Post #1 Geylan Fonseca





Geylan Fonseca

Reflection on Class Presentation 


 One thing that I think is very important in a presentation is organization. When information is organized, it is much easier to understand what the speaker is trying to say. A presentation should have a clear beginning, main points, and an ending. I personally like when information is explained in a simple order because it helps me follow the topic without getting confused. I also think having an outline can help the person who is presenting. If I know the order of the things I want to talk about, I do not have to worry as much about forgetting something. 

I also learned that the beginning of a presentation can make a big difference. The introduction is the first opportunity to get the audience interested in the topic. If the beginning is interesting, I think people are more likely to continue paying attention. The conclusion is important too because it is the last thing the audience hears. I used to think the most important part was only the information in the middle, but now I understand why a good beginning and ending are necessary. They help make the entire presentation feel complete.

Another thing I enjoyed was thinking about how visuals can change a presentation. I like presentations that include pictures, videos, or simple slides because they give me something to look at while I am listening. Sometimes it can be difficult to stay focused when someone is only talking for a long time. A good visual can make the information easier to understand and remember. However, I do not think a presentation should have too much information on the slides. If there are too many words, people may start reading everything instead of listening to the speaker. For my own presentations, I would prefer to use simple slides with the most important information and explain the rest myself.


Listening is also something that I did not think would be such an important part of a public speaking class. Before this class, I mostly thought about the person who was speaking. Now I understand that the audience is part of the communication too. When someone is presenting, the people listening should try to pay attention and understand what the speaker is saying. This can be difficult because there are many distractions. Phones, other people, or even thinking about something else can make us stop paying attention. I think being a good listener is important because it shows respect to the person who is speaking.


Research is another part of preparing a presentation that I think is important. There is so much information on the internet that it can be difficult to know what is true. I learned that we should be careful about the sources we use and make sure the information is credible. I also think examples are helpful because they can make a difficult idea easier to understand. When I am learning something new, I usually understand it better when someone gives me an example instead of only giving me a definition. I would like to remember this when I prepare my own presentations in the future.


For me, the most difficult part is still delivering the presentation. I can prepare the information, make my slides, and practice, but standing in front of everyone is when I really start to feel nervous. I think about my pronunciation and whether people can understand me. Sometimes being nervous can make me speak faster than I normally would. This is something I want to improve. I want to learn how to slow down, look at the audience, and speak with more confidence. I know that making a small mistake does not mean the whole presentation is bad. I need to remember that I am still learning and that practice is the only way I will become more comfortable.


I also realized that body language can affect the way people see a presentation. Eye contact, facial expressions, and natural movements can make a speaker look more comfortable and connected with the audience. I do not think a person needs to move constantly, but standing completely still and reading everything can make a presentation feel less personal. I want to work on making eye contact more often instead of looking at my notes all the time. This is difficult for me when I am nervous, but I think it will become easier with more practice. 


In the end, this experience helped me see public speaking in a different way. Before, I mostly thought about how nervous I would feel standing in front of a class. Now I think more about preparation, organization, listening, visuals, body language, and connecting with the audience. I still do not feel completely comfortable with public speaking, and I know I have a lot to improve. However, I feel like I understand the process better now. My goal is not to become a perfect speaker immediately. I just want to improve little by little and feel more confident every time I have to give a presentation. I think that with more practice and experience, public speaking will become easier for me.

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