Meetings

大连理工大学出版社

Unit 11　

世纪商务英语听说教程 3 （第四版）

Learning Objectives

• 1. To understand the main ideas and select specific

information while listening.

• 2. To get familiar with important points about having a

business meeting.

• 3. To try to hold a brainstorming meeting.

Contents

Part I Active Listening

Part II Fun Break

Part III Additional Listening

Part IV Viewing & Speaking

Active Listening

Active Listening

Exercise 1Directions: Listen to a dialogue between Kathy and Tony at a problem solving meeting

and choose the best answer to each question.What’s the problem of the budget for the production of the new MP4?

A. They made wrong calculations. B. They underestimated the costs.

C. They cannot complete the first order.

D. The budget decision cannot be approved by their CEO.

According to the factory, the costs should be _______.

A. about four thousand dollars

B. four thousand dollars more than the former budget

C. seven percent more than initially projected

D. seven percent less than initially projected

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Tapescript

Active Listening

Exercise 1

According to Tony’s calculation, the costs should be ________.

A. about four thousand dollars

B. four thousand dollars more than former budget

C. seven percent more than initially projected

D. seven percent less than initially projected

They need a budget increase for ________.

A. the first order B. the second order

C. the first and the second order D. every order

The “top brass” in the dialogue refers to ________.

A. CEO ``` B. the financial officer

C. Tom D. CEO and the financial officer

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Active Listening

Exercise 2Directions: Listen to the dialogue again and decide whether the following statements are

true (T) or false (F).1. The factory underestimated the costs of the new product.

2. If they increase the budget, they will not have a profit.

3. Profit from sales of the first order could cover the cost of the second order.

4. The product can finance itself after the first order.

5. The budget decisions couldn’t be approved by Tony.

F ( )

F( )

T( )

T( )

F( )

Active Listening

Active Listening

Exercise 1Directions: You will hear a recording of a project meeting. Listen carefully and complete

the minutes of the meeting.

Tapescript

Jane_______

Hanson________ Tina________

start discussion from Henson_____________________________________

let Marketing prepare for selling the product __________________________________________

Discuss DME Project_____________________________________

Active Listening

Exercise 2Directions: Listen to the summary of the dialogue and fill in the blanks according to what

you hear. Jane had a meeting with the yesterday and she wanted to

start the program . Henson had the report of of the

research material, which indicated they were right on track with their preliminary estimate.

Tina had contacted the about the equipment they would have to purchase.

Cindy had been notified to , but Jane still felt a little worried about

the for the equipment. At last, Jane asked Tina to

Smith to get him involved.

DME__________

production manager______________________

suppliers____________

financial analysis___________________

manage the project____________________

industry shortage___________________ talk to___________

Active Listening

Active Listening

Active Listening

Exercise 1Directions: Listen to a passage once and complete the statements with the words or

phrases you hear.

Tapescript

1. A meeting is a of people to present or exchange information.

2. Meetings come in all shapes and sizes. There are ,

, seminars.

3. Meetings can now be , teleconference, , or

via the Internet.

4. Modern workplaces are built on , sharing of ideas, and effective project

.

5. If communication is the lifeblood of any organization, then meetings are the

and .

gathering_____________

everyday office meetings_____________________________

board meetings__________________

face-to-face_______________

teams___________

videoconference___________________

online___________

coordination_______________

heart___________

mind___________

Active Listening

Exercise 2Directions: Listen to the passage again and decide whether the following statements are

true (T) or false (F).1. There are more than enough meetings to go around these days, and for

no reason.

2. Meetings are less important today.

3. Meetings are the life-blood of any organization.

4. Survey results show that few executives spend 40% ~ 50% of their

working hours in business meetings.

5. Harry Hill is a psychologist.

F( )

F( )

F( )

F( )

T( )

Fun Break

Directions: Listen to the following joke and fill in the blanks with the words you hear.Differences Between You and Your Boss

1. When you take a long time, you’re slow.

When your boss takes a long time, he’s .

2. When you don’t do it, you’re lazy.

When your boss doesn’t do it, he’s .

3. When you make a mistake, you’re an idiot.

When your boss makes a mistake, he’s only .

4. When doing something without being told, you’re overstepping your authority.

When your boss does the same thing, that’s .

5. When you take a stand, you’re being pig-headed.

When your boss does it, he’s being .

thorough_____________

too busy______________

human____________

initiative_____________

firm_____________

Fun Break

Directions: Listen to the following joke and fill in the blanks with the words you hear.6. When you overlooked a rule of etiquette, you’re being rude.

When your boss skips a few rules, he’s being .

7. When you please your boss, you’re ass-kissing.

When your boss pleases his boss, he’s being .

8. When you’re out of the office, you’re wandering around.

When your boss is out of the office, he’s .

9. When you’re on a day off sick, you’re always sick.

When your boss has a day off sick, he must be .

10. When you apply for leave, you must be going for an interview.

When your boss applies for leave, it’s because he’s .

original_____________

cooperative_______________

on business______________

very ill____________

overworked________________

Additional Listening

Additional Listening

Exercise 1Directions: Listen to a passage and answer the following questions.

Tapescript

1. What’s the purpose of a sales meeting?

To get your sales staff ready to sell.____________________________________________________________________

2. What kind of meeting will arouse salespeople’s hatred?

Meetings without an apparent purpose or agenda.____________________________________________________________________

3. What’s the key to a successful meeting?

To make the meeting interesting, useful and positive.____________________________________________________________________

4. Why is giving praise important?

Because praise reinforces positive behavior and encourages everyone to do well.____________________________________________________________________

Additional Listening

Exercise 1Directions: Listen to a passage and answer the following questions.5. What are the ways to make the most of a sales meeting?

get the meeting off to a good start.1)____________________________________________________________________

recognize your sales team’s efforts.2)____________________________________________________________________

share stories from the trenches.3)____________________________________________________________________

give salespeople some general guidelines.4)____________________________________________________________________

Additional Listening

Directions: Listen to the passage three times and write down the missing words or

sentences. The purpose of a sales meeting is to get your sales (1) ready to sell.

Salespeople hate meetings without an apparent purpose or (2) . And when no

new information is shared, they feel as if they’re wasting (3) time. It’s important

for you not to waste salespeople’s time, but you also need to avoid (4) them

with information. The key to almost any successful meeting is to make it interesting, useful

and (5) . Before you rally the troops for another sales meeting, (6)

some of the following ways to make the most of the time you spend in the office with your

sales staff. Get the meeting off to a good start. Salespeople who come in at 7:30 a.m. (7)

fresh coffee, orange juice and warm bread. Good food sets the (8)

for a great meeting.

staff__________

Exercise 2

agenda_________

valuable__________

positive__________

overloading______________

consider___________

appreciate____________ tone________

Additional Listening

Directions: Listen to the passage three times and write down the missing words or

sentences. Recognize your sales team’s efforts. (9)

. Praise

reinforces positive behavior and encourages everyone to do well.

Share stories from the trenches. At least one positive war story should be shared in

every meeting. (10)

Give salespeople some general guidelines, so they can prepare for the meeting a few

days in advance. Ask members of the team to talk to the group about things.

Exercise 2

Take a few minutes to congratulate and

thank your salespeople for meeting goals, closing deals and making money

____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

These stories are engaging and fun to listen to, and they reinforce

your goals.

________________________________________________________

_____________

Viewing & Speaking

Useful Expressions for Running a Meeting

Opening the Meeting

Have you all received a copy of the agenda?

If we are all here, let’s get started/ start the meeting/start.

We’re here today to discuss ways of improving sales in rural market areas.

So, the first item on the agenda is...

To begin with I’d like to quickly go through the minutes of our last meeting.

Discussing Items

Before I begin the report, I’d like to get some ideas from you all. How do you feel

about rural sales in your sales districts?

Viewing & Speaking

Useful Expressions for Running a Meeting

During the Meeting

So, if there is nothing else we need to discuss, let’s move on to the next item on

today’s agenda.

If nobody has anything else to add, let’s...

Close of Meeting

Before we close today’s meeting, let me just summarize the main points.

If there are no other comments, I’d like to wrap this meeting up.

Can we set the date for the next meeting, please?

The meeting is finished. We’ll see each other next...

Viewing & Speaking

Directions: Watch the second part of a meeting and choose the best answer to each

question.

Videoscript

Bush is of the opinion that ____________.

A. they let the business manage itself B. they let the business manage them

C. they should manage the business D. they leave the business alone

Watt suggests that the first thing to do is ____________.

A. to start a short-term plan B. to start a long-term plan

C. to improve the organization D. to have a managing partner

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Viewing & Speaking

Bush takes a(n) ___________ attitude to the proposal for having a managing partner.

A. positive B. negative C. indifferent D. skeptical

Who will prepare a paper about the management structure and the functions of the

managing partner?

A. Sally. B. Bush. C. Watt. D. Watt and Sally.

The main topics of the meeting are _____________.

A. planning and improving the organization

B. pushing the business and letting it manage itself

C. discussing the notes and circulating them

D. having a managing partner and starting a plan

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Viewing & Speaking

Directions: Watch the video again and work with your partner by supplying the

information about what has been done at the meeting.1. The first thing discussed at the meeting: .

2. Sally is asked to

3. The second topic discussed at the meeting: .

4. Watt is asked to

starting a long-term plan____________________________

make notes on the long-term plan and circulate them for discussion

at the next meeting.

________________________________________________________

____________________

improving the organization____________________________

make notes on the management structure and the functions of the

managing partner and circulate them for discussion at the next meeting.

________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Viewing & Speaking

Directions: Suppose your company is producing a new type of MP4 players (5th

generation). Now you are going to hold a brainstorming meeting on how to

bring the new product to the market. Divide yourselves into groups of five,

including the chairperson, who may refer to the Useful Expressions for

Running a Meeting section. Each participant gives his/her ideas of how to sell the new product to the public. The following hints are for your reference.

Some hints: Put the new product in an eye-catching package so that it tells the customer exactly

what the product is at first glance. The packaging should highlight the attributes of the

product. Make simple, short-length product demonstration videos to be played at trade shows.

Viewing & Speaking

Some hints:

Hold an exhibition or attend trade shows. Display the product and play the product

demonstration video at a trade show.

Create informative advertisements and print them off for distribution in areas that will

bring attention to the product.

Distribute flyers door to door.

Make full use of free Internet advertising.

Use our company’s website to highlight the new product with an announcement on the

home page and a link to the product information.

Let the first 50 customers try the product for free for 10 days.

大连理工大学出版社

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