– Especially In Another Language!
When I’m coaching people in presentation skills, I always urge them to talk about a topic they know well and are passionate about. People respond, “But sometimes I have to present information at work that I haven’t created myself and I’m not so familiar with it. What do I do then?”
One week, I was delivering four corporate workshops based on a client’s content, not mine. Two of the workshops were in Japanese, which isn’t my native language.
So let me share with you what I do in these situations. But first, here’s what not to do and why.
Don’t attempt to memorize a script! Not even if you think you need to because you’re speaking in your non-native language.
In “The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking,” Dale Carnegie writes,
“The man who writes out and memorizes his talks is wasting his time and energy, and courting disaster. All our lives we have been speaking spontaneously. We haven’t been thinking of words. We have been thinking of ideas. If our ideas are clear, the words come as naturally and unconsciously as the air we breathe.”
He then tells the story of Winston Churchill, who used to write out and memorize his speeches until the dreadful day his mind went blank while presenting before the British Parliament. Churchill couldn’t remember what to say next. Horribly humiliated, he returned to his seat. He never memorized a talk after that.
Problems with memorizing presentations:
- You might forget what to say – especially if you’re already nervous
- You can’t engage the audience properly because your attention is on yourself and what you’re going to say next
- You may struggle to deal with unexpected questions, requests, or comments
So here are my 6 steps to deliver unfamiliar content in your non-native language.
1. Print out all the materials
I find it useful to work from hard copies of any existing PowerPoint slides or handouts. I can easily flick back and forth between pages, highlight content, and make notes.
2. Highlight unfamiliar concepts and terms
In my initial read-through, I mark words and expressions that aren’t part of my normal vocabulary. I circle any kanji that I don’t know how to read (I don’t look them up yet unless they’re crucial for my understanding of the content).
3. Think through the concepts
I make sure that I understand the concepts and message, and can convey them in my own words in Japanese. What’s important to remember here is that it’s natural that your vocabulary in your non-native language is smaller – even much smaller – than in your native language.
But by using words that you know, you’ll be able to present much more clearly and confidently. If you find any words that you didn’t know that are CRUCIAL for the presentation, then practice saying them as much as possible, so that you add them to your vocabulary.
I also reflect on the words and concepts and why they’re meaningful for the audience. This helps me to understand the value of the content, feel a connection with the people I’ll be speaking with, and become more enthusiastic about the presentation.
4. Write notes by hand
If I’ve been given PowerPoint slides to work with, I make notes of the main points to cover when presenting each slide. This is usually three to five brief points per slide. I need to be able to remember it. If I can’t remember it, the audience certainly won’t. Also, research shows that taking handwritten notes is better for the memory than typing.
5. Check pronunciation
For me, this means checking that I know how to read the kanji. For non-native English speakers presenting in English, this means checking the pronunciation. I only check words that I’m likely to use in the presentation. Presenting new content in a different language is challenging enough. I don’t want to make it even harder by attempting to memorize unnecessary information.
6. Practice at every opportunity
I especially like to rehearse in the shower. Some sing. I speak. Or I rehearse out loud if I’m alone in a room – at home or in the workplace. I also find it effective to visualize the presentation even if I’m not speaking out loud. I often do this during my morning walk in the park, doing the ironing, or standing on a crowded train. As I talk or think through the presentation, it helps me to remember it. I often notice points that don’t flow so well or that might prompt a question from the audience. I picture how I might respond and I think of stories or examples to support what I’m saying. Gradually, it starts to feel like my content.
When I follow these 6 steps, the words flow more naturally, I feel more comfortable, and I can focus on the audience on the day of the presentation. And that’s what counts.
Links for you
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