Prompts

Prompts

Prompts

Advising and suggesting

Giving reasons for or against proposals

Expressing opposition

Expressing support

Agreeing and disagreeing

Asking for and giving opinions

Checking and confirming information

Requesting information

Participating in a meeting

Imagine that you are in charge of FMA. Discuss with the rest of the class what changes you would like to make. Make definite decisions, write them down and say what the results will be.

ACTIVITY

SECTION С

Getting the chair's attention

	may I come in here?
Mister (Madani) Chairman,	may I have the floor for a moment?

Could you tell me..., please?

I'd, like to ask you...

Would you mind telling me...

I wonder if you could tell me...

What is your position on...

Could you repeat what you said, please?

What exactly do you mean by...?

You did say May, didn't you?

Sorry, that's not quite right It should be...

Do you really think (believe) that...

Are you absolutely sure/positive that...

Am 1 right in thinking that...

I strongly believe that...

I have absolutely no doubt that...

I really do think that...

I totally agree with you.

I totally accept that...

I agree up to a point.

That may be so, but...

I can't go along with you on that.

I am afraid I can't accept that...

I should like to express my total support for...

I think the idea deserves our backing.

In my opinion this goes completely against the interests of...

I can see no valid reasons for supporting a plan of this kind.

I think this is a forward-looking (harmful) proposal.

Nothing
	I have heard has convinced me that...
Everything

Why don't we move on to...

I suggest we close the meeting now.

I would advise you to prepare a short paper for the meeting.

■ Ex. 1. Build conversations like this from the prompts below.

1. — A: Could you repeat what you said, please? You did say 15, didn't you?

— B: Sorry, that's not quite right. It should be 50.

13—30

a million — a billion

June — July

2. — A: Mr. White, I'd like to ask you about the plan of action. Do you really believe that it will be workable.

— B: I have absolutely no doubt that it will be workable in the near future. I think the plan deserves our backing.

— A: I can't go along with you on that. Nothing I have heard has convinced me that it will be workable.

promotion compaign effective

investments profitable

credit card scheme efficient

3. — A: Mister Chairman, may I have the floor for a moment?

— B: O.K. The floor is given to Mr. Jones, but keep to the point, please.

— A: Surely, sir. I should like to express my total support for the plan. Everything I have heard has convinced me the plan is going to work.

Madam Mr. Gorin programme

Miss Jackson idea

Mrs. Clarke scheme

■ Ex. 2. Write down what you would say at a meeting in each of the
following situations. Give several variants wherever possible.

You attend a meeting and you want:

1. to adjourn the meeting

2. to back a proposal

3. to take the floor

4. to make a strong point

5. to express your total disagreement with the proposal

6. to clarify Mr. Brown's stand on the future of the bank

7. to express your partial agreement with the plan

8. to make sure you understood Mr. Black's idea of the public good

9. to make sure you got the figure correctly

10. to give reasons against the proposal

■ Ex. 3. Refer to texts 1—6 Section A, Units VI, VII. Revise the agenda of the meeting.

Role play: meeting of the board

FMA has called a meeting of the board to decide on the candidate for the Presidency.

Taking part in the meeting:

Mr Jerome Patterton — chairman of the board

Roscoe Heyward — executive vice-president

Alex Vandervoort — executive vice-president

Harold Austin — a board member, owner of the Austin Advertising Agency

Leonard Kingswood — a board member, chairman of Northam Steel

Mr Kenny — a board member.

Jerome Patterton — You chair the meeting of the board. You open it, pay tribute to Ben Rosselli, discuss the agenda and the procedure. You believe the candidates should speak in alphabetical precedence. You suggest setting the time limit for the report at 7 minutes and allow 15 minutes for questions.

Roscoe Heyward — Expound your views on the future of FMA. Structure your presentation according to the classical model.

Alex Vandervoort — Expound your views on the future of FMA. Structure your presentation according to the classical model.

Herald Austin — You are willing to pledge your support to Roscoe Heyward. You think he is the man the bank needs. You share his points of view on the future of FMA. And you make it clear when you take the floor. As to Alex Vandervoort, you detest the man. A week ago you fell out with him on the promotion campaign. You intend to take revenge on him now.

Leonard Kingswood — You are prepared to back Alex Vandervoort. In fact you are his strongest supporter and you know it. You find his programme appealing. You share its every point and make no secret of it. As to Roscoe Heyward you consider him to be the wrong choice, as his programme runs contrary to FMA's traditions.

Mr.Kenny — You can't make up your mind. At first sight both programmes look rational. So you ask the candidates questions clar­ifying some points they made. Your final decision will depend on their persuasiveness.

■ Ex. 4. Role play: debates.

The questioning occupied half an hour, after which Roscoe Heyward and Alex Vandervoort left the boardroom together. The directors debated the candidates for the remainder of the morning, weighing all pros and cons.

Taking part in the discussion:

all the members of the board.

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