40 Essential Phrases To Host A Meeting in English

Summary

In this lesson, Emma from mmmEnglish! shares essential phrases and strategies to confidently lead a meeting in English. Covering introductions, agenda-setting, time management, and keeping discussions on track, she guides viewers through making meetings effective and engaging. Emma also emphasizes the importance of setting ground rules and summarizing key points. For women wanting a safe space to practice these skills, she recommends joining the Hey Lady! online community. Alongside the video, she provides a downloadable workbook to help learners incorporate these expressions into real-life meetings. Perfect for both professional and social settings, this guide boosts confidence in English-speaking environments.

Takeaways

• 📚 Learn essential phrases to confidently lead a meeting in English.
• 📄 Download the provided workbook for handy access to useful phrases during meetings.
• 💬 Start every meeting by greeting and welcoming participants, adjusting your approach based on group size.
• 👥 Introduce participants if the meeting is small, or keep introductions brief for larger groups.
• 🎯 Clearly state the goal or purpose of the meeting at the beginning.
• 📝 Go over the agenda to give participants an understanding of the meeting structure.
• ⏰ Set ground rules and manage time effectively to ensure a smooth meeting flow.
• 🗣 Encourage participation by asking open-ended questions and calling on individuals if necessary.
• 🧐 Ask for clarification or paraphrase to confirm understanding during discussions.
• 👋 Summarize key points at the end of the meeting, thank participants, and mention future meetings if scheduled.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the lesson provided by Emma?

The primary purpose of the lesson is to teach useful and essential phrases for leading a meeting in English, helping learners feel confident while hosting meetings.

What does Emma suggest participants do at the start of any meeting?

Emma suggests greeting and welcoming participants at the start of the meeting and, if the group is small, introducing everyone to help break the ice.

What are the three essential steps to start a successful meeting?

The three essential steps are: 1) State the goal or purpose of the meeting, 2) Outline the agenda, and 3) Set any ground rules for how the meeting will be conducted.

How can you introduce participants if the meeting group is larger than ten people?

If the meeting has more than ten people, Emma suggests that introductions can be skipped or done differently to avoid taking up too much time.

What is meant by the term 'housekeeping' in the context of a meeting?

In the context of a meeting, 'housekeeping' refers to the administrative tasks or ground rules that need to be addressed to ensure the meeting runs smoothly, such as silencing phones or explaining how questions will be handled.

What is a good way to prompt participation if no one answers an open question?

If no one answers an open question, Emma suggests calling on someone by name to encourage them to share their opinion, for example, 'What do you think about that, Amy?'

What can you do if you need clarification on something during a meeting?

If you need clarification, you can ask the person to explain in more detail, or you can paraphrase what you think they said to confirm your understanding.

How can you effectively manage time during a meeting?

To manage time effectively, you can prompt participants to move on to the next topic, mention that you are 'conscious of time,' or even stop discussions if necessary by saying, 'We’re running out of time, so we have to move on.'

What is a useful phrase to keep the meeting on track if the conversation goes off-topic?

To keep the meeting on track, you can say, 'I’m afraid we don’t have time to talk about that in today’s meeting. We’ll add that to the agenda for next week.'

How should you end a meeting and ensure participants understand the key takeaways?

To end a meeting, you should summarise the key points discussed and any tasks agreed upon, thank participants for their time, and mention any future meetings if applicable.