The Student Development Committee of the Centre for Foundation Studies, Kampar Campus organised a talk on 21 February 2024 at UTAR Kampar Campus. The talk, delivered by CFS academic Ms Chan Wan Ling and Mr Pan Wai Seng, addressed useful tips for presentations.

Besides helping students overcome their fear of public speaking, the talk also sought to educate them about fundamental delivery techniques such as pitch, tone, pace, pronunciation, and language. It also aimed to boost their confidence in speaking.

The talk started with Ms Chan sharing her journey of becoming a confident public speaker. Reminiscing about her school days, Ms Chan shared that her participation in the speech competition in school and her part-time job at a café allowed her to find the courage to speak publicly and improve her English language skills. She further added that her career as a lecturer and event organiser also contributed to her growth of becoming a confident public speaker.

Ms Chan also shared some practical tips to conquer the fear of public speaking. She said, “We need to embrace the fear without judging ourselves and recognise that making mistakes is a normal part of learning. Also, focus on what we can control; practice the content and delivery, and visualise yourself speaking confidently.”

“The crucial element for delivering an effective presentation lies in rehearsal,” Chan emphasised. “Devote time to practising your volume, pace, pitch, tone, and pronunciation, alongside refining your body language, such as maintaining eye contact and employing appropriate hand gestures.” Additionally, Chan provided an overview of the fundamental speech structure, emphasising the importance of including an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Mr Pan proceeded to share insights on crafting impactful presentation slides. Regarding text content, he stressed the significance of brevity and directness, advocating for concise sentences. He also highlighted the necessity of using clear fonts and appropriate sizes to ensure easy readability.

Pan added, “When designing, you need to increase the visual contrast to enhance the visibility. You also need to choose the colours wisely according to the purpose and the audience.  Finally, I would suggest adding relevant diagrams to present the data. Utilise transitions and use them along with animations; provide an outline if necessary. These elements collectively contribute to an aesthetically pleasing presentation that sustains audience engagement."

The talk ended with a Q&A and group photograph session.