1. English for Business Presentation
6th Meeting
English for Business Presentation
Any Questions???
Miguna Astuti, S.Si., MM.

2. How to deal with questions????
Asking for Clarification
I’m sorry. Could you repeat the question, please?
I’m afraid i didn’t quite catch that.
I’m afraid i don’t quite understand your question.
Avoiding giving an answer
If you don’t mind, i’d prefer not to discuss it today.
Perhaps we could deal with this at some other time.
I’m afraid that’s not really what we’re here to discuss today
Admitting you don’t know the answer
Sorry that’s not my field. but i’m sure Peter Bott could answer your question
I’m afraid i don’t know the answer to your question, but i’ll try to find out
I’m afraid i’m not in th position to answer. Perhaps Maria could help.

3. Complete ex. 3 on pg. 52 (10 minutes)
Which sentences you can you to:
Ask for clarification
Make it clear you don’t want to answer the question
Admit you don’t know the answer

4. Asking Polite Questions
Direct Questions
When do you plan to move to Bandung?
What is the project status?
Less Direct Questions
Could you tell me when you plan to move to Bandung?
Do you mind if i ask what the project status is?
Note: it’s necessary to change the word order or add words like if or weather
what’s the current project status? => can you tell me what the current project status is?
Is that the final decision? => could you tell me weather that’s the final decision?
=> could you tell me if that’s the final decision?

5. Anticipating questions
Know the topic well
Know your audience
Try making list of questions you expect to be ask, examples:
What has to be done?
How much does it cost?
How long does it take?
Is there a deadline?
What can go wrong?
etc

6. Dealing with Interuptions
Can we get back to that a bit later?
If you don’t mind, i’ll deal with this question later in my presentation
Would you mind waiting with your questions untill the answer & question session at the end?
Complete exercise 9 on Page 58

7. Reforming Questions I see, so what you’re asking is. . . .
If i understand you correctly, you want to know
OK, let me just repeat your question so everybody can hear it.
If i could just rephrase your question
The question is:
You reformulate to make it:
By:
Negative
Isn’t there a better solution?
Positive
What would be a better solution?
Leaving out negative words
such as: no, never, none
Agressive
Do you honestly believe we can get the contract?
Neutral
You’re asking weather i think it is possible to get the contract?
Avoiding words which sound agressive or have negative meaning
such as: honestly, really, disaster