How to start a presentation in English — workplace video lesson

Giving a presentation in English can feel stressful — especially when it’s important. In this short lesson, you’ll watch a video from the BBC Learning English series English at Work, learn useful phrases for structuring a presentation and practise your own confident introduction.

This lesson is designed for B1–B2 level professionals who use English at work or in international teams.

🎥 Watch the video

Summary: Anna is preparing to present her company’s product, the Imperial Lemon. She learns how to start her talk clearly and stay calm — until the projector stops working!

English at work - The big day

👂 While you watch

Try to answer some questions.

1. What is Anna worried about before the presentation?

→ She’s scared that she’ll mess up and lose the business deal with Citrus Ventures. She feels nervous and unsure how to begin her presentation.

2. What phrases does she practise with the narrator?

“Today I’m going to…”

“I’ll start by…”

“Then I’m going to move on to…”

“And finally…”

3. How does she structure her introduction?

→ She welcomes the audience, says she will begin by talking about her company, then move on to explain the new product and finally invite questions and a closer look at the product.

4. What goes wrong at the end of the video?

→ Her presentation slides don’t work — the computer seems to freeze and she struggles to fix it.

5. How do you think Anna handles the situation?

→ At first, she panics a little, but she keeps going and tries to stay calm. She uses the phrases she practised, which help her sound confident and professional.

🧩 Useful phrases for starting a presentation

Use these expressions to sound clear and professional:

  • “Today I’m going to…”
  • “I’ll start by…”
  • “Then I’m going to move on to…”

💡 These phrases help your audience know what to expect and make you feel more in control.

🗣 Speaking activity: Your turn to present

Imagine you are giving a short presentation about one of these topics:

  • Your current job or team
  • A product or service from your company
  • A professional skill you have learned

Write a short introduction using the phrases above. Then practise saying it aloud or record yourself. If you’re in a group, give your introductions to each other and give feedback.

Try to include:

  • A welcome and your name
  • A clear structure using the four key phrases
  • Confident, polite delivery

Presentation Phrases Quiz

What phrases can be used at the start of a presentation?

What phrases can be used to signal a transition between topics?

What phrases can be used to give more details?

What phrases can be used to explain visuals?

💼 Want to feel more confident at work in English?

Our Communication at Work course helps you practise presentations, meetings and real-world English for international teamwork.

Find out more

Communication at work Business English