Episode 170
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Read the Transcript
Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
Hi, everyone! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks.
- I will talk about videoconferencing apps and the most common vocabulary and expressions used in English.
Then, with a short point of view lesson, you will practice grammar in context. There's no need to memorize anything, don't worry.
As you know, the Internet allows us to communicate very easily.
With the current situation, working from home has become customary. Teleworking is when you work from an off-site location using the Internet.
And of course, to be able to communicate, we have to do it through dedicated apps like Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet, Skype, etc.
Let's see some vocabulary related to this topic. I will use the expressions from the Zoom app, but they are more or less similar to any platform:
Well, to use the Zoom app, you need an account. Usually, you visit the website and create a new account. Then you download the app to your computer or smartphone. You install it and run it. All you have to do is follow the instructions. Usually, you enter your username and password and follow the instructions. Sometimes it is necessary to select the audio and camera, but only the first time.
The environment where people meet is usually called a videoconference room, or simply a room. Sometimes it's also called a meeting.
Okay, now you have everything set up. You need to join a meeting, but before that, you need an invitation. The invitation is only a link, and when you click on it, you can join the meeting. Other times the host will give you a number and password instead of a link.
By the way, we call the people who attend Zoom meetings attendees or participants.
You also have the option to host a meeting. This implies that you create the meeting and that you invite people to access the room. As a host, you have special permissions to control the other attendees. We can say that the host controls everything. The host usually sends an invitation to the others by email.
Okay, so imagine you are in a meeting. You have to take into account two very important options. First, you have to learn how to turn audio and video on or off. It is very common to start talking and have the audio turned off. An even worse situation is to leave the audio on and make noises or say something inappropriate.
You also have the option of typing text in the chat. If you are shy, this is the best option.
Well, finally, when we want to leave, don't forget to exit the meeting!
So, we've learned quite a bit of specific vocabulary. You are now an expert in group videoconferencing 🙂
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Now, let’s practice.
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GRAMMAR MADE EASY
POV Story: Grammar in Context
Read the same story in two different points of view and notice how the grammar changes naturally.
Past Tense
I was very nervous because I had to make an important videoconference with a very important client. The platform was new, and I didn't know how to use it. I only had an hour to set it up.
I had to create an account on the website and install the program quickly on my computer. I set up the audio and video. Everything seemed to work fine.
So, I sent an email with the invitation to the client and my boss. I would be the host and would have all the permissions. For example, I could turn the audio and video on and off for any attendee.
Since there were a few minutes left, I entered the room and started practicing the presentation. I was very nervous, I was shouting, making mistakes, and saying bad words.
But when I finished, I heard voices coming from the computer. It was the client and my boss.
It turns out they were already in the room, and they had seen the whole thing.
How embarrassing! However, the client said he really liked how I explained everything although in a very particular way. In the end, it was a success, but my boss told me to be careful next time.
Past Tense
You were very upset because you had an important videoconference with a very relevant client. The platform was new and unfamiliar to you. You only had an hour to set it up. You had to create an account on the website and install the program quickly on your computer. You set up the audio and video.
Everything seemed working correctly. So, you sent an email with the invitation to the client and your superior. You would be the host, and you would have all the permissions.
For example, you could turn audio and video on and off for any attendee.
As you had some spare minutes, you entered the room and started practicing the presentation.
You were very nervous, you were shouting, making mistakes and swearing. Thankfully, it was only a test before the actual presentation, but you heard voices coming from the computer when you finished. It was the client and your superior.
It turns out that they were already in the room, and they had seen the whole thing. How embarrassing! Nevertheless, the client indicated that he really liked how you explained it and that you had a very peculiar style. In the end, it was a success!
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
video conference
an online meeting using video and audio.
host
the person who controls or organizes a meeting.
attendee
a person who participates in a meeting.
set up
prepare something so it is ready to use.
mute
turn off a microphone.
invitation link
a link used to join an online meeting.
screen sharing
showing your computer screen to other participants.
swear
use offensive or rude words.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
Thanks georgiana in this episode we can learn very useful vocabulary and other issue. Besides that we can learn how to make a video conference too that’s good