UPM-CALC/SEM2/2019-20/CEL2105/CM 4

CEL 2105
SPOKEN COMMUNICATION FOR THE WORKPLACE
SEMESTER 2, 2019/2020
CLASS MATERIAL 4 (WEEK 4)

Activity 1
The following is a transcription of a meeting. Read the text and write the expressions used in
the meeting for the situations mentioned below.

Chairperson: Good morning everyone.

Chairperson: I’d like to take a roll call before we start.

Chairperson: James Tee?

James Tee: Here.

Chairperson: Imran Shah?

Imran Shah: Present.

Chairperson: Amrit Kaur?

Amrit Kaur: Here.

Chairperson: AtikahRamli?

AtikahRamli: Here.

Chairperson: The objective of today’s meeting is to make a decision on whether or

not to build a new oil processing plant in Kerteh.

Chairperson: I’m afraid that Mr Shan can’t be with us today. He is away on a

business trip in Singapore.

Chairperson: Before I go any further, I’d like to go through the minutes of our last
meeting.

Chairperson: Are there additions or corrections to the minutes?

James Tee: Yes, item 3.2 has an error. The Green Energy Drive was
spearheaded by Mr Mathew Lim.

Chairperson: Thank you, James.Is there anything else?

Amrit Kaur: No.

Chairperson: Now that we have made some corrections to the minutes, can
someone approve the minutes?

AtikahRamli: I would like to approve the minutes.

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Chairperson: Could someone else second the motion?

Imran Shah: I second that!

Chairperson: The minutes are approved as corrected.

Chairperson: Imran, can you tell us how the new project in Macau is progressing?

Imran Shah: Sure. As you all know in April 2016, our company has ventured in….

Chairperson: Thank you, Imran. Let’s continue with the agenda.

Chairperson: Have you all received a copy of the agenda? (Everyone nods) Good.
There are 5 items on the agenda. The first item is …. The second
item is on…. The next item is … After that we will discuss item 4
which is … and the final item on the agenda is …..

Chairperson: James, would you mind taking the minutes?

James Tee: Alright.

Chairperson: Next, we will hear a short report on items 1 to 3 from the respective
head of departments.Atikah could you please start?

AtikahRamli: Yes. Thank you, Marcus. I will be presenting the financial report of the
first two months of this year.

Chairperson: Thank you, Atikah for that informative report. Amrit can you continue
with you report?

Amrit Kaur: Alright. I will proceed with my report from the Sales Department…

Chairperson Thank you Amrit. Imran would you mind reporting from your
department?

Imran Shah: I don’t mind at all, Marcus. My report will ….

Chairperson: Thank you, Imran.

Chairperson: Now that we have discussed item 1 to 3, let us move on to item no 4

which is making a decision on whether or not to build a new oil
processing plant. What do you all think?

James Tee: Personally, I feel that we should not build the plant this year because
the economy is not doing so well and some of clients have not been
paying us on time and this has affected our cash flow. So I believe we
should wait until next year before we build a new plant.

AtikahRamli: I couldn’t agree with you more, James. Furthermore, the market for oil
is rather volatile right now.

Imran Shah: I’m afraid I have to disagree with both of you. I believe that this is the
right time to build the new plant as the price of land and properties are

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low so we should grab this opportunity.

Amrit Kaur: I’m happy either way as our sales report indicate that there was a
slight growth in our products for the last three months.

Chairperson: Thank you all for your feedback

Chairperson: Now I would like to propose a few things before we make a decision
on whether or not to build a new oil processing plant in Kerteh. Imran
could you find out the price of the land in Kertehfor a processing
plant?

Imran Shah: Alright, Marcus.

Chairperson: Next, Atikah could you prepare an analysis on our current cash flow
and tell us whether we are able to sustain the expenses needed for
the new plant in the next three years.
AtikahRamli: I’ll do that Marcus.

Chairperson: I believe at this point of time, we are unableto make a decision

whether or not to build a new oil processing plant in Kerteh. Do you all
agree?

Imran Shah: Yes. In my opinion we will only be able to make an informed decision
in the next meeting after reviewing the data that will be collected from
both Atikah and myself.

James Tee: I have no objections to that.

Amrit Kaur: I second that.

Chairperson: What are your thoughts, Atikah?

AtikahRamli: I agree with the rest.

Chairperson: Since there are no objections, let us agree to make a decision on this
matter in the next meeting.

Chairperson: I suggest that we read the two reports that Atikah and Imran have
agreed to prepare for us before attending the next meeting. This will
ensure that next meeting is a productive one.

Chairperson: Now that we have concluded item 4. Let us proceed to the last item
which is any other business.

Amrit Kaur: Is there any news on our bonus?

Chairperson: Yes, I believe all of us will be receiving a two months bonus next
month.

Chairperson: Is there any other business?

Chairperson: Since there is nothing else, let’s warp up then. Before we leave, can
we set the date for the next meeting on the 20th of March?

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AtikahRamli, Yes.
James Tee and
Amrit Kaur:
Imran Shah: Yes, I’m free on the 20th of March.

Chairperson: Thank you all for attending this meeting.

1. Discussing arising matters

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2. Discussing the items of agendas

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3. Presenting ideas

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

4. Tabling propositions

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

5. Reaching consensus

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

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6. Making recommendations

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

7. Discussing any other business

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

8. Adjourning a meeting

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

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Activity 2
Collocations are word combinations that sound natural to a native speaker. In the exercise
below, choose the adjective or adverb that collocates with the words in bold letters.

1. I was exhausted, so I drank a double espresso. Now I’m _____ awake.

 highly 
 wide 
 thoroughly 
 entirely 

2. I wasn’t expecting much of a raise, so I was ______ surprised when I got a sizeable

raise.
 welcomely 
 happily 
 cheerfully 
 pleasantly 

3. We should hold ourselves to _____ standards. We shouldn’t be satisfied with these

mediocre results.
 high 
 large 
 big 
 great 

4. Our CEO and company president got into a(n) _____ debate yesterday. They were
at each other’s throats.
 harsh 
 heated 
 strong 
 angry 

5. Bill’s doctor told him that he needs to start getting ______ exercise. He’s overweight
and has high blood pressure.
 usual 
 routine 
 consistent 
 regular 

6. We can’t afford to hire someone we need to train. We need someone who can step in
and have a(n) _____ impact.
 urgent 
 instant 
 immediate 

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 prompt 

7. I didn’t want to bother Carl. He was in his office and it looked like he was
lost in ______ thought.
 deep 
 great 
 heavy 
 serious 

8. I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’re making a _____ mistake.

 huge 
 great 
 massive 
 great 

9. I have _____ admiration for the senator. She’s been a respected member of

Congress for over thirty years.
 great 
 complete 
 high 
 thorough 

10. Some people will undoubtedly be a few minutes late. There is really
______ traffic today.
 harsh 
 high 
 strong 
 heavy 

11. Last year we had several blizzards and it was bitterly cold almost every day.
Fortunately, this year we’re having a _____ winter.
 soft 
 weak 
 slight 
 mild 

12. There is a _____ chance that I’ll have to travel to one of our subsidiaries in April.
 weak 
 light 
 slight 

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 mild 

13. Can we meet at 6:30 instead of 7:30 for dinner? I had a _____ lunch, and I’m
starting to get hungry.
 light 
 slight 
 modest 
 little 

14. Do we have any idea what the _____ cause is of this issue?

 key 
 base 
 root 
 basic 

15. Honestly, I have no idea which candidate I’m voting for. I just don’t have very _____
political beliefs.
 hard 
 great 
 big 
 strong 

Source: http://www.businessenglishresources.com

Activity 3
Correct the following collocations.

1. put attention

______________________________________________

2. large problem

______________________________________________

3. large mistake

______________________________________________

4. make a test

______________________________________________

5. very awake

______________________________________________

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6. greatly qualified

______________________________________________

7. exceptionally aware

______________________________________________

8. capture their attention

______________________________________________

9. became bankrupt

______________________________________________

10. related with

______________________________________________

Source: http://www.businessenglishresources.com

Activity 4
This is a role play activity. Based on the transcription above write a dialogue for the follow up
meeting in the space below. The agenda of the meeting is to make a decision on whether or
not to build a new oil processing plant in Kerteh.

In you meeting, you are required to:

 discuss arising matters

 discuss the items of agendas
 present ideas
 table propositions
 reach consensus
 make recommendations
 discuss any other business
 Adjourn the meeting

Dialogue for Role-play

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*Video record the role play and bring the video in Week 5

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