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Material How To Be A Responsible Leader
Material How To Be A Responsible Leader
Material How To Be A Responsible Leader
In this last learning activity of level six, you will learn about giving oral
presentations. That is, important elements related to the organization and
presentation of data and concepts around a topic. As a consequence, you will learn
about the vocabulary that is used for the different stages of an oral presentation as
well as how to present statistical and numerical data. Finally, you will learn about
styles for crediting sources and referencing information. In addition to the topic of
oral presentations, you will learn some vocabulary related to responsibility and
leadership. You will put into practice the use of certain vocabulary related to
leadership in preparing and giving oral presentations.
Introductory material
Dear learner,
This material will help you study the topics related to learning activity 4.
1. Oral presentations.
2. Signposting.
3. Composite words.
Let’s begin!
1. Oral presentations
a. During the last learning activity of level 5, we listened to Richard and Caroline
giving an oral presentation about the future of food. Now, it’s time for you to
learn how to be a good presenter. To do that, there are a few important
aspects to take into account.
To become a good presenter you should:
Let’s see a few expressions that can be used in oral presentations to illustrate
the points mentioned above.
Fuente: SENA
Fuente: SENA
Preparing notes for a good presentation:
Make a card for each part of the presentation and number the cards
in the appropriate order.
Write notes using bullet points or numbers / letters to help you keep
organized and to remind you of the main points of the presentation.
Don’t write complete sentences or paragraphs.
Fuente: SENA
Line graphs: These present specific trends in data, often on a time line.
Fuente: SENA
Fuente: SENA
Pie charts: Compare percentages of a whole piece of data.
Fuente: SENA
b. When you are describing or interpreting figures there are some terms you
need to know. Here, you will find some useful vocabulary that you can put
into practice when preparing oral presentations.
The same as… For example: The enrolment in the Arts program is
the same as in the Economics program.
Just over… For example: Just over half of the students are
enrolled in Economis and Art.
c. When you are describing numbers or statistics, you can also use specific
verbs depending on the pattern you need to present. For example:
You can also use the verbs above in a combination of verb + adverb to
specify the nature of the changes you are describing. For example:
Verb + adverb
C. Crediting sources
Preparing an oral presentation often requires you to search for information from
books, articles or websites. In order to avoid plagiarism, it is very important to
credit the sources in a list of references or bibliography. This list goes at the end
of you presentation.
There are several conventions that you can use for writing references and
bibliographies. For example, APA (American Psychological Association) and
MLA (Modern Language Association) styles are widely used internationally. In
addition, in Colombia, we also have the ICONTEC norm, which is the national
convention. Your style selection basically depends on your school or
department’s preferred style for referencing. For that reason, we recommend
you to check with your academic authority about its preferred norm and use it
regularly in your work.
Note: After you have chosen a style for referencing, the most
important thing is to use it consistently throughout your work.
Now, we will learn how to use the APA style, which is widely used in academic
contexts and can be included in your oral presentations.
APA style
When referencing using APA style, these are the patterns you need to follow:
For example:
Wells, J.C. (2014). Sounds interesting: Observations on General and
English Phonetics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
For example:
Smith, R.A. (2001) Developing technology in the language classroom.
Journal of Educational Technology and Media, 7, 125-157.
2. Signposting
In order to make your presentations effective, motivating and easy to follow, you
can use signpost language. 'Signpost language' is comprised of the words and
phrases that people use to express to the listener what has just happened, and
what is going to happen next in an oral presentation.
Section of
Language
presentation
- The subject/topic of my talk is...
- I'm going to talk about...
Introducing the
topic - My topic today is…
- My talk is concerned with...
- I’m going to divide this talk into four parts.
- There are a number of points I'd like to make.
- Basically/ briefly, I have three things to say.
- I'd like to begin/start by...
Overview (outline - Let's begin/start by...
of presentation)
- First of all, I'll...
- … and then I’ll go on to…
- Then/ next...
- Finally/ lastly...
- That's all I have to say about...
Finishing a
section - We've looked at...
- Moving on to…
- Let’s turn now to…
- The next issue/topic/area I’d like to focus on…
Starting a new - I’d like to expand/elaborate on…
section
- Now we'll move on to...
- Now I'd like to discuss...
- Now let's look at...
- Where does that lead us?
Analyzing a point - Let's consider this in more detail...
and giving
- What does this mean for...?
recommendations
- Translated into real terms...
- Why is this important?
- The significance of this is...
- For example...
- A good example of this is...
In other words, signpost language guides the listener through the presentation. A
good presenter will usually use a lot of signpost language, so it is a good idea to
learn a few of the common phrases, even if you spend more time listening to
presentations than giving them! Signpost language is usually fairly informal, so it is
relatively easy to understand.
3. Composite words
Some words are composed of identifiable parts: a stem (base form or root) plus a
prefix and / or a suffix. Let’s see how this works:
Prefix un-
Stem question
Suffix -ably
By adding the prefix un– to the stem question we give it a negative meaning.
Then, by adding the suffix –ably we end up with a completely new type of word: an
adverb. In the end, the new word (composed by a stem, a prefix and a suffix) has a
whole new meaning.
Note: Recognizing each of the parts that compose words can help you
understand their meanings.
Before moving on, let’s learn a bit more about how to use prefixes and suffixes.
a. A prefix is a letter or a group of letters that you can add only at the beginning of
a word. Each prefix has a particular meaning associated with it.
poly-
nano- ante-
sub-
multi- un-
bio-
For example:
Nano- is related to things that are very small, for example: Nanotechnology.
For example:
Wanted ≠ unwanted.
Relevant ≠ irrelevant.
b. A suffix can be a letter or group of letters that you can add only at the end of a
word. Suffixes change the part of speech (type of word, i.e. from noun to adverb)
and also changes their meanings.
-ance
-tion -ness
-al
-ly -ic
-ent
Note: You can find a list of the most common prefixes and suffixes in
English, and their meanings, as a supplement in the glossary of this
learning activity.
Being a leader implies having the capacity to organize a group of people to achieve
a common goal. Leadership involves making decisions about different things. It is
said that people are born to be either leaders or followers; however, it is believed
that leadership is a skill we can learn.
Word Meaning
A person who manages or controls other people,
Leader (noun)
because of his or her ability or position.
Work done or help provided, especially for the
Service (noun)
public or for a person or an organization.
A powerful emotion or its expression, example: the
Passion (noun)
emotion of love, anger, or hate.
The process of making choices, especially,
Decision-making (noun)
important choices.
Someone whose job is to control or organize
Manager (noun)
someone or something, especially, a business.
The quality or ability that makes a person a leader,
Leadership (noun)
or the position of being a leader:
The process by which messages or information is
Communication (noun) sent from one place or person to another, or the
message itself.
The way in which things are connected or work
Relationships (noun)
together.
The duty or use that someone or something usually
Role (noun)
has or is expected to have.
Objective (noun) Something that you aim to do or achieve.
Having the skills or knowledge to do something well
Competent (adjective)
enough to meet a basic standard.
Consistent (adjective) Always happening or behaving in a similar way.
Making choices quickly and surely, without having
Decisive (adjective)
any doubts.
Responsible (adjective) Having the duty of taking care of something.
Able to carefully control the way that you work, live,
Disciplined (adjective)
or behave, especially to achieve a goal.
Cautious (adjective) Not acting quickly in order to avoid risks; careful.
To cause people to do or believe something by
Persuasive (adjective)
explaining why they should do.
The ability to attract the attention and admiration of
Charismatic (adjective)
others, and to be seen as a leader.
Aggressive (adjective) Using strong, forceful methods.
To be the person who makes decisions that other
To lead (verb)
people choose to follow or obey.
To have confidence in something, or to believe in
To trust (verb)
someone.
To help someone to feel confident and able to do
To encourage (verb) something, or to give advice to someone to do
something.
To fill someone with confidence and desire to do
To inspire (verb)
something.
To give messages or information to others through
To communicate (verb)
speech, writing, body movements, or signals.
To enforce (verb) To cause a law or rule to be obeyed.
To do what you are told or expected to do
To obey (verb)
according to someone in authority or a rule or law.
To criticize (verb) To express disapproval of someone or something.
Finally, have a look at the following leadership idioms, their meanings and
examples:
Idiom Meaning
To take on a leadership role and become
responsible for a situation.
Take charge
Example: The company is in a mess. We really
need someone who can take charge and sort this
out.
To be better prepared or more successful than
someone else.
One step ahead
Example: I think John should be promoted to
manager. He is always one step ahead of everyone
else.
The history of someone’s performance.
Read the following two texts. The first one is an article about Ununpentium, a new
element of the Periodic Table of Elements, and the second one is an editorial
written by Luis Gerardo Sarmiento, one of the scientists who discovered it.
Text 1
In fact, this was the second sighting of the element: Russian scientists
had claimed the discovery of element 115 back in 2003, but the
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry—chemistry’s
equivalent of the International Astronomical Union, which famously
demoted Pluto from planet status in 2006, wouldn’t acknowledge it
without a confirming experiment from another team. The Helmholtz
Center’s work must still be reviewed by both the I.U.P.A.C. and the
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, but ununpentium is
now a step closer to inclusion on the periodic table. If that happens, the
International Union will assign it a permanent official name.
Ununpentium’s brief life doesn’t mean it’s completely useless: nuclear
physicists can try and deduce from properties more about how atomic
nuclei are put together and how they fall apart. The latest experiment
created about thirty atoms’ worth of element 115; physicists will
continue trying to make larger batches in order to explore its properties
more fully.
While it’s generally true that heavier atoms are more unstable than
lighter ones, there’s at least the possibility, first proposed by the
physicist Glenn Seaborg back in the nineteen-sixties, that if an atom
gets heavy enough it could arrive at an “island of stability,” far less
prone to immediate decay than its neighbors on the periodic table.
Unbinilium, for example—the still-theoretical element 120—might be
one of them. Perhaps it could live for minutes, or even days. That’s still
far too short a time for almost any practical use. But for scientists who
study nuclei for a living, the prospect of keeping an element that heavy
around for more than a handful of milliseconds is an almost
unimaginable luxury.
Taken from: Lemonick, M. Ununpentium, the Newest Element. The New Yorker.
(August 30, 2013).
Text 2
Fuente: SENA
The year 2010 is one that everyone remembers differently. Some –like
me– remember the football World Cup which gathered millions of
spectators to enjoy the display of tactics and goals of the different
selections. Colombians, on that occasion, were fans of good football.
That same year a trilogy of physics interns, who were one step ahead,
played abroad, to the music of the deafening vuvuzelas and visited the
University of Lund, in Sweden. Our home team was the Nuclear Physics
group at the UN; our house, the National University of Colombia; our
coach, Professor Fernando Cristancho; and our sponsor, Colciencias.
The year 2010 is one that everyone remembers differently. Some, like
me, remember the football World Cup which gathered millions of
spectators to enjoy the display of tactics and goals of the different
selections. Colombians, on that occasion, were fans of good football.
That same year a trilogy of physics interns, who were one step ahead,
played abroad, to the music of the deafening vuvuzelas and visited the
University of Lund, in Sweden. Our home team was the Nuclear Physics
group at the UN; our house, the National University of Colombia; our
coach, Professor Fernando Cristancho; and our sponsor, Colciencias.
Science, like football, is a team game and just as there is not a forward
line that doesn’t depend on an excellent defense, there is not a trainer
who can get on the pitch to play a game that has planned in his head.
Science should be played as football is: one game at a time, but with a
clear long-term objective (the World Cup).
Many of the students who 'played' abroad have wished to put on the
Colombian shirt again because it is our land, it is our school, it is part of
our academic and personal roots and we owe an honor debt to them.
One of us is already wearing the yellow shirt and the other two sooner
than later will be looking forward to doing so too. Unfortunately,
sometimes it seems that it is easier to synthesize a new chemical than
create jobs in basic sciences in Colombia. But again, the solution to this
problem should come from a team action.
At the end, it is all about gathering sponsors, players and coaches who
understand that winning a match does not win a Football World Cup,
nor kicking plays earn points. The road to the Cup is long and full of
difficulties, but if you know how to play, you are disciplined and embrace
a team spirit; it will be full of excitement and goals.
Comprehension
A. After reading text 1, decide if the following statements are true or false:
True False
1. Dmitri Mendeleev predicted the appearance of new
elements.
2. The first periodic table of elements had more entries than
the modern one.
9. The new element has not been given an official name yet.
B. Text 1 has been re-organized into a series of phrases that can be used in an
oral presentation. Read the sentences and, then, place them into the correct
section of the presentation.
b. Please feel free to ask any questions about Ununpentium and super heavy
elements.
c. Basically, I have three things to say. Firstly, I’m going to start by telling you
about the Dmitri Mendeleev and his predictions about the appearance of new
elements. Then, I’m going to explain how Ununpentium was discovered. And,
finally, I’m going tell you about the possible uses of Ununpentium.
h. Super heavy elements can have artificial uses. A good example of this is
uranium, which has been used in nuclear weapons.
j. I'd like now to recap that there are natural as well as unnatural elements.
k. To put it more simply, a super heavy element is the one that has a larger
number of protons in its nuclei.
l. My topic today is Ununpentium: the newest element that has been discovered
by scientists.
m. I’m happy to answer any queries about the discovery of the new element,
Ununpentium.
n. Let's look now at the composition of Ununpentium. The new element has a
hundred and fifteen protons.
b. objective f. passion
2. “One game at a time but with a clear long-term ___________ (the world
cup)”.
5. “The road to the Cup is long and full of difficulties, but if you know how to
play, you are _______________ and embrace _____________; it will be full
of excitement and goals”.
Practice 1
A. The following phrases are related to oral presentations about the Universe and
space. Write the phrases to the correct section of a presentation.
Fuente: SENA
a. Humans landing on Mars is significant in that it will allow us to
answer many questions.
b. So what I’m saying is that life can exist on other planets.
c. First of all, I'll talk about Andromeda, our nearest galaxy.
d. Unfortunately, I seem to have run out of time, so I just want to say
thanks for listening to me talk about the Universe.
e. Now, I'd like to discuss the composition of stars.
f. Let's consider gravity in more detail.
g. Now I'd like to recap the number of planets in our solar system.
h. My talk is concerned with relativity.
i. The next issue I’d like to focus on is Earth’s size.
j. I’d like to elaborate on Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.
k. I’m going to divide this talk into three parts. Firstly, I will describe
the Solar system. Then, I’m going to talk about Earth and, finally, I’ll
tell you about the inhabitants of Earth.
l. We've looked at Mercury.
m. As an illustration, I would like to mention the rings that surround
Saturn.
n. Finally, I will talk about one of Jupiter’s natural satellites.
o. Please, feel free to ask questions about our solar system.
p. Now, we'll move on to Pluto, which is now considered a dwarf
planet.
q. Let's summarize what we've looked at about Mars.
r. To put it more simply, there are other planets in the Universe that
are similar to Earth, so life could also exist in those places.
s. To give you an example, Moon is a natural satellite.
t. If you would like me to elaborate on any feature of the Milky Way;
our galaxy, please ask.
u. Translated into real terms, if the moon disappears, live on Earth
would be threatened.
v. A good example of an artificial satellite is the International Space
Station.
w. I’m happy to answer any queries about Dark Matter.
x. That's all I have to say about black holes.
Section of presentation Language
Overview (outline of
presentation)
Finishing a section
Giving examples
Summarizing and
concluding
Paraphrasing and
clarifying
Invitation to discuss /
ask questions
B. The following paragraph is an introduction to an oral presentation. Add a phrase
from the box into the gaps to complete the introduction.
C. Write the verbs into the correct graph. Remember to use the appropriate verb
depending on the pattern observed.
Stabilize. Decline.
Reach a peak. Decrease.
Increase. Plummet.
Soar. Go up.
Plunge. Drop.
Rocket. Go down.
Fluctuate. Grow.
Level out.
Graph Verb
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Fuente: SENA
1000
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Fuente: SENA
3. Ethanol prices ___________________ in the last year in contrast to gas
prices _____________.
Fuente: SENA
15 14
12
10
10 9
8
0
1990's 2000's 2010's
Fuente: SENA
5. The world’s population _______________________ during the last decades.
World's population
(Millions)
8000
7000 6850
6000 6100
5000 5200
4400
4000 3700
3000 3000
2500
2000
1000
0
1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's
Fuente: SENA
Practice 2
A. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in brackets.
4. The Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev was the _________ (invent) of the
periodic table of elements.
Meaning Definition
1. A unit of mass equal to 1.000
grams (grams). Retake
5. My sister is so unimaginative.
D. Write out the following references using APA style. All the necessary
information is given in the following boxes.
Books
_____________________________ ______________________________
Journal article
Article title: The effect of National Article title: The Impact of Perceiving
business of the Internationalization English Vowels: Effects on
Process Categorical Perception Abilities
Author: Anisa Lewis Author: Frank Cooper
Name of the journal: Journal of the Name of the journal: International
American National Business Studies Journal of Applied Linguistics
Volume and page number: Volume 6 pp. Volume and page number: Volume 2
21-33 pp. 8-15
Date of publication: 2010 Date of publication: 2013
_____________________________ ______________________________
Website
http://www.morganstanley.com/profil http://www.drbarbaracollins.com/
internet
(i.e. ‘retrieval’):
5 July 2003
_____________________________ ______________________________
Pronunciation practice
Note: This practice must be completed using the multimedia version of the
study material. There you will find the corresponding sound files.
A. Intonation
There is no simple definition for what intonation means. However, let’s try to
definite in the simplest way in order to understand what it means and how to
use it in English.
Falling tone:
\ yes \ no
Rising tone:
/ yes / no
Apart from these, we can have certain combinations that will give us extra
information about the message speakers are transmitting. Let’s take a look of
some of the functions of single and combined tones in English.
Fall \ yes \ no
For example:
For example:
Fall-rise \/ yes \/ no
For example:
Rise-fall /\ yes /\ no
This tone is probably the most emphatic one. It usually means we strongly
agree or disagree. It can also transmit a very strong sense of surprise.
For example:
Example 1 Example 2
Go to the multimedia and select one of the options from the box to match the
tone used and intention conveyed by speakers B in each Yes or No answer.
Some options can be used more than once. One example is done for you.
Example:
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
_____________________________________
a. Communicate.
Competent.
Consistent.
b. Objective.
Relationship.
Equality.
c. Almost.
Criticize.
Team.
d. Study.
Estimate.
Imaginative
e. Get moving.
Get off.
Get close.
f. Curtain.
Cultivate.
Fertilize.
g. Meeting.
Shuttle.
Tasteful.
h. Gilt.
Television.
Laxative.
i. Topic.
Paradigmatic.
Spiritual.
j. Object.
Attic.
Vibrant.
C. English vowels can be either long or short. Go to the multimedia and listen to
the following pairs of words. Match them to the correct vowel.
i Reed ɪ Rid
ɑ Cart ʌ Cut
ɑ Part æ Pat
u ʊ Full
Fool
ɜ Turn ʌ Ton
a.
Yes No
b.
Yes No
c. Yes No
d.
Yes No
e.
Yes No
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