How to handle audience questions in a foreign language?

Confirm your language skills or use an interpreter. Here’re 3 considerations:

1. Enunciate + speak plainly + pace yourself. What NOT to do: speak demonstrably slow or in a high volume – dramatic vocal devices won’t help if they don’t understand what you say. Because you must be able to comprehend the questions before addressing them, assess ahead of time your speaking and listening skills in the audience’s language and have a backup plan.
2. If using an interpreter, pause intentionally to let them translate. The intervals make the interpreting feel integrated and build anticipation in the audience.
3. Show your diversity mindset! In a multicultural country like the United States, a less spoken language doesn’t necessarily make it “foreign” – it’s just not the English language.

Also see: tip on presenting to a global audience

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