Presentation Day Prep

Overview

This 60-minute lesson is Lesson 16 in the Year 13 "Samoan Spoken Mastery" language unit. It focuses on preparing students for their upcoming presentations in Samoan by discussing and practising strategies to manage nerves and deliver with confidence. The lesson aligns closely with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, particularly drawing on the learning framework for Languages and the development of key competencies (managing self, using language, symbols, and texts, relating to others) and the specific objectives related to presenting and interpersonal communication.

Class size: 20 students

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Prepare effectively for our Samoan presentations.
• Identify and use strategies to manage presentation anxiety.
• Build confidence through rehearsal and peer feedback.
• Understand the importance of audience awareness and non-verbal communication in presentations.

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Curriculum Links

Learning area: Learning Languages (Samoan) – Year 13

• Communicating: Plan and deliver well-structured presentations in Samoan, tailored for a specific audience and context.
• Key Competencies:
  • Managing Self: Develop self-awareness of nerves and strategies to regulate and manage emotions.
  • Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Organise and use language effectively to convey ideas clearly.
  • Relating to Others: Respond constructively to feedback and audience cues.
• Achievement Objective Highlight:
  • Plan and adapt the content of oral presentations for specific audiences and contexts to communicate effectively and confidently.
  • Use appropriate non-verbal communication to support verbal messages, including body language and voice modulation.

(Adapted from the Learning Languages section of the NZ Curriculum Refresh and Te Mātaiaho English resource principles on presenting and interpersonal communication.)

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Success Criteria

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of strategies to control nerves before and during presentation.
• Deliver a confident practice presentation using appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Identify and give constructive feedback to peers about presentation strengths and areas for improvement.
• Show awareness of audience engagement strategies.

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Lesson Plan – 60 minutes

Time	Activity	Description	Resources & Notes	Differentiation
0-10m	Introduction & Warming Up	- Briefly review the purpose of the presentations. - Discuss common feelings of nerves and why they happen.	Whiteboard, students’ prior notes	Use visual mind map linking nerves + strategies for visual learners. Encourage expression using familiar Samoan vocabulary.
10-20m	Group Brainstorm: Nerves Management	- In groups of 4, students brainstorm strategies to manage presentation nerves (e.g., breathing, positive self-talk). - Groups share ideas with class and teacher records key points.	Poster paper, markers	Provide sentence stems for EAL learners (e.g., “I feel nervous when...”, “I calm myself by...”)
20-30m	Teacher-led Discussion: Confident Delivery	- Teacher models confident presentation behaviours (voice modulation, posture, eye contact). - Highlight non-verbal cues and cultural considerations in Samoan presentations (e.g., respectful body language).	Video clips of effective presenters or teacher demonstration	Scaffold peer observation checklists for students with communication needs.
30-45m	Paired Practice: Presentation Rehearsal	- Students rehearse their presentations in pairs practicing calming strategies and delivery. - Partners provide positive and constructive feedback using a guided feedback sheet.	Feedback sheets, timers	Allow extended practice time for students needing it. Advanced learners challenged to incorporate storytelling or humour elements.
45-55m	Class Sharing & Reflection	- Volunteers share a 1-2 minute section of their presentation with the class. - Group discussion on what strategies worked well and how to build on strengths.	Classroom seating arrangement for sharing	Sensitive students may choose to share with teacher only or a trusted peer.
55-60m	Wrap-up and Next Steps	- Review success criteria. - Set personal goals for presentation day. - Teacher reminds students of resources/supports available.	Goal-setting template	Provide goal-setting sentence starters for learners needing language support.

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Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

• Prepare an additional short impromptu speech on a related Samoan cultural topic, practising quick thinking and language flexibility.
• Research and analyse a famous Samoan or Pacific Island orator, identifying effective techniques for persuasive speaking.
• Mentor peers who have higher nervousness or language challenges, sharing coping strategies and feedback.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use sentence stems, visual aids, and language frames to support EAL students and those with language delays.
• Offer varied modes for rehearsal (e.g., video recording, small peer groups) to accommodate different anxiety levels.
• Provide written and oral instructions with ample wait time.
• Use peer and self-assessment scaffolds to guide reflection and feedback processes.
• Allow flexible groupings and personalised feedback sessions.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Informal formative: Observation during pair practice and group discussions noting use of strategies and language accuracy.
• Peer feedback using guided sheets assessing clarity, fluency, and confidence.
• Self-reflection journal entry on what was learned about managing nerves and improving delivery.
• Teacher notes on observed progress towards confident spoken language use in preparation for the final presentation.

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This lesson strongly embodies the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh emphasis on teaching effective communication in an additional language, including the mindful development of self-regulation strategies (Managing Self competency) and intentional use of non-verbal communication for audience engagement. The carefully scaffolded activities and inclusion of culturally responsive teaching respects students' identities in line with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles embedded in the curriculum design.

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If you would like, I can also prepare a detailed handout or peer feedback templates to support this lesson.