5 TIPS for Public Speaking and Presentations

Jessica:
Hi everyone, welcome back to the 5-Minute English Podcast. It’s Jessica here, and today we’re talking about a topic I know many English learners struggle with: public speaking and presentation skills. And honestly, it’s something even native speakers get nervous about. So we thought it would be helpful to sit down and have a real, honest conversation about why people feel scared, why they lose confidence, and what you can actually do to improve. And joining me today is my best friend and co-host, Lisa. Hi Lisa!

Lisa:
Hi Jessica! Hi everyone! I’m so excited for today’s episode because this topic is so real. Almost every student I’ve ever taught has told me, “I can read English, I can write English, but when I stand in front of people… I freeze.” And I totally understand because I used to be exactly like that.

Jessica:
Same here. I remember the first time I had to do a presentation in English. My hands were shaking, my voice was tiny, and I kept thinking, “Everyone is judging me.” But the funny thing is, most of the time, the audience is not judging you. They’re just listening and hoping you’ll share something interesting. But when you don’t feel confident, your brain doesn’t believe that.

Lisa:
Exactly. I think the biggest reason people get nervous is that they worry about making mistakes. They feel like if they say one wrong word, the presentation is ruined. But that’s not true at all. Every speaker—even professionals—makes small mistakes. The difference is that confident speakers just keep going.

Jessica:
And learners often think they need to sound perfect or speak fast to seem fluent. But actually, speaking slowly and clearly is what makes you sound confident.

Lisa:
Yes! And another reason many people struggle is that they don’t know how to structure their ideas. When your ideas feel messy in your head, your mouth doesn’t know what to say. That’s why people suddenly go blank or start saying “uhm… uhm…” over and over.

Jessica:
Totally. It’s like your brain is trying to find the next step but can’t. So part of building confidence is simply knowing your structure. If you know where you’re going, your voice naturally becomes steadier.

Lisa:
And I think we also need to talk about fear of the audience. Many learners tell me, “I’m okay when I practice alone, but when people look at me, I get nervous.” That’s because speaking alone feels safe, but speaking in front of others activates something in your brain that says, “Danger! They’re watching you.”

Jessica:
Yes, the classic fear of being judged. But the truth is, the audience is usually friendly. They want you to succeed. No one sits in a presentation hoping the speaker fails.

Lisa:
I remember one of my students—she was so scared that she refused to look at her audience. She just stared at her slides the whole time. After class, she said, “I didn’t make eye contact because I didn’t want to see people’s faces.” And honestly, I get it. But avoiding eye contact actually makes you feel more nervous, not less.

Jessica:
So true. The moment you look at someone and see them smiling or nodding, you suddenly realize, “Oh—they’re on my side.” And that helps you relax. But of course, it takes practice.

Lisa:
Definitely. And something else that makes people lose confidence is comparing themselves to others. They think, “That person speaks better than me,” or “My pronunciation is not good.” But every speaker has their own style. You don’t need to sound like a native speaker to give a great presentation.

Jessica:
Absolutely. Confidence doesn’t come from sounding perfect. It comes from knowing your message matters.

Lisa:
Exactly. And when you believe in your message, your voice becomes stronger.

Jessica:
I want to talk about the moment right before speaking. Many students say that the scariest moment is right before they start. Like, the teacher calls their name, or the meeting host says, “Okay, you may begin,” and suddenly their heart feels like it’s jumping out of their chest.

Lisa:
Oh yes. That moment is the worst. But what helps is preparing your first sentence really well. So you don’t have to think—you just say it.

Jessica:
Yes! Memorize just the first sentence. Not the whole presentation, just the opening. Something like, “Good morning everyone, my name is Jessica and today I’d like to talk about…” Once you say that, your voice warms up, your breathing calms, and the fear slowly goes away.

Lisa:
Another issue is pacing. People speak too fast because they’re nervous, and then they lose control.

Jessica:
Right. And they think speaking fast makes them sound fluent, but it usually makes them sound stressed.

Lisa:
Pausing is actually one of the strongest confidence techniques. A small pause makes you sound calm and in control.

Jessica:
And it gives you a second to think.

Lisa:
Exactly. And the audience gets time to understand your message.

Jessica:
I want to give an example. Imagine you say, “Today I want to share pause one simple technique that changed the way I speak.” That pause makes the sentence feel powerful and confident, even if your English isn’t perfect.

Lisa:
Another problem learners have is explaining ideas. They worry about not finding the right words. But they forget that they don’t have to be perfect. They can always use simple language.

Jessica:
Yes! Simplicity is your friend. You don’t need to say, “The statistics indicate a significant correlation between…” You can just say, “The numbers show that these two things are connected.” Clear and easy.

Lisa:
Exactly. And if they still struggle to explain, they can give an example. Examples are lifesavers.

Jessica:
Examples make complicated ideas easy. And stories make people remember.

Lisa:
Speaking of stories, I think a lot of learners feel more confident when they tell something personal—something they experienced. Because personal stories don’t require memorizing long sentences. You just tell them naturally.

Jessica:
Yes, storytelling is like a cheat code for confidence. Your voice becomes more natural because you’re talking about something real.

Lisa:
I also want to talk about body language. When people feel nervous, their body becomes small—they look down, hide their hands, cross their arms…

Jessica:
And that makes them feel even smaller. But if you open your shoulders a little, stand tall, and keep your arms relaxed, your brain actually feels safer.

Lisa:
Yes, your body and mind are connected. If your body looks confident, your mind starts to believe it.

Jessica:
And then your voice becomes stronger, too.

Lisa:
Another thing is that learners fear the Q&A part. They’re scared of not understanding the question.

Jessica:
But it’s completely okay to ask someone to repeat their question. You can say, “Sorry, could you repeat that please?” Even native speakers ask that.

Lisa:
And if you need time to think, just say, “That’s a great question. Let me think for a moment.” Super natural, super professional.

Jessica:
Exactly. Giving yourself time is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of confidence.

Lisa:
And finally, I think ending a presentation is something many learners forget to practice. They finish too suddenly, like, “Okay… that’s it.” And it sounds like they want to run away.

Jessica:
Yes! A strong ending helps you feel proud of your work. Something simple like, “Thank you for listening. I hope this was helpful,” already sounds much more confident.

Lisa:
So true.

Jessica:
Alright, before we wrap up, let me give some final tips. These are things anyone can start practicing—even beginners.

First, practice speaking out loud. Not in your head—your voice needs training.
Second, practice small pieces, not the whole presentation at once. One paragraph today, another tomorrow.
Third, record your voice. Your confidence grows when you hear your progress.
Fourth, keep your sentences simple. English becomes easier when you don’t overcomplicate it.
And finally—this is the most important one—don’t aim for perfection. Aim for connection. Your audience doesn’t need perfect English. They need your message, your clarity, and your sincerity. Confidence grows from small wins, not giant jumps.

Lisa:
I love that. So many learners think confidence is something you’re born with. But really, it’s something you build.

Jessica:
Exactly. And every time you speak, you’re building it.

Lisa:
Thank you everyone for joining us. We hope today’s conversation helps you feel a little braver, a little more prepared, and a lot more confident in your own voice.

Jessica:
We’ll see you in the next episode of the 5-Minute English Podcast. Until then, keep practicing, keep speaking, and don’t be afraid to share your ideas. See you next time!