ESL Podcast 184 - Running a Meeting

please be seated - please sit down; a polite and formal expression

When she came into my office for her interview, I said, "Please be seated."

please join me in... - used to introduce someone to a group, or an invitation for a group to do something together with the person speaking to them

Please join me in congratulating these three students for winning the prize for the best project in the school.

I'm afraid that... - I'm sorry that; used to tell someone bad news in a polite way

He was here this morning, but I'm afraid that left before you arrived.

can't be with us - are unable to join us or unable to be present here

I'm not sure if we should move ahead if Tam can't be with us today.

I'm pleased to welcome - used to introduce someone to a group of people

I'm pleased to welcome Ms. Sharon Lombardi, who is joining our company.

representatives - people who work for a company who have the power to speak for their company with others

The representatives from Chile plan to vote for this proposal.

joint venture - when two companies or groups work together on a project

Will there ever be a joint venture between Apple and Microsoft?

agenda - a list of things that a group will talk about or discuss in a meeting

The meeting began with the speaker telling us about his agenda for the meeting.

if there are no objections - used when you are talking to a group and wish to ask if it is okay with everyone to do something; sometimes used to ask if anyone has any more comments before going on to another topic in a meeting

I will start the meeting by giving a summary of our last meeting, if there are no objections.

in order - in the correct sequence, one thing following after another

The children came up to the front of the class in order, beginning with the youngest.

to take care of - to handle; to be responsible for

Do you think Jaime can take care of all of the arrangements by himself?

why don't we move on to... - used at a meeting to stop discussion on one topic and go to a new topic

Now that we're done with old business, why don't we move on to the new items.

to hand it over to - to give the opportunity to speak to another person in a meeting; to have someone else talk to the group, often as the leader

After I give my introduction, I will hand it over to Damien, who will continue with the meeting.

to take (someone) through (something) - to explain something to someone; to go through all of the details of something with someone

I don't really understand this contract. Can you take me through it?

if there are no other issues - if there are no additional topics or questions

We can end this meeting after lunch, if there are no other issues we need to discuss.

Our next meeting will be... - used to set up or establish a time for the next meeting

Does anyone know when our next meeting will be?

before we end today - used right before you are about to end a meeting, usually before the last topic to be discussed; can also mean simply before the meeting ends or finishes

We want everyone to complete their forms before we end today.

productive - getting a lot of things done in a short amount of time

I'm more productive at work after a good night's sleep.