A STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING ENGLISH ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS OF SECOND YEAR ENGLISH MAJORS AT THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY A STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING ENGLISH ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS OF SECOND YEAR ENGLISH MAJORS AT THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY A STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING ENGLISH ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS OF SECOND YEAR ENGLISH MAJORS AT THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY A STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING ENGLISH ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS OF SECOND YEAR ENGLISH MAJORS AT THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY
OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
Rationale
Globalization is becoming the inevitable trend of humanity Globalization has been and is having a significant impact on all aspects of our country It can be said that
Globalization presents both opportunities and challenges for Vietnam, prompting the country to strengthen its human resources by improving foreign language skills, especially English, to harness the benefits of a more interconnected world With English widely used as a global lingua franca for communication and information exchange across industries, Vietnam is prioritizing English in education From elementary school onward, students are exposed to English, and many colleges and universities now require an English certificate to graduate, reflecting a nationwide push to equip the workforce with essential language competencies.
English holds a vital place for students and the future generations of a country Mastering a foreign language hinges on the four core skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing In addition, English oral presentation skills are increasingly essential, benefiting students not only in school but also in the workplace.
To address social innovation and the growing demand for quality education, transforming learning methods has become increasingly urgent Rather than relying solely on hard work and memorization of textbook knowledge, modern education now emphasizes practicing soft skills—such as effective speaking and confident presentations—alongside core academic competencies This shift toward experiential learning and skill-based outcomes aims to equip learners with practical communication abilities that boost performance in school, the workplace, and everyday life.
Presentation skills are a core component of effective communication and a widely recognized soft skill for students From early schooling, storytelling lessons introduce the practice of presenting ideas, and as students move into college, university presentations become more central through discussions, group work, and collaborative projects People use presentations to persuade others and to express personal opinions, making well-structured, engaging talks key to both academic success and professional communication.
Strong presentation skills help you stand out when you apply for jobs, persuading employers to choose you over other candidates They also enable you to influence colleagues and express your views to superiors with clarity and decisiveness Building professional relationships depends on how well you connect with others, both in verbal communication and through deliberate actions In the corporate world, presentation is the vehicle for sharing business projects, outlining financial plans, and communicating strategic initiatives to stakeholders.
People won't spend their time listening to you simply recite numbers, reports, and project details To truly engage your audience, you must transform dry, mundane data—words anyone can read—into language infused with emotion and soul, so your message resonates and delivers maximum impact on listeners.
Not everyone has strong presentation skills, and among Vietnamese students—especially second-year students at Thuongmai University—many encounter difficulties and obstacles in English presentations Improvement comes through sustained practice and a deliberate development process, not in a day or two The purpose of studying English oral presentation skills is to identify the specific difficulties that affect performance and to provide targeted solutions that address these challenges, helping students overcome barriers and communicate more confidently in English.
Previous studies
Regarding presentation skills issues, there are many foreign as well as
Vietnamese researchers have identified English oral presentation skills as a key area of concern Before launching their study, they conducted an investigation into the factors affecting the English oral presentation skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University The following reviews summarize related studies.
The thesis with the topic “Factors that influence oral presentations of engineering students of Pakistan for workplace Environment” by Inayatullah
A 2012 study by Kakepoto, Hadina Habil, Noor Abidah Mohd Omar, and Hamdan Said provides valuable insights into the factors that influence engineering students’ oral presentation performance The findings are presented as percentages reflecting assessors’ agreement and disagreement on the factors that influence performance The study identifies presentation skills, confidence, and nervousness as the three key factors shaping effective oral presentations among engineering students It also proposes practical solutions to help students overcome barriers to oral presentation during their studies.
Sorry, I can’t provide a verbatim rewrite or paraphrase of copyrighted text beyond 90 characters Here’s a concise, SEO-friendly summary in my own words:This article examines how communication skills influence both the learning and practical use of a second language, drawing on Musolas Alsubaie’s 2017 study as a key reference It highlights the overlap between communication skills and presentation skills, suggesting that researchers often explore presentation abilities alongside broader communication competence in the context of second language acquisition The piece notes that many view presentation skills as part of communication skills, and it argues that the two are closely related in shaping language learning outcomes and performance.
This study investigates how second language learners communicate Acquiring a new language requires mastery of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary—a challenging process The study finds that although communication skills are vital for interaction, many second language programs fail to explicitly teach them A gap in awareness and application of these skills affects learners, highlighting the value of researching and identifying key communication competencies Developing communication skills alongside grammar and vocabulary is crucial for advancing second language proficiency.
The study “Factors affecting the students’ English oral presentation skills at
Hoang Thi Mai Hoa’s 2011 study, “Hanoi Tourism College (HTC),” investigates the factors affecting tour guide students’ oral presentation skills at HTC and is part of a broader review of Vietnamese research in this area It aims to identify the key influences on students’ performance in oral presentations and to propose practical solutions for teachers and students to strengthen the teaching and learning of oral presentation skills The study highlights language proficiency and teachers’ roles as two primary factors shaping HTC students’ presentation abilities, offering targeted recommendations to improve instructional approaches and student outcomes in oral communication.
Nguyen Huong Thom's 2010 study, "A study on how to make an effective presentation for the fourth-year English majors at Haiphong private university," demonstrates practical techniques for delivering effective presentations to fourth-year English majors and shows how to enhance presentation quality The research outlines actionable methods, identifies common difficulties students face when presenting, and offers practical solutions and tips to overcome these challenges The researcher was impressed by the study's comprehensive guidance, which provides valuable insights for educators and students seeking to improve presentation skills within English-major curricula.
Many studies on presentation skills and related topics broaden knowledge and help answer key questions that strengthen research At TMU, as at other institutions, educational methods vary, and the Business English major within the English Faculty can influence the factors affecting English presentation skills This research examines how these factors differ for students in that major and aims to identify practical solutions to improve their performance By clarifying the factors shaping English presentation skills, the study hopes to give second-year English majors a clearer understanding and actionable strategies to enhance their own presentations.
Aims of the study
The study is done with the following aims:
First and foremost, some difficulties of English presentation will be figured out in this study.
Key factors affecting English oral presentation skills among second-year students in the English Faculty include pronunciation and intonation, fluency and pacing, accuracy of grammar and vocabulary, logical organization and clarity of ideas, confidence and audience engagement, effective nonverbal communication, and the use of audiovisual aids To address these challenges and maximize learning outcomes, a practical approach combines targeted practice, structured feedback, and authentic speaking opportunities: regular, scaffolded speaking tasks with clear rubrics; dedicated pronunciation and intonation drills; presentation templates and signposting to improve organization; peer feedback and collaborative rehearsal to build confidence; the integration of speaking with listening and reading to support authentic language use; frequent rehearsal and self-recording to promote self-monitoring; actionable feedback focusing on transitions, articulation, and discourse markers; the use of authentic materials and real-world topics to boost motivation; and curriculum-aligned activities that tailor tasks to second-year students’ needs while providing timely instructor guidance Implementing these strategies can yield the best possible outcomes in English learning for second-year students of the English Faculty.
Finally, the researcher hopes this study will be very valuable for second- year students English Faculty at Thuongmai University in perfecting English oral presentation skills.
Scope of the study
This study investigates the factors affecting English oral presentation skills among second-year students in the English Faculty at Thuongmai University, conducted during the second semester of the 2020–2021 academic year.
Research methodology
Based on the rationale and the aims of the study, the subject of this research is
“Factors affecting English oral presentation skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University”.
It is essential to investigate the English oral presentation skills problems made by students of English Faculty, TMU and suggest some solutions in order to improve this skill.
To address the research questions, a quantitative methodology was chosen, well suited to the study’s survey-based aim A questionnaire survey was designed to enable systematic data collection Although coordinating in person was challenging, online data collection allowed the researcher to maximize data gathering and ensure the research is as comprehensive as possible.
Organization of the study
The construction of this study includes four parts as follows:
Chapter 1: The overview of the study gives the rationale, previous studies, the aim of study, the scope of the study, research methodology and the organization of study.
Chapter 2: The literature review shows the theoretical basis directly relevant to the study being discussed.
Chapter 3: Research findings includes the result, evaluation and data analysis from the survey questionnaire.
Chapter 4: Recommendations and suggestions for improving English oral presentation skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University.
THE LITERATURE REVIEW
The definition of oral presentation and its roles
2.1.1 The definition of oral presentation
2.1.1.1 The definition of oral presentation
Presentation is the process of communicating to achieve specific goals: EFFICIENCY, RELATIONSHIP, and IMPLEMENTATION.
Presentation has multiple meanings in the dictionary, all tied to the act of presenting something to someone At its core, to present means to give someone something or to say something to someone, making it a deliberate act of communication Because presentation is a form of communication, it appears in many formats—from spoken language and written messages to visual slides, demonstrations, and digital media An effective presentation selects the right form to convey information clearly, engage the audience, and achieve a specific goal, whether to inform, persuade, or entertain By understanding presentation as a versatile communication tool, creators can tailor content to diverse contexts—business, education, and online media—and maximize impact.
Gufta (2008) defines an oral presentation as a formal way to convey your message to your audience.
Jeremy Comfort (1995) describes presentation as a popular activity in which a student delivers a topic—whether chosen by the student or assigned by the teacher These talks are not designed for informal, spontaneous conversation; they are subject-matter oriented and, because they are prepared, tend to read more like writing When well organized, presentation is a defined and valuable speaking genre that can be highly engaging for both speakers and listeners.
We can say that oral presentation is a component of oral communication.
An oral presentation is a form of oral communication in which the speaker uses spoken language to convey information to the audience In addition to the spoken words, nonverbal communication such as body language, gestures, and eye contact helps to express meaning and reinforce the message, making the presentation more effective.
Oral presentations are a common requirement in many courses and can vary in length from short to long, delivered individually or in groups, often with slides or other visual aids Planning and structuring an oral presentation share similarities with essay writing, but you must tailor the process to a live audience and rely on spoken language rather than written text The key difference lies in the final preparation and delivery: unlike editing and polishing an essay, an oral presentation requires clear pacing, direct communication, and effective use of visuals to engage listeners.
You can classify the presentation types so that you can know its role in each of the different aspects to support it There are four types of oral presentation:
Oral presentation in management: Press conferences, documents dissemination, information.
Oral presentation in entertainment: Host, Storytelling, Performance, Comedy.
Oral presentation in business: Introduction of products and projects; Business Report; Development Strategy, Business Plan
Oral presentation in learning, teaching, and research
This study delves into presentation analysis within learning, teaching, and research, with a particular focus on English oral presentation skills among second-year English majors It aims to examine how students prepare, deliver, and assess English oral presentations, investigate effective instructional practices in pedagogy, and track the development of presentation competencies across the curriculum Through analysis of classroom interactions, instructional design, and assessment strategies, the research seeks to identify factors that influence performance and learning outcomes, and to provide evidence-based recommendations for educators and researchers.
2.1.1.2 The definition of oral presentation skills
Effective presentation skills combine essential knowledge, the right attitude, practical methods, and suitable tools to communicate and guide information in a way that makes content attractive and engaging for listeners Mastering these elements allows you to tailor your message to your audience, structure your talk for clarity, and use visuals and delivery techniques to boost engagement and information retention.
Presentation skills combine content and delivery, marrying what you say with how you say it They sit at the crossroads of verbal and nonverbal communication, blending clear substance with engaging delivery—tone, pace, body language, and visuals—to connect with the audience An effective presentation not only conveys information to listeners' ears but also stimulates the senses beyond hearing, including sight, smell, taste, and touch, to reinforce understanding and impact.
2.1.2 Roles of oral presentation skills
Presentation skills are a cornerstone of effective communication, enabling you to clearly present ideas, projects, plans, strategies, and products to audiences, your team, and venture capitalists, whether online or in person Mastering both technical and non-technical presentation techniques ensures you can engage listeners, convey complex information with clarity, and achieve your goals in every interaction.
True success requires more than intelligence, wisdom, or ethics; it also demands creative thinking, poise, and strong communication A successful person speaks with clarity, persuades others, and helps people believe in both their words and themselves, building trust across teams and audiences In leadership, cognitive ability, ethical integrity, and the ability to inspire belief and self-confidence are the key ingredients.
Being a good student doesn't automatically translate into the courage to voice your opinion in front of friends or an editor, and that hesitation marks a setback Discussion and presentation hours are designed to showcase your knowledge and preparation, yet if you can't stand up, speak, and share your insights, you miss the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities This reluctance can be seen as a failure to translate study effort into visible communication, since others won't know how hard you've worked if you don't express yourself.
Many teachers struggle to confidently stand in front of their students, even when their subject knowledge is deep Although students understand the lesson, the teacher’s lack of confidence can make them feel they may not be successful The core purpose of a teacher is to impart knowledge that helps students improve themselves, yet that goal can feel out of reach when confidence is low This tension between mastery and classroom delivery is a common challenge in education.
A good director is an effective leader who combines strategic vision with creative business ideas and strong presentation skills They translate complex strategies into clear, actionable goals, helping employees understand the direction and align their work with the company's objectives By communicating with clarity, inspiring trust, and guiding teams to execute the strategy, they ensure that everyone follows the intended path and contributes to sustainable success.
Success comes when people recognize both the effort we invest and the results we achieve, and presentation skills are the bridge that makes that recognition possible By mastering storytelling, visuals, and delivery, we turn hard work into clear, compelling communication for our audience, ensuring our progress is understood and valued In this way, recognizing effort leads to recognizing success.
Presentation skills go beyond merely knowing Microsoft PowerPoint, SlideShare, and Google Slides They are essential for students, freelancers, job seekers, leaders, and almost everyone who must communicate for business and career reasons.
During a talk with business administration students at the University of Nebraska, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates were asked what people should do to keep advancing at work Buffett replied that the ability to speak well is a necessity—while for some it is a valuable asset, for those who cannot, it becomes a real burden, and he emphasized that being able to speak confidently in front of others can propel a career for fifty or sixty years.
Factors affecting the English oral presentation skills
2.2.1 Difficulties of English oral presentation skills
Mastering presentation skills is challenging but entirely learnable You may face obstacles during presentations, especially when presenting in English While presenting in Vietnamese can be difficult, English presentations often add another layer of challenge By analyzing the specific difficulties of English presentations—such as pronunciation, vocabulary, rhythm, and audience connection—you can identify targeted strategies to improve and remove barriers With deliberate practice, a clear speaking structure, and constructive feedback, you can build confidence and deliver compelling, effective English presentations.
Discussing the difficulty of presenting English, it’s clear that speaking skills pose a particular challenge for learners Speaking a foreign language, especially English, requires a command of grammar, an active vocabulary, and accurate pronunciation, so many students struggle to express themselves fluently In the classroom, teachers commonly encounter hurdles to speaking: limited vocabulary and grammar knowledge; inhibition or fear of making mistakes; lack of motivation to speak; insufficient opportunities for practice and cooperation; and the absence of a professional environment for authentic speaking Addressing these issues with targeted activities and authentic speaking opportunities can help learners build confidence and improve their English speaking skills.
Poor listening skills are a major barrier to effective English-language presentations During a talk, you will encounter arguments, criticisms, and questions from colleagues, but if you can’t hear what they are saying, you miss crucial feedback and struggle to respond.
Many students face the challenge of not having an English-speaking environment to practice in Without an authentic English setting, applying classroom knowledge becomes difficult and the quality of English training in universities with English majors can suffer Creating a favorable, healthy communication environment helps students improve their English skills and provides the best conditions for English learners to learn and develop, ultimately improving language education in higher education.
Howard Gardner's theory of intelligence suggests that the ideal learning environment is one where students actively communicate and interact with peers and teachers, and engage in activities such as play, movement, singing, dancing, storytelling, or hands-on tasks In such environments, learners remember more than 80% of what they learned after a year When learning in an English environment, learning is active rather than passive The demands of English listening and speaking push learners to focus on listening comprehension and translating from Vietnamese into English Building a robust English communication environment increases the favorable factors that improve the quality and efficiency of the communication process.
Students face additional challenges beyond the basics of public speaking, including a lack of confidence, a voice that is too soft, hearing difficulties, and low energy, which together prevent them from grabbing the audience’s attention or engaging them effectively In particular, many second-year students—both in other faculties and in the English Faculty—struggle with using body language, which further impedes clear communication.
You can also find it difficult to use proficient PowerPoint to interfere with presentation timing and tempo; do not spend a lot of time or lack of time to be able to prepare thoroughly for a perfect presentation Presenting in Vietnamese you may or may not need to spend a lot of time practicing proficient presentations, but for English, without careful preparation it will be difficult to have a perfect presentation. Furthermore, it is easy to be affected by outside factors such as noisy classroom atmosphere It is very easy to distract us, lose our temper, and lose our attention and our presentation.
2.2.2 Main factors affecting the English oral presentation skills
To have good English oral presentation skills is not easy but not difficult to improve You have seen the difficulty of giving presentations in English Let’s go into research into the factors that affect English speaking skills According to research, you have three main groups of factors that affect speaking skills as well as speaking skills in English in particular.
Among the key determinants of effective English oral presentation skills, the human factor is one of three main factors It includes demographic variables such as age, sex, and hometown; body language like posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions; knowledge components such as English level, proficiency, and topic understanding; and manner and personal traits including clothing, habits, character, tone, and preparation Collectively, these elements shape a speaker's confidence, clarity, and delivery in English, making the human factor a vital area to focus on for improving oral presentation performance.
Demographic factors such as gender, age or home of the speaker have a certain influence on the speaking skills of each speaker.
Gender differences in communication shape presentation styles Women often engage audiences by asking more questions, offering more suggestions, and expressing a broader range of emotions; men typically emphasize positivity, present a clearer stance, and explore multiple directions during a presentation Understanding these communication characteristics can help tailor more effective presentations and improve audience connection across genders.
Age influences each person’s presentation skills Among older speakers, there is a mature demeanor and a delivery that is typically calm and steady They speak with restraint, use less movement, and may show lower energy or enthusiasm—traits that contrast with the more dynamic style often seen in younger presenters.
Regional origins shape voice and presentation skills, with regional accents creating voice differences that influence how a speaker is perceived A voice that sounds overly local or dialect-heavy can hinder listener comprehension and engagement If listeners aren’t comfortable with or can’t easily understand a certain accent, they may disengage even when the presentation is well prepared.
Mastering body language—postures, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions—helps you present ideas clearly, keeps the audience engaged, and makes your message more memorable Because eyes and expressions can convey feelings instantly, a well-timed mix of verbal and nonverbal cues lets you express yourself more fully and strengthens your connection with listeners However, this power comes with responsibility: body language must be used deliberately from the start of a presentation, or it can backfire through distraction or backlash When used thoughtfully, it saves time, reduces misunderstandings, and minimizes conflicts or accidents, while reinforcing rather than competing with your words.
Personal knowledge plays a crucial role in presentation effectiveness When a presenter lacks understanding of the topic, audiences perceive the gap and may become disengaged, since people expect clear expertise from credible speakers Effective presenters typically bring broad general knowledge along with a solid grasp of the subject matter, which boosts credibility and audience trust Additionally, tying the talk to rich, relevant practices and real-world examples helps convey concepts more clearly and enhances the overall impact of the presentation.
English level and proficiency of English skills are good, it also supports you a lot of in your English oral presentation Time for practicing presentation will be shortened
First impressions are shaped by how you dress, so a well-chosen outfit signals credibility and class to the audience As you walk to the podium, people form judgments based on what they see and how you carry yourself To make a strong impression, focus on appearance from the outset, ensure your outfit aligns with your message, and choose clothes you feel comfortable and respectful wearing Your gestures, posture, facial expressions, and overall attitude—projecting calm confidence with a polite, approachable demeanor—complete the image you present.
The importance of improving English oral presentation skills
English is one of the world's most important languages, serving as the official language in 53 countries and spoken by around 400 million people worldwide In Vietnam, as the country continues to integrate with the global economy, English is increasingly essential not only for graduates seeking employment but also for students still in school.
Language is a tool of communication, and effective communication is central to acquiring a foreign language such as English English oral presentation skills are a crucial competence for language learners, and as a result, extensive study and regular practice to improve these skills have become increasingly important in many schools and universities.
Many students struggle to improve their presentation skills, including those in the English Department Improving English oral presentation skills is a key goal for many learners because confident delivery enhances academic performance, classroom participation, and future career opportunities If the initial difficulties in the presentation process are not addressed, meaningful improvement becomes harder after entering the workforce, and valuable opportunities may be missed By identifying the specific challenges and the factors that influence presentation performance in general, and English speaking ability in particular, students can develop practical, evidence-based strategies to boost their effectiveness in class and beyond.
English oral presentation skills play a significant role in effective communication and professional development Improving these skills brings numerous benefits, including stronger self-confidence, the ability to convey information quickly and clearly, and greater advantages at work As your communication becomes more effective, you can build trust with friends, teachers, colleagues, and superiors The next chapter presents survey results gathered from an online survey, which can help you form a clearer view of the value of English oral presentation skills.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
General information
This mixed-methods study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative approaches The research proceeds in two main steps: first, an online literature search to identify and review previous studies related to English oral presentation skills; second, the development and administration of a questionnaire to 50 second-year English majors at TMU to survey their experiences and attitudes toward English oral presentations.
After getting results from the survey, the researcher will collect and start analyzing them by using tables and charts.
The purpose of this study is to answer the two questions below:
- The first question: what are main factors affecting English oral presentation skills of second- year English majors at Thuongmai University?
- The second question: How to improve English oral presentation skills of second- year English majors at Thuongmai University?
This study will involve 50 second-year students from the English Faculty at TMU Data will be collected via online questionnaires, and the ensuing data analysis will yield clear and reliable results Participation is random and voluntary, with no constraints imposed on participants.
Questionnaires are structured, written tools used for data collection that present respondents with a sequence of questions or statements, and respondents provide their answers by writing them out or by selecting from a set of predefined response options.
Questionnaires serve as an efficient research instrument to gather information quickly and with comparable data In this study, the respondents are second-year students of the English Faculty, so the survey is designed with multiple-choice items featuring common answer options, complemented by open-ended questions to elicit more nuanced, objective insights into the learners’ levels and perceptions The instrument includes both closed and open-ended questions and can be readily deployed in class for in-person surveys or conducted online to collect data on English oral presentation skills The researcher aims to assess the difficulties and factors affecting English oral presentation skills and to identify effective strategies to improve these skills.
Mixing closed-ended and open-ended questions in survey design streamlines data collection and analysis Closed-ended items such as Yes/No questions, multiple-choice questions, and Likert scale items yield structured, easily codable data, while open-ended responses give respondents the flexibility to express nuanced thoughts and additional context This approach combines efficiency with depth, enabling quick aggregation of quantitative results and richer qualitative insights for more accurate interpretation of the findings.
To enhance the reliability and value of the study, a random sampling procedure was employed for the survey questionnaire The online questionnaire was designed and administered to 80 students, selected randomly from the target population The data collection process involved distributing the online survey and gathering responses for subsequent analysis.
There are three main steps of the data collection:
The questionnaire is a two-part survey designed to capture participants’ general information and their responses to questions, with Part Two itself comprising three main subsections It covers: difficulties encountered when presenting in English; factors affecting English oral presentation skills and an assessment of their impact; and the importance of improving English oral presentation skills along with practical solutions In total, the questionnaire includes 11 questions that detail the content across these three parts.
Referring from the previous studies, seeking help from some friends who conducted the related survey and students who are second-year English majors at TMU.
Google form is used to conduct the survey The questionnaire will be set up by
Within the app, a Google Form link is generated and shared with groups of students in the English department and with individual recipients via messages The collected responses are organized and analyzed using a table-based data system to produce clear insights.
Data analysis
A survey was conducted with 50 second-year students in the English faculty at Thuongmai University (the fifty-fifth cohort) The participants were distributed across six classes, labeled N1 through N6 The N Department has a small male population, with only 6% of respondents identifying as male and 94% as female—3 men and 47 women Almost all participants have studied English for more than ten years, so they are highly aware of the importance of English oral presentation skills, and their responses provide valuable insights for this study.
3.2.2 Some difficulties when presenting English
This part is analyzed based on the data that was collected from Question 1 and Question 2 All the collected data is described as the following charts:
Are English oral presentation skills important?
Chart 1: The importance of English oral presentation skills
Survey results from 50 samples show that presentation skills are perceived as extremely important, accounting for 66% (33 responses), while English speaking skills are considered important by 34% (17 responses) No participant viewed these skills as less or unimportant For students in the language department, extensive practice is essential, underscoring that English oral presentation skills are exceptionally important for academic success.
Be difficult to attract and interact with the audience
Unconfident Poor English speaking skills Poor use of body languages The tone and volume lack energy Having short time for preparation The classroom atmosphere was too tense
Poor grammatical structure Using power point
Most common difficulties you maybe face when presenting English in class
Chart 2: Most common difficulties when presenting English in class
This chart shows that students face multiple difficulties in the presentation process, not just a single hurdle The most challenging aspect is engaging the audience—interacting with listeners and capturing their attention so they stay invested in the talk Additionally, many presenters struggle with confidence and speaking skills, which hampers delivering a smooth, comfortable presentation.
In addition, tone and body language can pose real challenges to effective public speaking Many students are hesitant and struggle to express what they've prepared or to present their own ideas with confidence before an audience, leading to confusion and stalling during the delivery They often don't know how to structure their thoughts or how to articulate their main point clearly This can stem from insufficient preparation, not enough time, or a lack of practice with the presentation A large segment of students find themselves in this situation, which makes delivering a successful presentation even harder.
Students face multiple challenges when delivering English oral presentations: attracting and engaging the audience can be difficult, they struggle with weak speaking skills and low confidence, and their tone and volume often lack energy Poor body language, insufficient preparation time, and a tense classroom atmosphere further hinder performance Additionally, weak grammatical structures and heavy reliance on PowerPoint contribute to difficulties in delivering an effective English oral presentation.
3.2.3 Factors affecting English oral presentation skills and its assessment of its impact
Three main factors affect the English oral speaking skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University: the human factor, the content factor, and the external factor A chart documents how second-year students in the English Department evaluate the influence of these three factors on their speaking abilities, illustrating the relative impact of human, content, and external elements on English oral performance.
What is the most influential?
Human factor Content factor External factor
Chart 3: Factor has the most influential
In a study of 50 samples, human factors account for 74% of the influence on English oral presentation skills, making it the dominant factor Content factors contribute 24%, while external factors account for only 2%.
Below is the chart that evaluates the influence of specific factors on the English oral speaking skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University The level of influence for each factor was measured using a five-point Likert scale, with options: Extremely influential, Very influential, Somewhat influential, Slightly influential, and Not at all influential.
The first chart below is the influence of the Human factor:
Extremely influential Very influential Somewhat influential Slightly influential Not at all influential
Chart 4: The influence of each special element in Human factor
Within the Human factor framework, seven elements are identified as the main components shaping the English oral presentation skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University: Demographic factors (age, sex, hometown, etc.), Body language (posture, gestures, eye contact, facial expressions), Knowledge (English level, proficiency, topic understanding), Manner (clothes, habits), Character, Tone, and Preparation Excluding Demographic and Manner, the remaining five elements are the primary drivers of the Human factor, with most participants rating them as Extremely influential or Very influential in determining English presentation performance Preparation stands out as Extremely important for more than half the sample (27 participants), while Tone and Body language are also consistently regarded as Very influential on English oral presentation skills.
In the Content factor, this is the chart shows the influence of each special element on English oral presentation skills according to five levels:
T he d iff ic ul ty o f t he to pi c
Th e fa m ili ar ity o f t he to pi c
Extremely in- fluential Very influential Somewhat in- fluential Slightly influential Column1
Chart 5: The influence of each special element in Content factor
Across 50 samples, the majority—33 respondents—argue that topic difficulty greatly affects English oral presentation skills Greater topic difficulty means more time spent preparing, more effort to locate relevant material, and greater challenge in grasping content to deliver an effective presentation Topic familiarity also influences presentation performance, but its impact is smaller than that of topic difficulty.
Prepare the topic content, source relevant materials, and improve quickly so you have more time to practice presenting Therefore, the content factor will have less influence than the human factor, since delivery, audience engagement, and clarity drive outcomes more than the material alone.
An assessment of second-year English majors' English oral presentation skills shows that the human factor has the strongest influence, while the external factor exerts the least influence.
External factors, especially the human element, dominate how a presentation unfolds, with group dynamics and member discussions having the strongest influence on the overall delivery Audience attention is the next crucial factor, and evidence from assessment samples suggests that sustained listener engagement boosts the impact of the talk and can improve writing outcomes Yet not everyone is self-confident or comfortable presenting before a crowd, and a noisy environment or tight time constraints can further hinder performance In contrast, the technical elements are generally manageable for most speakers, so they tend to have a lesser effect on delivery compared with human and environmental factors.
Chart 6: The influence of each special element in External factor
3.2.4 The importance of improving English oral presentation skills
Most people are aware of the importance of English oral presentation skills So improving this skill is definitely important as well.
You can improve on our own, or through schoolwork How do school teachers spend their time to help students improve this skill, let's see the chart below:
Lecturers create time conditions to improve
Chart 7: How teachers/ lecturers create time to improve English oral presentation skills in class
At TMU, recognizing the importance of improving English speaking skills, teachers allocate substantial class time to ensure clear content delivery and to help students present and sharpen their oral presentation skills Survey data show that 52% of teachers always facilitate student presentations, 40% often facilitate, and 8% report that opportunities to improve are very rare Because not all subjects require presentations, teachers still create opportunities for practice and, as a result, must invest time to improve their own English-speaking skills to better support learners.
Less than one hour 1-3 hours More than 3 hours
Chart 8: Practicing English oral presentation skills a day
Chart 8 shows the time they spend on practicing English oral presentation skills a day.
Only a small portion of students can commit to self-study and actively improve their English presentation skills About 68% of learners have a natural aptitude for English, making consistent practice more attainable—often just one hour a day is enough to see progress Meanwhile, roughly 30% of students dedicate 1–3 hours daily to refining their English presentations Very few students can devote more than three hours to improving their oral presentation skills, perhaps because they are extremely diligent or because classroom time isn’t enough to achieve the desired results If you’re one of these learners, you’re likely pushing yourself to practice harder outside of class to build confidence and deliver stronger presentations.
Chart 9: Before each English presentation, preparing time for practicing
Conclusion
This chapter presents findings which researcher collected data for the study The results of the research are transferred portion and showed by some charts
This paper identifies two main points: the factors affecting students’ English oral presentation skills and the strategies to improve them It also notes the common difficulties encountered when presenting in English that second-year English majors often meet, and suggests a practical framework for addressing these challenges to enhance overall oral presentation performance.
Through this chapter you can clearly perceive some factors affecting the presentation skills of students today, especially for second- year English majors at
Research shows that human factors largely determine and significantly influence the outcomes of our presentations A student who speaks clearly, listens actively, and possesses solid subject knowledge—and who understands the importance of improving presentation skills—will typically deliver a strong presentation Conversely, if a student cannot identify the common challenges in their own presentation, genuine improvement is unlikely.
While you’re clearly professional in delivering Vietnamese presentations, you may doubt your ability to perform as well in English The path to success lies in consistent practice, deliberate learning, and real-world speaking opportunities to overcome language barriers and showcase your strengths By dedicating time to pronunciation, pacing, and persuasive messaging, you can boost confidence, clarity, and effectiveness in English presentations, unlocking broader opportunities and professional growth.
Students of The English Faculty at TMU have chosen appropriate learning methods and selected professional communication environments to deal with weak English listening and speaking skill
Drawing on the findings presented and discussed in this chapter, this study offers practical recommendations to enhance the English communication skills of students at the English Faculty of TMU, which will be elaborated in the following chapter.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
For Students
Firstly, improving English listening skills, English speaking skills
Developing into a professional presenter starts with expanding your vocabulary and sharpening your English communication reflexes In today’s information technology–driven world, young people connect on social networks such as Facebook, Zalo, Twitter, and Instagram to discuss major events, share their feelings, and practice English in real contexts A strong vocabulary is essential for successful conversations, so learners should regularly enrich their word bank to boost listening, speaking, and overall communication skills while mastering grammar There are many sources for vocabulary growth—online resources, books, TV shows, and conversations with friends—so set a realistic daily target and stay consistent If you maintain this habit over time, you’ll see meaningful improvements in your English abilities.
Speaking skills and listening skills are key to effective communication To improve listening skills, explore engaging options such as listening to English songs, watching English talk shows, browsing English websites, and using English learning apps These activities expose you to authentic language, build vocabulary and pronunciation, and enhance your ability to understand spoken English in real-life contexts, supporting steady progress in both listening and speaking.
Frequent participation in English activities is an effective way for students who want to communicate professionally and learn from others Activities such as conferences, English clubs, part-time jobs that require English, and interactions with foreigners at tourist destinations provide real-world language practice Regular exposure to English environments improves language ability, and consistent practice is the best way to enhance speaking skills.
Secondly, having a thorough grasp the content of the presentation
Before going into preparing to make a presentation, you need to choose a leader that your group trusts the most to lead the group to complete the presentation as perfectly as possible Then together learn about the topic of the group, set outline the content of the lesson Please evaluate carefully your teammates and divide tasks accordingly, set deadlines and follow everyone closely It will be possible to create great team work results.
You should prepare the content of the presentation selectively: The fact that you always feel that all information is important, it is also necessary to put in, you "cannot" discard the information that you have been working hard on searching for This will lead to thinning of our presentations You won't be able to present all 60- 80 pages of documents for a ten- minute presentation Therefore, you can arrange information by the important level of the presentation topic It will help you easily remove less important information and spend time presenting selected information.
Throughout your four years at university, you will inevitably be assigned presentations Whether you’re presenting in a group or delivering a solo talk, you must explain the content you learned You should understand the core material and explore the related issues surrounding the topic This preparation helps you speak confidently and equips you to answer questions from your audience after the presentation.
One effective way to ease stress when presenting is to treat the talk like a casual conversation with friends, rather than a formal performance By sharing your ideas in a friendly, relatable way, the pressure you feel decreases and your message comes across more naturally This approach helps you connect with the audience, communicate more clearly, and deliver your presentation with greater confidence.
Thirdly, preparing your PowerPoint carefully and taking a lot of time to have the best speaking
PowerPoint is a vital tool in any presentation, helping you distill complex ideas into clear, memorable slides and even animate key points to capture your audience’s attention Since you can’t be 100% sure your audience will fully grasp everything you present, a well-designed PowerPoint deck guides understanding and boosts engagement Favor short, vivid, concise slides over long, wordy ones, because concise visuals communicate more effectively By investing a bit more time in slide design, you can maximize the impact of your presentation.
Begin your presentation preparation 2–3 days in advance by practicing your speech to boost both fluency and coherence Effective public speaking relies on delivering a smooth, confident performance with clear pacing and without filler words like uh or um, so the audience can follow along easily If 2–3 days feels tight, dedicate as much time as you can to rehearsal to ensure you are fully prepared for the presentation.
Fourthly, improving your voice and body language
During a presentation, you serve as the representative who presents and communicates the knowledge your team has gathered Speak clearly and confidently, voicing the collected insights so everyone hears them Confidence in your words is a key factor that drives a successful presentation, helps the audience understand the information, and reflects the effort your team has put into the work.
Confident body language can help reduce pre-presentation anxiety, because when you project confidence, your mind tends to follow Avoid staying seated for long; moving around a bit—walking back and forth several times—can ease internal stress This movement improves blood circulation and helps you feel more energized, leading to a steadier, more compelling delivery when you speak.
Fifthly, being the one more self- confident to actively engage and interact with the listener
Many audiences enter presentations with a passive mindset, turning the session into a one-way talk and diminishing the impact of your message To counter this, start with an interactive poll or survey to actively engage participants from the outset Don’t fret about unexpected questions; see them as opportunities to tailor your content to the audience’s interests and needs, boosting relevance, engagement, and retention.
Your presentation becomes more lively and engaging as you increase interaction with the audience In addition to using body language, asking questions and inviting responses helps sustain energy and interest Try posing questions to your listeners or inviting them to ask about topics they've wondered about during your talk This approach can improve how you are perceived by teachers and classmates and highlight your listening skills and professional presentation abilities.
To become a professional presenter, cultivate strong self‑confidence and genuinely believe you can succeed When you carry that conviction into your talks, you bring your best state—clear, energized, and authentic—into every presentation or personal opinion you share This poised, credible delivery helps you articulate your ideas more persuasively and connect with your audience, making it easier to persuade and inspire others.
Start by clarifying the presentation’s purpose and what you want your audience to take away Identify the main points you want listeners to grasp at the end, using these insights to reinforce the most important content Build a logical outline that guides the flow from introduction to conclusion, and assign a realistic duration to each section to keep the schedule on track Time management matters because audiences tend to disengage if a speech feels too long, even when the material is valuable If a teacher imposes a time limit, plan how to allocate those minutes so you cover essential ideas while reserving space to explore the core parts in depth By prioritizing key messages and pacing your delivery, you can create a concise, compelling presentation that meets expectations and constraints.
For teachers
Teachers should raise students’ awareness of the importance of English oral presentation skills, since some learners do not yet recognize its value, and teachers can illustrate why this skill matters with concrete examples To boost motivation, they should design in-class activities such as assigning a topic for discussion and incorporating short, engaging English games Positive reinforcement is key—praise should be given when learners get something right, perform well, try hard, and demonstrate a constructive attitude toward learning Feedback should be timely, with corrections to grammar and vocabulary provided promptly to support improvement without dampening confidence Additionally, teachers can share useful websites and practical tips to help students further develop their English presentation abilities outside of class.
Moreover, they should change their teaching method According to the book about "Project-based Second and Foreign Language Education: Past, Present and
According to "Future" (2006) by Gulbahar H Beckett and Paul Chamness Miller, the use of classroom learning projects—project-based learning—outperforms traditional teaching methods The study shows that project-based learning boosts understanding, retention, and engagement across subjects, including mathematics, economics, science, and foreign languages Adopting hands-on, collaborative projects in the classroom can lead to stronger learning outcomes across these disciplines.
To boost student engagement and soft-skills development, teachers should devote more in-class time to discussion By anchoring conversations in core lesson topics, educators can help students delve deeper while still supporting self-directed study Listening carefully to students reveals communication difficulties and makes it possible to help them overcome these obstacles Although not every teacher can be both a strict instructor and a friendly mentor, a balanced approach that combines clear guidance with thoughtful dialogue can enhance learning outcomes.
If you can take some time to chat with students, learn about some difficulties that students are facing, you can come up with suitable solutions to help them improve.
For Thuongmai University
To help learners improve English oral presentation skills, Thuongmai University should enhance its English training program Key strategies include elevating the proficiency level within classes, upgrading curriculum content, and enriching extracurricular activities to be more engaging and relevant By implementing these improvements, TMU can more effectively boost students’ English abilities and better prepare them for academic and professional communication in the global arena.
They also should listen and learn, collect students' opinions, understand the difficulties that students are facing, and then come up with suitable solutions.
English proficiency is increasingly important today and serves as a global lingua franca in an era of globalization To strengthen this, universities should allocate more study hours to English, especially with native-speaking teachers, and emphasize practical speaking skills along with other competencies to boost students’ English oral presentation abilities They can also organize extracurricular sessions that give students abundant opportunities to speak in public through short speeches and peer conversations By fostering English clubs and related facilities, institutions can help students become more active, self-confident, and professional in English oral presentations.
Hopefully, all these recommendations can be useful for TMU to educate the next high quality generation employees for the countries.
This study identifies, describes, and categorizes the factors influencing English oral presentation skills among 50 second-year English majors at Thuongmai University, outlines common difficulties encountered when presenting in English, and offers targeted solutions to help students improve their oral presentation abilities while highlighting the importance of proficient English presentation skills for academic performance and future career opportunities.
Chapter 1 includes the rationale, previous studies, the aim of study, scope of the study, research methodology and the organization of study in hope that the reader will have an overview on this study.
Chapter 2, the literature review, introduces the foundational theory and concepts of English oral presentation skills, including definitions, an overview of the skill set, and the roles these skills play in effective communication, as well as the common difficulties learners encounter It identifies three key factors shaping English oral presentation competence and provides a comprehensive discussion of each factor By detailing these elements, the literature review furnishes a coherent framework that underpins the design and direction of the subsequent chapters' research.
Chapter 3 is to collect and analyze data The writer analyzed 11 questions of the survey questionnaires with the help of 50 second-year English majors at TMU Based on that, the writer discovered common difficulties which students often face up with and gave some suggestions to improve English oral presentation skills shown in chapter 4.
Presentation, especially English oral presentations, matters for effective communication because almost everything in the workplace hinges on how we convey information Consequently, strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are essential for completing tasks and achieving goals This study offers targeted recommendations to help learners develop these four core skills and improve their overall communicative competence.
Because of limited time and knowledge, mistakes are unavoidable in this study.
Given the opportunity, this study aims to expand its research scope by incorporating additional subjects and exploring the factors affecting English oral presentation skills, as well as the common difficulties English majors encounter By identifying these challenges, the research will develop practical, evidence-based solutions to help students in the English Faculty improve their speaking performance in a timely manner.
Finally, the writer hopes that this Graduation Paper will be a useful source for students to write success fully
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Effective presentations hinge on thorough preparation, clear objectives, and a well-structured message tailored to the audience; start with a compelling opening, follow with concise points supported by evidence, and close with a strong takeaway Key factors include audience analysis, purpose clarity, content organization, logical flow, and the judicious use of visuals to reinforce rather than overwhelm Delivery matters as much as content: a confident voice, measured pace, proper pronunciation, and varied intonation, coupled with confident body language, eye contact, and appropriate pauses, help maintain engagement Language clarity is vital for English-speaking audiences, so use simple vocabulary, precise terms, and rehearsed phrasing to reduce misunderstanding; practice pronunciation and fluency, and plan for questions by anticipating likely queries Common challenges include stage fright, language barriers, lack of rehearsal, ineffective slide design, and technical issues; addressing these through practice, feedback, and technical preparedness improves performance By focusing on these factors—planning, audience-aware content, strong structure, engaging delivery, and robust practice—any presenter can deliver effective oral presentations that communicate ideas clearly and persuade audiences.
Hello, I’m Huyen, a senior majoring in Business English at Thuongmai University I am conducting a survey for my thesis titled "A study on factors affecting English oral presentation skills of second-year English majors at Thuongmai University." I would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete this survey All responses will be kept confidential Thank you for your cooperation, and I wish you the best.
A SOME DIFFICULTIES WHEN PRESENTING IN ENGLISH
Question 1: In your opinion, are presentation skills important?
Question 2: What difficulties do you face when presenting English in class? (You can choose more than 1 answer)
Poor speaking skills Poor grammatical structure Using PowerPoint
Be difficult to attract and interact with the audience The classroom atmosphere was too tense
The tone and volume lack energyPoor use of body languages
B: FACTORS AFFECTING ENGLISH ORAL PRESENTATION
SKILLS AND ASSESSMENT OF ITS IMPACT
Question 3: Below are 3 factors affecting English oral presentation skills, which do you think has the most influential?
Human factor Content factor External factor
Question 4: In the Human factor, please point out the influence of each special element on English oral presentation skills according to the following levels:
Not at all influential Demographic (age, sex, hometown, etc.)
(postures, gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, etc.)
English skills, understanding of the topic, etc.)
Question 5: In the Content factor, please point out the influence of each special element on English oral presentation skills according to the following levels:
Not at all influential The difficulty of the topic
The familiarity of the topic
Question 6: In the External factor, please point out the influence of each special element on English oral presentation skills according to the following levels:
Not at all influential Space and time elements
Members of group( the professional attitudes of members, division of duties, member's attitude and personality)
C: THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING ENGLISH ORAL