ESL商务英语: ESL Podcast 264 – Preparing for a Video Conference

ESL Podcast 264 – Preparing for a Video Conference

GLOSSARY 1

video conference – a meeting between two or more people at different locations using video so that they can see each other on a TV or video screen* Video conferences are better than phone conferences when negotiating 2 anagreement because you can see the other person’s reactions more easily.

the next best thing to (something) – almost as good as; the second best option* Seeing that documentary 3 film about Antarctica is the next best thing to actually going there.

face-to-face – in-person; a meeting between two or more people who are in thesame place * Willow 4 says that he is in love with a woman he met over the Internet, butthey’ve never met face-to-face.

a piece of cake – very easy, quick, and simple* Sending an email is a piece of cake – just write your message and click “send.”

run-through – a practice session; doing a performance to practice and to makeit better * The team members are meeting one hour early to do another run-throughbefore they have to give their presentation to the company president.

to work (something) – to use; to make something work correctly; to makesomething function correctly* Do you know how to work this CD player?  I push the “play” button, but nothinghappens.

webcam – a small electronic machine that takes a video recording 5 of somethingand sends it to other people through the Internet* Chatting online is more fun if both people have webcams.  That way, they cansee each other.

microphone – a small electronic device that makes one’s voice louder and/orallows a computer to “hear” and record what one is saying* If you have a microphone, you can use your computer to make “telephone” calls to other computers with programs like Skype.

Internet connectivity – an Internet connection; the ability to connect with othercomputers through the Internet* This university has Internet connectivity everywhere on campus, from the library to the cafeteria.

streaming – seeing or hearing something in real time, or as it actually happens,usually over the Internet* You need to have a very fast Internet connection to be able to see streamingvideo.  If you have a slow computer, it won’t work very well.

speaker – the part of an electronic machine that sound (music or voices) comes out of* Hurley sat too close to the speakers at the concert last night, and today, his ears hurt.

to turn up (something) – to increase the volume; to put music or anotherrecording at high or full volume; to make something louder* The radio in Jason’s car was turned up and everyone who was on the sidewalk could hear his music when he drove by.

to adjust – to make a small change to something* Welcome to Houston, where the local time is 4:42 p.m.  Please adjust yourwatches for the time zone difference.

to zoom 6 – to make something bigger or smaller on an electronic screen* When you take a picture of someone, you should zoom in so that his or herface is easier to see in the photo.

to tilt 7 – to change the angle of something so that it gently moves up or down* Please tilt your head down so that I can cut the hair on the back of your neck.

audio – recorded sound coming from an electronic machine* Cary is very good at making videos, but she doesn’t have the equipment torecord good audio for her movies.

loud and clear – very clearly; easy to hear and understand* Yoko is amazed by how loud and clear her son’s voice was on the telephone,even though he was on the other side of the world.

in business – ready to do something; ready to start; successful* After Hal washed the car, put on new tires, and changed the oil, he said, “We’rein business!” and the family got started on its roadtrip.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.  Why does Fatima say, “It’s a piece of cake”?

a)  Because the equipment looks like a piece of cake.

b)  Because she thinks video conferencing is easy.

c)  Because Fatima wants to eat a piece of cake.

2.  Why does Fatima say, “We’re in business”?

a)  Because now they can open their video conferencing business.

b)  Because they need to use the video conference to talk about business.

c)  Because they are ready to begin their video conference.

______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

speakerThe word “speaker,” in this podcast, means the part of an electronic machine,such as a computer, radio, or CD player, that sound (music or voices) comes outof: “Aaron bought some large speakers so that the audience can hear himplaying his electric guitar on stage.”  A “speaker” is also a person who gives apresentation or a lecture: “Last night, Betty went to hear a speaker give a lectureat the university about genetic 8 engineering.”  Or, “Our teacher said that to be agood public speaker, we need to learn to speak slowly and to organize ourideas.”  We also use the word “speaker” to talk about people who speak aspecific language: “These days, there are a lot of English speakers trying to learnArabic and Chinese.” to turn upIn this podcast, the verb “to turn up (something)” means to increase the volumeor to make something louder: “Can you please turn up the TV?  I can’t hear itvery well.”  The verb “to turn up” can also mean to appear or to be found: “Fannielost her keys last week, and today they turned up in the refrigerator!”  “To turn up”

can also mean to arrive: “What time did Jackie finally turn up at the party?”  Thephrase “to turn down” can mean to decrease the volume or make somethingquieter: “Please turn down the music.  It’s giving me a headache!”  “To turndown” can also mean to say “no” to something that is offered to you: “Amandadecided to turn down the job offer because she didn’t want to leave her currentjob.”

CULTURE NOTEIn the United States, many companies need to have “conferences,” or meetings,with people in different “locations” or places.  Companies used to use phoneconferencing and then video conferencing for these meetings.  But today, “webconferencing” is becoming more common.  “Web conferencing” uses computers and the Internet to let people in different locations communicate with each other.

In a “web conference,” people at each location have a computer.  Each computersends video and audio to the other computers, so that people can see and heareach other in “real time” (live).  Web conferencing also allows people to shareinformation in other ways.  The “participants,” or the people in the webconference, can see the same “screen,” the rectangular 9 box that shows information from a computer.  Participants can put text and “images” (pictures) onthe screen and then other people can make comments or change theinformation.  This lets people in “distant” (far) locations “collaborate,” or shareideas, about a project.

One popular type of web conference is a “webinar.”  A “webinar” in an online“seminar,” or an instructional or educational conference for many people.  Awebinar has a “presenter 10,” or the person who is giving or sending information. The other participants are in the audience and want to learn from the presenter. Because the webinar is in real time, people can hear the presenter as he or shespeaks, and they can ask questions at any time.  This makes webinars “interactive,” meaning that people can actively 11 communicate with each otherwhile asking and answering questions, rather than just listening.  Many companies use webinars to share important information about new products orprojects.  Webinars are also used to “train” or educate new employees who work at different office buildings.

______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers:  1 – b; 2 – c

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 264: Preparing fora Video Conference.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 12 264.  I'm your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.  How are you today?

On this podcast, we're going to hear a dialogue between two people talking aboutgetting ready, or getting prepared, for a Internet video conference.  Let's getstarted.

[start of story]

Emiliano:  I’m not sure about this video conference today.  It’s the next best thingto having a meeting face-to-face, but I’ve never used most of this equipmentbefore.

Fatima:  It’s a piece of cake.  Do you want to do a run-through with me?

Emiliano:  Do you mind?  I’d really like to make sure that I know how to work this webcam and microphone. Fatima:  I don’t mind at all.  Okay, we have Internet connectivity, so streamingwon’t be a problem.  The speakers on both computers are turned up. Emiliano:  Do you know how to adjust this webcam?  Right now, it’s focused onmy right ear! Fatima:  That’s easy.  Just use these buttons to zoom in or out, and you can tiltup or down. Emiliano:  Oh, I see.  That’s better.  Now you can see my entire face.  Are yougetting audio on your side? Fatima:  Yes, you’re coming in loud and clear.  I think we’re in business. Emiliano:  Well, that wasn’t so hard.  Let’s hope it goes this smoothly 13 this afternoon.

Fatima:  If you have a problem, just give me a call.  

Emiliano:  Thanks.  I really appreciate it!

[end of story]

Our dialogue begins with Emiliano saying to Fatima, “I’m not sure about this video conference today.”  A “conference” is a general word we use to mean ameeting between two or more people.  A “video conference” is when you havetwo or more people in a different place, sometimes in different countries, but they are able to talk to each other on the television or video screen.  Nowadays, wedo this on the Internet.

Emiliano says that he's “not sure about this,” he doesn't know quite what to do. He says that “It’s the next best thing to having a meeting face-to-face, but I’venever used most of this equipment before.”  The expression “the next best thing”

to something means it is almost as good as; it's the second best choice orsecond best option—”the next best thing.”

To meet someone “face-to-face” means to meet someone in person; you arephysically both in the same location.  You are in the same room; that's meetingsomeone “face-to-face.”  The other expression we use there is “in person” (in)—”in person.”

Fatima says that using the video conferencing equipment is “a piece of cake.” The expression “a piece of cake” (cake), like the cake that you eat, means it'svery easy; it's quick; it's simple.  Someone may say, “Downloading ESL Podcastis a piece of cake!  It's very easy to do.”

Fatima asks Emiliano, “Do you want to do a run-through with me?”  To do a “runthrough” something means to practice something before you actually do it.  Or, ifyou are going to be doing a performance—you're a musician or a speaker, andyou are going to be talking or performing in front of many people, you want topractice first; you're going to do a “run-through.”

Emiliano says, “Do you mind,” meaning yes, if it's okay, if you have time to helpme.  “I’d really like to make sure that I know how to work this webcam andmicrophone.”  Notice the use of the verb to “work” something; to “work” means touse something in this case, or to make something function properly or correctly—to make something work correctly.  Usually, we use this when we are talkingabout electronic gadgets 14, things like televisions, or iPods, or computers.  “Canyou show me how to work this”—can you show me how this works; how do youuse it correctly.

A “webcam” (webcam) is short for a web camera, and that is a small camera thattakes your picture so that you can send the video over the Internet.  The web, ofcourse, is the Internet.  A “microphone” (microphone) is, you probably know, asmall, electronic thing that makes your voice louder.  I'm speaking into amicrophone right now.  Notice the verb to “speak into” the microphone.

Fatima says, “I don’t mind at all,” meaning it is no problem; I would be happy tohelp you.  She then says, “we have Internet connectivity, so streaming won’t be aproblem.”  To have “Internet connectivity” means that you have an Internetconnection—you are able to get on the Internet. “Streaming” (streaming) is a word we use on the Internet for when you are ableto hear something or see something as it actually happens, that's one meaning ofthe word.  So, you may want to watch your favorite baseball team, and you goonto the Internet and you find someone that has a streaming video of thebaseball game as it is being played live, that would be one way of using this word“streaming.”

Fatima says that “The speakers on both computers are turned up.”  “Speakers”

(speakers) are things that make sound louder.  There's a couple of differentmeanings, however, of the word “speaker,” take a look at the Learning Guide formore explanation.

To “turn something up,” or to “turn up” something is another one of those twoword verbs in English.  Here it means to increase the volume; to make somethinglouder.  Usually, when you have a speaker on your television, or on a radio, or onyour computer, you can “turn it up”—you can make it louder.

Emiliano asks Fatima if she knows “how to adjust the webcam?”  The verb to“adjust” (adjust) means to make a small change in something.  If you arewatching the television and the picture doesn't seem very clear, you can “adjust”

the antenna 15—you can change the antenna, make a small change so it works better.

Fatima says that it's easy to adjust the webcam.  She says, “Just use thesebuttons to zoom in or out, and you can tilt up and down.”  To “zoom” (zoom)means to make something bigger.  For example, in a video camera, to zoom in,or to zoom, means to make one part of the picture bigger.  To “tilt” (tilt) means tochange, or adjust, the angle of something.  You can usually tilt something up ordown, left or right.  We often use this verb in talking about a camera—a videocamera, so that you can move it in one direction or another.  That's to “tilt” it.

Emiliano asks Fatima, “Are you getting audio on your side?”  “Audio” (audio) is recorded sound that comes from a speaker or a machine.  Fatima says, “Yes,you’re coming in loud and clear.”  When we say, “you're coming in,” we mean Iam hearing you—I am receiving the information.  “You're coming in loud andclear,” meaning very clearly; it's very easy to understand you. Then Fatima says, “I think we’re in business.”  The expression, to “be inbusiness,” in this case, means to be ready to begin; to be ready to do something. To be successful at something is to “be in business.”  The expression “inbusiness” can also mean that you have a company—a business that sells something, for example, but here it just means that you are ready to dosomething.  In this case, Emiliano is ready to be part of his video conference.

Now let's listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of story]

Emiliano:  I’m not sure about this video conference today.  It’s the next best thingto having a meeting face-to-face, but I’ve never used most of this equipmentbefore.

Fatima:  It’s a piece of cake.  Do you want to do a run-through with me?

Emiliano:  Do you mind?  I’d really like to make sure that I know how to work this webcam and microphone. Fatima:  I don’t mind at all.  Okay, we have Internet connectivity, so streamingwon’t be a problem.  The speakers on both computers are turned up. Emiliano:  Do you know how to adjust this webcam?  Right now, it’s focused onmy right ear! Fatima:  That’s easy.  Just use these buttons to zoom in or out, and you can tiltup or down. Emiliano:  Oh, I see.  That’s better.  Now you can see my entire face.  Are yougetting audio on your side? Fatima:  Yes, you’re coming in loud and clear.  I think we’re in business. Emiliano:  Well, that wasn’t so hard.  Let’s hope it goes this smoothly this afternoon.

Fatima:  If you have a problem, just give me a call. Emiliano:  Thanks.  I really appreciate it!

[end of story]

The script for this podcast was written by Dr. Lucy Tse. If you have a question or comment for ESL Podcast, please email us.  Our emailaddress is eslpod@eslpod.com.

From Los Angeles, California, I'm Jeff McQuillan.  Thanks for listening.  We'll seeyou next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan.  This podcast is copyright 2007.