Key Concepts
- Technical difficulties during presentations
- Phrasal verbs for describing actions (kick off, pop up, reboot, crop up)
- Vocabulary related to computer connections and troubleshooting
- Phrases for apologizing and asking for patience (bear with me)
- Expressions for describing something incomplete (rough around the edges)
Handling Technical Problems in Presentations
The video focuses on how to manage technical difficulties that may arise during a presentation. The scenario involves Mr. Ford, who is about to present a TV advert, but encounters a problem with the projector.
Initial Problem and Troubleshooting
- Mr. Ford attempts to start the presentation by saying, "Okay, so if we could dim the lights Jonathan, we can kick off with the first TV advert." "Kick off" means to start something.
- He acknowledges the advert is still in early stages, noting it "might seem a bit rough around the edges," meaning it's incomplete and needs work.
- When the advert fails to appear, he says, "Okay so I just need to click this and the advert should pop up on the screen." "Pop up" means to appear quickly.
- He apologizes: "Sorry about this, bear with me a second," indicating he needs time to fix the issue and asking for patience. "Bear with me" means please be patient.
- He investigates the connection: "Let me check the connection a second. Well the connection seems okay and the computer is running normally." Connection refers to the physical link between the computer and the projector.
Solutions and Contingency Plans
- Mr. Ford suggests a reboot: "Let's just reboot and start over, let's see if this resolves the issue." Reboot means to restart the computer.
- When rebooting doesn't work, he identifies a potential cause: "There might be a technical issue with the projector, I think maybe the projector has overheated."
- He proposes a solution: "We might need to cool it down for 10 minutes and start again. I'll call IT support to come over right now."
- Acknowledging the inevitability of such issues, he states: "Unfortunately, technical problems do crop up from time to time, don't they?" "Crop up" means to appear or happen unexpectedly or occasionally.
- As a contingency, he shifts the focus: "In the meantime, while the IT guys get to work on that, I can talk a little bit more about the advertising concept."
Language Takeaway: Phrasal Verbs
The video highlights four key phrasal verbs:
- Kick off: To start something. Example: "Tonight we're kicking off the party at 8:00."
- Pop up: To appear suddenly, especially on a computer screen. Example: Annoying pop-up advertisements.
- Reboot: To restart a computer or electronic device. Example: "My iPhone just froze, I need to reboot it."
- Crop up: To appear or happen unexpectedly or occasionally. Example: "Technical problems do crop up from time to time."
Fluency Builder: Useful Phrases
The video presents several phrases to enhance fluency:
- Dim the lights: To reduce the intensity of the lights. Example: "Let's dim the lights."
- Rough around the edges: Incomplete or not yet perfect. Example: "The website is almost finished, but it's still rough around the edges."
- Bear with me: Please be patient. Example: "Please bear with me a second, I have to reboot my computer."
- From time to time: Occasionally or every once in a while. Example: "I like to go to the movies from time to time."
Conclusion
The video provides practical language and strategies for dealing with technical difficulties during presentations. It emphasizes the importance of being prepared for unexpected problems, knowing how to troubleshoot common issues, and having a backup plan to maintain the flow of the presentation. The lesson also reinforces key phrasal verbs and phrases that can be used in various professional and everyday situations.
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