Summary
This lesson covers key vocabulary, practical phrases for various meeting interactions, and strategies for using polite and diplomatic language. Students will improve their ability to express opinions, agree/disagree, clarify, suggest, and interrupt appropriately. The lesson aims to build confidence and proficiency in participating actively and constructively in professional meetings, enhancing their overall business communication skills.
Activities
Students start with a warm-up discussion on meeting effectiveness, challenges, and preparation, sharing personal experiences and reflecting on past meetings to set the context for active participation and learning.
Learners match key meeting vocabulary like agenda, minutes, and action point with definitions and practice identifying communication functions (e.g., giving opinions, disagreeing politely) through a listening activity.
The lesson introduces a comprehensive list of useful phrases for different stages and interactions in meetings, followed by a grammar focus on polite language using modal verbs, softeners, and indirect questions.
Students apply learned phrases and grammar in scenario-based exercises, practice identifying action points in a second listening task, and engage in a role-play meeting to consolidate their skills in a practical setting.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on crucial vocabulary for navigating business meetings effectively. Key terms include agenda, minutes, action point, consensus, facilitate, proposal, feedback, and AOB. Additionally, students learn and practice functional phrases for giving an opinion, asking for clarification, agreeing/disagreeing politely, making suggestions, summarizing, and interrupting politely, enabling clearer communication.
Grammar focus
The grammar section emphasizes polite and diplomatic language essential for professional meetings. This includes the strategic use of modal verbs (e.g., 'could', 'would', 'might') to soften statements, employing softeners (e.g., 'it seems to me', 'perhaps'), forming indirect questions for politeness, and techniques for polite disagreement, ensuring respectful and effective communication.
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