
Attendance: in person
Mastering Academic Presentations & Networking: Practical Workshop
Who?
This intensive workshop is designed for PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and academic staff who wish to strengthen their presentation and communication skills in English. It is particularly suitable for researchers preparing to present their work at international conferences, research seminars, workshops, grant interviews, or public academic events. Capacity: 10–14 participants
What?
Participants will learn how to design clear, engaging, and persuasive research presentations tailored to academic audiences. The workshop covers the preparation of content, structure, and visual support, as well as effective delivery techniques that enhance clarity, credibility, and audience engagement. Special attention will be paid to communicating complex ideas in accessible English, using appropriate academic language and rhetorical strategies, and adapting presentations to different audiences and contexts.
Why?
In addition to presentation design and delivery, the workshop addresses common challenges associated with public speaking, including performance anxiety, stress management, and building confidence when speaking in English. Participants will explore practical techniques for engaging audiences, handling questions, and creating a professional presence.
How?
The workshop combines brief theoretical input with interactive activities. Participants are encouraged to prepare/bring one slide summing up their current research focus, which will serve as a basis for individualised feedback throughout the workshop.
The workshop will be held in English (recommended level is B1+ and above).
Due to limited capacity, early registration is recommended.
The course is primarily intended for junior researchers at the Institute of Philosophy; however, due to available capacity, we are opening the training to all.
Veronika Quinn Novotná holds a PhD in English Linguistics from the Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, where she also completed her MA in English and German Philology. She has taught applied linguistics and academic soft skills at several universities and currently teaches at the Faculty of Education, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. Alongside her academic work, she regularly publishes and presents internationally on English as a Lingua Franca and Global Englishes, and served as the principal organiser of the 14th International Conference on English as a Lingua Franca (ELF14, 2024).
Since 2016, Veronika has specialised in delivering tailored workshops on academic presentation skills for researchers, MA and PhD students at the Czech Academy of Sciences and other research institutions and universities. A passionate lecturer and mentor, she helps scholars develop confident, clear, and persuasive public speaking in English, combining linguistic expertise with practical strategies for high-impact academic presentations.