Meetings have always been a part of any working process but productive ones are worth their weight in gold. SmallTalk introduces#nbsp;the Meeting course that simulates formal, informal and online situations. The course helps to solve typical English speaking problems you may face, expands your vocabulary and provides ways to sound more confident.
We’re launching a series of publications with relevant vocabulary, phrases and dialogues to help you shine during your business meeting. Let’s start with formal business meetings.
Vocabulary:
assemble — to come together in a single place or bring parts together in a single group
agenda — a list of matters to be discussed at a meeting
predetermined — decided or arranged at an earlier time
chairperson — a person who is in charge of a meeting, committee, or organization
minutes — the written record of what was said at a meeting
to attain a goal — to achieve a goal
notice — information or a warning about something that is going to happen in the future
Key phrases
- If we are all here, let’s get started.
- I’d like to welcome you all and thank everyone for coming.
- Before we begin, I’d like you to please join me in welcoming …
- I’m afraid … (a position and a name of an attendee) can’t be with us today.
- First, let’s go over the minutes from our last meeting.
- If there is nothing else we need to add here, let’s move on to today’s agenda.
- We’re here today to decide …
- Let me just summarize the main points of the meeting.
Dialogue
Record yourself reading the dialogue. Pay attention to the structure of the meeting and the usage of key phrases.
Evan Butler (Chairman): Good morning, everyone. If we are all here, let’s get started. I’d like to welcome you all and thank everyone for coming. Before we begin, I’d like you to please join me in welcoming Anna Peterson, who recently joined our team.
Anna Peterson (marketer): Hi everyone. Thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to working with you.
Evan Butler (Chairman): Thank you, Anna. It looks like everyone is here today.
Sarah Mason (Head of Marketing): I’m afraid the head of sales department, Henry Foreman, can’t be with us today. He is in Toronto on business at the moment.
Evan Butler (Chairman): Ok. Let’s get down to business. First, let’s go over the minutes from our last meeting which was held on April 14th. Benn, could you please read the notes?
Ben Russell (Assistant): Let me just summarize the main points of the last meeting. We began the meeting by analyzing the current CSI (Customer Satisfaction Index). After that, we discussed and decided on a marketing action plan to improve the satisfaction index. The key ideas developed and discussed in that session are displayed on the screen.
Evan Butler (Chairman): Thank you, Ben. So, if there is nothing else we need to add here, let’s move on to today’s agenda. Have you all received a copy of today’s agenda? … Great.
We’re here today to decide on our new digital marketing strategy for the upcoming launch. We will hear a short report on each point of the agenda, followed by a discussion around the table. We’ll have to keep each item for ten minutes. So, the first item on the agenda is a partnership with influencers. Pete, would you like to kick-off? (presentation and discussion of the agenda)
Evan Butler (Chairman): Okay, now that we’ve covered most of the business. If no one has anything else to add, then I think we’ll wrap this up. Let’s just summarize the main points ….
Ben Russell (Assistant): Can we fix the next meeting, please?
Evan Butler (Chairman): Good idea Ben. The next meeting will be on Monday, the 20th of May at 10.00. Is that OK for everyone? Excellent. Thank you all for your participation and I’ll see you next Thursday. The meeting is closed.
If you’d like to continue practicing for your upcoming meeting, start passing the course.
You’re also welcome to check out other SmallTalk courses here.
