This course helps students to plan, structure and successfully deliver English Business Presentations effectively and convincingly. Each student will be expected to work on three presentations: one short informative presentation (Presentation 1), one longer advisory presentation held with one or more partners in a group (Presentation 2), as well as one shorter "Ad-Hoc" presentation (Presentation 3) which is both informative and advisory.

In the course, students learn about and reflect on various key factors for communicating with impact. These include:

• effective planning of content and structure;
• appropriate language for presenting;
• how and when to use rhetorical devices;
• body language and delivery.

The topics for Presentations 1 and 2 can be chosen by the student (with the approval of the instructor), provided it is from the field of export and internationalization management. The second topic (for the group presentation) must specifically deal with a current topical issue / case study.

The final ad-hoc presentation which will be held online (recorded video) will be on a given business topic on the basis of a background input provided by the instructor; total preparation time / delivery time: 120 mins.

After completing the course, students will be able to give clearly structured presentations in English, having improved, reinforced and refined their communicative skills to be applied in presentations and discussions. In particular, they will have improved and reinforced their ability to:

• talk clearly and competently about a range of issues in an international business context
• apply various linguistic and rhetorical tools to effectively explain, convince and persuade
• deliver presentations in a professional manner
• speak in English accurately and with an appropriate range of vocabulary and grammar

Full attendance is obviously recommended, but participants can miss a maximum of one session if absolutely necessary. Should they be scheduled to present in that session, they will have to give their presentation in another meeting.

Students will be expected to work through a range of materials and tasks made available on Canvas in structured modules throughout the course. This input will be discussed in class sessions and used to help prepare each presentation. Students will be expected to work both on their own and in groups to complete this work.

Alongside further instruction and explanation related to this material, the instructor's input will include providing general and individualised feedback both during the preparation phase and after the delivery of each presentation. Likewise, students will be expected to reflect on and critically analyse their own presentations, as well as provide constructive peer feedback on other presentations. 

In particular, this course offers students the chance to reflect on their own, and their peers' presentations, by using the facilities made available in the FLEX Lab at WU. This includes presentation delivery training through the use of VR glasses and high-quality video recording of presentations. As such, students have the opportunity to practise, and receive feedback on their presentations at different stages, offering the opportunity to make clear, tangible progress in improving their presentation styles.

• general coursework (online materials and tasks), class participation (10%)
• preparation and delivery of a short presentation (c.6-7 minutes) on a predefined topic (20%)
• preparation and delivery of a longer presentation (length depending on group size) on a previously agreed topic (35%)
• preparation and delivery of a short ad-hoc presentation (c. 6-7 minutes) on a previously unknown topic (35%)
• regular attendance and active participation in classroom discussions (= 'yes/no' criterion)

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e-mail: anthony.copnall@wu.ac.at anthony.copnall@wu.ac.at