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BEP 27 – Meetings: Giving Opinions in English

A2, Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast, Functions, Intermediate English /

For an updated lesson on expressing opinions in English, check out:
BEP 327 – Expressing Opinions in English

In this intermediate Business English Pod lesson, we look at ways to give and ask for opinions. We’ll be looking at the formal (or careful) language often used in meetings, as well as the more informal (or direct) language used in casual discussions.

This lesson is the first in a regular series of intermediate level podcasts focused on functional Business English language. Each podcasts will introduce and explain how to use a particular type, or function, of language (eg. expressing an opinion, making a suggestion or clarifying information etc.). These podcasts are also designed to support our more challenging advanced level episodes by breaking down the featured language into smaller, more easily understood chunks.

The BusinessEnglishPod.com team wishes all our listeners a successful and rewarding New Year and we look forward to bringing you many more Business English Podcasts in the months to come.

*** This lesson is part of our Business English eBook for meetings: Meeting Essentials. Premium members click here to download the complete eBook.

Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

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Here’s a preview of this lesson in video format from our Business English Kickstart course:

YouTube video

BEP 24 – Teleconferencing: Using Diplomatic Language

Advanced, Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast, Teleconference English /

This lesson has been updated with new explanations, examples and practice.The new lessons are available here.

In this Business English Podcast we’re going to listen to a teleconference between the head office management of a US guitar manufacturer and the manager of their new Latin American plant.

Key language structures explained are: diplomatic language and using probing questions. We also introduce some useful English phrases for starting a teleconference meeting, interrupting and clarifying.

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Business News 05 – Virtual Meetings

Business English, Business News, Communication, English for Meetings /

How do you conduct your meetings? Face-to-face, on the phone, by videoconference or maybe even using VOIP/Skype? Well, now there is a new way – virtual meetings, or meetings where participants are represented by computer generated characters.

Listen to how IBM is using the virtual world of a website called Second Life as the next best thing to in person corporate meetings. After listening to the article, we’ll highlight some of the new vocabulary and provide definitions and further examples.

PDF Transcript: Study Notes

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BEP 20 – Meetings: Supporting your Position (Part 3)

Advanced, Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast /

A new version of this lesson is available here: BEP 20c – Presenting a Cohesive Argument

In the final episode of our three-part series on supporting your position in meetings, we look at language used to make your statements more persuasive.

Jack is going to summarize his proposal for the move to Costa Rica and hopes to get a final recommendation on the outsourcing project to present to the Board. He must persuade the managers to proceed, and answer the objections raised at the last meeting.

Key language: Making coherent, persuasive arguments, and effective use of language to support your arguments.

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BEP 19 – Meetings: Supporting your Position (Part 2)

Advanced, Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast /

A new version of this lesson is available here: BEP 19c – Arguing For or Against a Position

Welcome to the second part of our Business English Pod series on how to support your position or argument in meetings.

Our friend Jack is giving an update on the Costa Rican project. Dan is against the idea, because as production manager, he doesn’t want to lose all his staff. The HR manager, Angie, also doesn’t want to lay off her US staff, and is worried about the difficulty of hiring workers in another country. Jack tries to defend his plan, but has difficulty supporting his argument.

Key Language: emphasizing, minimizing, supporting points & vocal stress.

Premium Members: PDF Transcript

Download: Podcast MP3