From classrooms to courtrooms, conferences to company meeting rooms and legislatures to webinars, one key to long-term professional success is the
ability to make a persuasive oral argument. Due to the pervasive nature of
English worldwide, many, if not most, presenters must make their statements in
a foreign language. To quite a few non-native language speakers, this task seems Herculean, i.e., not only to stand up and talk in front of people but to
do so in a second or even third language. Yet, the relative disadvantages of
foreign speakers do not need to prejudice the effectiveness of their
presentation because the most important elements of an impactful presentation
are in their power.
First, it is vital to understand the dual purpose of
an oral presentation. Clearly, listeners expect to receive the information
they need or want (or told they need or want). They appreciate clear and
appropriately deep explanations with sufficient support. They do not want to
have masses of small print on a projector screen or need to interpret data. They can do that from the comfort of their desks. For the speaker, presentations offer the perfect opportunity for people to
show their value. It is not always about being the greatest expert but rather about their effectiveness in transmitting that knowledge. A well-presented explanation creates a positive opinion of the person’s ability and strengths. This impression
lasts far longer than the details or relevance of the actual information. Thus,
both the audience and the presenter can benefit.
Contrary to popular belief, the accuracy and level of
the language have only a minor impact on the long-term effect. Given the high
percentage of presentations in English made by non-native speakers, native
English speakers generally have some tolerance for minor grammar errors as long
as they do not affect meaning. Occasional pronunciation, usually misaccented
words, is accepted for the most part. Choosing simpler words, as many
foreigners do, is not only not a sin but can actually a virtue in many cases. As for sentence structure, even native speakers get confused
when making presentations. While a perfect presentation in terms of language is the goal, it is only an ideal, not a reality. As long as the language and
message are clear, to err is human.
The truly significant elements of a successful
presentation are preparation, fluency and confidence. The best lecturers make
their presentations seem effortless just as NBA players make free throws seem
easy (except for Shaq O’Neil). Their ease and comfort are partly a matter of
personality and experience but much more a matter of organization and practice.
They know what they will say because they have arranged the material and spoken
about it so many times beforehand, albeit to their dog or cat or another
willing listener. Practice does make almost perfect. This preparation allows
the presenter to speak fluently since it frees the mind to focus on language
and the audience, not on the content. In other words, they know what they want to say
and can thus apply their effort to reaching the audience. Furthermore, fluency creates the image of confidence, which most
listeners accept without question, i.e., if
the speaker acts as if s/he knows the material, the listener can trust that person.
Together, organizing, practice, fluency and confidence are the hallmarks of an
effective lecture.
It is important to note that the issue of language mastery does not affect those elements. Many native speakers are awful
lecturers, as anybody who ever studied at an American or British university can
attest. Instead, the most important aspects of an impressive lecture are in
the hands of any speaker, native or not. Clearly, foreign speakers require
greater time and effort than native ones. Of course, extremely subpar language can render listening painful. However, as long as the language issues are
minor, any English speaker can produce an effective presentation.
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