Challenges facing Thai professionals when giving English presentations

Abstract

Giving effective English presentations in international business settings is a vital skill and a major challenge to non-native English speakers. However, there has been no extensive research on this subject in the Thai business context. This study investigates the challenges of teaching English presentation skills and the ways of improving teaching in relation to workplace demands. A mixed-method approach was employed to collect data on Thai professionals’ challenges in giving presentations. A questionnaire was utilised to identify the challenges, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding. The findings revealed that insufficient English proficiency affected planning, organisation, and delivery of presentations, resulting in anxiety. The teaching of giving presentations in university was found to be irrelevant to the presentation skills required in the workplace. These findings may have important pedagogical implications for stakeholders in academia. Therefore, it may be necessary to emphasise the required presentation skills in terms of effective planning, organising, and delivering business presentations and revise the current teaching practices to better cater for workplace demands. © 2024 Taylor & Francis.