Giving a short AI presentation in English at work
CEFR: B2
Read/Listen first
Next Thursday, I have to give a ten-minute presentation about artificial intelligence at our collaboration day. All the units in our department will meet in one large room, and around one hundred colleagues will listen. I know the topic very well, but speaking in English in front of so many people still feels like a marathon. My plan is to keep the slides simple and focus on how AI supports our daily work. First I want to describe a few concrete examples, like drafting emails, summarising meetings, and checking long documents. Then I will explain the main pain points, such as data protection and the fear of losing control. Finally, I will show how AI can save time, reduce boring tasks, and give us more space for creative projects. If I practise enough this week, my confidence will really grow.⚡ Learning goals
- Can describe a short AI-related project clearly to colleagues.
- Can explain how AI supports daily work using simple, concrete examples.
- Can express feelings about giving a presentation in English.
✨ Key language
- have to give a presentation “I have to give a presentation next Thursday.”
- First…, then…, finally… “First I show examples, then I explain the main points.”
- my confidence will grow “If I practise a lot, my confidence will grow.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Have to for obligation
Rule: Use “have to” + base verb to talk about necessary actions, often because of work or rules.Examples: I have to give a ten-minute presentation.; We have to meet in one large room.; She has to prepare her slides today.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not add “to” after other modals like “must to”. Say “must give”, not “must to give”.
Which sentence correctly uses “have to”?
Tip: Use “have to” + base verb for obligations.
Fill with the best answer: Next Thursday I ______ ______ speak in front of my colleagues.
Tip: The structure is “have to” + verb.
2️⃣ Will for future results
Rule: Use “will” to describe likely future results of present actions or plans.Examples: AI will save us time on boring tasks.; The meeting will start at nine.; My confidence will really grow.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not mix “will” with another future marker like “going to” in the same verb phrase.
Complete the idea: If we use AI well, it ______.
Tip: Use “will” + base verb for future results.
Fill with the best answer: If I practise enough this week, my confidence ______.
Tip: In first conditionals, use “will” in the result clause.
3️⃣ Sequencing with first, then, finally
Rule: Use sequence words like “first”, “then”, and “finally” to organise the steps of your talk.Examples: First I describe examples.; Then I explain the pain points.; Finally, I show the benefits.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not repeat “and then and then”. Use a clear, simple order instead.
Which order is best for a clear structure?
Tip: Use sequence words to guide your audience through the talk.
Fill with the best answer: ______, I will show how AI saves time.
Tip: End your sequence with “finally”.
4️⃣ Present simple for facts and routines
Rule: Use the present simple to describe facts and regular actions, for example how AI supports daily work.Examples: AI supports our daily work.; The team meets once a week.; Our tools check long documents automatically.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not use “-ing” for general facts. Say “AI saves time”, not “AI is saving time” (in general statements).
Which sentence is a present simple fact?
Tip: Use present simple for general truths and routines.
Fill with the best answer: Our tool ______ long documents for mistakes.
Tip: Add -s for he/she/it in the present simple.
✍️ Vocabulary
presentation
Meaning: a talk given to an audience, often with slides, about a topic.Synonyms: talk, speech, lecture
Chunk/Idiom: give a presentation on a topic
Example: My presentation about AI lasts only ten minutes.
Morphology: countable noun
Self-practice: Write three titles for presentations you might give at work.
collaboration day
Meaning: a special day when different units meet and share their work.Synonyms: team meeting, workshop
Chunk/Idiom: organise a collaboration day for the whole department
Example: Everyone speaks briefly at our annual collaboration day.
Morphology: noun phrase
Self-practice: Plan one activity you would include in a collaboration day.
slides
Meaning: pages in a digital presentation, usually shown on a screen.Synonyms: presentation pages, visuals
Chunk/Idiom: keep your slides simple and clear
Example: Simple slides help the audience follow your key points.
Morphology: plural noun
Self-practice: Sketch three simple slides for your next talk.
colleagues
Meaning: people you work with in the same organisation or team.Synonyms: coworkers, teammates
Chunk/Idiom: share ideas with your colleagues after the meeting
Example: My colleagues ask questions at the end of the talk.
Morphology: plural noun
Self-practice: Write two questions your colleagues might ask you about AI.
confidence
Meaning: the feeling that you can do something well without fear.Synonyms: self-belief, assurance
Chunk/Idiom: build confidence by practising several times
Example: Practising several times before the event builds real confidence.
Morphology: uncountable noun
Self-practice: List three actions that increase your confidence before speaking.
pain points
Meaning: specific problems or frustrations that people feel in their work.Synonyms: problems, frustrations
Chunk/Idiom: start with the audience’s main pain points
Example: Start with employees’ real pain points, not abstract theories.
Morphology: plural noun phrase
Self-practice: Note two pain points AI could reduce in your job.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
AI tools save time on boring, repetitive tasks.
Keep your slides clean, clear, and easy to read.
Tell one strong story instead of ten small details.
If you practise often, speaking English feels more natural.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Which sentence matches the situation in the text?
Tip: The text describes a future obligation, not a past event.
Complete the sentence: Using AI well ______.
Tip: Use “will” + verb for future results.
Fill with the best answer:
Next Thursday I ______ ______ a short AI presentation.Tip: Use “have to” for strong obligations.
Fill with the best answer:
If I practise enough this week, my confidence ______ ______ ______.Tip: Follow the pattern “If + present, … will + verb”.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
What is the main focus of the presentation?
Tip: Look for repeated ideas in the mini text.
Why does the speaker say the presentation feels like a marathon?
Tip: Compare the feeling of effort, not the real length of time.
Fill with the best answer:
Approximately ______ ______ colleagues will listen to the talk.Tip: Look for the number in the second sentence of the mini text.
Fill with the best answer:
The speaker wants to show how AI supports our ______ ______.Tip: This phrase appears exactly in the mini text.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: I have to give a ten-minute AI presentation next Thursday.B: Wow, that sounds important. What will you focus on?
A: I want to show how AI reduces boring tasks and frees creative time.
Why this matters:
Clear, confident presentations help colleagues trust new tools like AI. They also make complex ideas easier to understand. When you feel ready, it is much easier to answer questions after your talk.Verb & Adjective Pack:
support — AI tools support our daily work.summarise — These apps summarise long meeting notes.
confident — I feel more confident after practising several times.
boring — AI can remove boring parts of our job.
creative — We save time and become more creative.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: I prefer ______ ______ with one clear message on each.
Tip: Think of the best kind of slides for a short talk.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: If I will practise, my confidence grows.
Tip: Remember the pattern “If + present, … will + verb”.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
AI gives us more time for creative projects.
Tip: Focus on the rhythm of “creative projects”.