Virtual meetings in English: expressions and protocols
Virtual meetings in English – communicating via cold hard technology – is a tough challenge for your workday. When English isnāt your first language, you can easily sound too abrupt in your online manner, or be scrambling to find the appropriate vocabulary or expression for an unexpected glitch. But thereās no need to throw your laptop out the window yet! Equip yourself with these key English expressions and protocols, and youāll feel the difference in your next virtual meeting in English.Ā
Donāt say WHAT, say PARDON
Letās start with a lesson my parents taught me as a child ā if you didnāt catch a personās last comment, never react with āwhat?!ā. It sounds rude and discourteous in English. Instead, if there is an audio glitch in your virtual meeting in English, say āpardon?ā, or āexcuse me?ā as an indicator that you havenāt heard someone properly. And because audio problems are common when connecting on video calls, you might also want to provide a polite, āIām sorry, the connection cut out. Can you repeat the last part please?ā
“Iām sharing my screen now”
Say sorry, sorry, sorry
Sorry to repeat myself, but English speakers cannot get enough of apologising. It is a guaranteed way to sound natural and show that you can navigate the cultural implications of the language. Following this, if you have technical problems during your virtual meeting in English, then use expressions like āSorry, bear with me a moment while I check what the problem isā, and āSorry, just give me a minute to fix this, pleaseā.
āCan you see me?ā - can for ability
Audio and camera issues might occur during your virtual meeting in English, so make sure you react in the right way. Words like āseeā and āhearā are almost always accompanied by ācanā, when talking about ability. Try having some pre-prepared expressions like āCan you hear me ok?ā, and āI can see you, but I canāt hear you.ā (Be careful, donāt use āDo you hear me?ā or āI donāt seeā, as that is incorrect English for this context! Use ācanā and ācanātā instead of ādoā and ādonātā.)
Give presentations in the present continuous
Many virtual meetings in English request that you prepare a presentation. In case you need to share a PowerPoint or a document, be sure to use the correct tense as you narrate your activity. āIām sharing my screen now;ā (NOT āI share my screenā). Remember, if the action is happening right there in the moment, you need to use āāingā actions. For example, āIām opening the documentā,Ā āIām presenting a proposalā, or āIām showing you a graphā.
Preparation is the key to success
The good news is that virtual meetings in English have some advantages. Participants can only see what appears on camera! Try keeping key expressions or notes written beside your laptop, in case you need them as a reference. And while weāre on the subject ā secret comfortable pyjama bottoms, anyone? The point is, with enough preparation and forward-thinking, you can take control of any work situation and participate confidently in your virtual meeting in English.
Ā
Susie Shields
I train people to use English in a professional context. In my one-to-one sessions, online course and social media platforms, youāll master tools to flourish in your English-speaking workplace. From job interviews to work meetings to presentations and more, youāll prepare for professional challenges and speak with success.
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