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60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
Pupils work on their own device

Engaging an Audience: Techniques That Work

Practise five live engagement techniques such as opening hooks, stories, eye contact and pauses. Apply them during a second pair rehearsal of your format 1 presentation ahead of the Vocational Education Task interview.

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    1 - Introduction ~5 mins

    Today you will

    • mark five delivery cues in the notes of your format 1 presentation
    • practise your talk live with a partner
    • save {{code:sm2_peer_feedback_round2}} in {{code:sm2}}

    Illustration for IntroductionThis is practice for your VET interview presentation.

    Warm-up

    Think of the last talk or video that held your attention. What did the speaker do in the first ten seconds?

    2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins

    Here are the five moves.

    • Hook: a short first line that makes people curious.
    • Pause: one full breath after a key line.
    • Story: a real moment that makes a number mean something.
    • Eye contact: look at your listener, not the screen.
    • Stop: end on your main point, then stop talking.

    Example: Aoife's opening

    Aoife's hook is: "My collie finished a full bag of shop treats in four days." She pauses, then tells how she tested three recipes in her nan's kitchen.

    3 - Step-by-step Task ~15 mins

    You will type five short cues into the speaker notes of {{code:sm2_vet_presentation_v4}}. Follow the steps in the box below.

    You can use this hook starter:

    Last [time], [something that went wrong, cost money or surprised me]…

    Tip

    If you don't have a format 1 file yet, make a document called {{code:sm2_engagement_cues_v1}} and type your cues there.

    4 - Common Issues ~6 mins

    Common snags

    • If your hook sounds like a title, rewrite it as something that happened to you.
    • If you can't see the notes, click {{menu:View -> Notes}} or {{menu:View -> Show speaker notes}}.
    • If you freeze, just say your hook, pause, and carry on.

    Quick warm-up

    Watch your teacher's opening first. Then you and your partner each practise your first 20 seconds once.

    5 - Pair Rehearsal ~20 mins

    Pair rehearsal

    Your goal: Practise your VET talk and save your partner's feedback.
    Time: ~20 minutes
    Task:
    1. Take turns to talk for 90 seconds.
    2. The listener names one strong move and one to fix.
    3. When your teacher says so, make {{code:sm2_peer_feedback_round2}} with the headings below.

    Names: me and my partner

    Date

    Strength I received

    Improvement I received

    One change I will make before the next rehearsal

    Success criteria:
    • I rehearsed with my partner.
    • It is saved in {{code:sm2}}.
    • It has a strength, an improvement and my next change.
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