You're listening to Business English Pod, the Business English podcast for professionals on the move.
Hello and welcome back to Business English Pod.
My name's Edwin and I'll be your host for today's lesson on hosting a conference.
Conferences and other corporate events are about much more than just speakers and workshops.
They're a chance for people to network, to socialize, and to have some fun.
Every good host knows this, and every good host works hard to make sure that people are enjoying themselves.
If you think about it, hosts actually have a pretty tough job.
They have to organize activities and people while maintaining a smile.
They have to solve frustrating problems with a positive attitude.
It's a tricky balance, but there are techniques you can learn to help you get that balance right.
Today, we'll learn a few useful techniques that will help you to be a good host.
We will learn to ask people about needs, elicit feedback on the event and make yourself available for help.
We'll also learn to keep conversations going and connect people.
In the dialogue, we'll revisit a company's regional HR conference.
The host is Amy, VP of HR at the company's Chicago office.
She's organizing people during the evening conference event.
We'll hear Amy talking with two of the participants, Tom and Hannah.
As you listen, try to answer the following questions.
One, what topic does Amy invite more detail from Tom about?
2.
How do Tom and Hannah meet?
3.
What does Amy encourage Tom and Hannah to do at the end of the dialogue?
Hi, Tom.
Just to let you know, we're hoping to get everyone seated in about 15 minutes.
I trust you found your table okay?
Yes, no problem, thanks.
And are you finding everything else okay?
Yeah, everything's been excellent so far.
Super.
And great to see so many people here from your office.
What did everyone think of the speakers this morning?
Well, everyone seems really happy.
Richard Fulton was amazing.
You know, I actually missed the chance to hear him speak a couple of months back, so I'm really happy he's here.
And the other speakers?
Yeah, they've been great too.
That's always good to hear.
Anything in particular that stands out?
Well, that Ron White fellow from the Kansas office had some very interesting ideas on outsourcing.
Yeah, and he's around all weekend, so maybe you can get a chance to talk with him one-on-one.
Oh, hey look, there's someone you should meet.
Hannah!
Hey Hannah, this is Tom from Cleveland.
Oh, hi.
Nice to meet you, Tom.
I was at your office last month, actually.
Just a quick visit on my way through.
Is that right?
I hope you liked the new setup.
I sure did.
In fact, I seriously considered asking for a transfer, but my husband would never go for it.
Hey guys, I've got to run, but if there's anything you need, I'll be around all evening.
Feel free to ask.
Now let's go through the dialogue again and look at the language Amy used to host her guests.
Hi, Tom.
Just to let you know, we're hoping to get everyone seated in about 15 minutes.
I trust you found your table okay?
Amy is letting participants know that the dinner is going to begin soon, so everyone should be seated or at their tables in 15 minutes.
She then wants to confirm that Tom knows where his table is.
Amy shows that being a host means organizing people and making sure they know where to go and want to do.
So, has Tom found his table?
Yes, no problem, thanks.
And are you finding everything else okay?
As host, part of your job is making sure people have what they need.
The best way to find out what they need is just to ask nicely, as Amy does.
Let's practice some more ways we can ask people about their needs.
How are you doing?
Is there anything I can get for you?
Everything okay?
Can I get you anything?
Just wondering if you have everything you need.
Is there anything at all that you need right now?
Now, let's get back to the dialogue.
Yeah, everything's been excellent so far.
Super.
And great to see so many people here from your office.
What did everyone think of the speakers this morning?
Tom seems happy with the event and you can hear Amy's positive and upbeat attitude as she responds with super and says it's great to see so many people from Tom's office.
Amy then takes the opportunity to get some feedback on the speakers.
Feedback on an event doesn't just come after it's finished.
A good host knows that you have to check in with the participants as the event goes on to make sure everyone's happy.
Amy does this with a simple question, what did everyone think of the speakers?
There are many more ways we can elicit feedback, as you can hear in these examples.
What do you think of the facilities for this year's conference?
Have you been pleased with the food at our event?
Is there anything you think we could have done differently?
Have you found the workshops useful?
So, what does Tom have to say about the speakers?
Well, everyone seems really happy.
Richard Fulton was amazing.
You know, I actually missed the chance to hear him speak a couple of months back, so I'm really happy he's here.
And the other speakers?
Yeah, they've been great too.
Tom's feedback is very positive.
He says the keynote speaker, Richard Fulton, was amazing.
And he says the other speakers have been great, too.
As a host.
It's nice to hear that something is great, but it's useful to have more specific information.
So let's hear how Amy keeps this conversation going.
That's always good to hear.
Anything in particular that stands out?
As you can hear, Amy responds to Tom with a simple statement, then follows up with a question about specifics.
She wants to know if anything stands out or is especially good or impressive.
What are some other ways we can keep a conversation going by asking for specific comments?
Is that right?
What exactly were you disappointed by?
I see.
Well, which workshops do you think were the best?
Ah, yes.
Jack's a great speaker.
What did you find most interesting?
You like the displays?
Do you have a particular favorite?
Now let's hear Tom be a bit more specific.
Well, that Ron White fellow from the Kansas office had some very interesting ideas on outsourcing.
Yeah, and he's around all weekend, so maybe you can get a chance to talk with him one-on-one.
Tom has mentioned one speaker in particular, Ron White.
Notice how Amy tells Tom that the speaker will be at the conference all weekend and that he might have a chance to talk one-on-one with him.
Talking with someone one-on-one means face-to-face in a personal conversation.
Amy is trying to make sure Tom is having a good experience by connecting him with people she thinks are interesting.
Let's listen as Amy continues in this role.
Oh, hey, look.
There's someone you should meet.
Hannah.
Hey, Hannah.
This is Tom from Cleveland.
Now Amy is trying to connect two people directly.
She uses the expression there's someone you should meet, which we often use when we want to connect two people.
Amy then calls over Hannah and says, this is Tom from Cleveland.
When we introduce someone, we usually say, this is, plus the person's name.
There are lots of other expressions we can use to connect people.
Let's practice a few more.
Brett, I'd like you to meet Gail, our senior technical writer in Seattle.
Dan, this is Wendy.
I believe you're both from California.
Isn't that right?
Hey, Ken.
I just want to introduce you to Frank over here.
Oh, hi, Dylan.
Let me introduce you to Bridget.
She just joined us from IBM.
Now let's get back to the dialogue.
Oh, hi.
Nice to meet you, Tom.
I was at your office last month, actually.
Just a quick visit on my way through.
Is that right?
I hope you like the new setup.
I sure did.
In fact, I seriously considered asking for a transfer, but my husband would never go for it.
Tom and Hannah are now chatting nicely after being introduced by Amy.
The two participants are talking about Tom's office and the new setup.
The setup is the arrangement or office plan.
Hannah says she likes the new setup so much that she's thought about asking for a transfer.
When we get a transfer, we move to a new location within the same company.
Now that Tom and Hannah are connected, Amy can move on and connect with other people.
Let's listen.
Hey guys, I've got to run, but if there's anything you need, I'll be around all evening.
Feel free to ask.
Amy says she has to run, which is a common way to say that you simply have to go.
But Amy doesn't leave before telling Tom and Hannah that she will be around if there's anything they need.
She reinforces this idea with the expression, feel free to ask.
Telling someone to feel free to do something is telling them not to hesitate and to feel comfortable doing it.
Amy is making herself available for help because she wants to make sure Tom and Hannah have a great experience, as a good host always does.
Let's run through some more ways to make yourself available.
If you need anything, please just track me down.
I'll be sitting over at the volunteers table, so let me know if you need help.
If you've got any questions or concerns, please just come and find me.
I'll be around all day, so just let me know if I can help.
So, it sounds like everything is going great at the conference's evening event.
Amy is being a great host, and the guests are having a good time.
Now, let's practice some of the language we've learned for keeping the conversation going.
First you'll hear a statement.
Then you'll hear a prompt.
Use the words in the prompt to react to the statement and keep the conversation going.
For example, if you hear, I've been lucky to have had the opportunity to work in a lot of countries.
Really?
What?
Favourite?
Working?
You can say, Really?
And what was your favourite country to work in?
After each response, we'll play the correct answer.
Ready?
Let's give it a go.
We're hoping to visit some of the local sites after the conference.
Is there, in particular, hope?
C.
Answer.
I see.
And is there anything in particular you hope to see?
I really thought the afternoon workshops were fascinating.
Find.
Most.
Interesting.
Answer.
Indeed.
And which topics did you find the most interesting?
We're staying in the Union Square area of downtown.
Nice.
Been able.
Enjoy.
Nightlife.
Answer That's nice.
Have you been able to enjoy the nightlife there?
I'm pretty new to the field, so I still have a lot to discover.
See Something Specific Want Learn Answer.
I see.
And is there something specific that you want to learn?
Now let's practice useful vocabulary and idioms.
You'll hear a series of sentences with the word replaced with a beep.
Repeat the whole sentence, including the missing word.
For example, if you hear... More and more companies are...
You can say, After each response, we'll play the correct answer.
Let's begin.
If you have any questions, please feel to ask.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
I'm thinking about asking my boss for a to one of our western offices.
I'm thinking about asking my boss for a transfer to one of our western offices.
Every month I like to have a one-on chat with everyone in my team.
Answer.
Every month I like to have a one-on-one chat with everyone in my team.
I think the new of the warehouse will make things easier to find.
I think the new setup of the warehouse will make things easier to find.
We've reached the end of this lesson, the second in our three-part series about conferences.
We've learned some great techniques you can use as a host of any event, including asking about needs, eliciting feedback and making yourself available for help.
We've also learned how to keep a conversation going and how to connect people.
Thanks for listening, and see you again soon.
