Meeting

In this unit students will listen to and able to use expressions used in a
meeting discussion
6

Before Listening

❑ Rules of Business Meeting Etiquette

✓ Arrival: Arrive at the location at least 15 minutes early.
✓ Be prepared: each participant should come to the meeting with all of
the materials and data needed.
✓ Breaks: Meeting should have a break every two hours.
✓ Attire: Participants should follow the rule and what kind of attire is
required.
✓ Speaking: Keep the meeting organized by only speaking when you have
the floor. Do not interrupt someone while he/she is speaking or asking
a question.
✓ Listen: Listen attentively to the meeting and take notes.
✓ Cell phones and laptops: Turn off your cell phone prior to the start of
the meeting.
✓ Guests: Do not bring unannounced guests to a meeting.
Adapted form https://smallbusiness.chron.com/10-rules-proper-business-meeting-etiquette-2857.html

: LISTENING | 1
controlling the discussion in meetings

Exercise 1: Three managers of Fitstart, a sport-shoe manufacturer, are

discussing a new sales campaign in Central Europe. Listen and complete the notes.

❑ ADVERTISING
❑ Money spent last year _______________________________

❑ Budget this year _____________________________________

❑ Extra money to be used for _______________________________________________

❑ SALES
❑ This year _______________________________

❑ Next two years _____________________________________

❑ Key markets the Czech Republic, _______________________, _________________

Exercise 2: The sentences in B are the follow-up sentences to A. Match 1 – 6

with a – f and then listen and check your answers.

A B
1. We’re here today to talk about Central a. Can we sum up what we’ve
Europe. agreed?
2. Sorry, I didn’t catch that. b. Could you be more specific?
3. We’re getting off the subject. c. What was that you said?
4. OK, I think we’ve covered advertising. d. Can we move on to the next point?
5. Sorry, I’m not with you. e. Can we come back to that later?
6. I think that’s everything. f. We need to discuss our new
marketing campaign.

2 | : LISTENING
 USEFUL EXPRESSION

CONTROLLING THE DISCUSSION IN MEETINGS

❑ Introducing the subject:
✓ We’re here to talk about ...
✓ We need to discuss ...

❑ Saying you didn’t hear:

✓ Sorry I didn’t catch that.
✓ What was that you said?

❑ Saying you didn’t understand:

✓ Sorry, I’m not with you.
✓ Could you be more specific?

❑ Keeping to the right subject:

✓ We’re getting off the subject.
✓ Can we come back to that later?

❑ Changing the subject:

✓ I think we’ve covered (this point).
✓ Can we move on to (the next point)?

❑ Closing the meeting:

✓ I think that’s everything.
✓ Can we sum up what we’ve agreed?

How to interrupt and avoid interruption

Exercise 3: Listen to two people talking about relocation and answer the
questions.

1. What exactly are they talking about?

2. Do they agree or not?
3. Number the phrases in the order you hear the!
a. Can I just say something here? _____
b. Please let me finish. _____
c. Sorry, go ahead. _____
d. Can I just finish? _____
e. Sorry, but ... _____

: LISTENING | 3
 Exercise 4: Listen to the audio once again and try to complete the table below
using phrases from the previous exercise.

Interrupt someone ✓ ...

who is speaking
✓ ...

Continue speaking ✓ ...

✓ ...

Tell the other person to ✓ ...

continue speaking

4 | : LISTENING