Sorry, what was that? - Unit 204

Unit 204 - Disagreeing

B: Sorry, what was that?

A: My name is Karamasov.

B: Sorry, I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name. Could you repeat it?

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Unit 208 - Clarifying What Was Meant

Clarifying meaning

 What exactly do you mean by that?

 Sorry, what do you mean by that?

 I don’t quite see what you mean. Could you be a little more specific?

 Sorry, I’m not with you. Could you explain what you mean?

 Sorry, I don’t follow you. Could you run through that again?

 Sorry, that was totally clear to me. What exactly are you driving at?

Providing clarification

 I think what I’m getting at is that...

 What I mean to say is that...

 To make a long story short...

Acknowledge, check back, and confirm

A: I just think it’s been really hard. And, well, you know. It’s not the best way to do things.

B: Uh huh. Let me make sure I understand what you mean. You’re saying that this is just not going to work, right?

A: Well, let’s see. I think it’s just time to try something different.

B: Okay. Let me get this straight. What you mean is that we’ve got to invent a new strategy. Have I got that right?

A: It’s important that we keep the quality high at any cost.

B: I understand. So, we’re not going to put profit before quality. Am I correct?

Negotiating the meaning A: I think he’s hard to work with.

B: That’s one way of looking at it. I think he’s impossible.

Clarifying a single word or expression

Could you just go over what you mean by “a big change”?

Sorry, I don’t understand exactly what you mean when you say “come to grips”?

Can we just go back for a moment to what you said about timing? I’m not quite sure what you mean by “as soon as possible”?

Using “actually” to clarify the meaning

A: So what you’re getting at is that we need to get a new computer system right away?

B: Sorry, that’s not exactly what I’m saying. Actually, I think we can use the current system a little while longer.

Referring to what someone just said in order to change or build on the topic

A: I just ran into in the elevator after he met with the boss. He looked a little nervous.

B: Really? It’s funny you should mention that. I mean, I saw his manager just now, and he was looking pretty angry. I wonder what’s going on?

Unit 209 - Opening a Meeting

Starting the meeting

 Okay. Let’s get down to business.

 All right then. Can we get started?

 Okay folks. Let’s get started, shall we?

 All right. Can I get everybody’s attention? I think it’s about time we get started.

 All right everybody. We need to get this show on the road.

Welcoming and thanking people for attending

 Well, good afternoon everybody. It’s good to see you all here. Did everyone get the agenda?

 Great! Thank you all for coming.

 Hello everyone! I’m glad to see you all here. I know it’s a long way for some of you to come. I really appreciate your being on time and ready to work.

Vague or unspecific language.

A: Have you found the problem with the numbers?

B: We’ve been looking all afternoon, but still can’t seem to find it. I think there’s a problem with the spreadsheet or something.

A: The boss is looking really happy. He must have gotten a bonus.

B: Or something. I heard he has a new girlfriend. Maybe that’s it.

Introducing new colleagues

 First of all, I’d like to introduce George from the Hong Kong office. Would you like to say a few words about yourself, George?

 Everybody say hello to Kerumi. She’s visiting us from the Japan office.

Explaining the purpose of your meeting

 The reason we’re meeting today is to work out ways to deal with the marketing challenges that we’re facing.

 The primary purpose of this meeting will be to start a discussion on ways to cope with the huge increase in demand that we’re seeing.

 The main problem that we’re facing is how to manage our growth.

 The main thing I’d like to accomplish today is defining the key problem areas that we see with our current plan.

Introducing the agenda.

 Let’s take a quick look at the agenda. As you can see, it’s broken down into five main parts.

 I’ve divided up the meeting today into three parts.

 I’ve prepared some figures to help us compare the two options. I’ll distribute them now.

Introducing the first item on the agenda

 Great. Well, we have a lot to cover, so let’s get down to business. George, could you start by explaining the background on the first item?

 All right then. Let’s start then, shall we? Katy, why don’t you tell us what you’ve been thinking on the advertising issue.

 Right. Susanne, would you be so kind as to begin?

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BEP 210 - Managing the Discussion

Keeping the discussion on track

 I can see what you’re saying, but let’s try to keep to the agenda.

 To save time, we need to stay on track. Let’s try not to get too far off topic.

 Let’s get back to that later. For now, I really want to stick to the agenda.

 That’s an interesting point, but let’s talk about that when we come to it. Can we get back to the main point?

 We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so I suggest do our best to stay on track.

Widening the discussion to include more people

 What other approaches are there to this problem? Does anybody have any ideas?

 How about other people? Any comments?

 Let’s go around the table and get reactions to that idea. Who would like to begin?

 Are there any other ways to think about this?

Changing topics

 Good. I’d say that’s about all for that topic. Now, let’s turn to the issue of sales.

 Well, we’ve just about covered the San Francisco office. Let’s continue by discussing Buenos Aires.

 Time is pressing. Let’s leave that there and move on to the next point on the agenda, okay?

Checking for agreement

 Can I get a quick show of hands? All those in favor?

 Let’s take a vote. How many people are for this idea? Against? Thanks.

 Just quickly - is there anyone else that supports the strategy of reducing overhead? Please raise your hands.

Unit 211 – Interrupting and Resisting Interruption

Declaring the purpose of a meeting

• I called this meeting today to work out ways to deal with the marketing challenges that we’re facing.

• The primary purpose of this meeting will be to brainstorm ways to cope with the huge increase in demand we’re seeing.

• The main problem we’re facing is how to manage our growth.

• The main thing I’d like to accomplish today is defining the key problem areas that we see with our current plan.

Phrases to make an interruption

• Can I just come in here?

• Tony, I just like to add that …

• Excuse me for interrupting, but can I just add a few words on that topic.

• Could I just interrupt you there…

• Can I say something here…

• Sorry to interrupt, but hasn’t this been agreed already?

• Sorry to butt in, George. It’s just that I don’t think we’ve adequately covered the topic of price increases, and I’d like to add a little point here.

Finishing what you were just saying

• Hold on a sec, let me just finish what I was saying

• I’ll come to that in a moment. So, as I just mentioned …

• I haven’t finished what I was saying

• Now, wait a moment…

• May I just finish?

• If you will allow me to continue...

• I wonder if I could explain that at the end.

• Let me come back to that point later.

• Just a moment please; I won’t be long.

• I wonder if I could continue with what I was saying.

• I’ll be glad to clarify any points at the end.

Partly conceding a point

• I can see what you mean, but…

• There may be something to that. However,…

Completely conceding a point

• Right, I can see what you’re saying.

• Mhmmm. You may have a point there.

• Yes, there’s something to that.

• Uh huh, that makes sense.

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Unit 212 - Meetings: Finishing Up and Action Points

Signaling the end of the meeting

 That’s about everything we wanted to get through today. Are there any loose ends left to wrap up? No?

 Well, I think that’s just about all for our meeting today. If there aren’t any more questions, let’s just wrap it up here.

Asking a question at the end of the meeting

 Just a quick one here.

 Can I just ask a quick question.

 Sorry, Lisa, I just have a little question.

 Excuse me for a moment, there’s just one more I think we need to talk about.

Let’s see how things go” or “playing it by ear.”

 Let’s play it by ear.

 Let’s wait and see.

 We’ll just have to wait and see how things turn out.

 Let’s take it one thing at a time.

Discussing action points with “going to”

Style 1: Going to

 Heather and Mick are going to check up on the buyer, and I’m going to look through our database.

 Bill, you’re going to investigate this issue and get back to me in a couple weeks.

Emphasizing the decision with “going to”

 So we’re all agreed. We’re going to work hard until we solve this problem!

Emphasizing the arrangement with present continuous:

 So it’s all arranged. You’re doing the proposal and I’m doing the PowerPoint.

Stating action points Style 2: I’m doing.

 Sally, you’re meeting with an important potential client next week.

 Frank, you’re traveling to Hong Kong in November to oversee the office’s implementation of the new security procedure.

Style 3: Future continuous

 And Charles, you’ll be working the morning shift in October and November while Cecilia is on holiday.

 Sven, you’ll be going through our database carefully page by page to look for errors.

Emphasizing action points

 I can’t stress enough how important it is to succeed with this.

 It’s critical that we solve this problem.

 That’s it for today.

 That covers it all. Any last questions? No? Okay, see you next time.

Motivating phrases

 I know you’re going to succeed.

 I have great faith in you.

 Get out there and do your best. Let’s knock ‘em dead.

In document Meeting_Essentials.pdf (Page 108-114)