i agree with Pup. definitely know your story before you get there. your written English looks good to me. if it is of any consolation, English is my third language and i often feel the same before presentations. But am always surprised at how my English seems to be up to standard in conferences. Don't worry English in academia is very different from street English. You will be able to understand everyone and be understood by them. Remember, they are interested in the content of your paper and not in how you are pronouncing everything. By the way that reminds me that the best presentation in my subject area group last year was by an asian guy whose English wasn't all that - the odd hiccups here and there, but no one could miss the passion he had for his argument and how well he demonstrated it. believe in yourself and again, it's not an examination - so forget about being judged. . you'll be fine!

thanks sylvester!

hello everyone,

am very new to Endnote so excuse me if this question is very basic. I've done one of my chapters using Endnote and now i want to use it for the rest of the chapters of my thesis. Do i open a new library or do I use one library for the whole thesis?

regarding being scared - i can totally relate to that. just 'be yourself.' don't try to be someone else, to be better than you actually are, or to be too scared to produce the quality that you actually are. see them as peers not examiners and you will be fine. try to anticipate the questions and prepare some answers before hand - maybe by presenting to a friend in your field? if there's a shocker - totally unexpected, say, ' That's a very good question. I've never thought about it that way. What does anyone else think?' Pass the question to the floor. There is always someone else who knows the answer.

having done two conference presentations, I would say NEVER read from your paper.

1. It bores the audience.
2. Makes you look 'not very intelligent' (for want of a better word) and unable to coherently express your ideas.
3. No one will know what you're on about unless they've read your paper beforehand. So they won't ask questions. Which is what you don't want. Otherwise why bother going to a conference in the first place.

I always say - show off your work. Use one slide for every two minutes of your presentation. Don't flip them so fast, give the audience a chance to digest the slide - expecially the diagrams. Secondly, don't overcrowd them will all you know - just main points. And don't read - show them you know your stuff. They will be more interested and the whole experience will help your presentation skills (coherence) for your viva - eventually.

bazzab!!!!!!!!!! good to see you again. i knew you weren't for real!

if i were you, i'd make the most of the three months catching up and then reflect thereafter, based on what I have achieved then. It is only in that context that reflecting will be of any help. Otherwise, you will be reflecting based on your previous performance. Sounds like an opportunity for a fresh start. Do your best and see what happens and then make a decision after that.

Don't feel you're the only one, am in a pretty similar situation. My supervisors ain't that sensitive though. Sounds like yours still believe in you - which is not something to take for granted. All the best.

I'd rather do my PhD which offers some flexibility and i suppose that's why academia seems attractive at times. Only reason am returning to industry is to get some experience, to improve my perspectives on things. At least in academia, you can have a life. Unless you choose to, you don't have to do 9 to 5, Mon to Friday. You can pursue other interests on the side. There is more to life Ally, than sticking to a job that isn't fulfilling; you will make good money, but have few memories. Passion resides in the heart, not in the mind. . You can control your mind, but the heart is difficult to align to stuff you ain't really interested in. Hope that helps, if it confuses you, remember - only you can decide what's good for you.

Lady Ally.t - The Queen appreciates your modesty in using your title.

For me, I knew I wouldn't be happier elsewhere, i'e. in industry and even though the PhD was gonna be hard, I knew it was what I wanted to do. Money has never been a factor in my decision. For me, my hapiness comes first and then the possibility of a good salary later. Although I do not deny that lack of money can make one miserable and that I intend to make good money when am done. Had I gone to industry i would have had a great job, huge career prospects and that. I do not intent to end up in academia full time and doing my PhD has nothing to do with my wanting to be a full time academic. I will return to industry and teach part-time should the opportunity arise. I intend to do a bit of writing in my time, so i deem a PhD appropriate for me to write to a high standard in my field. I would never chose to do a 9 to 5 job anyday.

oops, that was meant to be, 'from this day henceforth, i declare you Princess SixKitten. You shall be entitled to anything you ask within the bounds of this great kingdom.'

Let the Queen have no word of this.

The Queen's Buttler.

wishing you the best ryan..

from this day henceforth, i declare you Princess SixKitten. You shall entitled to anything you ask within the bounds of this great kingdom.

again, no pun intended

Otto - no pun was intended in my previous statement and being referred to as a queen is something. lol. thanks.

am working as well. preparing for my next supervisor meeting.

venturin12 - i think my comments are rather straight forward if read with an open mind. My contributions now henceforth will be directed towards answering ally's questions and not clarifying the obvious.