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Skill · Meetings
Confident English in Meetings
Express opinions, summarise results, lead discussions – in English, without hesitation. With native-speaking trainers and AI avatar exercises for daily speaking practice.
From €90 / 90 min · VAT-exempt
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Meetings
Chairing Meetings in English – Confidently and Professionally
International meetings are part of everyday working life in many companies. Whether weekly team catch-ups with colleagues from different countries, project meetings with external partners, or board meetings in English – the demands on your language skills are high. At Simmonds Language Services, you practise exactly the situations you actually encounter in your meeting routine: opening agenda items, moderating discussions, summarising outcomes, and assigning actions. Our English for Meetings prepares you for any type of meeting.
15+Years
10+Trainers
50+Corporate clients
Addressing What Really Matters
Many professionals have a good level of English – but stumble when it really matters: How do I phrase a diplomatic counterargument? How do I summarise complex results concisely? How do I handle interruptions? Our training addresses precisely these challenges. With native-speaking trainers from the UK and USA, you practise the subtleties of meeting communication in realistic role-plays. We work on your vocabulary, your pronunciation, and your confidence.
Train Daily with the AI Avatar
In live sessions, you practise real meeting situations with our trainers and receive personal feedback. Between sessions, you can continue practising these scenarios with the AI avatar and receive feedback on grammar, word choice and fluency.
What You Will Learn
Open and moderate meetings professionally. Express opinions clearly and diplomatically. Summarise results and actions precisely.
Disagree diplomatically and propose compromises. Run virtual meetings via Zoom, Teams & Meet with confidence.
Phrases
The Most Important Phrases for Meetings in English
From opening the meeting to agreeing actions and next steps: these phrases cover the five phases of a meeting in English. Compiled by the native-speaking trainers at Simmonds Sprachtraining – including the polite softeners that make all the difference in international meetings.
Opening a Meeting
The first two minutes set the tone – welcome, state the purpose, announce the agenda:
“Right, shall we get started?”
Open the meeting (collegial)
“Thanks for joining, everyone. I know diaries are tight, so let's keep this to thirty minutes.”
Thank people and set the time frame
“The purpose of today's meeting is to agree the launch date.”
State the purpose of the meeting
“You've all seen the agenda – there are three items to cover.”
Announce the agenda
“Sandra sends her apologies; she'll catch up on the minutes.”
Explain an absence (formal)
“Before we start, could someone take the minutes?”
Sort out who takes the minutes
Moderating the Discussion
Invite contributions, handle interruptions, and keep an eye on the clock:
“Klaus, would you like to kick us off?”
Invite someone to start
“What are your thoughts on this, Maria?”
Invite a specific opinion
“Sorry, could I just finish my point?”
Politely fend off an interruption
“Let's hear Tom out and then come straight back to you.”
Manage the speaking order
“We're running short on time – can we park this for now?”
Keep the discussion on time
“Let's stick to the agenda and come back to that later if we have time.”
Steer back to the agenda
Giving Your Opinion & Asking Questions
Take a position, disagree diplomatically, and make sure you have understood correctly:
“From where I stand, the bigger risk is doing nothing.”
State your position clearly
“I'd go along with that, up to a point.”
Agree with reservations
“I see it slightly differently, if I'm honest.”
Disagree diplomatically
“Could you talk us through the cost implications?”
Ask for detail
“Just so I've understood you correctly – you're suggesting we delay?”
Check your understanding
“Can we come back to what that actually means for the team?”
Follow up on a point
Proposals & Decisions
From proposal to firm decision – without letting the discussion drift:
“Why don't we run a pilot in one region first?”
Make a proposal
“I'd suggest we hold off until the figures are in.”
Make a cautious proposal
“Shall we take that offline and decide by Friday?”
Take it offline and set a deadline
“Are we all agreed on option B?”
Test for consensus
“Let's put it to a vote.”
Call for a vote
“Right, we'll go with the revised timeline then.”
Record the decision
Summarising & Closing
Record actions, owners, and next steps – so the meeting leads to concrete outcomes:
“So, to recap the actions: Anna will draft the brief, and I'll speak to Legal.”
Summarise the action items
“Just to be clear on who's doing what by when.”
Clarify owners and deadlines
“I'll circulate the minutes by tomorrow morning.”
Announce the minutes
“Is there any other business?”
Ask for any other business
“Let's pencil in the follow-up for the 14th.”
Provisionally set the follow-up
“Thanks, everyone – that was a productive session.”
Close on a positive note
Free practice
Interactive Lessons for Meetings
Starting a Meeting
Welcome, purpose, and agenda – free interactive lesson.Chairing a Meeting
Give people the floor, manage time, and moderate discussions.Participating in Meetings
Give opinions, ask questions, and interrupt politely.Online Meetings in English
Technology, screen sharing, and turn-taking in Zoom, Teams & Meet.In Detail
Meeting Situations in Practice
Click on a section for more details
International Team Sync
Structure clearly across time zones
Weekly stand-ups and project updates with colleagues across time zones. Learn to structure information clearly and avoid misunderstandings.
Client Project Meeting
Manage expectations professionally
Present status reports, manage client expectations, and agree next steps – in English, professionally and persuasively.
Board Meeting in English
Linguistic demands at C-level
Discuss strategic topics, interpret figures, and prepare decisions. Training for the linguistic demands at C-level.
Virtual Meetings
Confident despite technical hurdles
Share screens, use chat functions, and maintain a professional presence despite technical hurdles. Specific techniques for Zoom, Teams, and Meet.
How much does it cost?
| Format | Duration | Price (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online — Private lessons | 90 minutes | €90–110 | 1:1, Zoom / Teams / Meet |
| Online — Corporate lessons | 90 minutes | €97.50–105 | Small groups, tailored curriculum |
| In-person (on your premises) | 90 minutes | €115 | On your premises |
Prices depend on format, frequency, and requirements. Language instruction is VAT-exempt (§4 Nr.21 UStG).
Who we work with
- DHL
- Toyota
- Media Markt
- Deutsche Pop
“Die kostenlosen Online-Lektionen haben mich überzeugt. Die Qualität des Einzelunterrichts hat meine Erwartungen übertroffen.”
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a meeting in English?+−
In three steps: open, state the purpose, announce the agenda. So: 'Right, shall we get started?', then 'The purpose of today's meeting is to agree the launch date.' and 'You've all seen the agenda – there are three items to cover.' Mention anyone who can't attend with 'Sandra sends her apologies', and agree who will take the minutes with 'Before we start, could someone take the minutes?'
How do I run an online meeting in English?+−
Online you also need language for the technology and for participation: 'Can everyone hear me okay?' to start, 'I'll share my screen now – let me know when you can see it.' when presenting, 'You're on mute, Thomas.' as a friendly nudge, 'Sorry, you're breaking up a little – could you repeat that?' for a poor connection, and 'Please use the chat if you'd rather not interrupt.' to manage contributions.
How do I chair a meeting in English?+−
As chair, you mainly manage three things: contributions, interruptions, and time. Hand over the floor with 'Could we hear from Maria on this?', head off an interruption with 'Let's hear Tom out and then come straight back to you.', and keep to time with 'We're running short on time – can we park this for now?' At the end, record the outcomes: 'So, to recap the action items...' In our training, you practise exactly this chairing role in role-plays.
What English phrases do I need for meetings?+−
Key phrases include: 'I'd like to raise a point', 'Could you elaborate on that?', 'Let me play devil's advocate'. We practise these expressions in realistic scenarios.
How can I improve my English for online meetings?+−
Online meetings require particularly clear pronunciation and active listening. We train specific techniques: sharing screens while explaining, dealing with connection issues, and moderating virtual meetings professionally.
How long does it take until I can chair meetings in English?+−
Your trainer works with you on typical meeting situations and gives personal feedback. Between live sessions, you can continue practising them with the AI avatar.
Do you also offer meeting training for entire teams?+−
Yes, team training is one of our strengths. We simulate real meeting situations with your team so that all participants improve their communication together. Group training is available from 3 people.
Improve your English for free
Free online lessons twice a week, vocabulary trainer with 600 words, and a placement test – all without signing up.
Get in touch
Tell us briefly what you need English or German for — we'll suggest the best format for your goals and schedule.
We typically respond within one working day.
What we practise
- ✓ Meetings
- ✓ Presentations
- ✓ Negotiations
- ✓ Emails and calls