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BEP 136 – Meetings: Making a Progress Report

A2, Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast, Intermediate English, Project Management / July 5, 2009

In this Business English Pod episode we’re going to look at making a project progress report during a meeting.

All managers need written progress reports from their staff, but it is often necessary to make a verbal progress report during a meeting. A verbal report can be thought of as a combination of a presentation and a question and answer session.

When making a progress report, you’ll need to start with the overall status of the project, and then go on to explain how much of the work has been completed, at what stage the work is now, what remains to be done and, of course, what problems might have arisen. Because the format is “live”, people may interrupt to ask questions or make comments and you should be sure of your facts when you go into the meeting.

We’ll be listening to Angela, who works in the Operations department of her company. Blaine & Co. They plan to move to a new head office and the renovation, or preparation, of their space is currently underway. Angela has visited the new office and spoken with the key people on-site. As the dialog starts, she is called upon to give a verbal report on the progress of the renovation.

Listening Questions

1) What did Angela do to prepare for this meeting?
2) Will Blaine & Co. be able to move as planned?
3) Where will Blaine & Co. get money to cover the extra costs?

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Revised e-Book for Business Meetings in English

Announcements, Business English e-Books, English for Meetings / March 29, 2009

This is a preview of our revised e-Book for business meetings: Meeting Essentials for Business English.

Business English Pod e-Books enable you to learn on the go with MP3 audio lessons and the detailed PDF study guides, including a full transcript of each lesson. The revised editions include over 100 online Flash quizzes, exercises and flashcards designed to help you practice and use all the language covered in the course.

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for Unit 210 – Managing the Discussion:

You can purchase the complete e-book by clicking the button below:

Free Trial Links

March 25, 2009

Here are the links to the different lessons included in your free trial. Click on a lesson link to open the lesson page and access the PDF transcript, quizzes, lesson module and phrasecast for the lesson.

In addition to the above selection, your free trial will give you access to the lesson materials for the lessons listed below.

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BEP 126 – Solving Problems

March 25, 2009

In this lesson from the new edition of our English for Meetings e-Book and app, we look at how to structure and participate in a successful problem solving meeting.

One of the most common reasons for holding a meeting is to solve a problem. But, while we might have the right people at the meeting, the process is often flawed because one question hasn’t clearly been asked and answered: “What is the problem?” So, in this lesson we’re going to focus on how to define the problem through discussion and then restate the problem as a challenge.

Click on the links below to access your free trial samples.

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In addition to the above lesson, your free trial will give you access to the lesson materials for the lessons listed below.

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Learn Business English

March 12, 2009

Welcome to Business English Pod – one of the world’s most popular providers of mobile-friendly Business English lessons since 2006. We help people learn the English you need to communicate at work and in business.

We have over 600 MP3 and video Business English lessons covering essential Business English for meetings, presentations, telephoning, negotiations, travel, socializing and lots more. You can make real progress with your language skills using our lessons and the PDF study notes and online activities available to members.

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Since 2006, we have been a leading provider of mobile-friendly learning resources for Business English with over 100 million lessons downloaded. Teachers, schools, companies, and individual learners around the world rely on BEP to improve their Business English.

Each Business English Pod lesson starts off with a realistic dialog. Next, we explain what was said in the dialog step by step and uncover the language and techniques used by native speakers. At the end of every lesson you’ll have the chance to practice the language and techniques yourself. We’ve got lots of great topics, lots of different accents, and lots of real-life business situations to help keep you motivated and learning every day.

Our Business English lessons cover a wide range of useful topics, situations and skills, including: presentations, telephoning, negotiating, socializing, travel, meetings, interviews, conversation, and more. Our goal is to teach natural and effective language. We want our learners to be able to face different business and work situations with confidence in their English abilities.

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BEP 127 – English Meetings: Discussing a Problem (2)

Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast, Intermediate English / March 8, 2009

This second part of a two-part Business English Podcast series on running and participating in a problem-solving meeting.

In the first part of this meeting (see BEP 126), the team spent time answering the question: “What is the problem?” In today’s episode, we’re going to focus on how to brainstorm solutions to a problem through discussion, how to evaluate and eliminate suggestions and then agree a plan of action.

Kathryn, the head of Human Resources at a medium-sized company, is meeting with department heads to discuss a problem they are having with low staff morale. The team has identified the root cause of the problem as the separation of staff across 3 different office locations.

Kathryn wants everyone to critique the ideas that the group has brought forward, in order to eliminate impractical suggestions. We’ll see how she confirms the best solution and how her team suggests points for action. As the dialog starts, Kathryn closes the brainstorming session and sums up the input that has been received.

Listening Questions

1) How many ideas does the group come up with for solving the staff morale problem?
2) Which idea does the group agree is the best one to try?
3) Name one of the action points suggested near the end of the meeting.

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

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BEP 126 – English Meetings: Discussing a Problem (1)

Business English, English for Meetings, ESL Podcast, Intermediate English / February 28, 2009

One of the most common reasons for holding a meeting is to solve a problem. A meeting can be a great place to do this, because it is possible for a variety of people with different experiences and perspectives to work together to identify the problem and come up with possible solutions.

But, while we might have the right people at the meeting, the process is often flawed because one question hasn’t clearly been asked and answered: “What is the problem?” So, in today’s episode we’re going to focus on how to define the problem through discussion and then restate the problem as a challenge. In the second part of this series, we’ll look at how to evaluate and eliminate suggestions and then agree on a plan of action.

We’ll be listening to Kathryn, the head of Human Resources at a medium-sized company, who is meeting with department heads to discuss a problem they’re having with low staff morale across all departments of the company. Morale is a word used to describe a general feeling or mood.

Kathryn wants everyone to consider possible hidden reasons for low morale at the company. We’ll see how she helps participants focus on breaking down the morale problem. As the dialog starts, Kathryn calls everyone to attention and begins the meeting.

Listening Questions:

1) What is the surface problem that Kathryn and the others can see?
2) What does the group decide is the true cause of this problem?
3) What is the challenge that the group faces at the end of the dialog?

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

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BEP 119 – Telephoning: Making an Appointment

A2, Business English, ESL Podcast, Intermediate English, Telephone English / October 11, 2008

In this Business English Podcast, we’ll be looking at the language used to make appointments on the telephone.

We live in the era of remote communication: teleconferencing, videoconferencing, and online meetings. More and more group efforts are getting done from a distance. In theory, at least, it’s possible to work closely with anyone in the world without leaving our desks. Nevertheless, there’s something about a face-to-face meeting that no virtual one can replace. We still need to shake people’s hands, read their body language, and make personal connections. That’s why – even today – one of the commonest uses for the telephone is to make appointments. In this episode, we’ll take a close look at making appointments on the phone.

Gordon Knight works for Bridgewater, a U.S. pension fund. (Pension funds are institutions that invest retirement savings.) At a recent conference, Gordon met Penny Yip, a senior financial analyst for the Asia Markets office of Solomon-Clyde. Solomon is a boutique – or small and specialized – global investment company that deals only with institutional customers – very large clients, like Bridgewater. Now, Gordon plans to be in Malaysia, and he phones Penny to set up an appointment to discuss possibilities for investment.

Listening Questions:

1. Where and when does Gordon say he met Penny?
2. When does Gordon suggest meeting with Penny?
3. Why does he want to meet with Penny?
4. What time do they finally agree on?

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September 1, 2008

Welcome to Business English Pod: The Business English trainer you can put in your pocket. Download over 450 MP3 and video podcast lessons on essential language for meetings, presentations, telephoning, negotiations, travel, socializing and lots more. Make real progress with your language skills using the detailed study notes and online activities available to members.

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BEP 81 – Meetings: Finishing Up and Action Points

Business English, English for Meetings, Intermediate English / January 19, 2008

This Business English Podcast is a preview of our new audio / e-book for business English learners and teachers: Meeting Essentials

Meeting Essentials is a comprehensive study guide to the language and skills you need to participate effectively and confidently in business meetings in English. Learn on the go with over 4-hours of audio lessons, review key language and techniques with the detailed 100-page study guide, including a transcript of each podcast lesson, and practice useful phrases with the online activities.

It’s the end of a meeting, and everyone wants to go, but wait! We have one last thing to do: Action points. That means: Tell everyone who is going to do what, and when. Having no clear action points is a number one reason meetings are unproductive.

So in this episode, we’ll study language we can use to assign work to people, and also some English phrases to finish off the meeting.

We’ll be listening in to a group of bank managers discuss how to deal with credit risk problems before a major year-end report to top management. They have already discussed and decided what to do, and now they need to finish the meeting. As you listen, pay attention to how the boss, Lisa, gives action points to her team, that is, reminds them of what they need to do.

Listening Questions:

1) When will Lisa’s team have their next round of meetings?
2) What duties does Lisa assign during the meeting, and to whom?

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

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