“I can’t ask him to repeat his question AGAIN…”
“I understood 20% of her question. Was she even speaking English??”
“I think I maybe understood, but I don’t want to look stupid by answering a question he didn’t ask. Now what??”
If you give presentations to colleagues or clients in English, chances are (il y a une forte chance) you’ve had these thoughts, too.
You can prepare your presentation, but you never know what questions the audience will ask. That’s the stressful part of giving presentations, whether it’s (que ce soit) in French or in English. The dreaded (redouté) Q&A session.
(Hint: Q&A is short for “question and answer”, and sometimes we just say “Q and A” or “a Q and A session” in English. Place the expression and impress your colleagues 🙂
Every year, I give presentations at big international conferences. The presentations are in English, (which is easy enough for me 🙂 but the people in the audience come from many different countries. Sometimes I’m not used to (je ne suis pas habituée à) their accent. Sometimes the acoustics in the room are bad and I don’t hear the question. And even sometimes, I just don’t understand what exactly they’re asking.
It happens to all of us. Don’t automatically think that your English level is the problem if you don’t understand the question.
If you secretly hope that everyone remains silent (rester muet) when say “Are there any questions?”, today’s SBFG Video is for you.
You’ll get 3 effective techniques for managing the situation with calm and composure (calme et sang-froid) so that you’ll look like a Q&A superstar. Even when you don’t understand.
Once you’ve watched (Une fois que vous avez regardé) this episode, let me know your answer to this question:
How do you manage the question and answer session after your presentations?
If you’ve ever been (Si vous avez déjà été) in this situation, I’d love to know how you handled it.
Tell me about your tips and techniques for surviving this awkward situation. I’m sure you can give me a tip for my next conference presentation!
Remember that thousands of other French-speaking professionals come to SBFG to boost their English and boost their career. Your suggestion may be exactly what someone else needs to build their confidence, speak better English, and feel great about themselves.
If this episode was helpful for you, please share it with your favorite colleagues and friends—anyone who gets a little afraid (qui flippe un peu) when they have to make a presentation in English.
Thanks for being part of the best community for French professionals to boost their English!
Have a fantastic week,
Christina
P.S. If you also give presentations in French, check out this video by a fun duo called Spontanez-Vous. They’ve got some good advice for handling this situation in French, and they’re entertaining too!
