「学生の英語運用能力向上の取り組みーブリトン助教授の『プレゼンテーション』の授業について」
総合教育研究機構・英語グループ (2007.01.22掲載)

 

総合教育研究機構・英語グループでは、学生の英語運用能力の向上を目標に、各担当者の個性を生かした様々な授業が提供されています。今回の特集では、その中でも「プレゼンテーション」という技法を授業に取り入れ、ユニークな授業を展開されているブリトン助教授に、授業の内容や苦心されている点などについてお聞きしました。ブリトン助教授は、本学の英語教育は言うに及ばず、授業以外でもESSクラブを西日本No.1のクラブに育て上げ、ここ数年間で国内のみならずアジア地区においてもスピーチ大会やディベート大会において優勝させるなど、顧問として目覚ましい活躍をされています。以下は、その要旨です。

　ENGLISH STUDIES 　　　Joseph Britton

Today, we live in a world of rapid change fostered by an ever-increasing complexity in science, the economy, politics, and relationships. To understand, to manage, and to properly influence these vital areas of our society require sophisticated skills in communication. Within the English classes at Osaka Prefecture University students are given the foundations to face these communication challenges.

Our English classes are based upon how to give professional presentations. This includes the areas of introductions, conducting and taking interviews, giving speeches, and communicating with others in a professional and refined manner. Introductions set the stage, the atmosphere, for accepting and appreciating the person being introduced. An interview moves to the core of one's sense of identity, security, life purpose and confidence. It requires expressing one's best qualities in a coherent, convincing and well-understood manner. Speeches are the universal format for professionally presenting your ideas and establishing respect and honor among your audience and colleagues. High level communication abilities, along with in-depth work based knowledge, are the two most sought after skills for employment.

For success in business meetings, teaching, speaking at conferences, sales work, political speeches, corporate meetings, or one's personal life learning how to communicate with distinction and a sense of purpose is essential. Today, the international language for business is English. By combining a more precise and elegant English with the skill of professional presentations gives confidence, strength and gracefulness to the speaker, and in turn, respect and trust from the audience or listener.

Our students learn how to discuss such diverse topics as science, computers, robotics, economics, engineering, the environment, sociology, politics, health, and international affairs. The focus is on issues relevant to our students today. As these students shall be our leaders of tomorrow they are trained how to: 1. develop new ideas 2. read and research topics in English to provide evidence for supporting the theme 3. analyze data and information 4. logically organize a speech 5. summarize and write about these ideas in a report, and finally 6. speak clearly and convincingly in English about their conclusions in a manner that's easy for all to understand. As part of this exercise the students are often encouraged to express their thoughts, solutions, and directions for creating a healthy and prosperous society.

A presentation is generally divided into 2 parts: the content - the information that you are expressing; and the style - how you are expressing it.

Content comprises the words, expressions, and ideas forming your topic of discussion.

Style is a vital aspect for understanding what is spoken. It consists of how you hold the attention of the audience; inspire and persuade others of your ideas; properly pronounce your words; along with using voice projection, rhythm and pitch variation. Well informed content combined with a graceful style comprise a noteworthy presentation.

Using the foundations of English that the students have acquired prior to entering Osaka Prefecture University, the basic skills of reading, writing and expression are enhanced. The classes are demanding, yet stimulating, as they require deep thought, research, writing a speech presentation in English, and finally speaking in English with confidence. By the end of the year, the students will have the know-how and a great deal of practice in communicating professionally. This will prepare them to talk knowledgably about important topics here in Japan and certainly internationally. They will have developed the skills to present themselves with dignity, their family honorably and, in turn, Osaka Prefecture University with distinction.

要旨：
　ますます複雑化する現代社会においては、自分の考えをはっきり述べ、相手に的確に伝えるコミュニケーションの能力が以前にもまして重要になってきています。授業では、このことをふまえ、学生の「プレゼンテーション」能力を向上させることを重視しています。私の指導は、長年にわたる企業の経営幹部らトップ集団への「プロフェッショナル・プレゼンテーション」の指導経験に基づいており、極めて実用的・実践的なものです。したがって、学生は就職の面接時や実社会に出ても、魅力的で印象的なプレゼンテーションをおこなうことができるようになるでしょう。
「プレゼンテーション」に関して私が授業で学生に求めるのは、(1)独自の考えを持ち、発表するテーマを決める。(2)そのテーマの論拠となるトピックスをリサーチし、さまざまな情報を分析し、論理的に論を組み立ててゆく。(3)これをレポートに仕上げ、(4)最後に自信を持って英語ではっきりと明瞭に発表する。これは学生にとってかなりハードな課題ですが、この訓練を繰り返すことにより、１年後には非常に多くの学生が自分の意見を英語で明確に発表する能力を身につけています。以上のように、私の授業は、単に英語を聞きしゃべる時間ではなく、常に「英語を通して論理的に思考し、発表する」訓練の場となっています。

文責　関口敬二