How to Give a Presentation in English: 25 Useful Phrases for Indonesian University Students

Speaking in front of a class is challenging enough. Doing it in English can feel even harder, especially when you know the content but cannot find the right words quickly.

The good news is that academic presentations follow a clear pattern. Once you know the right phrases for opening, explaining, moving between points and closing, your presentation becomes easier to organise and easier for your audience to follow.

This guide from ESLTESOL.com gives practical English presentation phrases for university students, with Indonesian translations, examples, common grammar mistakes, a short sample presentation, speaking exercises and FAQs.

A clear classroom scene helps students connect English phrases with real presentation practice.

Why presentation phrases matter

A good English presentation is not only about grammar. It is also about structure.

Clear phrases help you:

• start confidently

• introduce your topic

• guide your audience through each point

• explain examples and evidence

• finish politely

• answer questions with confidence

  
  

For Indonesian university students, memorising a few useful expressions can make a big difference. These phrases are especially helpful when preparing contoh presentasi bahasa Inggris untuk mahasiswa, class projects, thesis proposal presentations or group assignments.

They also help with cara presentasi bahasa Inggris in a more formal academic style, without sounding too stiff.

25 useful English presentation phrases with Indonesian translations

Use these phrases as building blocks. You do not need to use all 25 in one presentation. Choose the ones that fit your topic and speaking time.

No.	English phrase	Indonesian translation	Example
1	Good morning/afternoon, everyone.	Selamat pagi/siang/sore semuanya.	Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming to our presentation.
2	Thank you for being here today.	Terima kasih sudah hadir hari ini.	Thank you for being here today. We are happy to share our research.
3	My name is ..., and today I’m going to talk about ...	Nama saya ..., dan hari ini saya akan berbicara tentang ...	My name is Rina, and today I’m going to talk about online learning.
4	The topic of my presentation is ...	Topik presentasi saya adalah ...	The topic of my presentation is renewable energy in Indonesia.
5	This presentation will take about ... minutes.	Presentasi ini akan berlangsung sekitar ... menit.	This presentation will take about ten minutes.
6	I’ll begin by ..., then I’ll ..., and finally I’ll ...	Saya akan mulai dengan ..., lalu saya akan ..., dan terakhir saya akan ...	I’ll begin by explaining the problem, then I’ll discuss the data, and finally I’ll give recommendations.
7	Please feel free to ask questions at the end.	Silakan bertanya di akhir presentasi.	Please feel free to ask questions at the end.
8	Let’s start with ...	Mari kita mulai dengan ...	Let’s start with the background of the study.
9	The first point I’d like to discuss is ...	Poin pertama yang ingin saya bahas adalah ...	The first point I’d like to discuss is student motivation.
10	Now let’s move on to ...	Sekarang mari kita lanjut ke ...	Now let’s move on to the research findings.
11	This leads us to the next point.	Hal ini membawa kita ke poin berikutnya.	This leads us to the next point, which is the role of technology.
12	For example, ...	Contohnya, ...	For example, many students use mobile apps to practise English.
13	According to ...	Menurut ...	According to the survey results, most students prefer blended learning.
14	As you can see on this slide, ...	Seperti yang dapat Anda lihat pada slide ini, ...	As you can see on this slide, the number increased in 2024.
15	In other words, ...	Dengan kata lain, ...	In other words, students need more speaking practice.
16	This means that ...	Ini berarti bahwa ...	This means that online learning can support classroom learning.
17	One reason for this is ...	Salah satu alasan untuk hal ini adalah ...	One reason for this is the flexibility of online study.
18	The main advantage is ...	Keuntungan utamanya adalah ...	The main advantage is that students can learn at their own pace.
19	On the other hand, ...	Di sisi lain, ...	On the other hand, some students have internet connection problems.
20	I’d like to highlight ...	Saya ingin menyoroti ...	I’d like to highlight the importance of regular practice.
21	To summarise, ...	Untuk merangkum, ...	To summarise, online learning has both benefits and challenges.
22	The key takeaway is ...	Hal utama yang perlu diingat adalah ...	The key takeaway is that students need support and motivation.
23	That brings me to the end of my presentation.	Sampailah saya pada akhir presentasi saya.	That brings me to the end of my presentation.
24	Thank you for listening.	Terima kasih sudah mendengarkan.	Thank you for listening.
25	Do you have any questions?	Apakah ada pertanyaan?	Do you have any questions?

How to use opening phrases naturally

The opening is where many students feel nervous. A simple structure works best.

Start with a greeting, introduce yourself, introduce the topic and explain the structure. This is the most useful pattern for kalimat pembuka presentasi bahasa Inggris.

Example opening

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today. My name is Rina, and today I’m going to talk about online learning for university students. This presentation will take about ten minutes. I’ll begin by explaining the background, then I’ll discuss the main benefits, and finally I’ll give some recommendations. Please feel free to ask questions at the end.

This opening is clear, polite and easy to follow.

It tells the audience:

• who is speaking

• what the topic is

• how long the talk will take

• what the structure will be

• when they can ask questions

  
  

That is enough. You do not need a long introduction.

Writing phrases by hand can make them easier to remember before speaking practice.

Common grammar mistakes in English presentations

Many presentation mistakes come from translating directly from Indonesian into English. Below are common errors and better versions.

Common mistake	Better English	Why it is better
Today I will presentation about education.	Today I’m going to give a presentation about education.	`Presentation` is a noun. Use `give a presentation`.
I want to explain about the problem.	I want to explain the problem.	Do not use `about` after `explain`.
We will discuss about the results.	We will discuss the results.	Do not use `about` after `discuss`.
According to me, online learning is useful.	In my opinion, online learning is useful.	Use `in my opinion` for your own view.
I’m agree with this idea.	I agree with this idea.	`Agree` is a verb, not an adjective.
In this slide, you can see the data.	On this slide, you can see the data.	Use `on this slide`, not `in this slide`.
Can you repeat again?	Could you repeat that, please?	`Repeat again` is unnecessary.
Thanks for your attention.	Thank you for listening.	This sounds more natural in presentations.

A note about polite language

In English, direct language can sound too strong if you use it without softening phrases. For questions, use:

• Could you repeat that, please?

• Could you explain your question again, please?

• That’s a good question.

• Let me answer that in two parts.

  
  

These phrases help you sound calm and respectful, even when you need extra time to think.

Sample presentation for university students

Here is a short sample presentation using several of the 25 phrases. You can adapt it for your own topic.

Topic example

The benefits and challenges of online learning for university students

Sample presentation

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today.

My name is Rina, and today I’m going to talk about online learning for university students. The topic of my presentation is the benefits and challenges of online learning in higher education.

This presentation will take about five minutes. I’ll begin by explaining the background, then I’ll discuss the main benefits, and finally I’ll talk about the challenges. Please feel free to ask questions at the end.

Let’s start with the background. Online learning became more common because students and lecturers needed flexible ways to study and teach.

The first point I’d like to discuss is flexibility. Students can access materials from different places and review lessons when they need to. For example, they can watch recorded lectures before an exam.

Now let’s move on to the challenges. As you can see on this slide, not all students have the same internet access. This means that online learning may be difficult for students in some areas.

On the other hand, online learning can support independent study. One reason for this is that students can manage their own learning time.

To summarise, online learning has clear benefits, but it also has challenges. The key takeaway is that students need good access, clear materials and regular support.

That brings me to the end of my presentation. Thank you for listening. Do you have any questions?

Speaking exercises to practise at home

Knowing phrases is useful. Saying them clearly is better. Use these exercises to build fluency before your next class presentation.

Exercise 1

Practise the opening

Choose one topic from your university course. Then complete these sentences:

• Good morning/afternoon, everyone.

• My name is ...

• Today I’m going to talk about ...

• This presentation will take about ... minutes.

• I’ll begin by ..., then I’ll ..., and finally I’ll ...

• Please feel free to ask questions at the end.

  
  

Practise three times. Record your voice on your phone. Listen for pronunciation, speed and clarity.

Exercise 2

Connect your ideas

Use these phrases to move between points:

• Let’s start with ...

• Now let’s move on to ...

• This leads us to the next point.

• On the other hand, ...

  
  

Choose a topic such as tourism, education, social media, public transport or the environment. Speak for one minute using at least three connecting phrases.

Exercise 3

Explain a slide

Look at a chart, photo or diagram from one of your assignments. Practise these sentences:

• As you can see on this slide, ...

• This means that ...

• One reason for this is ...

• I’d like to highlight ...

  
  

This exercise is useful for seminar presentations and thesis proposal practice.

Exercise 4

Practise the ending

Many students speak well at the beginning but finish too quickly. Practise a clear ending:

• To summarise, ...

• The key takeaway is ...

• That brings me to the end of my presentation.

• Thank you for listening.

• Do you have any questions?

  
  

A strong ending helps the audience remember your main message.

FAQs about giving English presentations

How can I start a presentation in English?

Use a simple greeting, introduce yourself and state your topic. For example: “Good morning, everyone. My name is Andi, and today I’m going to talk about renewable energy.”

How many phrases should I memorise?

Start with five to seven phrases. Learn one opening phrase, two transition phrases, two explanation phrases and two closing phrases. Add more when you feel confident.

Is it okay to read from notes?

Yes, but do not read every sentence. Use notes with keywords and short phrases. Look at the audience often so your presentation sounds more natural.

What should I say if I do not understand a question?

Stay calm and ask politely. You can say, “Could you repeat that, please?” or “Could you explain your question again, please?”

How can I sound more confident?

Speak a little slower than normal, pause between points and practise your opening several times. Confidence often improves when your structure is clear.

Learn English presentation skills with ESLTESOL

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Andrew is a Licensed Teacher, Australian Trainer & Assessor, with 25+ years teaching experience. His teaching focuses on practical English that learners can use in study, work and real conversations.

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