跟读练习: 50 Business Meeting Phrases You Need to Speak Confidently at Work | Business Podcast (B2–C1) - 通过视频学习英语口语

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to our Business English podcast.

We're very happy to have you with us today.

Hello, everyone.

Today, we have a very practical lesson for you.

If you sometimes know what you want to say in a meeting, but you don't know how to say it professionally in English, this episode is for you.

Exactly.

Today, we're going to practice business meeting phrases that you can use to speak more clearly, naturally, and confidently at work.

And we're not just going to give you a list of phrases.

We're going to use them in realistic conversations so you can understand when and how to use them.

You'll hear phrases for starting a discussion, sharing an opinion, asking questions,

agreeing, disagreeing politely, interrupting, clarifying information,

making suggestions, responding to ideas, and ending a meeting.

The important thing is to listen to the whole conversation.

Don't worry if some phrases sound new.

You can listen again and repeat them later.

Let's imagine we're colleagues preparing for an important team meeting.

Good morning, Sarah.

Are you ready for the meeting?

Almost.

I've reviewed the agenda and I have a few points I'd like to raise.

That's good.

What are you planning to talk about?

Mainly the project deadline and the customer feedback.

Great.

Those are important points.

Our first useful phrase is, I'd like to raise a point.

This is a professional way to introduce something you want to discuss.

For example, I'd like to raise a point about the budget.

Or I'd like to raise a concern about the delivery schedule.

Now let's start the meeting.

Good morning everyone.

Shall we get started?

Yes, absolutely.

Thanks for joining.

We have a few important items to discuss today.

The phrase, shall we get started, is very useful because it sounds natural and professional when you want to begin a meeting.

You can also say, let's get started.

Or, I think we're ready to begin.

Now, imagine that you want to make sure everyone understands the purpose of the meeting.

Before we begin, could we quickly go over today's agenda? Of course.

First, we'll discuss the project update.

Then, we'll look at the budget.

And finally, we'll agree on the next steps.

Perfect.

Could we quickly go over means could we quickly review or discuss something?

It's especially useful when you want to organize a meeting clearly.

Now let's talk about sharing your opinion.

What do you think about the new marketing strategy?

From my perspective, the strategy is promising, but I think we need to make a few changes.

What kind of changes?

I think we should focus more on existing customers.

That's interesting.

From my perspective is a professional way to introduce your opinion.

You can also say, in my view, or I believe that… For example, in my view, we should wait until we have more information.

Or, I believe that this approach will save us time.

Now let's practice agreeing with someone.

I think we should reduce the number of meetings and use email for simple updates.

I completely agree.

Some meetings could definitely be handled by email.

I completely agree is a strong way to show that you have the same opinion.

You can also say, I agree with you.

That's a good point.

Or simply, absolutely.

Let's hear a natural example.

I think we need to improve communication between departments.

Absolutely.

We've had several problems because information wasn't shared quickly enough.

Exactly.

That's why I think a weekly update would help.

I agree.

Now, agreeing is easy, but what if you disagree?

That's where professional language becomes very important.

Let's hear an example.

I think we should launch the product next week.

I understand your point, but I'm not sure next week is realistic.

Why do you say that?

We still need to complete the final testing.

That's true.

Notice the phrase, I understand your point, but it allows you to disagree without sounding rude.

Exactly.

You're showing respect before presenting a different opinion.

Another useful phrase is, I see it differently.

For example, I see it differently.

I think we should focus on quality before speed.

You can also say, I'm not sure I agree with that.

This is much more professional than simply saying, you're wrong.

Now let's practice asking someone for their opinion.

We've discussed my idea.

What's your view?

I think it has potential, but I'd like to see more data before we move forward.

That's fair.

The phrase, what's your view, is a short and natural phrase.

You can also say, what do you think, or what's your opinion on this?

Let's move to making suggestions.

We're spending too much time checking these reports manually.

Why don't we automate some of the process?

That could work.

Why don't we is a very useful way to make a suggestion.

Another option is, how about we… For example, how about we arrange a call with the customer?

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Or, how about we review the numbers again?

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You can also say, I suggest that we… For example, I suggest that we postpone the launch until next month.

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Now let's practice responding to a suggestion.

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Why don't we move the meeting to Friday?

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That sounds like a good idea.

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Great.

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Another response could be, that could work.

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Or, I think that's worth considering.

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That phrase is useful when you don't want to immediately say yes or no. Exactly.

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It gives you time to think.

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Now imagine that someone makes a suggestion you're not comfortable with.

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Why don't we cut the customer support budget?

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I'm not sure that would be the best approach.

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Why not?

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Customer support is already under pressure, so reducing the budget could affect service quality.

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That's a valid concern.

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This is a very useful structure.

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I'm not sure that would be the best approach.

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It sounds professional and respectful.

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Now let's talk about asking for clarification.

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We need to improve the overall process.

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Sorry, could you clarify what you mean by improve the process?

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Sure.

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I mean that we should remove unnecessary approval steps.

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Thanks.

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That makes sense.

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Could you clarify is one of the most useful phrases in a business meeting.

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It simply means, could you explain that more clearly?

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You can also say, could you explain what you mean?

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Or, could you give me an example?

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Let's practice that one.

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We need to improve customer engagement.

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Could you give me an example of how you would do that?

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We could send personalized follow -up messages after each purchase.

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That helps me understand your idea.

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Now let's practice asking someone to repeat something.

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The new reporting process will begin after the implementation review.

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Sorry, could you repeat that? Of course.

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I said, the new reporting process will begin after the implementation review.

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Thanks.

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I understand now.

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Remember, saying, could you repeat that, is completely normal in professional communication.

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You don't need to pretend that you understood everything.

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Exactly.

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Asking for clarification shows that you care about accuracy.

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Now let's talk about interrupting politely.

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The new plan will reduce costs, improve efficiency, and… Sorry to interrupt, but could I add something? Of course.

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Go ahead.

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I think we should also consider the effect on employees.

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Good point.

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Sorry to interrupt, but is a polite way to enter a discussion while someone else is speaking.

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You can also say, can I add something here?

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Or, could I jump in for a moment?

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Let's hear another example.

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Could I jump in for a moment?

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I think we have some important customer data that supports your idea.

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Sure, please go ahead.

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Thank you.

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Now, what if you want to return to a topic that was discussed earlier?

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Before we move on, could we come back to the budget for a moment?

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Sure.

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What would you like to discuss?

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I'm still concerned that we haven't allocated enough money for training.

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That's a good point.

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The phrase, could we come back to, is useful when you want to revisit a subject.

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For example, could we come back to the deadline?

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Or, before we move on, I'd like to come back to the customer issue.

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Now let's practice asking for more information.

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What's the expected impact of this change?

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We expect it to reduce processing time by about 20%.

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And what about customer satisfaction?

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We expect that to improve as well, but we need more data to confirm it.

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Good.

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Notice the phrase, what's the expected impact?

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That's very useful when discussing business decisions.

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Now let's talk about discussing problems.

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We have a problem with the supplier.

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What seems to be the issue?

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They've delayed the delivery again.

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How serious is the delay?

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It could affect production if we don't receive the materials by Friday.

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Then we need to look at alternative options.

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Exactly.

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What seems to be the issue is a professional way to ask about a problem.

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You can also say, what's causing the problem, or what's the main concern?

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Now let's practice discussing solutions.

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The supplier may not be able to deliver on time.

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What are our options?

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We could use another supplier temporarily.

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Is that realistic?

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I believe so.

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I'll check the availability and cost.

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Good.

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Keep me updated. Of course.

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The phrase, what are our options, is a powerful meeting phrase.

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It changes the conversation from simply discussing a problem to finding a solution.

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Now let's talk about deadlines.

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When do you think you can finish the report?

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I should be able to finish it by Thursday afternoon.

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Is there any risk of delay?

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There might be if I don't receive the sales figures today.

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I'll contact the sales team immediately.

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Thanks.

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That should keep us on track.

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Keep us on track means help us continue according to the planned schedule.

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Very useful in project meetings.

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Now let's practice talking about priorities.

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We have five tasks to complete today.

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Which one should we prioritize?

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I'd suggest dealing with the customer complaint first.

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Why?

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Because it's urgent and could affect the relationship.

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Welcome back to the English Everyday Podcast.

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Hello, everyone, and welcome to another practical business English lesson.

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I'm Daniel.

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And I'm Sophie.

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Hey, hello everyone!

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We're so happy you're here with us today.

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If you want to feel more confident when speaking English in business meetings, today's conversation is going to be extremely useful.

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Exactly.

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Today, we're talking about business meeting phrases you need to speak confidently at work.

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And we're not going to give you a long list of phrases to memorize.

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Instead, we're going to use realistic meeting situations so you can hear how these expressions actually work.

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That's important, because knowing a phrase is one thing, but knowing when and how to use it is something completely different.

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Absolutely.

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Our goal is simple.

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By the end of this conversation, you should feel more comfortable opening a meeting, giving an update, sharing an opinion,

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asking questions, disagreeing politely, interrupting, making suggestions, and closing the meeting.

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So, imagine you're sitting in a real business meeting with us.

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Let's begin.

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Good morning, everyone.

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Thanks for joining the meeting today.

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Good morning, Sophie.

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Thanks for organizing it.

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Before we begin, let's quickly go over what we want to discuss today.

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That's a great phrase.

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Let's quickly go over means let's review something briefly.

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Exactly.

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For example, you could say, let's quickly go over the project updates before we discuss the budget.

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Another useful phrase at the beginning of a meeting is, the main purpose of today's meeting is?

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For example, the main purpose of today's meeting is to decide how we're going to launch the new product.

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That immediately gives everyone a clear direction.

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Right.

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So let's imagine I'm leading the meeting.

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Okay.

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The main purpose of today's meeting is to review our progress and agree on the next steps.

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Excellent.

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And if you have several things to discuss, you can say we have three main points on the agenda.

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Yes.

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For example, we have three main points on the agenda, the project timeline, the budget, and the client feedback.

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Now imagine we've started discussing the project.

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Daniel, could you give us a quick update?

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Sure.

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Overall, the project is progressing well.

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We've completed the first phase and we're currently working on the second phase.

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Very natural.

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Could you give us a quick update is one of the most useful questions in a business meeting.

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And when giving an update, you can begin with, overall things are going well, or we're currently on track.

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You can also say, we've made good progress since our last meeting.

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For example, we've made good progress since our last meeting.

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The design is finished and the development team has started testing.

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That sounds clear and professional.

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Now, suppose there is a problem.

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Daniel, are there any issues we should be aware of?

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Yes, we have a small delay because we're still waiting for information from the client.

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And instead of saying, there's a big problem, you can say, there's an issue we need to address.

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Exactly.

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An issue we need to address sounds calm and professional.

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For example, there's an issue with the delivery schedule that we need to address before Friday.

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Now let's talk about expressing opinions.

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This is one of the most important skills in meetings.

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Yes.

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Many learners know what they think, but they're not sure how to introduce their opinion.

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A simple phrase is, in my view.

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For example, in my view, we should focus on our existing customers before looking for new markets.

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Another useful phrase is, from my perspective, from my perspective, the current strategy is working, but we need to make a few changes.

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And if you want to sound slightly softer, say, I tend to think that.

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I tend to think that we should wait until we have more information.

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Excellent.

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Now let's have a real discussion.

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Daniel, do you think we should launch the campaign next month?

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From my perspective, the timing is good, but I think we should test the campaign first.

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Why do you think we should test it?

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Because testing would help us identify problems before we spend the full budget.

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That makes sense.

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Notice that I didn't just say, I think we should test it.

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I gave a reason.

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Exactly.

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When you express an opinion, adding because and giving a reason makes your communication much stronger.

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Now, what happens if you disagree with someone?

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This is where professional English becomes very important.

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You don't want to say, that's wrong.

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Right.

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You can say, I see your point, but I have a slightly different view.

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That is a very useful phrase.

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Or you can say, I understand where you're coming from, however, I think we should consider another option.

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Let's practice.

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I think we should reduce the price to attract more customers.

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I see your point, but I have a slightly different view.

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I think improving the product first would be more effective.

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Why?

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Because our customer feedback shows that quality is a bigger concern than price.

302

That's a strong response.

303

You disagreed, but you remained respectful.

304

Exactly.

305

Confident English doesn't mean aggressive English.

306

That's an important lesson.

307

You can be confident and polite at the same time.

308

Now let's talk about asking for clarification.

309

Imagine someone says something and you don't fully understand it.

310

You can say, could you clarify what you mean?

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Or could you explain that in a little more detail?

312

Another excellent phrase is, just to make sure I understand.

313

Just to make sure I understand, are you suggesting that we move the deadline to next Friday?

314

That's very useful because it also confirms what you heard.

315

Exactly.

316

Never be afraid to ask for clarification.

317

Guessing can create much bigger problems.

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Let's imagine I give you an unclear instruction.

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Okay.

320

Sophie, please update the report and send it over.

321

Just to make sure I understand, do you mean the monthly sales report?

322

Yes, exactly.

323

Great.

324

I'll send it to you by three.

325

Perfect.

326

Simple, clear, professional.

327

Now let's discuss interruptions.

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This is something many learners find difficult.

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Yes.

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Sometimes you have an important point, but someone else is speaking.

331

Instead of interrupting suddenly, you can say, Sorry to interrupt, but could I add something?

332

Or, if I may, I'd like to add one point.

333

Let's practice.

334

I think the main reason for the delay is...

335

Sorry to interrupt, but could I add something? Of course.

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Go ahead.

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I think we should also consider the supplier's schedule.

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Good.

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That interruption was polite.

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Another useful phrase is, could I just jump in here?

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That's slightly more conversational and natural in many workplaces.

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For example, could I just jump in here?

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I think we may be missing one important point.

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Very useful.

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Now let's talk about making suggestions.

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One simple expression is, why don't we?

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Why don't we speak with the client before making a final decision?

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Or, how about we?

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How about we move the meeting to Thursday?

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And a more professional option is, I'd suggest that we?

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I'd suggest that we review the numbers one more time.

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Or, I recommend that we start with a smaller test.

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Excellent.

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These phrases are especially useful when you want to contribute ideas without sounding too forceful.

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Now, imagine the team is discussing a difficult problem.

356

We've received several complaints from customers this week.

357

What do you think we should do?

358

I'd suggest that we look at the complaints together and identify the common problems.

359

That sounds reasonable.

360

How about we also speak with the customer service team?

361

Good idea!

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They may have useful information.

363

That's how a productive business conversation should sound.

364

Everyone contributes, listens, and builds on other people's ideas.

365

Now let's talk about agreeing with someone.

366

Simple phrases include, I completely agree, that makes sense, and I think you're right.

367

But sometimes you agree only partly.

368

Then you can say, I agree to some extent, but… For example, I agree to some extent, but we also need to consider the cost.

369

Another phrase is, that's a good point.

370

That's a good point.

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I hadn't considered that.

372

Very natural.

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Now let's talk about deadlines.

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Sophie, can we finish this project by Friday?

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I think we can, but we'll need to prioritize the remaining tasks.

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What if you're not sure?

377

I could say, we should be able to meet the deadline, provided we receive the information today.

378

Excellent.

379

Provided means if this condition happens.

380

Exactly.

381

Another useful phrase is, we may need a little more time.

382

For example, we may need a little more time to complete the testing properly.

383

And if you need to negotiate the deadline?

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You can say, would it be possible to extend the deadline by two days?

385

That's much more professional than simply saying, we need more time.

386

Now, let's discuss priorities.

387

Imagine you have five important tasks.

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You can ask, which task should we prioritize?

389

Or, what should we focus on first?

390

Let's use it.

391

We have the client presentation, the financial report, and the product update to complete today.

392

Which task should we prioritize?

393

I think the client presentation should come first because the meeting is tomorrow morning.

394

That's clear and logical.

395

Now let's talk about asking someone to take action.

396

You can say, could you take a look at this?

397

Could you review the document before tomorrow?

398

Or, would you be able to send me the updated figures?

399

These phrases are polite but still direct.

400

Exactly.

401

Business communication should be clear.

402

Being polite doesn't mean being vague.

403

Now imagine you need to ask someone for an urgent task.

404

Would you be able to send me the final numbers by two?

405

We need them for the client meeting.

406

Perfect.

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You explained what you need and why.

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Now let's talk about responding to questions when you don't know the answer.

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A professional phrase is, I'm not sure, but I'll find out.

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Or you can say, let me check that and get back to you.

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Or, I don't have that information with me right now.

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I'll confirm it and let you know.

413

These phrases are extremely useful.

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Because pretending to know something can damage your credibility.

415

Exactly.

416

Professional confidence also means being comfortable saying, I don't know yet.

417

Now let's practice handling a difficult question.

418

Sophie, why did sales decrease last month?

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I don't have the complete information yet, but I believe there were some… Hello everyone, and welcome back to Business English Learning.

420

We're happy to have you with us today for another practical Business English lesson.

421

Hello everyone.

422

Today's lesson is all about business meeting phrases you need to speak confidently at work,

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if you sometimes know what you want to say but don't know how to say it professionally in English.

424

Today's conversation will help you.

425

Exactly.

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We're going to have a realistic meeting between two colleagues.

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Along the way we'll use phrases for starting a meeting, sharing opinions, asking questions, agreeing, disagreeing politely, interrupting, clarifying information,

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making suggestions, discussing problems and ending a meeting.

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And remember, you don't need complicated English to sound professional.

430

A few useful phrases can make your communication much easier.

431

So don't just listen.

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Repeat the phrases you hear.

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Imagine that you are sitting in the meeting with us.

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Ready?

435

Let's begin.

436

Good morning, everyone.

437

Thanks for joining the meeting today.

438

Good morning.

439

Thanks for organizing it.

440

Before we get started, I'd like to quickly go over what we need to discuss.

441

Sounds good.

442

First, we'll review the progress of the current project.

443

Then we'll discuss the budget and the delivery schedule.

444

Finally, we'll agree on the next steps.

445

That's a clear agenda.

446

How much time do we have?

447

We have about 45 minutes.

448

Perfect.

449

I think that's enough time.

450

Great.

451

Let's get started.

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Before we move on, could I add one point to the agenda? Of course.

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What would you like to add?

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I'd like to briefly discuss the customer feedback we received last week.

455

Good idea.

456

Let's add that after the project update.

457

Thanks.

458

So, let's start with the project.

459

Overall, we're making good progress.

460

That's good to hear.

461

Are we still on track for the original deadline?

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At the moment, yes.

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However, we've experienced a small delay with the design team.

464

How serious is the delay?

465

It's not serious yet.

466

We're about two days behind schedule.

467

Do you think we can make up the time?

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I believe so, but we'll need to prioritize the remaining tasks.

469

I agree.

470

Which tasks should we prioritize?

471

The customer testing is the most important one.

472

Why's that?

473

Because we need the testing results before we can finalize the product.

474

That makes sense.

475

We could also ask the development team to work on the documentation at the same time.

476

I see what you mean, but I'm not sure that's realistic.

477

Why not?

478

The development team is already under a lot of pressure.

479

If we give them another task, the quality of their work may suffer.

480

That's a fair point.

481

Maybe we should ask another team to help with the documentation.

482

That's an interesting suggestion.

483

We could ask the support team.

484

They already understand the product quite well.

485

I like that idea.

486

Let's see if they have the capacity.

487

Sure.

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I'll speak with their manager after this meeting.

489

Great.

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Can I ask a question about the deadline? Of course.

491

If the testing takes longer than expected, do we have any flexibility with the launch date?

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We have a little flexibility, but I'd prefer not to use it unless necessary.

493

Understood.

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Does anyone else have a view on this?

495

I do.

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Go ahead.

497

I think we should keep the original deadline for now, but prepare a backup plan.

498

I agree with that approach.

499

That way we're prepared if something changes.

500

Exactly.

501

It's better to have a plan B.

502

That's a useful phrase.

503

Plan B means another plan we can use if the first plan doesn't work.

504

Right.

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In business meetings, you might also hear, what's our backup plan?

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Or do we have an alternative?

507

Exactly.

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Let's talk about the budget.

509

Sure.

510

The project is currently within budget, but we're using more resources than originally expected.

511

Can you explain why?

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Mainly because of the additional testing.

513

Do we know how much extra it will cost?

514

We estimate around 5 ,000 euros.

515

That's more than I expected.

516

I understand your concern.

517

Is there a way to reduce the additional cost?

518

We could reduce the number of external testers.

519

Would that affect the quality of the testing?

520

Potentially, yes.

521

In that case, I wouldn't recommend it.

522

I agree.

523

Saving money isn't helpful if it creates bigger problems later.

524

Exactly.

525

Another option is to use some of our internal staff.

526

That could work.

527

We would save money, but we'd need to make sure they have enough time.

528

Could you check their availability?

529

Yes, I'll check and get back to you.

530

Excellent.

531

Now let's move on to customer feedback.

532

I reviewed the comments yesterday.

533

What did customers say?

534

Most of the feedback was positive.

535

Customers particularly liked the new interface.

536

That's great.

537

However, several customers said the checkout process was confusing.

538

That's important.

539

Did they explain what was confusing?

540

Yes, some users didn't understand the final confirmation screen.

541

Could you give us an example?

542

Sure.

543

One customer said they weren't sure whether their payment had been completed.

544

I see.

545

I think we should make the confirmation message clearer.

546

I agree.

547

We could also send a confirmation email immediately.

548

We already do that, but the email sometimes arrives several minutes later.

549

Then perhaps we should look into the email system.

550

Agreed.

551

Could I make a suggestion?

552

Sure.

553

Why don't we test both solutions with a small group of customers first?

554

I like that approach.

555

That would allow us to see which option works better before making a bigger change.

556

Exactly.

557

We should also consider mobile users.

558

Good point.

559

More than half of our customers use mobile devices.

560

You're right.

561

Let's make sure the new confirmation message works well on mobile.

562

I'll add that to the testing plan.

563

Perfect.

564

Sorry, can I jump in for a moment? Of course.

565

I have one concern about the timeline.

566

Go ahead.

567

If we add more testing, won't that push the launch date back?

568

It could, but I think we can do the additional testing without changing the main schedule.

569

How?

570

We can start the testing while the development team finishes the other tasks.

571

So the activities will happen at the same time?

572

Exactly.

573

Okay, that makes sense.

574

And if we see a major problem, we'll review the timeline.

575

Sounds reasonable.

576

Does everyone agree?

577

Yes, I do.

578

Great.

579

There's another phrase I want to ask about.

580

Sure.

581

When someone says, can I jump in, is that polite?

582

Yes, especially in a discussion.

583

It means you want to add something while someone else is speaking.

584

So I could say, sorry, can I jump in for a moment?

585

Exactly.

586

You can also say, can I add something here?

587

Or could I come in on that point?

588

Yes.

589

These phrases are useful because simply interrupting someone can sound rude.

590

That's important for English learners.

591

Definitely.

592

Good meeting English is not just about vocabulary.

593

It's also about timing and politeness.

594

Let's continue.

595

We need to decide who will handle the customer feedback.

596

I can take responsibility for that.

597

Great.

598

What exactly will you do?

599

I'll summarize the main issues and create a list of recommendations.

600

When can you have that ready?

601

By Wednesday afternoon.

602

Is that realistic?

603

Yes, as long as I receive the latest customer data today.

604

I'll make sure you get it.

605

Thanks.

606

Now let's talk about the budget.

607

Sure.

608

The project is currently within budget, but we're using more resources than originally expected.

609

Can you explain why?

610

Mainly because of the additional testing.

611

Do we know how much extra it will cost?

612

We estimate around 5 ,000 euros.

613

That's more than I expected.

614

I understand your concern.

615

Is there a way to reduce the additional cost?

616

We could reduce the number of external testers.

617

Would that affect the quality of the testing?

618

Potentially, yes.

619

In that case, I wouldn't recommend it.

620

I agree.

621

Saving money isn't helpful if it creates bigger problems later.

622

Exactly.

623

Another option is to use some of our internal staff.

624

That could work.

625

We would save money, but we'd need to make sure they have enough time.

626

Could you check their availability?

627

Yes, I'll check and get back to you.

628

Excellent.

629

Now let's move on to customer feedback.

630

I reviewed the comments yesterday.

631

What did customers say?

632

Most of the feedback was positive.

633

Customers particularly liked the new interface.

634

That's great.

635

However, several customers said the checkout process was confusing.

636

That's important.

637

Did they explain what was confusing?

638

Yes, some users didn't understand the final confirmation screen.

639

I see.

640

I think we should make the confirmation message clearer.

641

I agree.

642

We could also send a confirmation email immediately.

643

We already do that, but the email sometimes arrives several minutes later.

644

Then perhaps we should look into the email system.

645

Agreed.

646

Could I make a suggestion?

647

Sure.

648

Why don't we test both solutions with a small group of customers first?

649

I like that approach.

650

That would allow us to see which option works better before making a bigger change.

651

Exactly.

652

We should also consider mobile users.

653

Good point.

654

More than half of our customers use mobile devices.

655

You're right.

656

Let's make sure the new confirmation message works well on mobile.

657

I'll add that to the testing plan.

658

Perfect.

659

Sorry, can I jump in for a moment? Of course.

660

I have one concern about the timeline.

661

Go ahead.

662

If we add more testing, won't that push the launch date back?

663

It could, but I think we can do the additional testing without changing the main schedule.

664

How?

665

We can start the testing while the development team finishes the other tasks.

666

So the activities will happen at the same time.

667

Exactly.

668

Okay, that makes sense.

669

And if we see a major problem, we'll review the timeline.

670

Sounds reasonable.

671

Does everyone agree?

672

Yes, I do.

673

Great.

674

There's another phrase I want to ask about.

675

Sure.

676

When someone says, can I jump in, is that polite?

677

Yes, especially in a discussion.

678

It means you want to add something while someone else is speaking.

679

So I could say, sorry, can I jump in for a moment?

680

Exactly.

681

You can also say, can I add something here?

682

Or could I come in on that point?

683

Yes.

684

These phrases are useful because simply interrupting someone can sound rude.

685

That's important for English learners.

686

Definitely.

687

Good meeting English is not just about vocabulary.

688

It's also about timing and politeness.

689

Let's continue.

690

We need to decide who will handle the customer feedback.

691

I can take responsibility for that.

692

Great.

693

What exactly will you do?

694

I'll summarize the main issues and create a list of recommendations.

695

When can you have that ready?

696

By Wednesday afternoon.

697

Is that realistic?

698

Yes, as long as I receive the latest customer data today.

699

I'll make sure you get it.

700

Thanks.

701

Now let's talk about the budget.

702

Sure.

703

The project is currently within budget, but we're using more resources than originally expected.

704

Can you explain why?

705

Mainly because of the additional testing.

706

Do we know how much extra it will cost?

707

We estimate around 5 ,000 euros.

708

That's more than I expected.

709

I understand your concern.

710

Is there a way to reduce the additional cost?

711

We could reduce...

712

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Business English Learning.

713

We are very happy to have you with us today for another practical English lesson.

714

I'm Speaker 1.

715

And I'm Speaker 2.

716

Today, we're going to practice something

717

that can make a huge difference in your professional communication – business meeting phrases you need to speak confidently at work.

718

Exactly.

719

Meetings can sometimes feel stressful, especially when you know what you want to say, but you are not sure how to say it in English.

720

Maybe you want to give your opinion, ask a question, disagree with someone, explain a problem, or suggest an idea.

721

And instead of staying quiet, you need simple phrases that help you speak clearly and professionally.

722

So today, we're going to have a natural conversation filled with useful phrases you can actually use in real business meetings.

723

And don't worry if your English is not perfect.

724

The goal is not to use complicated words.

725

The goal is to communicate your ideas clearly and confidently.

726

That's right.

727

Let's imagine we're working together at a company, and we have a meeting about an important project.

728

Good morning, everyone.

729

Thanks for joining the meeting.

730

Before we begin, I'd like to quickly go over today's agenda.

731

Sounds good.

732

What are the main points we need to discuss?

733

First, we'll review the project update, then we'll discuss the current challenges, and finally, we'll agree on the next steps.

734

Great.

735

That's a clear agenda.

736

Would you like me to take notes during the meeting?

737

Yes, please.

738

That would be very helpful.

739

Sure.

740

Let's get started.

741

First, I'd like to give everyone a quick update on the project.

742

Overall, things are going well, but we're slightly behind schedule.

743

Thanks for the update.

744

Could you explain what caused the delay? Of course.

745

The main issue was that we received some information from the client later than expected.

746

I see.

747

So, if I understand correctly, the delay was mainly caused by the late information from the client.

748

Exactly.

749

That's helpful.

750

And what is the current status?

751

At the moment, we've completed about 70 % of the work.

752

That's good progress.

753

Do you think we can still meet the original deadline?

754

That's a good question.

755

If everything goes smoothly from now on, I believe we can.

756

I agree.

757

However, I think we should also prepare a backup plan.

758

That's a good point.

759

Could you explain what you have in mind?

760

We could move some less urgent tasks to next week

761

and focus on the tasks that are directly connected to the client deadline.

762

I like that idea.

763

It would help us focus on our priorities.

764

Exactly.

765

Sometimes when we have too many tasks, we need to decide what is most important.

766

That's an important meeting phrase.

767

Let's focus on our priorities.

768

Yes.

769

You can use it when a discussion becomes too broad or when your team needs to concentrate on the most important work.

770

For example, you could say, we have several things to discuss, but let's focus on our priorities first.

771

That's simple and professional.

772

Now, let's talk about another common situation.

773

Imagine someone gives an idea that you don't completely agree with.

774

Okay.

775

I'll give an idea, and you can respond.

776

I think we should launch the new product next Monday.

777

Hmm, I'm not sure that's the best approach.

778

Why not?

779

I understand your point, but I think we need more time to test the product before launching it.

780

That's fair.

781

What makes you think we need more time?

782

We've identified two technical issues that could affect the customer experience.

783

I wasn't aware of that.

784

Could you give us more details?

785

Sure.

786

One issue affects the payment page and the other affects the mobile version.

787

In that case, I agree that we should wait.

788

Great.

789

Notice that I didn't simply say, you're wrong.

790

Right.

791

In a professional meeting, you usually want to disagree politely.

792

You can say, I'm not sure I agree, or I see your point, but, or I understand your perspective, however.

793

These phrases allow you to express disagreement without sounding rude.

794

And that's very important in international workplaces.

795

Let's try another example.

796

What if you strongly agree with someone's idea?

797

I think we should improve our customer support process.

798

I completely agree.

799

In fact, I think this should be one of our main priorities this quarter.

800

Exactly.

801

We have received several complaints about slow responses.

802

That's true.

803

We need to find a practical solution.

804

One possibility is to introduce a live chat service.

805

I think that's worth considering.

806

Great phrase.

807

That's worth considering.

808

Yes, it means you think an idea deserves further thought.

809

You can also say, that's an interesting idea, or let's look into that.

810

Let's look into that.

811

I like that phrase because it's useful in many situations.

812

For example, if your co -worker suggests using a new software system, you could say, that sounds interesting, let's look into that.

813

Now, let's say you don't understand something during a meeting.

814

This happens all the time, especially when people speak quickly.

815

And you should never be afraid to ask for clarification.

816

Exactly.

817

You can say, could you clarify that?

818

Or could you explain what you mean by that?

819

Let's practice.

820

We should change our customer acquisition strategy because the current model isn't scalable.

821

Sorry, could you clarify what you mean by scalable?

822

Sure.

823

I mean that the current model works for a small number of customers, but it may not work when our customer base becomes much larger.

824

Got it.

825

Thanks for explaining.

826

Got it is a natural and useful, but in a more formal meaning you can say, I understand.

827

Thank you for clarifying.

828

Good distinction.

829

Another important phrase is, if I understand correctly.

830

Yes, it helps you confirm information.

831

For example, if I understand correctly, you're suggesting that we reduce the budget by 10%.

832

And the other person can respond, yes, that's correct.

833

This is especially useful when discussing budgets, deadlines, responsibilities, or important decisions.

834

Speaking of decisions, let's discuss how to make a decision in a meeting.

835

Okay.

836

We've discussed three possible solutions.

837

Which one do you recommend?

838

Personally, I recommend the second option, because it's less expensive and easier to implement.

839

What does everyone else think?

840

I support the second option.

841

Me too.

842

I agree as well.

843

It sounds like we have a clear preference.

844

Then maybe we should move forward with option two.

845

Agreed.

846

Let's move forward with option two.

847

That's a very useful phrase.

848

Let's move forward with… It means you have decided to continue with a particular plan or option.

849

For example, we've reviewed the proposal and we'd like to move forward with your plan.

850

Now, what if the meeting is going off topic?

851

That's another common problem.

852

Imagine we're discussing the marketing campaign, but suddenly we're talking about office furniture.

853

That's definitely off -topic.

854

We can say, that's an interesting point, but let's come back to the main topic.

855

Or, let's stay focused on today's agenda.

856

And if the issue is important but not related to the current discussion?

857

You can say, let's put that on the agenda for our next meeting.

858

Excellent.

859

That keeps the meeting organized.

860

Another useful phrase is, can we come back to that later?

861

Yes, it is polite and practical.

862

Now let's talk about asking someone's opinion.

863

This is important because good meetings should include everyone.

864

You can say, what do you think?

865

That's simple.

866

For a more professional version, say, what's your view on this?

867

Or, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

868

Let's use that one.

869

We've discussed the new pricing strategy.

870

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, James.

871

Thanks.

872

Personally, I think the new pricing is reasonable, but I'm concerned that some customers may find it expensive.

873

That's an interesting concern.

874

And notice that asking someone's opinion gives them an opportunity to participate.

875

Exactly.

876

If you're leading a meeting, don't do all the talking.

877

Give people space to speak.

878

Now let's imagine there is a problem.

879

The client has just informed us that they're unhappy with the latest version of the product.

880

What exactly are they unhappy about?

881

They believe the product doesn't meet two of their requirements.

882

Okay.

883

What's our next step?

884

I suggest we schedule a call with the client and understand the issue in more detail.

885

I agree.

886

We shouldn't make assumptions before speaking with them.

887

Exactly.

888

We shouldn't make assumptions is useful when you need more information before making a decision.

889

After we speak with the client, we can decide how to respond.

890

Good.

891

Let's also assign someone to manage the follow -up.

892

I can take responsibility for that.

893

Great.

894

Could you follow up with the client by Thursday?

895

Yes, I can do that.

896

Excellent.

897

Now let's talk about assigning action items.

898

At the end of a meeting, it's important to make responsibilities clear.

899

Right.

900

You can ask, who will take care of this, or who's responsible for the next step?

901

Or you can say, I'll take care of it, or I'll handle that.

902

What's the difference?

903

They're very similar.

904

I'll take care of it sounds natural and reassuring.

905

I'll handle that can sound slightly more direct and confident.

906

Good to know.

907

Now let's practice closing the meeting.

908

I think we've covered everything on the agenda.

909

Agreed.

910

We have several action items to follow up on.

911

Let's quickly summarize them.

912

First, I'll contact the client by Thursday.

913

Second, I'll update the project schedule.

914

And third, the marketing team will prepare the revised campaign proposal.

915

Perfect.

916

Is there anything else anyone would like to add?

917

Nothing from me.

918

Me neither.

919

Then I think we're ready to wrap up.

920

Great.

921

Thanks everyone for your time and input.

922

Thank you.

923

See you at the next meeting.

924

See you.

925

And that brings us to the end of today's practice.

926

Remember, speaking confidently in business meetings doesn't mean speaking perfect English.

927

It means knowing how to express your ideas clearly, ask useful questions, respond professionally, and participate in the conversation.

928

Start with simple phrases like, I agree, I see your point, could you clarify that, I'd like to add something,

929

that's worth considering, and let's move forward with this.

930

Practice these phrases out loud, don't just read them silently.

931

Imagine you're sitting in a real meeting and use the phrases naturally.

932

The more you practice, the easier it becomes to speak without translating every sentence in your head.

933

And remember, you don't need difficult vocabulary to sound professional.

934

Clear English, polite expressions, and confident communication can make a powerful difference at work.

935

So the next time you're in a business meeting, don't wait for the perfect sentence.

936

Speak up, share your ideas, ask questions, and participate.

937

Your English doesn't have to be perfect.

938

Your message just needs to be clear.

939

Thanks for learning with us today.

940

Keep practicing, keep speaking, and we'll see you in the next Business English lesson.

941

Hello everyone, and welcome back to our Business English Learning Podcast.

942

We're very happy to have you with us today for another practical English lesson.

943

I'm Leo.

944

And I'm Tina.

945

Hello everyone.

946

If you want to feel more comfortable speaking English in business meetings, today's lesson is especially useful for you.

947

That's right.

948

Today, we're talking about business meeting phrases you need to speak confidently at work.

949

In a business meeting, you may know English very well, but sometimes you don't know exactly what to say.

950

You may want to give your opinion, ask a question, interrupt politely, disagree, agree, ask for clarification, or summarize an idea.

951

And that's what we're going to practice today.

952

We'll learn these phrases naturally through realistic workplace conversations.

953

We're not going to use complicated English.

954

Our goal is simple, clear, useful, professional English that you can actually use at work.

955

So imagine you're sitting in a meeting with your colleagues.

956

The meeting is about to begin.

957

Good morning, everyone.

958

Thanks for joining.

959

Shall we get started?

960

Yes, absolutely.

961

Great.

962

The first item on today's agenda is the new customer project.

963

Leo, could you give us a quick update?

964

Certainly.

965

We completed the first stage last week, and we're now working on the second stage.

966

So far, everything is going according to plan.

967

That's good to hear.

968

Are there any issues we should be aware of?

969

There is one small issue with the delivery schedule.

970

Our supplier has asked for an additional two days.

971

I see.

972

Will that affect the final deadline?

973

It shouldn't, as long as we receive the materials by Thursday.

974

Excellent!

975

So one phrase you should remember is, shall we get started?

976

It's a natural way to begin a meeting.

977

You can also say, let's get started or let's begin.

978

If you're leading a formal meeting, shall we get started sounds polite and professional.

979

And when you want someone to provide information, you can say, could you give us a quick update?

980

That's much more natural in a meeting than simply saying, tell us what happened.

981

Exactly.

982

Now let's continue with the same meeting.

983

Tina, I have a question about the schedule.

984

Sure, go ahead.

985

Are we still aiming to complete the project by the end of the month?

986

Yes, that's still our target.

987

Good.

988

I just wanted to make sure we're all working toward the same deadline.

989

That's a good question.

990

Notice the phrase, I just wanted to make sure.

991

It is very useful in professional English.

992

Yes, it makes your questions sound polite and explains why you are asking.

993

For example, I just wanted to make sure everyone received the email.

994

Or, I just wanted to make sure we're all on the same page.

995

On the same page is another very common business expression.

996

It means everyone has the same understanding.

997

Let's use it in another meeting.

998

Before we move forward, can we make sure we're all on the same page?

999

Good idea.

1000

We're planning to launch the new service in June, correct?

1001

Yes, that's my understanding.

1002

And the marketing campaign will begin two weeks before the launch?

1003

Correct.

1004

Great.

1005

Now we're all on the same page.

1006

Excellent.

1007

Now let's practice giving an opinion.

1008

Tina, what do you think about the proposed marketing strategy?

1009

In my opinion, the strategy is strong, but I think we should focus more on existing customers.

1010

Why do you say that?

1011

Because our existing customers already know our service.

1012

It may be easier and less expensive to encourage them to buy additional products.

1013

That's an interesting point.

1014

When you want to give your opinion in a meeting, you can say, in my opinion, from my perspective, I believe, or I think.

1015

And if you want to sound confident but not too strong, from my perspective is especially useful.

1016

For example, from my perspective, we should wait until we have more information.

1017

Or, from my perspective, this option gives us more flexibility.

1018

Now let's practice agreeing with someone.

1019

I think we should improve our customer support process.

1020

I completely agree.

1021

Our response time has increased recently.

1022

Exactly.

1023

We need to respond more quickly.

1024

Another option is, I agree with you, or simply, that's a good point.

1025

And you can make your agreement stronger by saying, I completely agree, or I couldn't agree more.

1026

But sometimes you don't completely agree.

1027

That's when professional disagreement becomes important.

1028

Leo, I think we should reduce the price of the service by 20%.

1029

I see your point, but I'm not sure that's the best approach.

1030

Why not?

1031

A 20 % reduction could affect our profit margin.

1032

I'd suggest starting with 10 % and reviewing the results.

1033

That's a fair point.

1034

Maybe 10 % would be a better starting point.

1035

Great.

1036

I see your point, but is an excellent phrase for polite disagreement.

1037

Notice that we didn't say, that's wrong.

1038

Right.

1039

In a professional meeting, you want to disagree with the idea, not attack the person.

1040

You can also say, I understand your perspective, but I have a slightly different view.

1041

Or, that's an interesting suggestion.

1042

However, I think we should consider another option.

1043

Now, let's practice asking for clarification.

1044

Tina, we need to improve our customer journey.

1045

Could you clarify what you mean by improve?

1046

Sure.

1047

I mean we should make the registration process simpler.

1048

Okay, that makes sense.

1049

Could you clarify what you mean is a phrase every business English learner should know?

1050

Absolutely.

1051

If you don't understand something, don't pretend that you do.

1052

You can also say, could you explain that in a little more detail?

1053

Or, could you give me an example?

1054

Or even, if I understand correctly, you're suggesting that we change the process.

1055

Is that right?

1056

That last expression is especially useful, because you're checking your understanding.

1057

Let's practice it.

1058

We should change the way we communicate with our suppliers.

1059

If I understand correctly, you're suggesting that we use a new communication system.

1060

Is that right?

1061

Exactly.

1062

Perfect.

1063

Now, let's practice interrupting someone politely.

1064

This can be difficult for English learners.

1065

Yes, you don't want to sound rude.

1066

Imagine I'm explaining something in a meeting.

1067

Tina, may I jump in for a moment? Of course.

1068

I just want to add one point.

1069

We also need to consider the budget.

1070

Good point.

1071

Thank you.

1072

May I jump in is a natural way to ask permission to speak while someone else is talking.

1073

You can also say, can I add something here?

1074

Or, sorry to interrupt, but may I add something?

1075

These expressions are much better than simply speaking over someone.

1076

Let's try another one.

1077

Sorry to interrupt, but I think there's an important detail we need to consider.

1078

Sure, what's the detail?

1079

The contract requires us to give the customer 30 days' notice.

1080

Ah, you're right.

1081

That's important.

1082

Great.

1083

Now let's practice asking someone to repeat something.

1084

Leo, the finance team will revise the forecast based on the updated quarterly assumptions.

1085

Sorry, could you repeat the last part? Of course.

1086

I said that finance will revise the forecast using the updated quarterly assumptions.

1087

Thanks, that's much clearer.

1088

If you don't hear something clearly, say, could you repeat that please?

1089

Or, sorry, I didn't catch that.

1090

I didn't catch that is very natural in conversation.

1091

It simply means you didn't hear or understand something.

1092

Now let's practice making a suggestion.

1093

We need to reduce the number of meetings we have every week.

1094

I'd suggest combining the two Monday meetings into one.

1095

Why do you think that would help?

1096

We could save time and still cover the same topics.

1097

That sounds reasonable.

1098

I'd suggest is a very useful business phrase.

1099

You can say, I'd suggest reviewing the data first.

1100

Or, I'd suggest speaking to the customer before making a decision.

1101

Another useful phrase is, why don't we?

1102

For example, why don't we schedule another meeting?

1103

Or, why don't we ask the sales team for their opinion?

1104

Now let's practice discussing a problem.

1105

We have a problem with the new software.

1106

What seems to be the issue?

1107

Several employees are having trouble accessing their accounts.

1108

Have you contacted the IT team?

1109

Yes, they're looking into it now.

1110

Do we know how long it will take to fix?

1111

Not yet, they're still investigating.

1112

Okay, let's wait for their update before deciding what to do next.

1113

What seems to be the issue is a professional way to ask about a problem.

1114

And their looking into it means they are investigating the situation.

1115

Now, let's talk about making decisions.

1116

We've discussed both options.

1117

I think we need to make a decision today.

1118

I agree.

1119

Which option do you recommend?

1120

I recommend the second option because it gives us more flexibility.

1121

I'm comfortable with that.

1122

Great.

1123

Shall we go ahead with option two?

1124

Yes, let's do that.

1125

Shall we go ahead with is a useful way to ask whether everyone agrees to proceed.

1126

And I'm comfortable with that means you're okay with the decision.

1127

Now, imagine there are several different opinions in the room.

1128

We have three different suggestions, but we need to choose one.

1129

Maybe we should step back and look at the main objective.

1130

That's a good idea!

1131

Our main objective is to improve customer satisfaction without increasing costs too much.

1132

When we look at it that way, the second option makes the most sense.

1133

I agree.

1134

That's a useful technique in meetings.

1135

When discussions become complicated, return to the main objective.

1136

Exactly.

1137

You can say, let's focus on the main objective.

1138

Or, let's keep the bigger picture in mind.

1139

The bigger picture means the overall situation rather than one small detail.

1140

Let's practice another useful phrase.

1141

Could we come back to that?

1142

Good one.

1143

Leo, should we change the company website design?

1144

That's worth discussing, but could we come back to that later?

1145

I think we should finish the budget discussion first.

1146

Sure, let's put it on the list for later.

1147

Very useful.

1148

Sometimes a meeting has too many topics, and you need to control the conversation.

1149

Exactly.

1150

You can also say, let's come back to that point after we discuss the current issue.

1151

Now let's practice asking someone's opinion.

1152

Sarah, what's your view on this proposal?

1153

I think it has potential, but I'm concerned about the implementation time.

1154

That's helpful.

1155

What would you change?

1156

I'd give the team another week to prepare.

1157

Good suggestion.

1158

What's your view is a professional way to ask for an opinion.

1159

You can also say, what do you think, which is more casual, but still completely natural at work.

1160

Or, what's your take on this?

1161

What's your take is a conversational business expression, meaning, what is your opinion?

1162

Now let's practice talking about deadlines.

1163

When can we expect the final report?

1164

We're aiming to have it ready by Thursday afternoon.

1165

Is that realistic?

1166

Yes, provided we receive the final figures from finance tomorrow.

1167

Okay.

1168

Please keep me updated if anything changes.

1169

I will.

1170

Provided we receive means the plan depends on that condition.

1171

And please keep me updated is essential workplace English.

1172

Now, let's practice responding when you don't know the answer.

1173

Do you know why the customer canceled the order?

1174

I'm not sure, actually.

1175

Let me check the customer notes and get back to you.

1176

Good.

1177

When you don't know something, don't guess.

1178

Exactly.

1179

Say, I'm not sure, but I'll find out.

1180

Or, let me check and get back to you.

1181

These phrases help you sound professional, even when you don't have an immediate answer.

1182

Now we're reaching the end of the meeting.

1183

Before we wrap up, let's quickly review the main action points.

1184

I'll prepare the...

1185

Thank you.

什么是跟读法？

跟读法 (Shadowing) 是一种有科学依据的语言学习技巧，最初开发用于专业口译员的培训，并由多语言者Alexander Arguelles博士普及。这个方法简单而强大：您在听英语母语原声的同时立即大声重复——就像是一个延迟1-2秒紧跟说话者的影子。与被动听力或语法练习不同，跟读法强迫您的大脑和口腔肌肉同时处理并模仿真实的讲话模式。研究表明它能显着提高发音准确性，语调，节奏，连读，听力理解和口语流利度——使其成为雅思口语备考和真实英语交流最有效的方法之一。

跟读练习: 50 Business Meeting Phrases You Need to Speak Confidently at Work | Business Podcast (B2–C1) - 通过视频学习英语口语

关于本课

什么是跟读法？