BEP 30 INT - Meetings Making Suggestions

Today’s intermediate Business English Podcast is part of a two-part series on making, rejecting and accepting suggestions. In this episode, we’re focused on the language used to introduce your ideas and make suggestions.
The dialog takes place at a sports shoe company called Stratos. You’ll be listening to Karen, a marketing manager, meet with three members of her team, Charles, Sven and Miguel. They are choosing a celebrity spokesperson for a new product. Celebrity means a famous person and spokesperson is someone who gets paid to be in an advertisement for a product.
Karen: OK. Now let’s talk about who we want to use the spokesperson for this project.
Let’s go around the table. Shall we use the sports star or someone else? Sven, what do you think?
Sven: Well… One possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO.
Miguel: Sorry, can I come in here?
Karen: Yes, go ahead Miguel.
Miguel: That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure it would work.
Karen: Why not?
Miguel: Well, For one thing, our customers want to be fit, not fat.
Karen: Then, what do you suggest?
Miguel: Perhaps we should just use the famous sports star like we usually do, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. You know what I mean?
Karen: Good suggestion, but I can see one or two problems with that, to be honest.
Miguel: Oh?
Karen: First of all, our target markets are in the UK and the US. I need a man who American and Britain really love. Secondly, our target customer is kind of special.
Charles: I have a good suggestion.
Karen: Go ahead, Charles.
Charles: It’s just an idea, but how about choosing someone from a sport where normal to be heavy, American football, for example, heavy but agile; overweight but strong and fast. You know what I mean?
Karen: Right, I can see what you mean. What do others think?
Miguel: Yes, that’s might be worthy trying.
Sven: Ok, but how about the UK?
Karen: mm… Let me think about this. Shall we try to find someone in golf – That’s popular in the US and the UK.
Charles/ Sven/ Miguel: Good idea.

How to make suggestion:
-One possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive.
-Perhaps we should use a sports star.
-I have a good suggestion. It’s just an idea, but how about…
-What about washing the dishes? / How about eating lunch together?
-Shall we try to find someone in golf?
-What if we cut the cost by finding a new office?

BEP 28 INT - Meetings Agreeing and Disagreeing

This Business English Podcast episode is the first part in a two-part series looking at agreeing and disagreeing. In these two episodes, we’ll be practicing different levels of agreement and disagreement, from weak to strong.
Appropriate agreement and disagreement is an important part of all meetings and discussions.
Today’s listening is from a meeting in the R&D department of Pharmtec, a drug company.
This meeting is between Jean, the head scientist, and Louis and Carina, two researchers. They are talking about the result of new medicine trial.
Jean: So, what do you think about the new ZeriX trial? This could be the drug we’ve all waiting for. I think it’s going to a big setup.
Louis: So do I.
Carina: I’m sorry, but I really can’t agree. After all, so far we only carried out two trials, and don’t forget the strange (?) of the first trial.
Jean: Yes, I meant the first trial is a little disappointing. But that doesn’t take anything away from these new results, absolutely amazing.
Louis: Yes, fantastic. Aren’t they?
Jean: Especially for men over 60.
Carina: Don’t you think it is still a little early to be so sure? Perhaps we shouldn’t count on our chicken before they hatched. I still think there may be some issues with ZeriX.
Jean: Do you really think so? Anyway, we don’t have anything come out the pipeline right now. We have to try to make this work.
Carina: Yes, of course, but our patients come first.
Jean: The patients always come first, we won’t forget that. Now Carina, let’s talk about these issues one by one.
How to agree (short answer):
-So do I.
-I do too.
-I don’t either (negative sentence)
-Nor do I (negative sentence).
-Neither do I (negative sentence).
How to agree (Standard phrase):
-I entirely agree with you.
-You’re quite right.
-I couldn’t agree more.
-That’s exactly how I see it.
-That’s just how I feel.
How to disagree:
-I’m sorry, but I really can’t agree.
-Well, I’m not so sure about that, to be honest.
-Well, I don’t know.
-Well, it depends.
-I’m afraid I don’t really agree.
-I’m afraid I don’t totally agree with that.
-Yes, I think it is a good idea, but I think it is difficult to implement.
-Don’t you think it is still a little early?

BEP 27 INT - Meetings Expressing Opinions

Formal:

Sheila, a vice president, is talking to Walt, George, and Bruce, three software engineers, about the deadline for new software launching.

Sheila: So, let’s move on to the topic of release date. Gentlemen, when do you like we’ll be able to launch this product. Walt?

Walt: Well, I tend to feel that we should probably be able to start testing the product in April. That means if all goes well, we can have the first release in May or June.

Sheila: I see, thank you Walt. What’s you reaction to that, Bruce?

Bruce: May or June? Well, from my point of view, that sounds about right.

George: Excuse me, may I come in here? I wonder if I could say something.

Sheila: Go ahead, George, what would you like to add?

George: Well, it seems to me that May is much, much too early. Actually we’re still having some pretty major problems with bugs in our production, and I just don’t see how we would be able to fix these bugs.

Informal:

Bruce, Walt, and George talk in a break room right after the meeting. Sheila, their boss, isn’t here.

Bruce: Hi guys. Did you see the Chelsea and Liverpool game last night? What did you think, Walt? Quite a game, Chelsea looks pretty good.

Walt: You always have to rub it in, don’t you Bruce? You know I’m a Liverpool fan.

B: How about you, George?

G: Actually, that was one of the greatest games I ever seen. But the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May, none of us are going to have time to watch football games.

How to ask for an opinion (Formal):

-How do you feel about that, Bruce?

-Could you please share your thoughts on that, Sam?

-What’s your view on this, Richard?

-Tony, what’s your feeling on this?

-What’s your reaction to that?

-What’s your opinion on that?

-Any comments Simon?

How to express your opinion (Formal):

-I tend to feel that we should be able to start testing the product in April.

-From my point of view, that sounds about right.

-I have the impression that he didn’t really want to come.

-Don’t you think it’s a little early?

-In my opinion,

How to ask for an opinion (Informal):

-What do you think?

-How about you, George?

How to express your opinion (Informal):

-The point is that we’re doing well in the market.

-Obviously, there is only one choice.

-Basically, I think we have two choices.

English training phase II - lesson three -Explain and clarify a problem

Part 1: Dealing with problem

1. Introduce the problem

-I'm afraid we've got a problem.

-I think we've all noticed that the staff moral is extremely low.

- Well, let's turn to a problem that's on everyone's mind.

-So, we need to tackle a fairly pressing problem today.

-I know we've all been discussing this particular issue recently.

-As you all know, we're going to look at the problem of budget.

2. Focus on the discussion

-What exactly is the problem? Budget or something else, let's have some inputs.

-We need to deal with this problem before we get our hand.

-What's the end line causes this problem? And what can it tell us?

-What is exactly the root of this problem, any suggestions?

-Perhaps we can begin by breaking down the problem, who can start?

2. Ask for clarification

-How do you mean exactly?

-I'm not sure I follow, could you explain?

-Could you explain the problem in more detail?

-Could you speak a little more specific?

3. Predict the consequences

-That'll result in even more expense.

-It could be very dangerous.

-It'll mean lengthy negotiations.

-It might turn violent.

4. Suggest possible actions

-Perhaps we could talk to them

-Couldn't we bring some people?

5. Promise action

-I'll get back to you as soon as I can.