how to do a presentation about a country

Teach with Holly Rachel

a primary teaching blog

How to Teach a Country Research Project

February 17, 2022 By Holly Rachel

I love teaching a research project on a country. They are so much fun and students gain so much from studying them in your social studies curriculum. I have found that students find them fascinating and love learning interesting facts and recognising the similarities and differences between the country they are learning about and their own way of life.

What is a country research project?

In simple terms, as part of social studies, students create a report on a country by researching facts about it. Their country report could be a wide range of presentation mediums such as a written project, an oral presentation, a poster, worksheets, a performance or even a video, you can be as creative as you like! Student can use a range of methods to research their chosen country. This could be through books, the internet, interviews or from teaching presentations and information sheets.

Why are country research projects important?

It is so important that we teach students about different cultures to their own and to accept and respect differences, as well as to look for the similarities between us all. This is especially important in the interconnected world we live in today.

There are so many benefits to teaching a research project on a country. These include:

-Gaining knowledge about new places and different culture

-Sparking curiosity and a love of learning

-Understanding and accepting differences

-Recognising that even though cultures may have differences, we all share similarities

-Gaining a deeper understanding of their own culture as they learn about others

-Because they are so much fun!

How to do a country research project

A research project on a country may be part of your curriculum, or you may teach the project as part of a whole school cultural week. Alternatively you could set the project as homework for your class. It’s also a great idea to use the project to support learning across other subject areas. For example, students could use the knowledge they gain from their country study and use it in their writing, such as a story setting or an information text. Students could recreate art from the country or develop map skills.

What to include in a country research project

This is the fun part! You may wish your students to lead their own research and report on the areas that interested them, or you may wish to give some guidance. Some great ideas for your research project on a country could include:

Identify the particular country on a map of the word. Where is it located? What continent is the country in? What is the capital city? You could look for physical geographical features such as mountains and rivers. Does the country border any seas? What are the neighbouring countries?

Research the country’s flag. What does the flag tell us about the country? What is the population? What sort of climate does the country have? Students could use graphic organizers to help them record the information they find.

Food is such a great way to learn about a country. It really tells us a lot about the sort of flora and fauna that can be found the country. It can also tell us a lot about the climate of the country. Is it common to preserve food in a particular way? For example through pickling or using spices? Why might this be?

This is such an important skill. As we become more globally connected, learning an additional language is such a valuable skill. You could start with some key phrases and greetings.  Maybe choose certain activities where you could speak in language, such as greeting each other first thing in the morning, or asking. ‘How are you?’ after lunch.

Sight seeing

Learn about the iconic landmarks of the country. When, how and why where they built? What do they tell us about the country and the people who live there?

Recreate art from the country. This could be a study of a particular artist or art movement. Students could recreate a particular painting. What does the painting capture? What can we learn from it? Or perhaps use a painting from the country as inspiration for students’ own work, this could even span different subjects. Create a bulletin board of the students’ own work!

Teach students songs from the country. This is also a great way to learn a language. Listening to and singing songs can really help students gain a valuable insight into the culture.

Sweden Country Study

If you’d like to get started with a country research project, check out my FREE Sweden country study when you subscribe to my email list. These are perfect for your Social Studies 2nd Grade curriculum.

Included is a PowerPoint presentation with 10 slides packed full of information to teach your students all about Sweden. Slides include a map of Sweden, the Swedish flag, basic Swedish phrases, Swedish foods, Swedish landmarks, the Northern Lights and Dala horses, a traditional Swedish craft. That’s right, I have done all the research for you, so it is NO-PREP and ready to go!

Teach the topics as part of your social studies weekly lesson. Alternatively, allow students to complete the project at their own pace or assign out as homework.

Along with PowerPoint slide is an associated social studies worksheet for 2nd Grade students to complete with the information they have learned from the slide show. So this means no trawling the internet finding a worksheet to match a PowerPoint and spending hours making your own. It is all done for you!

Not only that, the activities are differentiated on two levels to support a range of ability levels in your class.

Do you spend hours prepping work for early finishers? Well, I’ve got you covered with a wordsearch all about Sweden!

Also include are summary activities about the project. This includes a worksheet for students to record their favorite facts and a postcard template. Students imagine they have visited Sweden and write postcard home about their travels!

Finally it comes with a super cute cover sheet so your students can make their own booklet with the worksheets. Did I mention this is all FREE? Grab your FREE Sweden Country Study today!

If you’d like to check out my other country studies, I have a whole range of countries available:

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how to give the perfect presentation

Step-by-step – presenting internationally, do's & don'ts when presenting to cross-cultural audiences, strategies for native english speakers.

For native English speakers, making a presentation overseas or to an international audience presents some special cross-cultural challenges. Taking the dos and don’ts below into account will ensure that your message is communicated effectively, without embarrassing, insulting, or offending the diverse members of your audience.

1. Speak Clearly

This means enunciating clearly so that people can hear and understand each word you are saying. Don’t mumble, slur your speech, or speak super fast when addressing a crowd whose native language is not English.

2. Speak Slowly

Help your listeners by slowing down. Give them time to catch your words and digest the meaning. Use verbal and non-verbal clues to gauge whether you are being understood. If people ask you to repeat what you have said, look puzzled, or respond inappropriately, most likely they have not understood you. Repeat your idea slowly in the same or different words. If all else fails, write it down.

3. Triangulate your main ideas

This technique involves expressing the same idea three times in slightly different ways. It gives your listeners three chances to catch what you are saying. For example:

4. Use meaningful tempo and intonation

By changing the tone of your voice, varying the tempo, and placing stress on areas you would like to emphasize, you provide added clues to help your listener grasp your message.

5. Provide signposts along the way

Signposts prepare your listeners in advance by informing them about the planned direction of your discussion or presentation, as well as any changes along the way. For example:

“Today I’ll be speaking about three areas: the market for our products in Canada, our new marketing strategy, and the timeline for implementation of this project.”

“Now that we’ve completed this section, let’s turn our attention to…”

6. Use verification loops

In inter-cultural communication, especially, it is valuable to keep checking whether your listeners are following along with your argument. This can be done by asking:

• “Do you have any questions?”
• “Is everything clear till now?”
• “Would you like me to elaborate?”

In this way, listeners have the opportunity to clarify confusion or misunderstanding at an earlier stage.

7. Say numbers and dates slowly

Numbers are often expressed in different ways in different parts of the world, so exercise special care when saying numbers, which are such a critical part of doing business. These include phone numbers, prices, quotations, dates, flight numbers, exchange rates, zip codes, addresses, and so on. For example:

• $1500 can be expressed as fifteen hundred or one thousand five hundred.
• 16 can sound like sixty so you should repeat, “That’s sixteen – one six.” (The same is true for all “teen” numbers.)
• December 20th can sound like December 28th.
• In India, the terms lakh (representing 100,000) and crore (10,000,000) are used and must be clarified.

8. Write down unfamiliar names or technical terms

Unfamiliar or unknown names and terms are best shown written down on a slide or handout. Repeated use of a term that others don’t know or cannot understand is annoying and thoughtless.

9. Double and triple check time arrangements

Confirm any arrangements related to time or dates. One possible approach is to pretend you’ve forgotten, flip through your papers and say, “So we’re meeting at / on …” and see what the other person has to say.

10. Be careful using English words from other languages

Remember that English is a mongrel language and has adopted words from other languages. Beware that sometimes these adopted words have different meanings or shades of meaning in other languages.

11. Be sincere

By showing genuine sincerity and interest in building a good relationship, a positive atmosphere is created which makes it easier to do business. When both sides assume such goodwill, many potential hurdles can be overcome.

12. Keep a sense of humor

Even with the best of intentions, cultural mistakes may be made from both sides. The best advice is to be relaxed, keep a sense of humor and appreciate the cooperative efforts being made by all sides.

WHAT NOT TO DO

1. avoid slang.

Unless the listeners have lived in your country for a long time, avoid slang. Also be aware that slang changes and the listener may not know the current meaning.

When a recently graduated Canadian student went to teach English in Japan, she learned this the hard way. During her class, one of the students told a particularly amusing anecdote, which the teacher enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, the teacher expressed her enthusiasm by laughing and exclaiming, “Shuuuut uuuuup!” in the lilting tone of voice, characteristic of some North Americans when they hear something they like. The student shifted in his chair, looked awkward and said no more. Later in the same lesson, when the student made another interesting observation, the teacher responded enthusiastically once again by saying, “Gettttt ouuuuut!”, at which the poor young student, red-faced and confused, packed up his belongings, got up and walked out the door, never to return. Slang can be disastrous.

2. Avoid contractions

Contractions may blur the sound of words and make it more difficult to understand you. In some cases, they can lead to direct confusion – as when someone says ‘can’ or ‘can’t’ too quickly. In this case it is better to use ‘can’ and ‘cannot’.

3. Avoid idioms

Using idioms is one of the most common ways of crippling communication with non-native English speakers. These expressions and colloquialisms confuse and confound; avoid them in the interest of greater clarity. Just imagine how these expressions sound to the uninitiated:

• to strike out
• to call in sick
• To be in the black
• to jump the gun
• to blow one’s top
• To do lunch
• to give the cold shoulder
• to have a soft corner

4. Avoid double-negatives

This convoluted way of speaking, which may be followed by native speakers, is very hard on non-natives. Spare them the trouble by speaking more directly. For example, instead of saying “I’m not saying it’s impossible…”, just say “ It’s possible…”

5. Avoid understatement

This style of speaking is culturally sensitive and may be misunderstood in intercultural situations. For example, if you state that you’re an okay graphic designer, when in fact you’re very talented, you might be taken at your word.

6. Avoid sarcasm and irony

This is another area in which backstage cultural information is required to interpret the message. Don’t make sarcastic comments about yourself or others. Get your message across in more direct terms.

7. Don’t use curse words

Especially when used outside one’s own culture, curse words often signal disrespect and may damage business relationships. The best policy is to avoid all language that could be offensive.

8. Be careful about humor

Humor is one of the most culturally sensitive forms of communication and doesn’t usually work well in cross-cultural situations. The jokes that you consider funny may be viewed as crude or rude by others. In addition, humor is based on an in-depth understanding of a cultural mindset.

9. Don’t speak loudly

Speak at normal volume. Your foreign listeners are not hard of hearing or deaf. This is not the issue.

10. Don’t assume anything!

This includes: don’t assume the person doesn’t speak English well and don’t assume the person doesn’t know your native language. Many people have studied and traveled widely today and have lived in many different countries. Don’t be caught in an embarrassing situation because of incorrect assumptions.

Is it possible to find some templates (of business presentations) on your website? Thank you for your reply.

I would like to thank you for all of effort to helpe us . My question , how to be comfortable when you speake in front of people .another point is , how to remember all your notice because some people don’t remember Their points when speake

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About Presentation Prep

Being able to speak in public can change your life! Presentation Prep is your complete, free guide to delivering speeches, lectures, and presentations more successfully and confidently. Whether you're a native English-speaker who suffers from public speaking anxiety, or a non-native speaker who needs guidelines for presenting to international audiences, this site will give you everything you need. Presentation Prep is written by Rebecca Ezekiel, an experienced corporate trainer who specializes in the areas of communications, presentations, and cross-cultural skills. Her online English language training videos are watched by millions of students worldwide.

Blog > Editable Country & world map templates for PowerPoint Presentations

Editable Country & world map templates for PowerPoint Presentations

09.24.20   •  #powerpoint #template.

Exactly for that reason, we have prepared a complete PowerPoint filled with different world and country maps to download. This template serves you mappings to use right away, but also shows you how to add text, pictogram's and data to your presentation maps, in an interesting way. Of course you can change any of those slides to your preferences by adjusting the colours, forms, layouts and so on. Read our instruction to learn how to edit maps in PowerPoint. Map chart are a relatively new feature of PowerPoint - it's only available since Office 2019 or Office 365! If you also want to use your mappings in older versions of PowerPoint , the compatibility mode could be a nice solution. Office offers this mode to make it easier to work with different versions of PowerPoint without creating many problems. Click here to get more information on the official Microsoft site.

Our map template and finished PowerPoint:

• has editable mappings
• is free to use
• combines information and graphics on each slide
• is informative and clear

PowerPoint Maps Template:

Here we give you an instruction to edit the mappings of our PowerPoint template or create your own mappings for your presentation.

• insert maps
• edit layout
• select colours
• map for advanced users

Insert maps

Recently PowerPoint created the feature of creating a map in the program itself. This tool is very powerful but since it's quite new, some bugs occur from time to time. Nevertheless, here is how you quickly add a map to your slides:

• Click in the menu bar on Insert > Chart .
• A window pops up. Select Map and click OK .

• PowerPoint creates a default world map and opens a table in which you can write any other country names and values. PowerPoint will automatically change the map as soon as you change values.

• When you are finished, click on the X of the Excel table to close it. Attention! Until now, PowerPoint allows only 13 different countries. If you add more, they will get ignored. You can add names of continents, countries, regions and postcodes.
• To re-open the Excel table and change anything later as well: Right click on the map and choose "Edit Data" or click on the map and choose Chart Design > Edit Data in the menu ribbon.

Edit the layout of the map to your preferences

As said before, PowerPoint lets us choose between mapping the world or only a continent, focus on a country or using postcodes to draw regions and areas. Keep in mind, that combining different levels might not always work, for example when a city is too small to be seen on a world map.

You can add, remove or change chart elements by selecting the map and clicking on the plus symbol in the right, upper corner. Here you can choose between showing the title, data labels or legend and on which position they should appear.

Moreover, you can use the Design and Format Tabs in the menu to get to the editing tools or double click onto the map. Pay attention on which part of graphic you click on, since the formatting task pane refers to exactly those objects. (Format Chart Area, Format Plot Area or Format Data Series)

To move the map, just click on it and drag it by the graphics border to your desired place. To resize it: Click on its corners and move the mouse. (click Shift at the same time, to maintain the graphics proportions)

PowerPoint offers numerous ways to edit your map, so play around with the tools to create your favourite graphic. For example, you can hide countries without a data value or change the map projection. (The proportions of world maps)

Select your favourite colours

Think about the colour scheme for your whole PowerPoint presentation. A specific scheme for all slides makes the whole presentation easier to follow and your slides will perfectly harmonize together. There are different ways to change your graphics colour depending on, if you want to include the data to your colour plan or if you want to adjust each colour manually.

Use a default colour scheme:

• First, select your map
• Go to Design and click on Change Colours
• Here you can use any of those schemes which consider the inserted data and can go from the brightest to the darkest colour

Task pane: Format Data Series:

• Double click onto the map to open the Format Data Series menu
• Open the Series Colour tool and choose your minimum and maximum colour of decision

Individual colours:

• Select individual countries or parts (they have to be highlighted)
• Choose Fill and optionally Outline . You can also change the "weight" and "dashes"" of the outline
• If you click onto the maps background, you can also change the background colour of the map (makes sense for an island)

Fill all parts with the same colour

• If you have only one country, it makes sense to fill it with a single colour. This can be done with the method explained before (Individual colours) or by selecting your map and going to the chart menu Format > Shape Fill
• As before, you will find the same tools and options to change your objects, colour, outline or even effect (shadow,...)

With SlideLizard CREATOR , you can automatically update colours and images in all your presentations. Manage your slides in a central library and automatically synchronise slide changes with all your presentations. You can also organise your slides with tags and folders to find them as quickly as possible.

Tips for PowerPoint maps and charts

• Since you can only add 13 individual countries to a map, PPT quickly comes to its limits. Use Excel if you want to create more complex maps and copy the finished map to your slides.
• If you insert a country's name into the table, PPT ignores the lines between each states and draws only the large country. To add the lines, simply insert two federal- state names instead of the country's name and it will draw each single state.

• The feature of drawing maps is relatively new, PowerPoint sometimes has problems to draw the map. You might have to delete a graphic and start again but the result will pay, so don't give up! Save your project from time to time to avoid the loss of a lot of work.

Our advanced map with even more options

Last but not least, we present you a map for advanced PPT- mapping- users. You can find this map on the last slide of our downloadable PowerPoint presentation . This graphic is an SVG- file, which means that you can grab and move each country of the world map to any place you want. Moreover, you can change it's colour again (the same way as before) and delete or resize them as well.

If you want to find a specific country or make some objects unseen, there's an easy way to do so:

• Go to the Home > Drawing menu and click on Arrange
• Select the last option Selection Pane
• A tool bar will pop up. Here you can click on the right "eye" symbols to hide or un-hide one of the countries.

That was it! Have a lot of fun at creating your map or using our finished ones!

How can I insert maps in PowerPoint?

With the help of PowerPoints map function you can create maps directly in PowerPoint and edit them as you like. We have created some country and world map templates which you can download here for free. You can read here everything around maps in PowerPoint.

Related articles

About the author.

Johanna Liang

Johanna is part of the design and marketing team at SlideLizard. There she gives free rein to her creative vein and realizes creative ideas in blogs, texts and design work.

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In live online training, it is sometimes useful to divide the students into small groups for certain exercises, as it would be impossible to have conversations at the same time. Break-out-rooms are used so that people can talk to each other without disturbing the others. When the exercise is over, they are sent back to the main room.

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In the master view in PowerPoint you can edit the Slide Master.

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Internal summary means to remind listeners about the major points which were already presented in a speech before coming to new ideas.

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How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

Country Presentations

This is an oral presentation assignment for second or third-year university speaking classes of 20 - 40 students. It is especially appropriate for students in International Studies or International Culture Departments. Students choose a country to research and give a presentation to the class as a whole. They prepare a handout with an outline of their talk beforehand, and make copies for the class. They usually include a map of the country on the handout. Since students often choose countries they have some previous contact with, they are sometimes able to bring in souvenirs, articles of clothing, photographs, etc., as visual aids. Samples of national foods such as candies and cheese are encouraged!

After a ten or fifteen-minute talk, the presenters give the class a short (5 - 10 questions, usually true/false or multiple choice) quiz which they have written themselves, on the main points of their talk. Finally, they divide the class into small groups for two or three discussion questions.

One presentation, including the talk, quiz, and discussion, usually takes about 45 minutes. The total time required for all the presentations can be varied by making it an individual, pair, or group assignment and by controlling the time allowed for the small group discussion. I usually do one presentation a day, leaving the remaining forty-five minutes of the 90-minute class period for other work. These presentations go well with "cross-cultural communication" - based speaking textbooks.

Second Semester Presentations

Your presentation will include:, your grade will be based on:.

Country Presentations

In order to provide in-country audiences with a clear, detailed understanding of the data in the Countdown country profile , Countdown has developed customized (and customizable) PowerPoint presentations for each of the 75 Countdown countries. These presentations can be useful both as an introduction to the Country Countdown process and as a way of introducing policy makers, media, advocates, and other stakeholders to a set of essential data on the country’s current situation with regard to reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health.

Each country presentation includes an introductory section with general information on Countdown to 2015. The central portion of the presentation is designed to acquaint audiences with all of the key data that appears on the country profile, along with a brief discussion of Countdown’s data sources. Each chart on the profile is presented on an individual slide, together with a brief explanation of the indicator presented. (For countries on which Countdown has conducted equity analysis, presentations also include a set of optional slides presenting detailed information on equity of coverage.) Finally, the last section of the presentation offers a brief introduction to the Country Countdown process.

All presentations include speakers’ notes to assist presenters in covering all key points, and can be customized or adapted by the presenter based on audience needs and interests, the country’s policy and program priorities, and the purpose of the meeting.

Please note that these presentations contain data from the 2014 Countdown country profiles. For some indicators in some countries, more recent data may have been released subsequent to the production of the 2014 Countdown profile; the presentation, like the profile itself, therefore may not include the most recent available data for all indicators. Rather, the profile and presentation provide an overview of the best and most current data available on key indicators as of the time that the 2014 profiles were produced.

Please note also that Countdown uses United Nations inter-agency estimates of maternal, neonatal, and child mortality, which may differ from mortality statistics that are produced and commonly used in-country. The UN inter-agency teams use national and other data sources and apply statistical modeling techniques in order to generate these mortality estimates, which are comparable across countries and can be monitored over time. In presenting to audiences that are already familiar with the country’s mortality statistics, or for whom the presentation of different mortality data may be confusing or controversial, presenters may choose to delete the slide (page 18 of the presentation) that presents the mortality charts.

Country presentations are available for the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Congo, Democratic Republic of the
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Tanzania, United Republic of
• Turkmenistan

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Countries Infographics

Free google slides theme and powerpoint template.

These infographics have traveled around the globe! Well, not really, but the truth is that we've compiled designs with maps of different countries of the world, including Russia, India, United States, Spain, China and others. When talking about geography or culture, try adding these infographics to your slides!

Features of these infographics

• 100% editable and easy to modify
• 30 different infographics to boost your presentations
• Include icons and Flaticon’s extension for further customization
• Designed to be used in Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint and Keynote
• 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens
• Include information about how to edit and customize your infographics

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Attribution required If you are a free user, you must attribute Slidesgo by keeping the slide where the credits appear. How to attribute?

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