Presentation Skills Worksheet: Making Eye Contact

A | Read the Presentation Skills box on page 20 of your Student Book.

B | Read the two case studies. Then form a group with two other students and answer the questions.

Presenter: John Presenter: Alice

John spent a lot of time researching material
and wrote an interesting presentation.
However, when he gave the presentation in
class, he read what he had written and did not
look up at the class.
Alice prepared the material for her presentation
well. She memorized it and practiced in front of
the mirror. She made eye contact, but she only
made eye contact with her friend. She did not
look at the other students in the class.

1. Have you ever experienced one of these situations? Were you the presenter or a member
of the audience?
2. What is the problem in each case study? Why do you think these problems occurred?
3. What advice would you give to John and Alice?

C | Many students find it scary to make eye contact during presentations, especially with classmates
whom they don’t know well. However, eye contact is one of the best tools that you can use to connect
with your audience. Work with your group from exercise B. Write three sentences describing your
commute to school. How long does it take you to get to school? What are some events that might make
you late to school? What are some buildings that you see along the way?
1. ____________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________________

Now put aside your paper and stand up. Tell your group about your commute. Try to make eye contact
with each member of your group. Try not to look at your paper at all.

D | Listen to your group members’ presentations and evaluate eye contact. Choose a rank on the scale
below. (1= This presenter never made eye contact with me. 10 = This presenter looked at me the entire
time.)*
Partner 1: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Partner 2: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

*Note: For exercise D, the appropriate amount of eye contact is between 4 and 6 on the scale since the presenter
should look at the other members of your group as well as you.

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