Speaking: Specific Purposes B2 - Lesson 4: Contributing Effectively in Meetings & Discussions

Speaking: Specific Purposes B2 - Lesson 4: Contributing Effectively in Meetings & Discussions 👥💬🤝

Objective: To learn and practice language and strategies for actively and effectively contributing to professional meetings and group discussions, ensuring your points are heard and valued.

• Understand how to prepare for effective participation in meetings.
• Learn key phrases for expressing opinions, agreeing/disagreeing politely, making suggestions, and asking clarifying questions at a B2 level.
• Practice techniques for building on others' ideas and participating constructively.
• Develop awareness of active listening and appropriate non-verbal communication in meeting contexts.

Meetings and group discussions are common in academic and professional settings, such as planning a community project in Battambang or strategizing with colleagues in an NGO in Phnom Penh. Your ability to contribute effectively – not just speaking, but also listening and interacting constructively – can significantly impact the outcome and showcase your skills. This lesson focuses on the language and strategies needed to be an active and valued participant.

1. Preparing for a Meeting or Discussion

Effective contribution starts before the meeting begins:

• Understand the Agenda/Topic: Know what will be discussed. If there's an agenda, review it.
• Do Your Homework: If pre-reading or research is required, complete it.
• Prepare Your Points: Think about what you want to say, any questions you have, or ideas you want to propose. Jot down brief notes.
• Consider Your Role & Desired Outcome: What is your role in this meeting? What do you (or the group) hope to achieve?

2. Making Contributions: Key Language Functions

A. Expressing Opinions Clearly (B2 Level)

• "From my perspective, this approach seems the most viable."
• "I strongly believe that we should prioritize [X]."
• "It seems clear to me that the benefits outweigh the risks in this case."
• "My assessment of the situation is that..."

B. Agreeing & Disagreeing Politely (B2 Level)

• Agreeing: "I concur with [Name]'s point." / "That's precisely my thinking." / "I'm fully supportive of that idea."
• Disagreeing: "I see your point about [X], however, I have a slightly different take on the potential impact." / "While I understand the advantages you've outlined, I'm somewhat concerned about [Y]." / "With all due respect, I think we also need to consider the long-term implications."

C. Making Suggestions & Proposals

• "Perhaps we could consider implementing a phased approach?"
• "I'd like to propose that we explore alternative funding sources."
• "One possible solution might be to collaborate with local NGOs."
• "What if we approached it by first conducting a community needs assessment?"

D. Building on Others' Ideas

• "Adding to what Dara said, I think it's also important to consider the timeline."
• "To build on Sreyneath's idea, we could also incorporate training for local staff."
• "That's a great point, and it makes me think we should also look into sustainability factors."

3. Active Listening & Non-Verbal Cues

Effective participation isn't just about speaking:

• Listen to understand: Don't just wait for your turn to speak. Pay attention to what others are saying.
• Show you're listening: Use nods, brief verbal acknowledgements ("Mm-hmm," "I see"), and maintain appropriate eye contact.
• Take brief notes: This can help you remember key points and formulate your own contributions.
• Positive body language: Sit upright, lean in slightly to show engagement, and avoid looking distracted.

4. Participating Constructively

• Stay on topic: Keep your contributions relevant to the agenda item being discussed.
• Be concise and clear: Make your points directly without rambling.
• Support your points: Briefly provide reasons or simple evidence for your opinions or suggestions.
• Be respectful: Value others' contributions, even if you disagree. Avoid interrupting unnecessarily.
• Focus on solutions: If problems are raised, try to contribute to finding solutions.

Practice Activities

Activity 1: "Meeting Language Functions"

For each phrase below, identify its main function in a meeting (e.g., Expressing Opinion, Making a Suggestion, Agreeing, Disagreeing Politely, Building on an Idea). Click the button for a sample answer.

1. "From my experience, that approach could be challenging."
   Expressing an Opinion / Gentle Disagreement
2. "What if we allocated more resources to the initial research phase?"
   Making a Suggestion
3. "I completely agree with Chantha on that point, and I'd like to add that..."
   Agreeing and Building on an Idea

Activity 2: Scenario Contributions

Imagine you are in a meeting discussing how to improve tourism in your local area (e.g., around Battambang). Someone suggests focusing entirely on attracting international backpackers.

1. Formulate a polite way to express a slightly different opinion, perhaps suggesting a focus on domestic or eco-tourism as well.
2. If someone else suggests promoting local cooking classes, formulate a way to build on that idea.
3. If the discussion gets off-topic, how would you politely try to bring it back to improving tourism?

Activity 3: Mini-Meeting Role-Play

In groups of 3-4, role-play a 10-minute meeting to plan a small community awareness campaign about reducing plastic waste in your local area (e.g., near Psar Nath market in Battambang). Assign roles if helpful (e.g., a chairperson, someone with budget concerns, someone with creative ideas).

Focus on:

• Each person making at least 2-3 clear contributions.
• Using phrases for opinions, suggestions, agreement/disagreement.
• Building on each other's points.
• The chairperson (if assigned) trying to ensure balanced participation.

Tips for Effective Meeting & Discussion Participation:

• Prepare, prepare, prepare: The more prepared you are, the more confidently and effectively you can contribute.
• Listen more than you speak: Understand the flow and others' points before jumping in.
• Be clear and concise: Get to your point efficiently. Avoid long, rambling speeches.
• Be respectful of time: Both your own and others'.
• Focus on collaboration: The goal is often to achieve a collective outcome, not to "win" an argument.
• Don't be afraid to contribute: Your ideas and perspectives are valuable. Speak up, even if you are not 100% sure.
• Follow up: If action items are assigned to you, make sure to follow through.

Summary: Contributing effectively in meetings and discussions is a vital skill that involves more than just talking. It requires preparation, active listening, and the ability to express your opinions, suggestions, and disagreements clearly and respectfully using appropriate language. By practicing these techniques, you can become a more influential and valued participant in any group discussion or professional meeting.