The Live Weekly Fluency Clinic · Session 4
Chairing a Meeting in English
The hardest part of chairing in English is not vocabulary; it is that polite control in English sounds indirect, and most non-native speakers either come across as too blunt or too passive because nobody taught them where the authority actually lives in an English sentence.
12 of 12 seats remaining
You can survive a meeting in English. But can you run one?
Two people are talking over each other, a senior colleague has gone off on a tangent, and you cannot find the words to bring the room back on track without sounding rude or, worse, weak.
That's what Thursday Fluency Clinic exists for.
The shift
Native-speaking chairs do not rely on confidence or personality. They rely on a small, repeatable set of language structures that signal authority while staying professional. These structures can be learned in an afternoon and practised until they are automatic.
Your takeaways
Five phrases. Drilled until you say them without thinking.
PHRASE 1
“Let's get started. We have three items to cover and I'd like us to wrap up by quarter past.”
PHRASE 2
“I'd like to bring [Name] in here. What's your take on this?”
PHRASE 3
“That's a valid point. Let's park that for now and come back to it at the end.”
PHRASE 4
“Can I just pull us back to the original question before we move on?”
PHRASE 5
“So, to summarise what we've agreed: [decision], [owner], [deadline]. Does that match everyone's understanding?”
Live practice
Real scenarios you'll practise live
Not watching. Not taking notes. Speaking, with corrections in real time.
You open a project status meeting with six international colleagues and need to set the agenda, time boundaries, and ground rules in under ninety seconds without sounding robotic or reading from a script.
Live role-play
A senior stakeholder takes the discussion off-topic mid-meeting. You need to acknowledge their point, park it credibly, and redirect the group back to the agenda item without creating friction.
Live role-play
The meeting is running over, two action items are still unresolved, and you need to close the session with a clear summary of decisions made, owners assigned, and a follow-up date, all while people are already reaching for their laptops.
Live role-play
Your first language is working against you
Why native speakers of your language struggle with this
These aren't random mistakes. They're caused by how your first language is wired.
Italian speakers often say 'We are in eight people today' (direct translation of 'Siamo in otto'), instead of 'There are eight of us today', which sounds unnatural and undermines a confident opening.
German speakers tend to say 'We should discuss about the timeline' (influenced by 'über etwas diskutieren'), when English requires 'discuss the timeline' with no preposition.
French speakers frequently say 'I propose you to move to the next point' (calque from 'je vous propose de'), instead of the correct 'I suggest we move to the next point', which can sound awkward to native ears.
The format
How the 60-minute clinic works
60 minutes. Zoom. Camera on. Every clinic follows the same proven structure.
Warm-Up
One phrase, said aloud by everyone. Gets your speaking brain active before the main practice begins.
Phrase Practice
Each phrase drilled with live role-play. You speak. You get corrected in real time. You say it again, better.
Hot Seat
Volunteers take a full simulated scenario with Nigel. You'll leave with the phrases in your muscle memory, not just your notebook.
Watch a real Sophie session
Meet Camille.
She is preparing to chair a cross-functional project status meeting tomorrow morning with six international colleagues, and needs to open it with clarity and authority in under ninety seconds.
Sophie
AI English Coach
Watch a real session
2 min · with audio
A free 20-minute call to plan your private coaching path. No commitment.
The decision
In this 60-minute live clinic, Nigel breaks down the five phases of chairing: opening with clarity, inviting contributions, managing interruptions, parking topics, and closing with a summary. You leave with phrases you can use in your very next meeting.
Booking this seat is a decision to stop surviving meetings you lead and start controlling them.
Why this week
Chairing is a live, high-pressure performance where you cannot pause to Google a phrase; you need the language in your muscles, and that only comes from practising it in real time with expert feedback.
12 of 12 seats remaining
Frequently asked questions
Will the session be recorded?
Yes. The full recording is delivered to your email within 24 hours of the session and stays available for 7 days.
What level do I need to be?
B1–B2 (Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate) is the sweet spot. Take the free CEFR assessment at /assessment if you're unsure.
What equipment do I need?
A computer or laptop with a working microphone and a quiet space. Camera on is encouraged but not required. Zoom is free to join as a participant.
Can I book for my team?
Yes. Nigel runs private sessions for in-house teams. Schedule an appointment with Nigel →
More questions? Book a consultation with Nigel →