Business Meetings

Here are some tips for speaking in meetings. Which ones do you agree with?

• Speak only if you have something important to say.

• Let people finish their points before you speak - never interrupt.

• On your turn, speak for as long as possible.

• It’s OK to interrupt someone.

• It’s OK to make grammar mistakes, as long as people understand you.

Have you ever taken part in discussion with a large group of people? If you have, how did you feel when you had to speak? Look at some things that people say about speaking in meetings. Tick the ones you agree with.

• It’s difficult to think of the right words.

• I always have a lot to say.

• I don’t like it when people disagree with me.

• People are always interrupting me.

• I’m not sure if people always understand me.

Look at this agenda. How many people will attend the meeting?

• 5

• 2

• 7

• 10

Look at the agenda again. What is Carla’s role?

• Chairperson

• Participant

• Minutes

• Vice President

Look at the agenda once more. What is the meeting about?

• taking the minutes

• daily activities

• chairing the meeting

• planning the visit of exchange students

Listen to the dialogue in Google Class task (audio 16) first. The speakers agree about a ...

(a)  

Listen to the dialogue once more. Tom and Ella disagree about ...

• the celebration

• the party

• a band

• a DJ

Is everyone here? I have received just one ... from Celia.

• approving the minutes

• introduce the first item

• apology for absence

• stick to the agenda

Now, there is a lot to discuss today, so let's try to ...

• close the meeting

• stick to the agenda

• approving the minutes

• break for coffee

Now, Antonio,we haven't heard from you. Do you ... on this issue?

• have any views

• see your point

• getting side-tracked

• take a vote