Mini-Presentation Assignment
Overview
Working in small groups, you’ll create and deliver a 5-7 minute business presentation on a topic relevant to translation, localization, or interpretation professionals.
Learning Objectives
- Apply content organization techniques for business audiences
- Create effective visual aids that support your message
- Deliver a presentation with confidence and professional poise
- Provide constructive feedback to peers
Assignment Timeline
| Day | Activity | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Form groups, select topics, begin slide drafts | Group formation |
| Thursday | Rehearsal presentations with peer feedback | Upload draft slides to Teams |
| Sunday | Final presentation due | Submit final slides via Teams assignment |
Topic Options
Choose one of the following business scenarios relevant to translation/localization professionals, or propose your own topic. In making your selection, pick a topic that you can easily research or one that you know really well.
- Pitching Translation Services - Present your agency’s capabilities to a potential corporate client
- Localization Project Timeline - Explain a complex localization project timeline to stakeholders
- Cultural Adaptation Strategy - Recommend cultural adaptation approaches for a brand entering a new market
- Technology Tools Comparison - Compare translation technology tools or AI translation technologies for a business audience
- Quality Assurance Process - Present your quality control methodology to clients
- Market Entry Recommendations - Advise a company on language and cultural considerations for expanding internationally
- Crisis Communication Strategy - Present how to handle translation errors or cultural missteps that have gone public
- Remote Team Management - Recommend best practices for managing distributed translation and localization teams
Each topic may only be selected once. Additional topics may be approved by instructor.
Requirements
Content Requirements
- Duration: 5-7 minutes
- Structure: Clear introduction, 2-3 main points, strong conclusion
- Audience: Assume a business/professional audience unfamiliar with technical translation details
- Visual aids: 6-10 slides maximum (excluding title/thank you slides)
Group Dynamics
- All group members must contribute to content creation
- Presentation delivery: Groups may choose to have one person present or divide speaking roles
- Each member must participate meaningfully in preparation and feedback sessions
Professional Standards
- Business-appropriate language and tone
- Inclusive design and accessibility considerations
- Professional visual design
- Confident delivery with good eye contact and body language
Rehearsal Day (Thursday)
For Presenting Groups
- Upload draft slides to Teams by the second part of class
- Present your 5-7 minute rehearsal to the class
- Be prepared to receive constructive feedback
- Take notes on suggestions for improvement
For Evaluating Students
Each student must comment on at least one rehearsal (not your own group’s):
Comment structure
- One specific strength of the presentation
- One concrete suggestion for improvement
- Optional: Additional resources or ideas that might help
Post your feedback as a reply to the presenting group’s Teams post.
Feedback Focus Areas
- Content organization and clarity
- Visual aid effectiveness
- Delivery style and confidence
- Professional presentation standards
- Audience engagement
Final Submission (Due Sunday)
File Naming Convention
GroupMembersFirstLastNames_TopicAbbreviation.pdf
Examples:
Reyes-Brandt_PresentationSkills.pdfMartinez-Chen-Williams_TranslationTools.pptxRodriguez-Kim_MarketEntry.pdf
Submission Requirements
- Upload final slides incorporating rehearsal feedback
- File formats accepted: PDF, PowerPoint, Google Slides export, Canva export
- Include a brief reflection (2-3 sentences) on what you learned from the rehearsal feedback
Assessment Criteria
| Category | Effective | Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Content Organization & Visual Design | Clear structure, appropriate content, compelling design | TMI in slides, lack of logical flow, disengaging design, etc. |
| Delivery | Confident, engaging, professional presence | Lack of confidence in delivery, lack of eye contact, read directly from script, etc. |
| Reflection | Self awareness and critical analysis in discussion of lessons learned | Surface-level statements, lack of reflection, etc. |
| Group Collaboration | Seamless teamwork evident | Teamwork not divided equally, lack of collaboration, etc. |
Tips for Success
Content Development
- Start with your key message—what do you want the audience to remember?
- Answer “So what?” That is, why should a business audience care?
- Include real examples or case studies when possible
Visual Design
- One main idea per slide
- Use high-contrast colors and readable fonts
- Limit the number of words on the slide
Delivery Preparation
- Practice your transitions between speakers
- Time your presentation—aim for 6 minutes to allow buffer time
- Have a backup plan for technical difficulties
Using Feedback
- View rehearsal feedback as a gift that will improve your final product
- Don’t take suggestions personally—focus on strengthening your message
- Make strategic changes that align with your presentation goals
Questions?
Contact your instructor or post questions in the Teams channel. Your classmates’ questions often help everyone!
📥 Download This Activity
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🤖 AI Study Prompts
After completing your mini-presentation, reflect and improve with these prompts:
- “Based on the feedback I received on my presentation, what are 3 specific areas I should focus on improving for future business presentations?”
- “How can I better adapt my presentation style when communicating translation/localization concepts to non-technical business stakeholders?”
- “What are advanced presentation techniques that would help me stand out as a professional in the language services industry?”
Week 2 Complete! Next week we’ll explore Ethics and Integrity in Business