Ultimate Business English Course

English For Meetings - Lecture 3

G. Scott Barlow

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 Introduction
Welcome to the ‘English For Meetings’ course. This online course will teach you some
of the most important business skills that you need to be successful in today’s global business
place. In this course we will focus on all of the skills needed to participate in a business
meeting. This course is designed for students that read and speak English at an Intermediate
level or above.
When you log into your course, please print the PDF (US or A4) of the worksheet before
starting the lecture. You will use this to do the exercises during the lecture, so it is very
important for you to have a copy that you can write on. There is a page at the end of the
worksheet that you can use to write down vocabulary that you don’t know and then translate
into your own language. There is also a page for notes. Next, watch the video lecture and be
prepared to take notes and complete the exercises.
Once you have completed the lecture, review your worksheet and correct any mistakes.
Remember when you’re watching the video to practice speaking like the instructor. Also, try
to keep a notebook with all of your worksheets together so you can go back and review them
in the future. After doing all of these steps you’ll be ready for the next lecture. Good luck and
welcome to the course!

Arranging A Meeting

In this lecture, you’ll start learning the phrases used to arrange meetings, including
asking for the meeting, saying that you can attend, suggesting a meeting time, and saying
you’re not available.
As always, remember to write down any words that you don’t know and translate them
into your language at the end of the worksheet. Also take good notes, and practice speaking
like the instructor. Good luck and let’s get started!

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 LANGUAGE FOCUS

Phrases To Use When You Arrange A Meeting

Asking for the meeting:

Are you available this afternoon?
Could we meet on Monday?
Can we get together tomorrow morning?
I’d like to get together and go over this.

Saying that you can attend:

Sure, that sounds great.
Sounds good.
Yes, that works for me.
Yes, I’m available then.

Suggesting a meeting time or place:

Will 3:00 work for you?
How about tomorrow at 9:00?
Would conference room 1 be ok for you?
Do you mind if we meet in the cafe today?

Saying that you are not available:

Sorry, I’m tied up then.
I’m afraid I’m not available then.
Sorry, I can’t make it at 4:00.

Offering alternatives:
How about 3:00 instead?
Tomorrow after lunch would work better for me.
I can’t do 3:00, but I’m available at 4:00. Is that ok for you?

Con rming the date and time, or place and time:

Ok see you tomorrow at 9:00.
Alright, I’ll see you in the conference room in an hour.
I look forward to seeing you Friday at noon.

ENGLISH FOR MEETINGS LECTURE 3 3

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1. Practice
Put the words in the correct order for sentences used to arrange a meeting.
1. available time meet you what to are?

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2. you 1:00 are at tomorrow available?

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3. then I’m not sorry available.

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4. 4:00 about instead how?

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5. great sounds ok.

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6. then look you to meeting forward I.

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7. arrange I’d software the like meeting a new to over go to.

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8. meet ok you is room it 2 with conference we if in?

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9. can’t because I’m something come afraid I up today has meet.

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10. tomorrow good I’ll sounds you 12:00 see at.
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Perspectives*
‘If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have
never done.’ Thomas Jefferson, US President

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2. Practice
Match the de nitions with the different types of meetings listed below.
1. team meeting ___
2. shareholder meeting ___

3. kick-off meeting ___

4. progress meeting ___
5. brainstorming meeting ___

6. board meeting ___

a. a meeting that senior managers have with the people that have invested in a company

b. a meeting with the people that are in your department

c. a meeting to talk about new ideas

d. a meeting of the top managers in a company

e. a meeting held at the beginning of a new project

f. a meeting to update the status of a project

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 Vocabulary

Word Meaning

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 Notes

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