Reflection on learning in AEP

a) What are the most valuable things you learned about the process of preparing and delivering presentations? (2 or more):

There are two things I think that are most valuable in the precess of preparing and delivering presentations, which are thorough rehearsal, and use of visuals. First, I realized the importance of the thorough rehearsal when I finished the Presentation No.1 and 2. In the preparation process, I did not do a rehearsal of the presentation, but I had a vague idea of what to speak in the presentation, and I thought it would be enough. But when I delivered the presentation, I often lost my way and could not speak fluently. After I did a thorough rehearsal on Presentation No.3, I could memorize the whole structure and what to say in the presentation, so I could focus on other things such as body language and eye-contact while speaking. Second, I think use of visuals is important because it is hard to understand what the speaker wants to say just by listening to it, especially when the audience is non-native. And it is more likely to lose concentration without visuals. Visuals gets the attention of the audience and makes easier to understand the contents.

b) In what presentation skill areas do you feel you have made progress or improved your awareness? (2 or more)

I think I made progress in especially 2 presentation skills, which are use of visuals, and use of voice. First, I think I improved on using visuals since I realized the importance of visuals as I said before, and worked hard on it. I learned in the class that you should use visuals which are simple and easy to understand, and should not use a lot of visuals in one slide. I tried to apply those elements on my slides, and I think it became much better than before. Second, I tried to improve my use of voice after I watched my own presentation on the video. I did not know before I watched the video that I do not speak clearly. After that, on Presentation No.3, I tried to speak as clear as possible, and I improved a little bit. However, I still have the space to improve.

c) What points do you want to improve further in your future presentations? How can you improve those? (2 or more)

There are two points that I want to improve in the future presentation, which are body language, and emphasis.First, I want to improve my body language in the future presentation because I think body language is very important when delivering a presentation, and I was not that successful in that element. I think body language is important by the same reason of the importance of use of visuals: It is hard to understand what the speaker is trying to say just by listening. Body language gets the audience's attention and it pretty much determines the tension of the presentation. In this course, I became able to speak freely without the script and focus on the audience, but the body language was not sufficient. I would like to improve my body language and be able to deliver a presentation more actively. Second, I want to be able to make more emphasis on both voice and body language. As I said before, in this course, I became able to speak more freely without the script, but I could not think about emphasizing the important parts. From now I want to be more concise on the emphasis and be able to deliver a presentation with high and low tension.

Presentation No.3

Reflection on Presentation No.3

a) The process of preparation and rehearsal:
Our group did 2 group works and we made suggestions to each others slides and script. We also collected a lot of information by primary and secondary sources. We interviewed one of the leader of the Hope for Haiti icu, and I personally did a lot interviews to the members of the organization.
I did a lot of rehearsal on my part of the presentation, so that I could speak naturally without looking at the script. This was my goal for this presentation so I am satisfied.

b) The effectiveness of the introduction:
At the introduction of our group presentation we showed a video so that people who are watching could see what is going in Haiti and this made people emotionally moved and made it easier to understand why they actually need the help.
At my part of introduction, I started with the question, "How can we help them?" I think this caught the audience's attention and it was effective.

c) The persuasiveness and organization of the content in the body:
First, we showed how desperately Haiti needs help and reached to the audience's emotion. Second, we introduced an organization that can help Haiti and improve the society, and explained how it is effective to make a change. Finally, we showed the credibility of the organization. This structure made the presentation logical and persuasive.

d) The conclusion and Q&A:
The conclusion made it clear the short term effect and the long term effect of the donation. It made the ending persuasive.
The Q&A part was OK. We could answer all of the questions and confirmed if we hed answered the questions they asked.

e) Use of visuals:
Almost all of the slides had some kind of visuals and connected to the contents so that I think it was easy to understand. Especially, visualizing the short term effect and long term effect of the investment to the organization was very effective and persuasive.

f) Body language: Eye contact, facial expression, gestures, and posture:
I think I improved a lot on Eye contact, gestures and postures. Since I prepared a lot compared to Presentation No.2, I could focused to the audience much more.

g) Use of voice:
I tried to speak clearly as much as I can because my natural voice it not that easy to listen to. And I think I achieved my goal. My partner told me that my voice was clearer than last time.

h) Future Goals:
Although I improved a lot compared to the last presentation, there are many things I have to work on. I have to speak more clearly, use visuals more effective, make more eye-contacts with the audience, and so on. I want to be a more sophisticated speaker.