Resources

      1. "How to Give a Great Academic Presentation (Monash University)" 

      Academic Presentations in 10 Easy Steps: Quick-Start Guide (YouTube, August 2025) The most recent option in the results — covers how to turn research into a professional, well-structured presentation. Very appropriate for first-year undergraduates

      As a solid alternative: Academic Presentations: 10 Top Tips — produced by the University of Hull Library (YouTube, 2019) at offers student-specific tips with a companion library guide

      2."How to Speak Confidently (Charisma on Command)" (video 3 — unavailable)

      How To Speak Confidently In Public — 3 Simple Tricks (YouTube, July 2024) Focuses on practical, immediately usable techniques for managing nerves and projecting confidence — well-suited for students preparing their first recorded presentation

      3. "Participating in Academic Discussions (English with Lucy)" (video 4 — unavailable)

      Group Discussion Tips — English Phrases to Sound Professional (YouTube, January 2023) Directly covers the kind of discussion language your students need — how to use the right phrases to contribute professionally and confidently in group settings. 

      Presentation Skills — University of Leeds guide: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1401/academic_skills/106/presentation_skills

      Academic Discussion Phrases — EAP Foundation: https://www.eapfoundation.com/vocab/academic/discussion-phrases/

      Effective Presentations — University of Reading: https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/studyadvice/StudyResources/Presentations/sta-presentations.aspx

      Language Practice

      Signposting Language for Presentations (British Council): https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/speaking/advanced-c1-c2-speaking/signposting-language-presentations

    • Resources and Instructions Forum
      Students must
      Make forum posts: 1
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade
    • Presentation Task Forum
      Students must
      Make forum posts: 1
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade
    • Self-Evaluation Form — After Watching Your Recording Forum
      Students must
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade
    • Discussion Forum Prompt — Group Discussion
      Students must
      Make forum posts: 1
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade