Meetings
Task 1:
The following expressions and idioms relate to participating in a meeting. Guess or look up their meanings and complete the sentences below with the appropriate one.
get to the point: get to the main idea
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talk it over: discuss
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(talk) off the top of my head: tell something right now without thinking
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get together: meet together
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have a say: have something to ask( give an own opinion)
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(can’t) get a word in edgewise: get a word in organized
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1. The supervisor wants us to ..get together..... for a short meeting.
2. I think she will present a new policy and we will ..talk it over..
3. Marianna talks a lot! During our last meeting nobody could ... get a word in edgewise.
4. It’s hard for me to ....talk off the top of my head.... I need time to think before I respond.
5. I don’t need a long detailed explanation. Could you please just get to the point.
6. I'm glad we are having this meeting. This way everyone in the department can ..have a say.
Task 2:
Read the scenario. Then use the sentences to write opinions for or against the proposal described in the scenario. Use appropriate logical connectors. The first one is done for you.
Scenario: You are attending a community meeting to discuss a proposal to build three high-rise apartment buildings (30 stories each) in your neighbourhood. Residents are divided. Many are opposed to the proposal because they feel high-rise apartments will increase traffic congestion and crime. Others feel it will attract small businesses and bring valuable development to the area.
Logical Connectors:
• for example
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• even though
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• also
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• therefore
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• however
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• although
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• since
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• but
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• such as
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• because
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•despite the fact that
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• furthermore
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1. There are already too many high-rise apartment buildings in this area.
We need more rental housing; however there are already too many high-rise apartment buildings.
2. High-rise apartments increase traffic congestion. We don't need high-rise apartments because they increase traffic congestion.
3. There is not enough affordable housing in this neighbourhood.
There is not enough affordable housing in this neighbourhood, so we need more high-rise apartments.
4. A higher population could lead to increased crime in our neighbourhood.
A higher population could lead to increased crime in our neighbourhood; therefore, we don't need more high-rise apartments
5. Having more people in the area will help small businesses.
Even though having more people in the area will help small businesses, we don't want high-rise apartments
Task 3:
Use these expressions together with the logical connectors and then put them in sentences from your own. Ask one or two of your peers to edit them for you.
1. Because she used a lot of new words in her presentation, i can't get a word in edgewise.
2. After the meeting, he asked us that anybody has a say.
3. Although we spent an hour to talk it over, we didn't get have any solutions for this matter.
4. Since he asked me a tricky question suddenly, i couldn't talk off the top of my head.
5. The head of our building also wants everybody to get together for the next important meeting on time.
6. Despite the fact that her grammar and vocabulary are very good, she doesn't get to the point of the essay.
