When speaking at a Polish university a few years ago, one of your authors expected to begin promptly at 11:00 a.m., as announced in the program and on posters. By 11:10, it was clear that the speech would not begin on time, and your author began to despair of having any audience at all. In Poland, it turns out, both students and professors expect to adhere to the “academic quarter.” In other words, most lectures begin at least fifteen minutes (a quarter of an hour) after the announced starting time. If your author had asked a Polish professor about the audience’s expectations, he would have known about this custom in advance. One way to avoid such misunderstandings is to talk with people you know who are familiar with the cultural expectations. Try to observe other speakers presenting to similar audiences. Ask specific questions, including the following:
1. Where does the audience expect me to stand while speaking?
2. Do listeners expect direct eye contact?
3. When will the audience expect me to start and stop my talk?
4. Will listeners find movement and gestures distracting or welcome?
5. Do listeners expect presentation aids?
