{"id":45741,"date":"2020-11-24T15:53:43","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T14:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/?p=45741"},"modified":"2020-11-24T15:53:43","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T14:53:43","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-video-conferencing-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/the-ultimate-guide-to-video-conferencing-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide To Video Conferencing In English"},"content":{"rendered":"

The age of telecommunication<\/strong><\/em><\/span> is well and truly here. Most of our business meetings now take place via video conferencing.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re using Zoom, Teams or Google Meet, the idea of a conference call in your second and sometimes third language can be very daunting<\/strong><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s post we\u2019re going to show you how you can approach your next video call in English and give you lots of language tips and phrases.<\/p>\n

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Before the call<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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Review the agenda<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re not running the meeting, take a close look at the agenda. This will help you prepare each point or topic ahead of time and help you anticipate the type of language that is going to be used. This way, you\u2019ll be less likely to become lost and confused.<\/p>\n

At the same time, you can prepare questions and give you the opportunity to shine in front of your bosses and co-workers.<\/p>\n

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Anticipate questions other attendees might have<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Try to think about the kind of questions you might get during the video conference. If you\u2019re leading the meeting or have a part in the presentation, you need to cover all bases<\/strong><\/em><\/span>, so that you can feel more confident.<\/p>\n

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Practise what you\u2019re going to say<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Presenting in another language can be very scary. Before you go into the meeting have a dry run<\/strong><\/em><\/span>. This will help you identify and address any vocabulary or pronunciation issues you might have.<\/p>\n

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Check your technology is working<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Check your technology before the meeting. Are your mic and camera working properly?<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re going to share your screen at some point, clear your desktop. Make sure you only have what is necessary open for the meeting. You don\u2019t need a meeting full of people seeing your personal emails or reading your horoscope. This is particularly important if you have sensitive documents open.<\/p>\n

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During the call<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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Dos and Don\u2019ts<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Do set your camera to an appropriate height. There is nothing worse than spending an entire meeting looking at someone\u2019s forehead or, worse still, right up their nose.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t multitask<\/strong><\/em><\/span>. Everyone is remarkably busy but taking your meeting time to answer your emails and check your messages looks incredibly unprofessional.<\/p>\n

Do dress appropriately. Just because you\u2019re sitting at home doesn\u2019t mean you should be wearing your pyjamas. If you\u2019re in a business meeting, dress accordingly<\/strong><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t put too much pressure on yourself. Remember, this call isn\u2019t in your mother tongue and nobody expects you to be perfect.<\/p>\n

Do look directly into the camera not at yourself on the screen. This will help others feel like you are fully engaged giving the impression of eye contact. While you may not be in the room with the other participants physically, a video call is still fundamentally<\/strong><\/em><\/span> a face-to-face interaction.<\/p>\n

Do check your surroundings. Make sure the room is properly lit and your background is simple and appropriate.<\/p>\n

Do take notes. It is highly likely that you will be asked to act on something covered in the meeting. Having clear notes will help you remember what you need to take from the meeting.<\/p>\n

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Starting a meeting<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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It seems like every video call starts with a series of clumsy, awkward<\/strong><\/em><\/span> questions: Can you hear me? Can you see me? I can see you, but can you see me?<\/em><\/p>\n

Avoid this by starting with some clear and simple statements and instructions. When starting a conference call, try saying:<\/p>\n

Thanks for joining me, if you are having any technical issues please let us know in the chat box. I\u2019ve muted everyone\u2019s mic, we\u2019ll be opening the floor<\/strong><\/em><\/span> for questions in a little while.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here are some other useful phrases for starting a meeting:<\/p>\n