Business English - Contributing with Confidence to Virtual and Face-to-face Meetings

Participants will be able to apply their English language skills to more effectively manage, participate and take notes in virtual and face to face meetings in English. Participants will improve both their confidence, flowand spontaneity in contributing to meetings when using the English language. They will enhance their wider professional skills in adapting to the context (audience/formality/culture/rapport).

Particular focus is given to effective listening techniques and note taking in fast-flowing meetings.

In the framework of the English language development and upon successful completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

• use a wider range of expressions in both managing and participating in professional meetings
• deploy the vocabulary needed to make suggestions, proposals, highlight support or disagreement and manage questions in a professional manner
• understand a broader mix of common phrasal verbs, acronyms and business idioms used in meetings and their potential to block
• utilize a wider range of language in producing clear next steps and actions
• use a wider range of language in giving open and coherent updates

In the framework of the professional skills development, the participant should be able to:

• more effectively differentiate between formal and semi-formal styles when communicating in meetings, this will include utilizing messenger/chat functionality in virtual meetings
• develop a wider range of strategies in ensuring the success of meetings, overcoming challenges and resolving conflict
• flow: develop their spoken confidence and spontaneity  when contributing to meetings
• flow: better overcome blocks around anxiety when contributing to meetings
• develop an awareness on how meeting conventions can vary across cultures
• more effectively manage and respond to difficult questions
• use more effective listening and note taking techniques
• improve business writing skills in producing actions and next steps and in utilizing messenger/chat functionality

An interactive case study approach

The course is based on a set of interactive case studies designed around realistic scenarios at work which develop the English language and wider professional skills of participants.

Part 1: Exploring best practice 

• Sharing challenges and defining objectives

• Exploring best practice - language, tips and techniques 

Part 2: Learning through doing 

• An interactive case study that gets you practising your communication skills with a series of realistic role plays in different meeting contexts

This is an inclusive course designed for professionals across both the private and government sectors looking to improve their performance in meetings in English.

B1 or above in the CEFR levels. The course is designed for professionals who are looking to improve their spoken fluency, comfort and professionalism in English meetings. To access the course effectively it is helpful but not essential to have professional experience of participating and/or managing meetings in English.

At the end of the training, the participants will receive a certificate of attendance delivered by the House of Training.