Unit 5 Business Meeting

Aims  This unit aims at helping students learn some language and knowledge on conducting a business meeting

Class process  1 Opening a meeting  2 structuring a meeting  3 Discussing in the meeting  4 Finishing a meeting  5 Practice work

Part I Opening a meeting  1. Language focus  --- let ’ s get down to business  ---We ’ re very pleases to welcome …  ---The purpose of this meeting is to …  ---I ’ d like to hear what you all think before we make a decision  ---As you ’ ll see from the agenda …  ---I wonder if you ’ d like to tell us something about …  --- This meeting is due to finish at …  ---So, the first item on the agenda is …

2. Listening tasks & Role-play  a. Listen to six extracts from the opening of six meetings and decide whether they come from a formal or informal meeting.  b. Listen to a conversation in a meeting and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear  c. Listen to an opening of a meeting and identify the actual steps this meeting follows

The opening of a meeting  a. Agreeing on the timing of the meeting  b. Confirming the participants ’ responsibilities  c. Defining the results  d. Outlining the agenda  e. Welcoming the participants  f. Stating the purpose or objectives of the meeting

Role-play  Work in pairs. Practice opening two different kinds of meetings, formal and informal meetings.

Part II Structuring a meeting  1. Listening practice  a. setting agenda. Listen to two short dialogues about setting agendas for meetings, then complete the conversation with the exact words you hear  b. connecting agenda items and ideas. Listen to four extracts from a meeting and identify the transitional language used to connect agenda items

2. Group work  Work in groups to practice connecting agenda items and ideas by following the dialogue you ’ ve just heard.  Meeting---Improving productivity  Agenda items:  Replacing the production line with work teams  Introducing preferred working hours for production staff  Introducing a profit-sharing bonus scheme  Introducing an on-site self-service cafeteria for everyone in the company

Part III Discussing in the meeting  1. Asking for and giving opinions  a. Language focus  ---What do you think?  ---What do you think about … ?  ---What ’ s your opinion?  ---How do you feel about this?  ---I think/feel/believe …  ---In my opinion …  ---In my view …  ---That ’ s a good idea  ---That ’ s very interesting  ---That ’ s a good point

b. Listening practice You are going to hear 10 short dialogues in the meeting, all of which are of “ asking for and giving opinions ”. Listen to the dialogues and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear. c. Oral practice Work in pairs. Compare the expressions you have filled in the blanks with those in the Language Focus. Practice making dialogues by following those dialogues in part a.

2.Agreeing and disagreeing in the meeting  a. Language focus  ---I totally agree  ---I couldn ’ t agree less  -- You must be joking!  ---I can see what you ’ re getting  --- There are two sides to the argument  ---I just think we need more time  ---I ’ m 100% behind you  --- I ’ m not against it, but …  ---I entirely agree with you  ---That ’ s marvelous  ---I see your point  ---That would be a disaster

 b. Listening practice  You will hear a meeting held in a publishing house. Listen and fill in the blanks with the missing information  Listen to eight short extracts from different meetings and note down the phrases that indicate the agreement and disagreement  c. Oral practice  Imagine that you are in a meeting and you discuss with someone over an issue. How might you make your point politely? Work in pairs and discuss with your partner

Part IV Finishing a meeting  1.Language focus  ---Right, it looks as though we ’ ve covered the main points  ---Is there any other business?  ---Before we close, let me just summarize the main points  --- Shall we just go over the main points?  ---So, to sum up …  ---Let ’ s stop there  ---I ’ m afraid we ’ ll have to finish here  ---I declare the meeting closed  ---Let ’ s call it a day

2. Listening tasks  a. listen to some statements and fill in the blanks with exact words you hear  b. listen to a dialogue and then choose the best answer to each question  c. listen to a clip of Sean closing his team ’ s meeting with a request for any other business and complete the conversations by fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear

Part V Role play  Practice a business meeting in groups of 4  Objective: To plan the promotion of the new Ibis product range  Main points: Initial trails in major cities; in- store promotions; free samples; review of feedback after one month  Roles: Chairperson (sales manager) and participants (sales staff)

Part VI Evaluation  the leader ’ s ability to clearly articulate the meeting ’ s goal  the leader ’ s ability to engage members in a meaningful discussion  the group ’ s dynamics  how the individual participants listen  the trouble you have in chairing the meeting