BBC Learning English

Talking Business
Ideas for using Talking Business in class
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Talking Business bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008


Talking Business: More ideas
Module Two: Meetings

1. Discussion Questions: How often do you have to go to meetings? Do you like or dislike them?
Why? What factors determine if a meeting is successful or unsuccessful? Have you ever chaired a
meeting? Was it an easy or a difficult task? Why? Have you ever been to a meeting in English? Did
you prepare for it in any special way? Did you encounter any language problems that you hadnt
anticipated?

2. Meeting Roleplay: students come up with a topic of interest to them, and roleplay a meeting on this
subject, using the language from the module. To make this more interesting or challenging, give some
or all students one of the following instruction slips, to be read secretly:



You are too polite! Use inappropriately polite language in the meeting.




You are rude! Express your ideas in a direct, impolite way.




Make as many interruptions as possible! Interrupt, interrupt, interrupt!




You agree with everybody! Each time someone speaks, tell them that you agree with
them.




You disagree with everybody! Each time someone speaks, tell them that you disagree
with them.


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Talking Business bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008
Page 2 of 3



You havent prepared properly for the subject of this meeting! In fact, you cant even
remember what the meeting is supposed to be about!




You havent done the vocabulary preparation for this meeting! You cant remember
any of the English words you need!




You love meetings! You want this meeting to continue forever! Try to keep the
meeting going, and dont let anyone stop it.




You hate meetings! Try to stop the meeting as soon as possible.



At the end of the roleplay, students try to guess what the other students secret instruction cards said.






















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Talking Business bbclearningenglish.com BBC Learning English 2008
Page 3 of 3
Reflective Activity
How did you feel during this roleplay?

Agree strongly Agree slightly Disagree
slightly
Disagree
strongly

I felt relaxed



I found the
whole exercise
easy



I found it easy
to choose the
right
vocabulary



I found it easy
to choose the
right grammar



I felt I talked
enough



Write down:

at least one thing you did well in the activity


at least one way you could improve your performance further


at least one thing your partner did well


at least one way he/she could improve further


Now compare and discuss your ideas.