1. The document discusses potential issues that can arise during a video teleconference such as technical problems with video or needing to temporarily step away. 2. It also provides examples of impolite phrases that could be said during a teleconference and suggests more polite alternatives such as "Could you check your microphone?" instead of "Your microphone isn't working." 3. The document then instructs participants to practice a mock teleconference role play as companies discussing a product arrangement and provides sample polite phrases to use.

1. Fluency Course week
4

2. Discuss the following:
• Have you ever had to do a video teleconference? For
work? Socially?
• What are some things that can go wrong during a
teleconference?

3. Top 5 things that can go wrong
during a teleconference
The video has some problems
You need to momentarily hang up
Someone needs to step outside
The video has some problems
You don’t understand something

4. Watch the video. What
goes wrong during their
teleconference?

5. Look at the handout: Think
of some suitable phrases
for the situation

10. Is there any preparation
you can do beforehand to
avoid these problems?

11. Read your handout: Then without
reading from the text explain your
reading to your group.

12. Get in pairs. One team produce a product in the UK. The other
side have an exclusive agreement to sell that product to
retailers in Japan. (Decide what kind of product it is before you
start). The UK side are not very happy with the present
arrangement, even though the contract they have signed runs
until the end of next year. Hold a teleconference to discuss
what to do.

13. Are these phrases polite
enough?
• “Your microphone isn’t working.”
• “Speak up.”
• “Wait.”
• “I can’t understand what you’re saying.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
• “Speak slower.”
• “Please repeat.”
• “Let me finish what I am saying.”
• “Let me speak.”
How could we say these in a more polite way?

14. More polite
 “Your microphone isn’t working.” – “There seems to be a problem with your microphone.”
“Could you check your microphone?”
 “Speak up.” – “Sorry, I can’t hear you very well.” “Could you speak a little louder?”
 “Wait.” – “Just a moment/ minute/ second.”
 “I can’t understand what you’re saying.”/ “I have no idea what you are talking about.” –
“I can’t quite understand...” “I’m having problems understanding...”
 “Speak slower.” – “Could you possibly speak a little slower?”
 “Please repeat.” – “Would you mind saying that again?”
 “Let me finish what I am saying.” – “If I could just finish explaining this point...”
 “Let me speak.” – “Could I say something here?”

15. p 30 strong and weak
vowels.