PartII

OralPresentationSkillsChapterIXAudience'sAttentionTaskObjectivesYouwilllearntoshowanattractingratherthandetractingpresentationbygettingtoknowwhytheaudiencegetsdistractedthetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentationhowtocaptureanaudience'sattentionbyposture,eyecontactandmoreTaskPreparationListentothefollowingtwobeginningsofpresentationsabouttheimportanceofbodylanguage,andthenanswerthefollowingquestions:1.Whichbeginningofthepresentationdoyouprefer?2.Whichbeginningmakesyoufeelrelaxed?3.Whichbeginningmakesyoufeelconnectedwiththetopic?4.Whichpresenationwillcatchyourattentionduringrealpresentationsettings?1.open,2.B,3.B,4.BSkillFocus

—I.Whydoestheaudiencegetdistracted?Therearemanyreasonswhythismayhappen,somemaybeoutsideyourcontrol,suchasinadequatesoundsystems,pooroverheadprojectors,ornoisyconferencecenterswithcardboardwallsbetweentwosessionsrunninginparallel.Whatyoucandoistoavoidanythingthatmayencouragetheaudiencetostoplistening.Suchmistakesfallintwoclasses:speaker’serrorsandpresentationerrors.Welistacoupleofthemostcommonones,andmostareselfexplanatory.SkillFocus

—I.Whydoestheaudiencegetdistracted?Thespeakerlivesinhisownlittleworldofresearch,sohebelievesthatallthebackgroundinformationneededtoappreciatethemeaningofhisworkiscommonknowledge.Thisisseldomthecase!Thestructureofthepresentationisunclear,andconsequentlythelineofreasoningishardtofollow.Importantmattersasproblemidentification,aims,ormotivationareinsufficientlyclear.Visualaids(transparencies,slides)areinadequate,confusing,unreadable,toosmall,toocrowded,etc.Somespeakersshowtoomanyinatooshorttime(oneperminuteisnotbadasaruleofthumb).SkillFocus

—I.Whydoestheaudiencegetdistracted?Thespeakeruseslong,complicatedsentences;heusesunnecessaryjargon,abbreviationsordifficultwords.Passivesentences(“Fromthisfigureitwasdeducedthat…”or“Itwasthereforeconcludedthat…”)aremoredifficulttofollowthanactiveones(“Thisfigureimpliesthat…”or“Therefore,weconcludethat…”).Evenworseiswhenthespeakerreadshisspeechfrompaperandforgetsthata.writtenlanguageisusuallymoreformalandcomplicatedthanlanguageusedineverydayconversations,b.andreadingwrittentextgoesalotfasterthanimpromptuspeaking.SkillFocus

—I.Whydoestheaudiencegetdistracted?Insuchcasestheaudiencewilldefinitelyexperienceinformationoverload.OfcoursewesympathizewiththespeakerwhofeelsinsufficientlyconfidentinEnglish.However,readingatextisalmostalwaysanunsatisfactorysolution.Andafterall,nobodyintheaudiencewillblameyouforacoupleofmistakesinthelanguage,andEnglishwillbeaforeignlanguageforthemajorityoftheparticipants.Monotonoussentences,spokeneithertoofastortooslowly,lackofemphasis,unclearpronunciation,allmakeitdifficultforthelistenerstostayattentive.Somespeakersturntheirbacktotheaudienceandwatchtheprojectionscreenwhiletheyaretalking,insteadoftryingtomakevisualcontactwiththeaudience.SkillFocus

—II.Whatarethetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentation?Pleasenotethat,inourlanguageofEnglish,attentionispaidbecauseattentionisavaluablecurrency.Whenlistenerspayattention,theyarerewardingyouwitharguablythemostvaluablecurrencyintheworld.Hereare10techniquesthatareguaranteedtoearnyoumoreattentionwithoutlosinganyofyourprofessionalcredibility.1.Startwiththeunexpected.Startwithabang,notawhimper.Smokerslikematchesthatlightwiththefirststrike,andlistenerslikepresentationsthatigniteinterestwiththefirstsentence.Forinstance:“Westandtodayataplaceofbattle,onethat40yearsagosawandfelttheworstofwar.”—PresidentRonaldReagan

“Istandbeforeyoutoday,therepresentativeofafamilyingrief,inacountryinmourning,beforeaworldinshock.”—TheEarlSpencer,brotherofLadyDiana.

SkillFocus

—II.Whatarethetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentation?

“Iwishyoucouldhavebeenthere…”—PatriciaFripp,CSP,FormerPresidentoftheNationalSpeakersAssociation.Eachoftheseopeninglinesmakesusleanin,lendanear,andwonderwherethespeakerwilltakeus.Theyjumprightintothesubjectandcreatesuspense,intrigue,curiosity.2.Makeitaboutthem.Nowthatyou’vegottenlisteners’attentionwithyourmagneticopening,makethestoryaboutthem.IncreaseyourYou-to-Me-Ratio.Talkabouttheirgoals,theiraspirations,theiranxieties.Cicero,aRomanstatesmanandorator,andoneofthegreatestspeakersinthehistoryoftheworld,said,“Ticklingandsoothinganxietiesisthetestofaspeaker’simpactandtechnique.”Hemeantthatyoucancaptureattentionifyouremindanaudienceofafeltneed,apainpoint,orathreattotheirwell-being.SkillFocus

—II.Whatarethetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentation?3.Keepitconcreteatthestart.Showaprop.Uselanguagethatappealstothesenses.Don’ttaxtheaudiencerightawaywithabstractreasoningoracademicconcepts.Bettertohideyoursmartsthantowearthemonyoursleeve.Storytellingisapowerfulwaytogetintoatopicbecausewearehard-wiredtoabsorbinformationthroughstorytelling.4.Keepitmoving.Notjustintermsofpace,butintermsofdevelopment.Makesurethateverynewbitofinformationyouprovidebuildsonwhatcamebefore.Weloseinterestinmovieswhennothingishappening,ornovelsthatstopwhiletheauthordescribesabucolicsettingfortwopages.Ourbrainsaresaying,“Iwantaction!Drama.Suspense.”Thesameholdstrueforyourlisteners.Theyaretime-pressed,content-driven,andresults-oriented.SkillFocus

—II.Whatarethetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentation?5.Gettothepoint.Oneofthegreatpleasurestheaudiencehasisquicklygraspingwhatyou’regettingat.Theyresentyouwhenyourobthemofthispleasure.6.Arouseemotion.Humorisinherentlypersuasive.Itgivesthespeakeranunfairadvantagebecauseitliterallychangesthechemistryintheroom,andinthebrainofeveryonepresent.Butdon’ttrytotelljokesifyou’renotacomedian.Simplyallowyournaturalsenseofhumortobepresentinthemoment,andwhensomethingcomestomind,allowyourhumortorevealitself.Confessingsomethingpersonalaboutyourselfcanalsomaketheaudiencefeelconnectedwithyou.7.Keepitinteractive.Socialscientistshavedemonstratedthataninteractiveaudienceismoreeasilypersuadedthanapassiveone.Inmanycircumstances,thegiveandtakebetweenspeakerandaudiencebreaksthroughthereticenceandreserveoflisteners,encouragingSkillFocus

—II.Whatarethetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentation?8.Writeclearheadlines.Writeheadlinesforyourslidesthatexpressapointofview.Theaudiencewillgetthebigideaandlookatthebodyoftheslideforevidencethatsupportsyourpoint.9.Keepitshort.Stoptalkingbeforetheystoplistening.Themindcannotabsorbwhatthebehindcannotendure.10.Lettherebeyou.Thepresenceofahumanbeingaloneonastageofanykind,whetherit’sthefloorofasmallmeetingroomortheelevatedplatformofavastballroom,isprofound.Listenersinterpreteverythingaspeakerdoes:theyreadyourface,yourinnerrhythm,yourposture,voice,andstance.Theproblemistheminddoesthisinamatterofseconds,andyouhavetospeaklongerthanthat.Plusyoumaybenervous,notatyourscintillatingbest,soyourtechnicalskillatcapturingandholdingattentioncouldbethedifferencebetweensuccessandfailure.SkillFocus

—III.Howtocaptureanaudience'sattentionbyposture,eye,contactandmore?Thenonverbalmessageofapresentationisassignificantastheverballanguage.Aperson’sbodylanguageornonverbalhints,suchaseyecontact,posture,andmovement,whichtransmitasignaltotheaudience.Threefactorsmattermosttoexpressanonverbalmessage:eyecontact,posture,andmovement.EyeContact“Maintaineyecontact”isacommonsuggestioninmakingeffectivepresentations.Eyecontactissomethinglikeabridgebetweenthespeakerandtheaudience.Throughthisbridge,thespeakercandetectthechangeofthefacialexpressionsoftheaudience,forexample,eithertheaudienceareinterestedinorfeelboredwiththepresentation.Maintainingeyecontactisnotsosimpleasamatteroffact.Thetechniqueistofocusononepersonatatimeandmaintainitseveralsecondstoestablishaconnection.Thenmoveon.SkillFocus

—III.Howtocaptureanaudience'sattentionbyposture,eye,contactandmore?PostureTheposturewillhelpyouestablishtheconfidenceinpresentations.Standingstraightwithyourheadheldhighisabestwaytoshowyourconfidence.Beingdispiritedimpliesthatyouarefearfulanduncertaininyourownpresentation.Youshouldnotbeleaningforward,backward,ortoeitherside.Justfeelrelaxedbutnotlimp.MovementandGesturesAspeakerwhoseldommovesmaylooklikehard-shelled,whiletoomanymovementsandgestureswilldefinitelydistracttheaudience.Therefore,weneedabalance.Alittlemovementcandohelpyouconnectwiththeaudienceandmakepresentationsenergetic.SkillFocus

—IV.Technicalelements1.Howlongcantheaudienceholdtheirattention??Iftheaudienceareinterestedinthecontentofthepresentation,theycanconcentrateonthepresentationfor7to10minutesatmost.?Ifthepresentationisveryboring,thentheywillloseinterestwithin7seconds.?Iftheaudiencehaveashortbreak,thentheycanstartagainwithanother7-to10-minuteperiod.SkillFocus

—IV.Technicalelements2.Shortbreaks?Asktheaudienceaquestion.Ifyoursessionislongerthananhour,youneedtohavesomekindofbreak.?Dosomethinginteractive.Youcanbuildinsmallexercisestomaketheaudiencewhoareabsent-mindedgetinvolvedinyourpresentationagain.?Movetoadifferentposition.Youcandothiseveryfiveminutestomaketheaudiencefocusonyouagain.?Tellastory.Storieswillgrabaudienceattentionimmediately.Scatterinterestingstoriesandmakesurethestoriesareshortandrelevanttothetopic.CheckYourUnderstanding

—I.Pleasedecidewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrueorfalsebasedonthe“SkillFocus”youhaveread.1.Thespeakerlivesinhisownlittleworldofresearch,soitiscorrectthathebelievesthatallthebackgroundinformationneededtoappreciatethemeaningofhisworkiscommonknowledge.2.Monotonoussentences,spokeneithertoofastortooslowly,lackofemphasis,unclearpronunciation,allmakeitdifficultforthelistenerstostayattentive.3.Youcancaptureattentionifyouremindanaudienceofafeltneed,apainpoint,orathreattotheirwell-being.4.Bodylanguageisnotimportantcomparedwithverballanguage,becauseeyecontact,postureandmovementwillnotconveyanymessagestotheaudience.5.Humorisinherentlypersuasive.Trytotelljokesevenifyou’renotacomedian.6.Ifthepresentationislongerthan60minutes,you’dbetterhavesomekindofbreak.TTFFFTCheckYourUnderstanding

—II.Answerthefollowingquestionsbrieflyaccordingtoyourunderstandingofthe"SkillFocus".1.Whydoestheaudiencegetdistracted?A:Therearemanyreasonswhythismayhappen,somemaybeoutsideyourcontrol,suchasinadequatesoundsystems,pooroverheadprojectors,ornoisyconferencecenterswithcardboardwallsbetweentwosessionsrunninginparallel.Whatyoucandoisavoidanythingthatmayencouragetheaudiencetostoplistening.Suchmistakesfallintwoclasses:speaker’serrorsandpresentationerrors.CheckYourUnderstanding

—II.Answerthefollowingquestionsbrieflyaccordingtoyourunderstandingofthe"SkillFocus".2.Whatarethetechniquestokeepaudienceattentionduringthepresentation?A:1)Startwiththeunexpected.2)Makeitaboutthem.3)Keepitconcreteatthestart.4)Keepitmoving.5)Gettothepoint.6)Arouseemotion.7)Keepitinteractive.8)Writeclearheadlines.9)Keepitshort.10)Lettherebeyou.CheckYourUnderstanding

—II.Answerthefollowingquestionsbrieflyaccordingtoyourunderstandingofthe"SkillFocus".3.Howcanyouholdtheaudience’sattentionbyposture,eyecontactandmovement?A:"Maintaineyecontact”isacommonsuggestioninmakingeffectivepresentations.Eyecontactissomethinglikeabridgebetweenthespeakerandtheaudience.Throughthisbridge,thespeakercandetectthechangeofthefacialexpressionsoftheaudience.Theposturewillhelpyouestablishtheconfidenceinpresentations.Standingstraightwithyourheadheldhighisabestwaytoshowyourconfidence.Aspeakerwhoseldommovesmaylooklikehard-shelled,whiletoomanymovementswilldefinitelydistracttheaudience.4.Whatcanyoudoduringshort-breaks?A:Asktheaudienceaquestion;dosomethinginteractive;movetoadifferentposition;tellastory.TipsandNotes學術會議發言重要的是把自己的聲音清楚地表達給觀眾，即使音質不好，如果能秉持自己的主張與信念，依舊可以吸引觀眾的注意。發言時要注意與觀眾互動，渲染場上氛圍，增強感染力，從而吸引觀眾的注意，同時還要注意以下幾點：?發言的開始要淺顯易懂，重點是拋出問題或激發興趣，?發言時要時刻面對觀眾而不是屏幕，要環顧整個會場，?需要觀察聽眾對所講內容的反映，適時地調整發言的內容、表情與動作，?語音語調很重要，該快則快，該重則重，該停頓則適當停頓。TaskR