- Asking
- Availability
- Changes
- Roles
- Common Phrases
Asking for a meeting
How do we ask for a meeting? What information are we looking for? Why should the listener agree?
Good morning, this is _____ from _____, how are you?
[ arrange, have, schedule, plan, fix, set up, organise, hold ]
I would like to _________ a meeting!
Can I __________ a meeting with you next week?
I’m calling to see if it’s possible to ___________ a meeting this week!
I’m trying to ___________ a meeting
[ book / reserve ] is for appointments with the doctor etc or venues / the meeting room
When? Prepositions
In the afternoon
On friday
At 9am
Checking your agenda
Can you give me a minute / second
Could you give me a minute please
(Could you) Let me check my agenda
I come back > I’ll be right back / I’ll be back in a second
One moment please
[ free slot /open slot/ opening / availability / available ]
I’m free > I am _________ on….
Well, I have an ___________ at
I’m busy > I don’t have any ___________
Proposing Times
We could meet at…
How about…
I’m fully booked that day, I’m afraid
Let’s say next week
WHY CHANGE the plan?
Giving reasons before you change
Unfortunately…
My colleague double booked the room
It’s no longer possible for me to attend
I’m afraid we’ve had a setback!
I have an urgency
I have an urgent matter to attend to
I have a personal issue / problem
I have a family matter/emergency to deal with
I have a medical appointment
There’s a company emergency
I’ve had some difficulties with the transport…
Something urgent has come up
I have to …
There is a conflict in my agenda, sadly, it seems it will be difficult to maintain our meeting.
We should not use: cancel, annul
When you want a later meeting
Put off, delay, postpone
[ bring / push / put / move] + back
Could we _____ the meeting _____?
Is it possible to _____ ______ the meeting ?
When you want an earlier meeting
Advance / prepone
[ bring / push / put / move] + forward
Is it possible to _____ the meeting _____?
Could we _____ _____the meeting?
When you have no preference
Move, reschedule, rearrange, re-plan, reorganise,
Oh no, I’m afraid I have to __________ our meeting
Prepositions
[ By To From Until At In For ]
Talking about a static time = AT
See you at 6pm
Moving something to another time or day = TO
Move the meeting to 3pm
From
I will be available from 2pm to 5pm
Using an amount = BY
We need to increase the meeting by 30 mins
Inside a time limit = IN
I’ll see you in 5 minutes
A duration = FOR
I have a meeting for 3 hours
Can you wait (for) a moment, please.
Until
I will be working until 7pm
Quiz
Can we delay the meeting __ 10.00 __ 10.10?
Could we postpone the meeting __ wednesday? (This is a new date)
Can we finish ___ 10 minutes?
My train won’t arrive before 4pm, so can we delay the meeting __ 10 minutes? Increase the duration of the future meeting
I have a connection issue, can we delay the meeting __ 10 minutes? Request a duration of time now.
Meeting Roles
They will run / lead / chair / conduct / manage / the meeting
They will take the minutes
We’ll be attending / participating on Monday.
There are five _______ on Monday.
Common phrases
it’s ok for you? > Is that ok? > Is that alright? > Is that agreed? > Let’s / Can we confirm …
See you soon > I look forward to seeing you next week / I’m looking forward to it
I will propose you > Can I propose something
Bye Bye > Goodbye
Roleplay
a. phone rings, pick up and answer
b. greet, introduce yourself, ask how they are
a. answer, ask how they are
b. answer
a. ask for reason for call
b. explain you would like a meeting next week
a. agree, ask for what day/time
b. propose specific time
a. check agenda, decline with explanation
b. propose another time
a. propose a time one hour later
b. agree, summarise
a. confirm, end call
b. end call
Did you use: polite formal expressions? “See you next week” is too casual! How did you end the call? Have a nice day? Bye?