Part Ⅰ Situational Dialogues
Practice 1
Task 2: Simulated situational conversation.
S: Hello, Mr.Brown, I am calling to inform you that there will be a meeting next Tuesday morning.
B: Thanks, Susan. When exactly is the meeting?
S: It starts at 10 o'clock, in Conference Room 2.
B: Who will be attending the meeting?
S: All the departmental managers will be there.
B: And what is the meeting about?
S: It's about next quarter's work plan.
B: Should I prepare anything for it?
S: You'd better get ready the preliminary work plan of your department.
B: OK, I'll be able to make it. Thank you again, Susan.
S: You are welcome. See you next week.
B: See you then.
Practice 2
Task 2: Simulated situational conversation.
Linda: Hi, Peter. I would like to know something about chairing a meeting. Since you are an experienced chairperson, I think you can help me with my questions.
Peter: No problem. What would you like to know?
Linda: When you are chairing a meeting, how do you usually declare a meeting open?
Peter: I usually begin with “Good morning/afternoon, everyone. If we are all here, let's get started.”
Linda: Then how do you state the principle objectives of the meeting?
Peter: I like to say “The purpose of the meeting is to discuss…”.
Linda: Oh. How do you introduce the agenda?
Peter: The sentence I usually use is “The agenda of the meeting is as follows”. Then I'll introduce it item by item.
Linda: To control the discussion during a meeting is not easy. If it is running out of time, what would you say?
Peter: I would say “ There's not much time left. Could you please be brief?” or “ I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I'm afraid we are running out of time.”
Linda: These are all my questions. I have to go to work now. Thank you very much, Peter.