Standard English and vocabulary
Standard English
You will be expected to use standard English when making your presentation. This means that you should use correct English and avoid slang at all times. Slang is a word to describe some of the everyday language that you generally use with friends or family. For example, the word friend is considered to be good use of standard English whereas the word mate is an example of slang. Similarly, if you are greeting a teacher when you arrive at school, you will probably say, âGood morningâ, but to a friend you might say, âA±ô°ùŸ±Č”łółÙ?â You should also try to avoid using too many abbreviations such as âwŽÇłÜ±ô»ćČÔâtâ and âÈÙłóŽÇłÜ±ô»ćČÔâtâ. âI would notâ, and âThey should notâ, are much more appropriate.
Other types of slang to avoid include:
- ainât (instead use it is notâŠ)
- innit (instead use it isâŠ)
- enât (instead use it is notâŠ)
- dunno (instead use I do not knowâŠ)
- gonna (instead use I am going toâŠ)
- ta (instead use thank youâŠ)
For more information on standard English go to Speaking and listening.
Remember
You might feel uncomfortable at first but whenever you make a presentation such as this, your audience will expect standard English to be used. When you practise your presentation, always use standard English as this will ensure you are fully prepared to use it on the day of the actual presentation.
Vocabulary
It is also essential to consider carefully the vocabulary that you use in your presentation. You should think in particular about using words that are linked to the topic you have chosen to discuss. For example, if you have chosen to do a presentation on Wales, you might want to think about the culture of the country. In this case you might want to consider using vocabulary such as:
- literary heritage
- the arts
- historical sites
Donât be afraid of using vocabulary that is new to you. The audience will expect to learn new things when they listen to your presentation, so it is important that you really try to be adventurous when it comes to vocabulary choices.
Remember
Your use of vocabulary must be accurate so a dictionary will be very useful when checking the definition of new words. A thesaurus will help you to expand your vocabulary and ensure that you are using a wide range of word choices in your presentation.