One of the most common requirements of business English is holding meetings in English. The following sections provide useful language and phrases for conducting meetings and making contributions to a meeting.
Meetings generally follow a more or less similar structure and can be divided into the following parts:
1、IntroductionsOpening the Meeting
Welcoming and Introducing Participants
Stating the Principal Objectives of a Meeting
Giving Apologies for Someone Who is Absent
2、Reviewing Past BusinessReading the Minutes (notes) of the Last Meeting
Dealing with Recent Developments
3、Beginning the MeetingIntroducing the Agenda
Allocating Roles (secretary, participants)
Agreeing on the Ground Rules for the Meeting (contributions, timing, decision-making, etc.)
4、Discussing ItemsIntroducing the First Item on the Agenda
Closing an Item
Next Item
Giving Control to the Next Participant
5、Finishing the MeetingSummarizing
Finishing Up
Suggesting and Agreeing on Time, Date and Place for the Next Meeting
Thanking Participants for Attending
6、Closing the Meeting
The following pages focus on each part of the meeting and the appropriate language for each situation.