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Lesson 153 of 240

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Set up a meeting in English

Ana is at the studio downtown. Marcus wants a short meeting about the library renovation.

He hates long meetings. He wants the plan in a few sentences.

By the end, you'll ask for a meeting time, check if Thursday at three works, and agree on a short agenda.

You'll also choose in person or a video call, and put the budget on the list.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for a meeting time and agree on an agenda.

  • Can we set up a meeting this week?Can we choose a time to meet this week?
  • Does Thursday at three work for you?Are you free on Thursday at three?
  • Let's keep it to thirty minutes.Let's make the meeting short.
  • I'll send you a short agenda.I'll share a short list of meeting topics.
  • In person or on a video call?Should we meet in the office or online?
  • Let's put the budget on the agenda.Let's add money as a topic to discuss.

Scene — the whiteboard is blank

Same weekday at the studio. Marcus has a rolled set of drawings under one arm. He stands by a long desk with a blank whiteboard behind him.

He wants a short meeting on the library renovation. He will not sit through a long one.

Marcus stands beside the long desk with rolled drawings under one arm and a blank whiteboard behind him.

Learn — time and agenda

Six lines help you set a meeting time and agree on the agenda.

You'll keep the meeting short and choose in person or a video call.

  1. Ana gestures toward Marcus across the desk as she proposes choosing a meeting time this week.

    Can we set up a meeting this week?

    Can we choose a time to meet this week?

    When to use it: Use this to ask for a work meeting this week.

    Set up a meeting means choose a time to meet.

  2. Marcus lifts his blank-faced wristwatch while Ana indicates a possible time.

    Does Thursday at three work for you?

    Are you free on Thursday at three?

    When to use it: Ask this when you offer a day and time.

    Work for you here means that time is okay for them.

  3. Marcus makes a compact gesture to emphasize keeping the meeting short.

    Let's keep it to thirty minutes.

    Let's make the meeting short.

    When to use it: Say this so the meeting stays short.

    Let's is a short way to suggest a plan together.

  4. Ana turns toward Marcus beside the laptop as she offers to share a short list of meeting topics.

    I'll send you a short agenda.

    I'll share a short list of meeting topics.

    When to use it: Say this after you agree on a time.

    An agenda is a short list of topics for the meeting.

    Say it: The stress is on the second part of agenda.

  5. Marcus gestures toward the empty chairs and closed laptop as he asks whether to meet in the office or online.

    In person or on a video call?

    Should we meet in the office or online?

    When to use it: Ask this to choose the office or online.

    In person means you meet face to face, not online.

  6. Ana places a few coins beside the drawings as Marcus indicates another open area on the plans.

    Let's put the budget on the agenda.

    Let's add money as a topic to discuss.

    When to use it: Use this to add money as a topic.

    Put something on the agenda means add it as a topic.

Story — thursday at three

Watch Ana and Marcus set a short meeting about the library work.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The studio is quiet. Marcus has drawings under one arm.
  2. MarcusGood morning.hello before noon
  3. AnaGood morning. Can we set up a meeting this week?She greets him, then asks to choose a time to meet this week.
  4. MarcusYes. When is it?He agrees, then asks for the day or time.
  5. AnaDoes Thursday at three work for you?Are you free on Thursday at three?
  6. MarcusThursday at three works. Let's keep it to thirty minutes.That time is fine, and he wants the meeting short.
  7. AnaI'll send you a short agenda.I'll share a short list of meeting topics.
  8. MarcusGood. In person or on a video call?He agrees, then asks if they meet in the office or online.
  9. AnaIn person. The drawings are easier that way.She wants to meet in the office, because the drawings are easier there.
  10. She sets the drawings on the long desk.
  11. MarcusFine. So, what goes on the list?He agrees, then asks which topics to talk about.
  12. AnaLet's put the budget on the agenda.Let's add money as a topic to discuss.
  13. MarcusYes. Put the timeline on it too.He agrees, and he also wants the dates on the list.
  14. AnaI'll text you when it's ready.She will send him a phone message when the list is done.
  15. MarcusThanks. See you Thursday.He thanks her and says they will meet on Thursday.

Practice — pick a time

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Marcus asked when you can meet. Offer Thursday at three.

  3. What does it mean?

    Let's keep it to thirty minutes.

  4. Swap the word

    You will share the list of topics with Marcus before the meeting.

    I'll ____ you a short agenda.

  5. What do you say?

    You want to ask Marcus whether to meet in the office or online. Pick the line.

  6. Build the line

    Let's add money as a topic to discuss.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You want a work meeting with Marcus during this week, not later.

    Can we set up a meeting ____ week?

  8. True or false?

    This line asks for the day or time of something.

  9. What do you say?

    You walk into the studio at nine in the morning. Greet Marcus.

  10. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Tell me when the agenda is ready.

    He wants a message when the list of topics is done.

    And you reply with:

Say it — ask marcus

Now you're Ana at the studio. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusGood morning. We need a plan on the library work.He greets her and says the library project needs a plan.
  2. Ana (you)Ask him to find a time this week.

    Can we set up a meeting this week?

    Can we choose a time to meet this week?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Can we set up a meeting this week?Can we choose a time to meet this week?
Does Thursday at three work for you?Are you free on Thursday at three?
Let's keep it to thirty minutes.Let's make the meeting short.
I'll send you a short agenda.I'll share a short list of meeting topics.
In person or on a video call?Should we meet in the office or online?
Let's put the budget on the agenda.Let's add money as a topic to discuss.
Next: lesson 154The meeting runs long

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