PechaKucha Prep: A 10-Minute AI Talk
CEFR: B2
Read/Listen first
Next week I’m giving a ten minute PechaKucha talk about AI at our collaboration day. The idea of speaking to one hundred colleagues makes me nervous, but the format helps. I will use twenty simple slides, each with one clear image and one key word. The talk is going to show how AI tools can support our daily work, not replace us. First, I will explain how chatbots can help us draft emails, meeting summaries, and short reports. Then I’ll show how image tools create quick mock ups for presentations. I also want to mention the risks, like biased data and over trusting machine answers, but I will keep the tone hopeful. I’ve planned a short story about a project where AI saved our team time. I’m going to rehearse with a timer so I don’t speak too fast. If I breathe, smile, and look at the audience, the ten minutes should feel manageable.⚡ Learning goals
- Can describe the structure and aim of a short PechaKucha talk about AI at work.
- Can explain how AI tools support daily tasks in a clear, organised presentation.
- Can express mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness before public speaking.
✨ Key language
- I’m giving a ten minute talk “I’m giving a ten minute talk about AI.”
- AI tools can support our daily work “AI tools can support our daily work, not replace us.”
- I’m excited but also nervous “I’m excited but also nervous about speaking in English.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present continuous for future arrangements
Rule: Use am/is/are + verb-ing with a future time to talk about fixed plans in your schedule.Examples: I’m giving a ten minute talk about AI next week; We’re meeting the audience in the main hall; She’s speaking about AI tools at eleven.
Common pitfall + fix: Many learners say “I give a talk next week”. Add am/is/are and -ing → “I’m giving a talk next week”.
Which sentence correctly uses the present continuous for a future plan?
Tip: Look for am/is/are + verb-ing and a clear future time.
Fill with the best answer: Next Thursday I ____ a PechaKucha about AI for my colleagues.
Tip: Use am + verb-ing for fixed arrangements already in your calendar.
2️⃣ Going to for planned content
Rule: Use be going to + verb to talk about plans and intentions for your talk.Examples: The talk is going to show how AI supports our daily work; I’m going to start with a short story; We’re going to finish with one clear message.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes mix will and going to. For clear plans, prefer “going to” → “I’m going to focus on daily examples”.
Choose the sentence that best describes a planned part of the talk.
Tip: Be going to + verb is natural when the plan already exists.
Fill with the best answer: The first slides are ____ how AI supports our daily work.
Tip: Put be + going to before the main verb to show intention.
3️⃣ Can to describe support and ability
Rule: Use can + verb to describe what AI tools or people are able to do.Examples: AI tools can support our daily work; Chatbots can help us draft emails; Image tools can create quick mock ups.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes add to after can. Remove to → say “can help”, not “can to help”.
Which sentence correctly uses can?
Tip: After can, use the base form of the verb without to.
Fill with the best answer: Chatbots ____ us write clear meeting summaries.
Tip: Use can + verb to describe what tools are able to do.
4️⃣ But / although to balance ideas
Rule: Use but or although to introduce a contrasting idea in the same sentence.Examples: I’m excited but I’m also nervous about the talk; AI tools are powerful, but we must stay critical; Although the talk is only ten minutes, it feels like a marathon.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners often forget the second part. Always add a full contrasting clause after but or although.
Which sentence correctly contrasts two ideas?
Tip: Use but once in the sentence and include two complete clauses.
Fill with the best answer: ____ the talk is only ten minutes, it feels like a marathon.
Tip: Start the sentence with although to show a surprising contrast.
✍️ Vocabulary
PechaKucha
Meaning: A fast presentation style with many simple slides and short speaking time.Synonyms: fast presentation, slide talk, lightning talk
Chunk/Idiom: PechaKucha style talk
Example: I’m giving a PechaKucha style talk about AI next week.
Morphology: noun; compound proper noun used for a format.
Self-practice: Describe your next PechaKucha style talk in one sentence.
slide deck
Meaning: A complete set of slides used for a presentation.Synonyms: presentation slides, slide set, PowerPoint file
Chunk/Idiom: build a simple slide deck
Example: She built a simple slide deck with one image per slide.
Morphology: noun phrase; countable noun + noun.
Self-practice: Plan three key slides in your AI slide deck.
outline
Meaning: A basic plan that shows the main points of a talk.Synonyms: plan, structure, overview, framework
Chunk/Idiom: create a clear outline
Example: I wrote a short outline before I designed my slides.
Morphology: noun and verb; here used mainly as a noun.
Self-practice: Write an outline with three sections for your AI talk.
rehearsal
Meaning: A practice performance before the real presentation.Synonyms: practice, run-through, preparation session
Chunk/Idiom: do a timed rehearsal
Example: I did a timed rehearsal to keep my talk under ten minutes.
Morphology: noun; related to the verb rehearse.
Self-practice: Plan a short rehearsal with a timer this week.
audience
Meaning: The group of people who listen to or watch your talk.Synonyms: listeners, public, crowd, participants
Chunk/Idiom: connect with the audience
Example: I try to smile and make eye contact with the audience.
Morphology: noun; singular or plural depending on context.
Self-practice: Write one tip for connecting with your audience.
nervous
Meaning: Feeling worried or afraid before something important happens.Synonyms: anxious, tense, worried, stressed
Chunk/Idiom: feel nervous before a talk
Example: I feel nervous before the talk, but I still go on stage.
Morphology: adjective; related adverb nervously and noun nerves.
Self-practice: Finish the sentence: I feel nervous when I have to ____.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
I’m giving a ten minute talk about AI next week.
AI tools can support our daily work, not replace us.
I’m going to rehearse with a timer before the presentation.
I’m nervous, but the PechaKucha format helps me stay focused.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Which sentence best describes a clear plan for the talk?
Tip: Use be going to + verb for intentions you decided before speaking.
Choose the correct sentence with can.
Tip: After can, use the base form of the verb without to.
Fill with the best answer:
My first slides ____ how AI supports our daily work.Tip: Remember be + going to + verb when the plan already exists.
Fill with the best answer:
____ the talk is short, it still feels like a marathon.Tip: Use although to introduce a surprising contrast at the start of a sentence.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
What is a slide deck?
Tip: Think of all the slides you show during one presentation.
Why does the speaker feel nervous about the talk?
Tip: Focus on who she is speaking to and in which language.
Fill with the best answer:
Before building the slides, she writes a short ____ of the talk.Tip: Use the noun that means plan or structure for a talk.
Fill with the best answer:
Breathing, smiling and making eye contact help her connect with the ____.Tip: Choose the word for the people listening to your talk.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: I’m giving a ten minute PechaKucha talk about AI next week.B: Wow, that sounds exciting. What are you going to focus on?
A: I’m going to show how AI tools can support our daily work.
Why this matters:
Preparing a clear structure and simple language makes short talks much easier to follow. Practising aloud builds confidence and reduces nervous feelings. When you focus on one idea per slide, your audience can really understand your message.Verb & Adjective Pack:
present – I present our AI project to the team.rehearse – She rehearses her talk with a timer.
support – These tools support us with boring tasks.
nervous – He feels nervous before speaking to a big audience.
manageable – Ten minutes feels manageable after a good rehearsal.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: My next slides are ____ how AI supports our daily work.
Tip: Use be going to when the plan for the slides already exists.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: AI tools to can support our daily work, not replace us.
Tip: Remove to after can and keep the rest of the sentence.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
I’m giving a ten minute talk about AI next week.
Tip: Pay attention to the rhythm of “ten minute talk about AI”.