Speaking: Functional Language C1 - Lesson 4: Chairing Meetings & Leading Panel Discussions
Welcome back! At the C1 level, a key leadership skill is the ability to effectively chair1 a meeting or moderate2 a panel discussion. In this role, you are not a participant but a neutral facilitator. Your job is to guide the conversation, manage time, and ensure the group achieves its objectives in a structured and professional manner.
The Three Phases of Chairing a Meeting
A well-chaired meeting follows a clear, three-part structure.
A Framework for Effective Meetings:
- Phase 1: The Opening
- Establish control and set clear expectations.
- "Good morning, everyone. Let's get started. The primary objective3 of this meeting is to finalize the project timeline."
- "As you can see from the agenda4, we have three items to discuss..."
- Phase 2: The Discussion (Facilitation)
- Guide the conversation productively.
- "I'd like to open the floor for discussion. Soriya, perhaps you could start us off?" (Inviting speakers)
- "Thank you, Dara. Now let's hear from Piseth." (Managing turn-taking)
- "I'm conscious of the time, so we have about five more minutes on this topic." (Managing time)
- Phase 3: The Closing
- Summarize decisions and clarify the next steps.
- "Okay, to summarize, we have agreed to... The key action items5 are..."
- "Thank you all for your valuable contributions. The meeting is adjourned1."
Specific Language for Moderating a Panel Discussion
When moderating a panel, your role is to guide the experts and create an engaging experience for the audience.
- Introducing Panelists: "It is my great pleasure to introduce our first panelist, Dr. Chan, a leading expert in..."
- Asking Probing Questions: "That's a fascinating insight. Could you elaborate on the potential long-term consequences of that?"
- Bridging Between Panelists: "Thank you, Dr. Chan. That connects perfectly to your research, Ms. Lina. What are your thoughts?"
- Involving the Audience: "Now I'd like to open up the discussion to our audience for a Q&A session."
Scenario: Chairing a Difficult Meeting
Listen to a manager, Soriya, chairing a tense budget meeting. Notice how she uses language to stay neutral and guide the team towards a decision.
Soriya: "Okay, everyone. **The objective today is to identify areas where we can reduce our spending by 10%.** I know this is a difficult topic, so let's keep the discussion constructive."
(After a long debate between two departments)
Soriya: "Thank you both for your perspectives. **I'm conscious of the time, so let's try to find some common ground.** It seems both departments agree that we should not cut the training budget. Is that a fair assessment?"
Colleagues: "Yes."
Soriya: "Excellent. **So, we have agreed to protect the training budget.** Now, let's explore other areas. Piseth, we haven't heard from you yet. What are your thoughts on potential savings in operational costs?"
Managing Difficult Personalities
A key skill of a chairperson is managing different personalities in the room.
- For the person who talks too much (The Dominator): "Thank you, Rithy, those are some excellent points. To ensure we hear from everyone, I'd now like to invite Sophea to share her perspective."
- For the person who talks too little (The Quiet One): "Lina, you have a lot of experience with this client. What challenges do you anticipate from their side?" (Asks a specific question that only they can answer).
Practice Quiz: What's the Chairperson's Function?
Read the phrase and identify the chairperson's primary goal.
1. "That's a very interesting point. However, it's a little off-topic. In the interest of time, let's circle back to the main agenda item."
A) Eliciting a new opinion.
B) Keeping the discussion on track.
C) Summarizing a decision.
→ Answer: B. The speaker is politely steering the conversation back to its main purpose.
2. "So, to recap the key decisions from today: Item one is approved, Item two will be postponed, and Lina will circulate a revised proposal for Item three. Is that correct?"
A) Starting the meeting.
B) Asking a probing question.
C) Summarizing outcomes and action items.
→ Answer: C. This is a classic example of how to close a meeting by confirming what has been agreed upon.
Your Mission: The Mini-Meeting Challenge
Your mission is to practice the specific functional language of chairing a meeting.
- Work in a small group of 3-4 people. One person will be the Chairperson.
- Choose a simple meeting topic, like "Plan a one-day company outing" or "Decide on a new design for the office break room."
- The Chairperson's Mission: You must lead a 5-minute meeting. During that time, you must use at least four phrases from this lesson to:
- Open the meeting and state the objective.
- Invite a specific person to speak.
- Keep the discussion on track or manage the time.
- Summarize the final decision and close the meeting.
- Switch roles and try again. This role-play is the best way to build confidence and fluency in professional leadership communication.
Vocabulary Glossary
- To Chair (a meeting): (Verb) - ធ្វើជាប្រធាន (កិច្ចប្រជុំ) - To be the person in charge of a meeting, responsible for keeping order and guiding the discussion. ↩
- To Moderate: (Verb) - ធ្វើជាអ្នកសម្របសម្រួល - To preside over a debate or panel discussion to ensure it is conducted fairly and smoothly. ↩
- Objective (noun): (Noun) - វត្ថុបំណង - A specific goal that is being aimed for. ↩
- Agenda: (Noun) - កម្មវិធី - A list of matters to be discussed at a meeting. ↩
- Action Item: (Noun Phrase) ធាតុសកម្មភាព - A specific task assigned to a person or group, usually arising from a meeting. ↩