Research Presentation

[CuteElectron]

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I'm doing summer research right now and in two weeks I have a presentation to do during lab meeting.
I'm really scared and worried right now....
Currently I'm only 3 weeks into first structured research and I haven't had any progress in research because I spent the last 3 weeks only reading papers and doing menial tasks. I don't really have what to say during presentation.
Also, English is my 2nd language and I'm really bad at it, especially speaking.

Every day until then feels like a nightmare. I'm really scared. I don't want to look stupid or get embarrassed during presentation due to my language barrier and weirdness.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Textuality]

Breathe.

Most people get jittery when making presentations or talking in front of a crowd, it'd normal. You still have 2 weeks left, so you should probably buckle down and work on something that you can present at your lab meeting.

I don't know about your lab, but at ours, the weekly meetings were more informal updates on progress, and less like a formal poster presentation. If you're worried about language, write out what you want to say before hand, and practice it out loud a few times, and then use note cards on the day of to help you get through it. 🙂 Anyways, good luck!

 

[BluePhoenix]

Don't worry too much...it'll be ok. If you're worried about format or haven't had a group meeting yet, talk to people that have been in the lab for a while to see what's expected. The people in the lab know that you just got there and they're not going to expect you to have a full talk's worth of work to talk about.

Start off with just a statement of what you're working on. Talk about what you're doing, any interesting articles you found, that sort of thing. Practice going through your slides so you have an idea of what to say. If you've got any questions, you can ask questions then too...or for insight or help on a technique.

Everyone gets nervous before a talk, especially if it's not something they do all the time. Once you get more comfortable around labmates it becomes no big deal. If it helps to make notes, do that, or use more text on your slides than usual (it's not a talk to the outside so it's ok to use them as a crutch if you're the type that gets nervous and blanks out or can't think of the correct words). If you really worry about them not understanding, just make sure to make clear slides with all the important information on it.

And don't worry about what people think...at most of the lab meetings I've been to...half the people were only half paying attention anyway. No one's really looking for a polished professional talk at a lab meeting, just get your work across and it'll be over before you know it.

 

[menotyou7]

Relax. I'm currently a 5th year doctoral candidate finishing up my PhD in microbiology and immunology. Here is the secret that no one bothers to tell the summer students: There is no way you have enough time to accomplish anything in one summer. You are in the lab to learn. The lab does not expect to actually get anything out of you. Relax. During your meeting, just tell them what you learned. Oh, and be excited about it. That always goes over well.

Good luck!

 

[Concordia]

You will be fine.
The first time I had to give a presentation, I set up a meeting with my PI to go over what she wanted me to talk about and to have her listen to what I was prepared to talk about.
And don't worry about the language thing. Most people are pretty understanding when it comes to that. Just take your time.

Good luck.

 

[akzeno]

Here's your answer: Relax, everything will be okay.

 

[moe_4eva]

In all seriousness, have you thought about seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist? You seem to have quite a few issues based off of your previous posts, and it seems your only outlet is this forum. It may help to speak to someone with some experience. Speaking with your peers is good, but like I said, I don't believe that your problems are quite as simple as can be worked out here. If you truly plan on being a physician, working out these problems will be instrumental in being successful.

 

[Hemichordate]

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[ysk1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv6kZM0Le-w&NR=1