Berlitz English For University Students Book 1 Audio Script
Berlitz English For University Students Book 1 Audio Script
Berlitz English For University Students Book 1 Audio Script
Book 1
Audio Script
Presentation Outline
When shifting to another subject, always use transitions so that you don’t confuse your listen-
ers. Transitions are bridges to lead your listeners from one idea to another.
When delivering the body, be sure to state your objectives clearly and with support. If you have
a strong opinion about a specific topic, you must support it by stating evidence.
Before ending your presentation, make sure you review the main points delivered in the body.
Write a short presentation on a topic you like. Organize your outline into three parts:
introduction, body and conclusion. When finished, split into pairs and ask your partner if your
presentation is easy to follow. Do the same for your partner.
Documentation Design
During your presentation, you should have a note-card in your hand to guide you. It is
essential that these notes are easy to look at.
Mr. Peterson: So Josh, I see here on your application that you would like to join the
economics program at our university.
Josh: Yes sir, I would really like to be an economist. I want to work in the stock
exchange some day.
Mr. Peterson: And why did you choose this university?
Josh: My uncle said it has one of the best economics programs and it’s not so far
from where my family lives.
Mr. Peterson: Tell me a little more about your parent’s educational background.
Josh: Well, my father was a Psychology major but he dropped out in his third
year, and my mother majored in English Literature.
Mr. Peterson: Hmm, and what do they do now?
Josh: My father is the manager of a convenience store, and my mother teaches
English at an elementary school.
Mr. Peterson: Now, let’s talk about your grades in high school. I see here you did really
well in science, but your math grades are not very good.
Josh: Yeah, I really hate math; it’s so boring and complicated.
Mr. Peterson: But to major in economics, you will need to take several advanced
mathematics classes.
Berlitz English for University Students Book 1 Audio Script page of 14
Josh: Really? I didn’t know that.
Mr. Peterson: And I see here that you had some disciplinary problems in high school.
Josh: No, that was just a misunderstanding. I accidentally broke the principal’s
office window; it was all a big mistake.
Mr. Peterson: OK Josh, I will look into your application and we will contact you next
month. Thank you for coming in.
Josh: OK. Thank you, Mr. Peterson.
Stress Management
Anxiety and stress are normal before any presentation. Standing in front of a large group of
people can be very intimidating and it affects everybody in different ways. Understanding
that this feeling is perfectly normal and experienced by everybody at some point, is the first
step towards learning how to manage it effectively.
Practice as much as possible before. The better you know the material, the easier it will be
to deliver. Practice can be done in front of the mirror. If possible, record yourself on video or
mp3.
Remember, that the worst part is before the presentation. The stress will gradually
disappear once you get started.
Breathe slowly and deeply.
Don’t stand in one place. If you move around, it will relax you.
Write important information on the whiteboard while you present (not too much though).
If you make a mistake, don’t panic. Just take a breath and continue the presentation.
Remember you are the boss. The speaker is in control of the audience during the
presentation.
Project your voice just above the heads of the people in the back row.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Operator: Thank you for calling Land’s End. May I take your order?
Mrs. Almeida: Yes, I’d like item number 7397-3C46 in red.
Operator: The mock sweater. What size?
Mrs. Almeida: Small, please.
Operator: And your next item, please?
Mrs. Almeida: That’s all. Just one item.
Operator: Your name?
Mrs. Almeida: Laura Almeida.
Operator: And your address, Ms. Almeida?
Mrs. Almeida: It’s 4789 Maple Avenue, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648.
Operator: And your credit card number?
Mrs. Almeida: 55289-9007-0051-3249. Expiration date 12/09.
Operator: Thank you for your order. Have a nice day.
Mrs. Almeida: Thank you.
Ms. Taylor is shopping for a suit at a new department store. She usually wears a nice
blouse and pants when she shops but today she is wearing a sweater and jeans. She
is looking for a gray suit in a size 12 but the store only has black suits in size 8. Ms.
Taylor is checking every floor in the store. She usually enjoys shopping, but she isn’t
enjoying it today.
Getting Attention
In order to effectively transmit information to the audience, the speaker must first get their
attention. There are many ways to accomplish this and each speaker has their own style. Let’s
look at some of these ways.
A Greeting
This is one of the easiest ways to get attention. Greet your audience in a loud and
friendly voice. A “Good Morning” can get you a lot of attention, so as soon as the
audience turns to look at you, it’s time to start the introduction.
Questions
Many speakers like to start their presentation by asking rhetorical questions to
the audience. For example, if you are doing a presentation about personal
computers, you may start with a question such as “Do you have a computer at
home?” Usually the audience won’t reply, but they will immediately focus their
attention on the speaker. After you ask the question, take 1 or 2 seconds to look at
the audience and then start off your introduction.
Visual Aid
An image is worth a thousand words. Many speakers like to start by showing the
audience an image, such as a poster or a large picture. After the audience turns its
attention to the picture, you are ready to start.
Working in groups: take turns trying different techniques on the group to get their
attention. Don’t be afraid to be creative.
Brainstorm a list of other ways to get the attention of your audience. Add these to the list
above and rate their effectiveness.
Looking Professional
The way you carry yourself in front of the audience will have a profound effect on the listener’s
concentration levels. A confident and professional speaker will command a greater presence in
the room.
Look Professional
Before the presentation, take a few minutes to make sure nothing is wrong with
your hair, clothing, teeth, makeup, etc. It’s one less thing for you to worry about and
may even give your self confidence a little boost. If you are prone to sweating, keep
a handkerchief handy to mop those beads of sweat.
Body Language
Body language is an important part of communication. Somebody who just stands in
the same place will make the audience feel the presentation is dull and uninspiring.
If you are moving very fast or shaking, it gives the audience the feeling that you are
Berlitz English for University Students Book 1 Audio Script page of 14
insecure. Not making eye contact with people may give the idea that you are not be-
ing truthful.
These are some tips on using body language effectively during a presentation:
Posture
Try to stand up straight while you present; it will show that you are confident in
your skills and the content you are providing.
Practice
Working in groups, on a piece of paper, write the name of an animal but don’t show it to anyone.
Try to convey which animal you are, using body language alone. Remember, you may not speak,
make noises, write or draw any pictures.
A: At Hotel Ocean View, there are hot spring baths and private hot spring baths.
There’s a swimming pool and a games center. You can eat dinner in your room or in
the restaurant. There are non-smoking rooms available. You can stay for just $70
per person per night.
B: At Hotel Mountain View, you can spend your evening in the bar or working out in
the gym. There are three restaurants to choose from. There are different kinds of
hot spring baths including outside ones and there are karaoke rooms available for
those who want to sing. Prices start from $60 per person per night.
C: At Hotel Beachside, there’s a private beach that only our guests can enjoy. And if
you don’t like the sea, there’s an Olympic size swimming pool. There are two restau-
rants to choose from and there are lots of things to do in the evening. There’s a bar,
a games center and there are karaoke rooms. And it only costs $80 per person per
night.
Voice Projection
Voice volume and clarity are very important when giving a presentation. If your voice is too
quiet, people won’t be able to hear what you are saying. If you are shouting, the audience will
be uncomfortable and you will get tired quickly.
Voice projection is a technique that allows you to increase the volume and clarity of your voice
with very little effort. Just by putting your head in the correct position, your voice will become
louder and clearer.
Try this.
Say your name regularly.
Now, put your chin against your chest and say your name again.
Finally, tilt your head slightly back and say your name again.
Practice
With your partner, take turns reading the text in the book. Try different head positions until
you find the best one for you.
My friend Tom has a big family. There are 5 children in his family! Tom is the old-
est, he’s 19 years old. He is tall and has short, brown hair. His hobby is playing
baseball. The youngest is Sue, she’s 7. Sue has long, straight, brown hair and green
eyes. Sue loves reading. Every Christmas, Tom and his family go to their
grandparents’ house.
Voice rhythm and speed are essential to giving good presentations. The tone you use while
speaking, and the way you pause at necessary points, are also very important. By doing these
well, it makes the listening experience that much easier.
Rhythm:
After graduating from high school Amy decided to travel to Europe she visited many countries
including Italy Spain France Germany and the UK her trip lasted almost a month and she
was very happy to experience so many different cultures.
Now, let’s listen to the same example with proper rhythm and speed:
After graduating from high school, Amy decided to travel to Europe. She visited many coun-
tries, including Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the UK. Her trip lasted almost a month
and she was very happy to experience so many different cultures.
The body of your presentation is over, but there is still one more vital task to perform: the
conclusion.
One important factor is time. The conclusion must be short and simple. The objective is not
to repeat everything you have already said, but to reiterate the key points. Remember, when
your audience leaves, it’s your conclusion that will be freshest in their minds. For this reason,
it is critical to make it as easily digestible and memorable as possible.
In this presentation, we discussed the impact of nuclear power on the world; we talked
about different countries using nuclear power, it’s cost, safety issues and power for future
generations. To conclude, I want to restate that nuclear power has proven to be a cheap and
clean energy source, and that if proper measures are taken, it is a very safe way to generate
large amounts of electrical energy. Also, nuclear power has the potential to continue to provide
clean and cheap energy for many years to come.
Thank you very much for your attention today, and I hope you enjoyed this presenta-
tion.
Practice
Write a conclusion to the presentation on a topic of your choice. Read it to members of your
group. Could they imagine what the body would have contained?
Bill: Would you like to go to the music festival tomorrow night? I have two tickets.
Emma: Sounds great! What time?
Bill: It starts at 7 o’clock at Center Stadium.
Emma: Let’s meet in front of the stadium at 6:30.
Bill: OK. See you then.
My summer vacation. At the end of July, I went to Okinawa with two of my friends.
We only stayed for three nights, but we had a great time. In mid-August, I went to
my grandparents’ house in Nagano with my family. It was really boring. It was good
to see my grandparents, but there’s nothing for me to do in Nagano. For the last week
of August, I worked in a museum on a work experience program organized by my uni-
versity. The work was boring and very tiring - I was on my feet for about nine hours a
day. And I didn’t get paid! September the 12th was my birthday. I met my friends and
we went to a restaurant and then karaoke. We had a great time. I really enjoyed it.
Be patient.
Some questions may seem to be obvious, but the audience may not have understood
a point or missed necessary information. Be patient and explain again.
Don’t Lie
If you are not sure of the answer, it is better to be honest and say so. If you give
false information, it will cast doubts on all your material. It’s better to say you are
not sure, or that you don’t have the information at that moment, than to lie.
Practice
Listen to the following presentation, and write down three questions you could ask from the
excerpt.
Patient 1
Doctor: What seems to be the problem?
Patient 1: I feel terrible. I have a stomachache, headache and a fever.
Doctor: Do you have a cough?
Patient 1: No, I don’t
Doctor: Do you have a sore throat?
Patient 1: Yes.
Doctor: Do you have a rash?
Patient 1: Yes, I do.
Patient 2
Doctor: What’s the matter, Mr. Thompson?
Patient 2: I have a terrible cough and sore throat.
Doctor: Anything else?
Patient 2: A slight headache.
Doctor: Do you have a fever?
Patient 2: Yes, a slight fever.
Doctor: Do you have a backache?
Patient 2: No, I don’t.
Presentation Aids
There are many support materials we can use to make presentations more interesting and
easier to understand. Speakers can now use all kind of aids, such as pictures, computers, short
videos, audio tracks, etc.
All these can help, but the quality of the presentation always depends on the speaker. If the
presentation is not well designed and executed, it will not be effective, regardless of the aids
used.
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Now take a look at your textbook.
Don’t go overboard.
Try not to use too many aids. If you do, it may detract from the intended impact.
Keep it short.
If you are using presentation aids, try to limit the amount of time you spend on
them. Remember that the center point of the presentation is the topic, not the
pictures or videos.
Practice
You are doing a presentation about all the wonderful sightseeing places in Japan. Think of
different aids you could use to make it more impressive. Discuss your ideas with your partner.