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Date: ______________________________________________
Teacher: ____________________________________________

Meetings: agenda setting

The language used during meetings, which are central to business communication, is very
important. Most meetings have an agenda - a list of matters to be discussed in the
meeting. When you decide what to talk about in the meeting, you 'set the agenda'. The
person in charge of the setting the agenda and running the meeting is the 'chairperson'.

Now, imagine that you are the chairperson in a meeting. It is the start of the meeting and
you are telling your colleagues about the items on the agenda. What phrases might you
use?

Listening activity

Now you're going to listen to two audio clips about setting agendas for meetings. Both
clips are from the start of meetings and feature a chairperson listing the points on the
agenda. As you listen, see if you can hear some of the phrases above. Write them down
below.

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Transcripts:

Meeting 1

Sarah: Right then, Alex, let’s get down to business. On the agenda today for our
public relations meeting are the research project, the launch of the website, the timeline
for press releases, and the secretary of the year award. Are you quite happy with those
points?

Alex: Yeah, that’s fine. If you could go through them in order, that’d be great.

Meeting 2

Alex: Okay everybody, thanks for coming. Let's keep this meeting fairly brief, really just
a couple of things on the agenda. First of all, as you can see, the news on the book re-
launch; and secondly, the office move; and finally, we'll have a little bit of time for any
other business.

Writing activity

Write two small texts in which you set the meeting's agenda. Use the phrases and
examples given above.

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