Effortless English: Learn To Speak English Like a native

Learn Specialized Jargon Last
Some fields of business have a large number of specialized words. This specialized
vocabulary is called “jargon.” For example, accountants have a large number of
accounting terms which are used extensively in their jobs. This specialized
vocabulary is vital for accountants.
While necessary, jargon is the final type of business English you will learn.
Before learning jargon you should first focus on general business English. Master
the most common business phrases by listening to and reading real business content.
Only after you have done this should you concern yourself with jargon.
Of course, you’ll learn your field’s jargon in exactly the same way as you learned
general business English. When you are ready, simply change the material you are
listening to and reading. Gather real materials that are specifically related to your
field.
Choose material that is useful. Rather than focusing on the English, focus on
learning more about your field from English sources. Develop your knowledge and
skills using these sources and you’ll automatically improve your business English
at the same time.

---

CHAPTER 21
How To Give Powerful English Presentations
I was standing at the side of a stage, waiting to give my first public speech to a
group of thirty people. My heart was beating quickly. My breathing was tight and
shallow. My entire body felt jittery. I looked down at my hands and they were
shaking. I tried to control the shaking, but failed. I thought to myself, “What if I
forget everything and freeze?”
Suddenly, I heard my name as I was introduced to the audience. I walked onto the
stage. The audience applauded but I couldn’t hear them. I glanced up and viewed
them through tunnel vision. My sight was narrowed and my peripheral vision had
turned black.
As I started to speak, I felt my throat tighten. My voice sounded strange — high
pitched and weak. I fixed my gaze on the wall at the back of the room and rapidly
gave my presentation. My only goal was to finish as fast as possible and get off that
stage. Though the speech was only three minutes long, it felt like hours.
When I finished, I rushed quickly off the stage and sat down. My hands were still
shaking uncontrollably.
Few activities are as terrifying as public speaking. Speeches are continually
ranked as one of the most feared and stressful life experiences — dreaded by nearly
all people. This nerve-wracking experience is made even more difficult when
English is not your native language.
When you feel fear, you have both a mental and a physical reaction. It is the
physical reactions that are particularly difficult to handle. When terrified, your body
produces an adrenaline response. The adrenal glands release adrenaline into your
blood, preparing you for “fight or flight.”
The physical responses to adrenaline are fairly consistent and predictable and
include sweating, increased heartbeat, shallow rapid breathing, muscle tension,
shaking, upset stomach, tunnel vision, and loss of fine muscle control.
Adrenaline produces mental changes as well. Your sense of time changes. Most
people experience a “slowing down” of time while some experience “time speeding
up.” Worst of all for speakers, adrenaline causes your higher brain activities to
slow. Brain activity shifts to the more primitive and emotional sections of the brain.
This is why you can speak perfectly well to one person but struggle terribly when

---

speaking in front of a group. Your brain is not working as well.
Clearly the great challenge with public speaking is overcoming these fear
reactions.