VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information
1. Course title PRESENTATION SKILLS
2. Course code NVA106
3. Type of course (compulsory, optional) Compulsory
4. Level of course Bachelor
5. Year of study (if applicable) 1
6. Semester when the course is delivered 2
7. Number of course credits allocated 3 (2 theoretical credits + 1 practical credit)
Independent study: 90 hours
8. Name of lecturer(s) N/A
9. Mode of delivery Face-to-face
10. Prerequisites Students are required to have completed all the
Language Skills courses of B1 level.
11. Language of instruction English
12. Work placement(s) N/A

II. Course overview

This course is designed to prepare students for success in typical presentation situations and provide them with
practical skills of presentation, fundamental principles of organization, research and delivery that are needed
for effective speeches. The thematic topics of the course are as follows:
● techniques in effectively preparing, organizing, and delivering different types of speeches in both
academic and other settings
● techniques of oral presentation and persuasion
● the use of visual aids (pictures, charts, graphs, PowerPoint slides) to enhance presentations
● cultural conventions and the use of verbal and non-verbal messages in public speeches
III. Course learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to
1. prepare for a presentation in terms of the audience analysis, information/materials gathering, ideas
organization, and the introduction/conclusion development of a presentation
2. apply appropriate techniques, including using language, projecting the voice, and using body language
3. select ICT applications for learning and research
4. demonstrate communication and teamwork skills
5. develop creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills
6. show appreciation of standards of professional conduct

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IV. Recommended or required readings
Required readings
● Lester, A. (2009). Present for Success: A powerful approach to building confidence, developing impact
and transforming your presentations. Marshal Cavendish International.
● Lucas, Stephen, E. (2009). The art of public speaking (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill. (Chapters 4, 5 and 6)
● Powell, M. (2002). Presenting in English: How to give successful presentations. Thompson.
Recommended readings
● Comfort, J. (1995). Effective presentations. OUP.
● Reynolds, G. (2012). Presentation zen: Simple ideas on presentation design and delivery (2nd ed.).
Pearson Education.
● Williams, E. J. (2008). Presentations in English: Find your voice as presenters. Macmillan.
Websites
● http://changingminds.org/techniques/speaking/speaking.htm
● https://www.ted.com
● http://sixminutes.dlugan.com
● http://soappresentations.com/downloads/

V. Course contents and schedules

Sessions Course contents Required readings Planned learning activities

and teaching methods
1 Course introduction (course Lester (2009): pp. Lecture
syllabus, assessment, evaluation 1-14 Group presentation
forms) Discussion
Presentation Nerves Peer feedback
2 Planning your Presentations Lucas (2009): pp. Group presentation
74-140 Discussion
Peer feedback
Lecture
Practice: Plan and do audience
analysis + Come up with a
topic for group presentations
Homework: Gather materials
to support the chosen topic
3 Organizing and Outlining Lester (2009): pp. Group presentation
15-28 Discussion
Powel (2002): pp. Peer feedback
10-19 Lecture
Practice: Prepare the outline
and organize ideas + Apply
the learned techniques and
phrases to prepare for group
presentations
4 Group presentations (A1) Group presentation
(Evaluation should be made based on Peer feedback
students’ choice of topic, and Instructor’s feedback
organization of ideas in the
presentation.)
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5 Using Language Lester (2009): pp. Group presentation
29-47 Discussion
Powel (2002): pp. Peer feedback
62-85, 92-103 Lecture
Practice: Choose a topic, and
prepare the script for mini
individual presentation 1 +
using appropriate language.
6 Projecting your Voice Lester (2009): pp. Teaching Assistant
49-60 Group presentation
Powel (2002): pp. Discussion
32-61 Peer feedback
Lecture
Practice: Using voice varieties
+ Rehearse for mini individual
presentation 1
7 Mini individual presentation 1 (A2) Individual presentation
(Evaluation should be made based on Peer feedback
language use, and voice used in the Instructor’s feedback
presentation.)
8 Body Language Lester (2009): pp. Teaching assistant
61-85 Group presentation
Discussion
Peer feedback
Lecture
Practice: Applying body
language in presentations +
Prepare for mini individual
presentation 2
9 Using Visual Aids Lester (2009): pp. Group presentation
87-123 Discussion
Powel (2002): pp. Peer feedback
20-30 Lecture
Practice: Practice using visual
aids in presentations + Prepare
for mini individual
presentation 2
10 Managing the Environment Lester (2009): pp. Group presentation
125-140 Discussion
Peer feedback
Lecture
Practice: Prepare for final
individual presentations
11 Trouble Shooting Lester (2009): pp. Teaching Assistant
141-153 Group presentation
Powel (2002): pp. Discussion
104-119 Peer feedback
Lecture
Practice: Dealing with issues/
problems during a presentation

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 12 Mini individual presentation 2 (A3) Individual presentation
(Evaluation should be made based on Peer feedback
students’ body language, use of visual Instructor’s feedback
aids, and skills to handle problems and
questions in the presentation.)
13 In-class discussion for final Discussion
individual presentations Peer feedback
Instructor’s feedback
14 Final individual presentations (A4) Individual presentation
(Evaluation should be made based on Peer feedback
the provided evaluation form.) Instructor’s feedback
15 Final individual presentations (A4) Individual presentation
(cont.) Peer feedback
(Evaluation should be made based on Instructor’s feedback
the provided evaluation form.)
N.B.: The schedule was planned with 15 four-period meetings and thus should be amended by Instructors
to fit 12 five-period meetings.

VI. Assessment scheme

Percent of
Assessment tasks Scores Weighting
final grade
A1. Group presentation (3-5 min./group) 50%
Midterm 30%
A2. Mini individual presentation 1 (3 min./student) 50%
A3. Mini individual presentation 2 (3 min./student) 30%
Final 70%
A4. Final individual presentation (5 min./student) 70%
100% (Passing Grade: 5/10)
(See detailed rubrics attached.)
VII. Course alignment matrix
Programme
Teaching
learning Assessment
Course learning outcomes (CLOs) and learning
outcomes tasks
activities
(PLOs)
CLO1 – prepare for a presentation in terms of the
audience analysis, information/materials gathering, L + D + GP A1 + A2 +
PLO1 – L2
ideas organization, and the introduction/conclusion + P + PF A3 + A4
development of a presentation
CLO2 – apply appropriate techniques, including using PLO1 – L2 L + D + GP A1 + A2 +
language, projecting the voice, using body language + P + PF A3 + A4
L + D + GP A1 + A2 +
CLO3 – select ICT applications for learning and research PLO3 – L1
+ P + PF A3 + A4
CLO4 – demonstrate communication and teamwork D + GP + P
PLO3 – L1 A1
skills + PF

CLO5 – develop creativity, problem solving and critical L + D + GP A1 + A2 +

PLO4 – L1
thinking skills + P + PF A3 + A4

CLO6 – show appreciation of standards of professional L + D + GP A1 + A2 +

PLO5 – L1
conduct + P + PF A3 + A4
(Note: L = Lecture, D = Discussion, P = Practice, GP = Group presentation)

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VIII. Course policies
Attendance Policy: Attendance in all sessions is strongly recommended. Participants are required to give
advance notice of their absence in class in case of illness or any other situations. However, 80% is the
minimum attendance required for a student to take the final test.
Professionalism Policy: Participants are expected to be well prepared and take an active role in class
discussions and work collaboratively with their peers.
Academic Integrity: Forms of plagiarism and cheating will lead to a failing grade or zero on
the assignment or test.
Designed by: Bui Manh Bao, M.A.

Updated by
- April 2023: Dang Thi Van Di, M.A.

Date of approval: April 2023

Approved by Approved by

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, Ph.D. Dang Thi Van Di, M.A.

Dean, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature Department of English Language Skills