American English · C1 · Unit 2
Leading a discussion
Leading a discussion
By the end you can
- Lead a discussion and keep it on track
- Sum up different views fairly
- Understand a long discussion between experts
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to kick things off | to start | To kick things off, Maria will give us an update. |
| let's not get sidetracked | let's stay on topic | Let's not get sidetracked by the budget. |
| I'd like to hear from | I'd like (someone else) to speak | I'd like to hear from Sarah on this. |
| to recap | to summarize what we've said so far | To recap, we have two options. |
| where do we stand | what is our position now | So where do we stand on hiring? |
| let's table that | let's discuss it later (in British English, 'table' means the opposite) | Good point, but let's table that for next week. |
| if I could just jump in | a polite way to interrupt | If I could just jump in here, Tom. |
| we're running short on time | there's not much time left | We're running short on time, so let's be brief. |
| take this offline | discuss it privately, after the meeting | Let's take this offline, you two. |
| there seems to be a consensus | most people seem to agree | There seems to be a consensus on option B. |
| action items | tasks to do after a meeting | Let's go over the action items. |
| circle back | come back to a topic later (business jargon) | We'll circle back to that after the break. |
Then talk it through
Chairing a tense project meeting. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.