MCMC: “Improving Your Presentations”
A Workshop by Prof. Max Watson.
 
 
On Wednesday, 4th December, 2019, MCM College was delighted to receive Max Watson, Assistant Professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea, who is a close connection of MCM College Affiliate, Michael Lichenstein (FAH-ELC).
In the workshop, Professor Watson advised students to begin their presentations in a relaxed and composed state. This can be achieved by following the ‘box breathing’ exercise, (one that Prof. Watson highly recommends), followed by a power projection in which students ‘hook’ the attention of the audience with a captivating story. Max explains that presentations should begin with “something that makes an emotional connection with the audience”. It can be a story, a question, or possibly a shocking static.
Max stresses the importance to engage the audience rather than ‘overfeed’ them with information. Ask questions to keep the audience engaged, and allow short pauses for the audience time to understand and ‘digest’ what has been presented thus far. It is also important for students to practise on skills such as pitch control, stress, tone and volume, which is a reflection of self-confidence and control.
Finally, when closing a presentation, students were advised to give their audience something that will clearly remain in their minds: either by reiterating their opening, or end with a clever slogan or a call to action – that is part of a rapport-building process. |