February 9, 2023
Aim: to practise taking part in discussions and to learn how to manage meetings and
discussions, expand vocabulary and phrases for discussions
Revision
HW check
Listening
Speaking
Vocabulary - up and down / trends
Got much on this week?
What (are) you up to tonight?
What are you up to this weekend?
Are you planning a winter vacation/holiday?
Have you watched…
Did you like it?
Revision
[Link] the gaps (vocabulary for meetings and discussions)
1.I’d be …interested…. to know something about their pricing policy…
[Link] ……sort of / kind of….. price were you thinking of?
[Link] that the ………kind……… of thing you had ……in mind……?
4.I ……see……….. what you are saying, but…
5……Really……..? Do you think so?
6.I don’t think that’s …a idea/ true / right /an option ………………….
[Link], of course, it all …depends……………………
[Link] …going back….. to what I said earlier,...
9.I think we’re ……losing………… sight of the main point. I think you are beating
about the bush…
[Link]’re……definetely, absolutely ……….right.
11.I agree with you up to a point / to some extent, but……………………….
12.I’ve got ……mixed………………. feelings about that. / I’m sitting on the fence / I
am not convinced…
[Link]’s not how ……I see it…………..
[Link] I …get back…………to you later on that?
[Link] you be a little more ………specific……………..?
[Link], let’s get ………down to .. business. (get started) / talk shop
[Link] words expressions with the similar meaning:
[Link] (a suggestion) PUT FORWARD
[Link] (a suggestion) TAKE UP
[Link] (a suggestion) DISMISS
[Link] (an issue) BRING UP
[Link] (a decision) COME TO
[Link] with (an issue) TACKLE
[Link] - feasible
[Link] - reasonable
[Link] - difficult
[Link] - in-depth
[Link] of (a suggestion) - COME UP WITH
Underline the correct or most likely answers.
1.I’m waiting / I’ve been waiting here for ages.
2.I’ll join you in the restaurant. I’m waiting/I’ve been waiting for my colleagues.
[Link] markets have had/had a sharp fall last week.
[Link] markets have had / had a sharp fall this week.
[Link] you need the instruction manual, I’ve left / I left it on your desk.
6.I’ve left / I left the instruction manual on your desk yesterday.
[Link] long are you working / have you been working here?
About two years. I joined the company when they opened this branch.
[Link] long are you working / have you been working here?
About two weeks. Then it’s on to Chicago. Head Office send me all over the world.
[Link] can’t supply the goods because they haven’t paid / didn’t pay the deposit.
[Link] couldn’t supply the goods because they haven’t paid / didn’t pay the deposit.
[Link]
[Link]
TRENDS
UP
to raise -ed / to bring up (The company raised the price)
to rise rose risen (The prices are rising)
to increase / an increase
to skyrocket / to jump / to take off
to soar
to grow / growth
to expand / expansion
to develop / development
to boost
to boom / a boom
to pick up
to recharge / to top up
to recover / a recovery
to bounce back
DOWN
to plummet
to fall fell fallen
to decrease
to go down
to decline a decline
to reduce - to cut / to cut down on
to drop
to minimise
to shrink
NO CHANGE
to be stable
to be on the same level
to be flat
to level off / out
to stabilise
HOW
rapidly
unexpectedly
dramatically
suddenly
slowly
rapidly
significantly
considerably
gradually
steadily
a steady growth
to reach the highest point / to peak / to reach a peak
the lowest point - to bottom out / to hit the rock bottom
lots of changes
to fluctuate
HW: Trends - do all the tasks, how to read numbers
vocabulary for discussions (below)
Our next meeting - February 23
Fill in the gaps
ASKING ABOUT OR FOR AN OPINION
What is your …………………………….. about …?
How do you …………………………….about…?
I’d be ……………………………….to know something about the property prices?
May I ……………………………..you about?
ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION
Could you tell ………………………………….?
Could you be a little more …………………………………………?
I just don’t ………………………………why we should….?
What do you ………………………….. by that?
Are you ……………………………… that…?
GIVING YOUR OPINION
As far as ………………
To my ……………………..
I have a ………………………..
The way I ………………………
I ………………………believe
My ……………………. Is that …
What I actually ……………………….
The point I’m …………………………….
It …………………………………to me
AGREEING
I couldn’t ……………………….
That’s just …………………
That’s exactly …………………….
How very …………………..
I entirely …………………………. With you on that
You’ve got …………………………..
I’m in ……………………………
DISAGREEING
I’ve got mixed …………………………………
I have my d…………………………… about that
That’s out of ……………………………………..
I am not c…………………………………….
Do you really ………………………………
That doesn’t make ……………………………….
I am ……………………………….
Business English Topics for Debate/Discussion
1. Multinationals do more harm than good.
2. Multi-level marketing is a legitimate business model.
3. We need a minimum wage so that companies don’t take advantage of their employees.
4. Human Resources shouldn’t be allowed to ask questions about an applicant’s marital
status, religion, age, medical history, or immigration status.
5. Companies shouldn’t look at prospective employees’ social media profiles.
6. Casual dress codes are beneficial for the company.
7. Companies should have strict policies against dating at work.
8. Open floor plans are better than cubicle farms.
9. GMO’s have made the world a better place.
10. Happy employees do a better job.
11. It’s okay for bars, restaurants, casinos, and other businesses in the service sector to
only hire attractive employees.
12. Social media sites should be blocked at work.
13. The lingua franca for doing business should be English and more companies should
demand English proficiency from their employees.
14. Employees that work from home are more productive.
15. Companies should be allowed to drug test their employees.
16. An MBA is worth the cost.
17. Non-financial incentives are better motivators than financial incentives.
18. Pay-day loans need to be regulated by the government.
19. Corporations should not be allowed to make large campaign contributions to political
candidates.
20. Pro sports leagues should not have a non-profit status.
21. Men should be given more time off for paternity leave.
22. We need laws to regulate the unpredictability of part-time schedules.
23. Companies should be forced to provide health care to full-time employees.
24. Companies should be forced to provide health care to part-time employees.
25. Prescription drug companies should be allowed to advertise directly to consumers.
26. We need laws to ensure that women receive salaries comparable to their male
counterparts.
27. There should be gender quotas for women on boards of directors.
28. Public funds should not be used for professional sports stadiums.