Exercise 4. Which of the following do you agree with? Why?
You may want to use some of the following language:
a) I agree that ? d) I?m not sure ?.
b) Don?t you think ? e) Wouldn?t you agree that ??
c) It?s obvious that ? f) We all know that ?
1. The best number for a meeting is six people or fewer.
2. Never have food or drink during a meeting.
3. Always start and finish a meeting on time.
4. You sit round a table when you have a meeting.
5. A meeting must always have a leader.
6. At a formal meeting each person should speak in turn.
Exercise 5. Freestyle is a sports equipment company. It has developed a new product, a pair of swimming goggles which adapt to each person?s face and eyesight. The Marketing Department held a meeting to discuss the launch of the product.
Read the information about the meeting. Then answer these questions.
1. What are the two aims of the meeting?
2. Which months for the launch do the participants discuss?
3. What agreement do they reach about the launch time?
4. Which types of shops does Julia want to target?
5. What phrase does Katharina use to say ?I am for March??
6. What phrase does Inge use to say ?What do you think about it??
7. What phase does Katharina use to say ?Wait a minute??
8. What phase does Inge use to say ?Let?s discuss it again??
9. What phrase does Inge use to say ?Let?s turn to the question of marketing??
Inge:
Right, can we start, please? The main aim of the meeting is to decide the date of the launch. After that, we?ll talk about our marketing strategy and decide which sales outlets we should target. OK, when are we going to launch the goggles? Katharina, what do you think? Should it be early next year or should we wait until the summer?
Katharina:
I?m in favour of February or March. There?s a gap in the market for our products. Why wait any longer? The goggles are technically advanced ? let?s just cash in on that.
Inge:
Thanks, Katharina. Let?s hear a few more views. Kenneth, what?s your opinion?
Kenneth:
I don?t know about February. It?s a bit early in this year. I suggest we launch in May or June. People go on holiday then. It?s a peak period for buying goggles.
Inge:
Thanks, Kenneth. Nadia, what?s your view? You are a keen swimmer, I know.
Nadia:
In my opinion, February?s the best time. We could promote them in swimming pools and opticians. The price should be high. I?d say, at least $50.
Unit 10
Katharina:
Hold on a minute. I thought we were talking about the launch date, not about promotion or price.
Inge:
You?re right, Katharina. Let?s get back to the point. I think on balance we agree ? we prefer the earlier date. Let?s move on now to marketing. Julia, which outlets do you think we should target?
Julia:
I think we should start with the specialist stores. That?s where most swimmers buy their goggles.
Inge:
What do you mean by specialist stores, Julia? Are you thinking of sports goods outlets, you know, stores which only sell sports equipment?
Julia:
Exactly. They should be our main target.
VOCABULARY.
Exercise 7. Think of the synonyms for the following words (for answers use the text above)
1.
to be for something
2.
What?s your opinion?
3.
wait a minute
4.
come back to the question
5.
to turn to the question
6.
Shops
7.
I think
WRITING.
Exercise 8. Write a short report summarising the points discussed and agreed during the meeting.