Starting a meeting
1. David is Managing Director of Avocet Industries, a large international chemical company. He is chairing an important strategy meeting. Listen to him start the meeting and complete the expressions he uses below.
a Perhaps we can ………………….
b First, …………………. you all for coming.
c I’d …………………. welcome …
d The …………………. this meeting is to …
e You …………………. the agenda that …
Answer
a get started
b let me thank
c especially like to
d purpose of
e can see from
1 referring people to the agenda ……
2 getting everyone’s attention ……
3 welcoming people ……
4 thanking people ……
5 explaining the aims of the meeting ……
Answer
1 e 2 a 3 c 4 b 5 d
a The meeting will last two day. ……
b Javier is the only representation from Spain. ……
c Inessa interrupted her holiday to attend the meeting. ……
d The meeting has been called because of recent poor performance. ……
e There are only two issues to discuss at the meeting. ……
Answer & Transcript
a True
b False. Ian has also come from Spain.
c True
d True
e False. There are several items to cover.
Transcript
OK, everyone? Erm … Perhaps we can get started. We have a lot to get through over the next couple of days. First, let me thank you all for coming. I know some of you have travelled a long way. I’d especially like to welcome Javier and Ian who’ve come from Spain to be here, and Inessa for interrupting her holiday. As you know, the purpose of this meeting is to come up with some recommendations for turning things around in the light of appalling sales figures for the last quarter. You can see from the agenda that we have several items to cover. Namely, falling European sales, increased competition in our domestic market …
Identifying opinions
1. Listen to this extract from later in the meeting. The item being discussed is a proposal to close the company’s operations in France and Germany. What does each person think of the suggestion? Tick ✓ your answer.
| Agrees | Disagrees | Partly agrees | |
| David | |||
| Inessa | ✓ | ||
| Javier | |||
| Ian |
Answer
|
|
Agrees |
Disagrees |
Partly agrees |
|
David |
|
|
✓ |
|
Inessa |
✓ |
|
|
|
Javier |
|
|
✓ |
|
Ian |
|
✓ |
|
1 Interrupting
………………….
2 Expressing reservation?
………………….
3 Making a suggestion
………………….
4 Accepting a suggestion
………………….
5 Rejecting a suggestion
………………….
Answer
1 Sorry, can I come in here?
2 I see your point, but …
3 Perhaps we should consider …
4 I have no problem with that.
5 I can’t agree to that, I’m afraid.
a I know what you mean, but … ……..
b I’d like to say something if I may. ……..
c I’ll go along with that. ……..
d We might want to … ……..
e I think that would be a mistake. ……..
Answer & Transcript
a 2 b 1 c 4 d 3 e 5
Transcript
David: So, I’d like to know what everyone thinks about the Board’s proposal to pull out of France and Germany? How do you feel about it, Inessa?
Inessa: Well, David, I think it’s a bold move and it’s probably the way we need to go, so yes, I’m in favour of it.
David: Hmm. Javier, what are your thoughts?
Javier: I agree to some extent, but there are considerable costs involved. For example …
Ian: Sorry, can I come in here?
David: Could you let Javier finish, please Ian? Javier, you were saying?
Javier: Yes, thanks. The costs are huge. It will cost over five million just to close our branches there and we can’t guarantee the move will succeed. It’s risk. I’m not completely opposed to it but, er, you know …
David: Ian, you wanted to say something?
Ian: Yes, Javier I see your point, but, well, basically I’m not very keen on the idea at all. As well as the costs, we need to consider our long term future. We need to expand our European operations, not close them down!
Inessa: Perhaps we should consider just closing down the least profitable of our branches in France and Germany.
Javier: I have no problem with that. What do you think, David?
David: Well, I can see pros and cons each way. It’s quite a mixed picture.
Ian: I can’t agree to that, I’m afraid. Like I say, I think we need to stay in France and Germany. That’s where our future lies.
David: Right. Does anyone have anything else to add? OK, then. I think I need to pass all your thoughts on to the Board for further review. Clearly, we can’t come to a unanimous decision here. Now, shall we move on?
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