Presenting

Title: Presenting Author: Susan Lowe and Louise Pile Publisher: Delta Publishing Summary: A strong supplemental workbook with CD for Business English learners. Reviewed by: Paula Swenson Review date: February 2007 Order from: US | UK

This book, Presenting, is aimed at Pre-intermediate to Intermediate level learners of English for Business. It can be used with pre-experienced or experienced clients, in classrooms or one-on-one.

It begins with a self-directed Needs Analysis, where students can decide what their priorities are, and a Learning Journal, where they can keep note of how well they are progressing. Six units follow these, each targeting a different skill needed for giving effective presentations.

The six units deal with: starting effectively, using equipment, organizing your material, maintaining interest, dealing with problems and questions, and summarizing & concluding. Each of the units ends with a reference section of useful phrases and vocabulary, as well as a review page.

The authors have done a nice job of combining basic information and familiar exercise types (cloze, multiple matching, sentence scramble, charts, register transfer). There is a CD with the book, which both models target language and pronunciation and provides listening practice. Full transcripts are included at the back of the book, along with the answer keys for each unit, making the book useful for self-study as well as classroom use.

In most ways the book seems geared more towards self-study use, although learners without formal language study experience might find the instructions hard to follow in places, especially with students at Pre-intermediate level and below.

All in all, I would say the book offers a good opportunity to have Business English learners work on improving their Presenting skills outside of classroom time, which could reinforce their more formal instruction in class.

Order from: US | UK

Paula Swenson has taught English, including Business English, in Poland and Germany, and is currently teaching students from around the world at Language Studies International in San Diego, California. She has a BA in Communications, TEFL/TESL Certification from the International College of Applied Linguistics, and the FCTBE from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board.