Saki Kanemaru (right) presented "Investigating the self-assessment system in public libraries concerning the JLA 'Statement on Intellectual Freedom in Libraries' 1979".
Message from Martin Connolly:
Chiyoe and Saki did an outstanding job on Friday, Dec 12th, after many weeks of training how to give academic presentations in English. Some of the main points to remember in giving such a presentation are as follows:
1. The language of a spoken presentation is easier than that used in a written paper. Standing in front of people is a kind of real-time communication, so it is important to keep good eye-contact and make sure that those listening to you understand what you say. Sometimes, therefore, you might need to explain some technical word. You don't need to do that in a written paper!
2. Get and keep your listeners' attention by using pause, and by making sure you have good intonation. Flat intonation will put people to sleep! A presentation is really a kind of performance. It is not simply words.
3. Academic topics can often be very complicated and complex. Your listeners may know that area of study, or they may not. Just in case, then, it is extremely important that you make everything very clear. This often means providing background detail or some history or contextual information. It is essential to present information in a step-by-step way, logically, so that the listeners can move from very little knowledge of some area toward detailed understanding.
4. You should provide a handout. On this, you can give all the small detail, perhaps numbers, dates, tables, and references to sources and books. Your handout can help you very much!
On Friday, Chiyoe and Saki incorporated all of these points into their presentations, making impactful, and even dramatic (!), readings of their research into library sciences. As their teacher of English academic writing and presentations, I was extremely impressed. Well done Chiyoe and Saki!!
Martin Connolly
English Dept