Learning English is not only about studying grammar and learning new vocabulary. It is also about using English in real situations and becoming more confident when you speak.
For many adult students, improving their English is important for their career. You may need English for meetings, presentations, interviews, networking or working with international colleagues. This is why practising public speaking can be a very useful part of learning English.
At IH Manchester, we regularly hold student conferences where students prepare a presentation on a subject they choose. They then present their ideas to other students and members of the school. It is a great opportunity to practise English, build confidence and share something they are interested in.
Why practise public speaking in English?
Speaking in front of other people can feel difficult, especially when you are speaking a language that you are still learning. You may worry about making mistakes, forgetting a word or not knowing what to say next.
However, the more you practise, the easier it can become.
Public speaking gives you the chance to use English for a longer period of time. Instead of answering one question or having a short conversation, you need to explain your ideas, give information and keep your audience interested.
This can help you become a more confident English speaker.
- Build your confidence
One of the biggest benefits of public speaking is increased confidence.
When you first start learning English, you may feel nervous about speaking in front of other people. You might worry about making mistakes or having problems with pronunciation.
Preparing and giving a presentation can help you see how much English you already know. You may be surprised by what you can do!
After giving a successful presentation, you can take this confidence into other situations. You may feel more comfortable speaking in class, talking to new people or sharing your ideas at work.
- Improve your speaking skills
A presentation gives you the chance to practise speaking for several minutes without stopping.
You need to think about how to introduce your topic, explain your ideas and move from one point to the next. You also need to think about how to finish your presentation.
This is excellent practice for your speaking skills.
You can also practise useful phrases such as:
- “Today, I’d like to talk about…”
- “Let’s look at…”
- “Another important point is…”
- “For example…”
- “Finally…”
- “Thank you for listening. Do you have any questions?”
These phrases can be useful not only for presentations but also for meetings and other situations at work.
- Learn new vocabulary
When you choose a subject for your presentation, you will probably need to learn some new words and phrases.
For example, if you decide to talk about technology, you may learn vocabulary related to artificial intelligence, computers or social media. If you choose to talk about your favourite sport, you may learn words connected to teams, competitions and training.
Preparing a presentation gives you a reason to use this new vocabulary. This can help you remember the words more easily.
- Practise pronunciation
Public speaking is also a good way to practise pronunciation.
When you prepare your presentation, you can identify words that are difficult to pronounce and practise them before your presentation. You can also think about stress, intonation and speaking clearly.
It is not necessary to have perfect pronunciation. The important thing is that your audience can understand you.
Speaking more slowly, using pauses and stressing important words can all help you communicate your ideas clearly.
- Improve your communication skills
Good public speaking is not only about speaking English correctly. It is also about communicating your ideas clearly.
You need to think about your audience. What information do they need? What will be interesting for them? How can you explain your ideas in a simple way?
These are important communication skills for the workplace too.
For example, you may need to explain an idea to your manager, give an update to your team or speak to an international customer. The more you practise explaining your ideas in English, the more comfortable these situations can become.
- Prepare for your career
For many adults, English is an important part of their professional life.
Presentations are common in many different jobs. You may need to present a project, explain a new idea, give a training session or speak at a conference.
Even if you do not give formal presentations very often, the skills you practise are useful every day at work. Being able to speak clearly, organise your ideas and communicate with confidence can help you in many professional situations.
Our IH Manchester Student Conferences
At IH Manchester, we want our students to use English outside the classroom as well as inside it.
Our student conferences give students the opportunity to choose a subject they are interested in and prepare a presentation for other students. The subjects can be very different, which makes each conference interesting and unique.
Students might talk about their country, their job, a hobby, a place they have visited, an interesting person, a topic they are passionate about or something they have recently learned.
The important thing is that they have something they want to share.
Of course, standing in front of other people and speaking English can be challenging. But this is exactly why it is such valuable practice. Students can step outside their comfort zone, try something new and discover what they are capable of.
Watch our latest Student Conference
We recently held another student conference at IH Manchester, and our students gave some fantastic presentations.
Take a look at our video to see some of the presentations and get a feel for what our student conferences are like.
Learning English is about using English
You do not need to wait until your English is perfect before you start speaking in front of other people.
Making mistakes is a normal part of learning a language. Every time you speak, you have an opportunity to practise, learn and improve.
Public speaking can help you develop your English, but it can also help you develop confidence, communication skills and useful experience for your future career.
So, the next time you have the opportunity to give a presentation in English, why not give it a try?
Choose a subject you enjoy, prepare your ideas, practise your English and, most importantly, have fun sharing your ideas with other people!
Find out more about the English course we offer: https://ihmanchester.com/english-courses/
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