Conveying Your Ideas
Vocabulary
Verb
fʌnd
to provide money for something official
The government has agreed to fund our research for another year.
We will need more money to fund this service past the end of the year.
The company is looking for creative ways to fund new projects.
revolutionize
Verb
ˌrevəˈluːʃənaɪz
to change the manner that something is done
David Bowie revolutionized several genres of music.
Noun
ˈpɛbl
a small, round stone
The beach is completely covered in pebbles and shells.
This necklace is made of colored pebbles.
Noun
ˈwɪndʃiːld
the front window of a car, truck, etc.
There's a scratch on your windshield.
nanotechnology
Noun
ˌnænoʊtekˈnɑːlədʒi
the branch of technology that deals with tiny structures
She is currently developing a medical bot using nanotechnology.
Noun
prəˈdʒɛkʃən
a prediction, an estimate of something in the future
Let's begin by looking at some of next year's sales projections.
Revenue projections indicate that we will have a very good year.
I spent a quarter of my time this week doing sales projections.
According to my projections, the company should be making a profit within three years.
sound plan
Phrase
saʊnd plæn
a good solid plan that is financially secure or based on valid reasoning
They'll need a sound plan before they can start this project.
Useful Expressions
- I'd like to begin by...
- I believe/think...
- Furthermore/Moreover/In addition/On top of that...
- For example/For instance...
- Let me offer an example.
- Thus/Therefore...
- What I mean is...
- There is no doubt that...
- It's obvious/clear that...
- Regarding/concerning...
- When it comes to...
Dialogue Practice
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
James was called to a meeting with some investors in order to convey his ideas regarding the new project they were invited to fund. | |
 Akio Adachi | I have called James who works in our Research Department to come over and convey his thoughts regarding this project. |
 James | Hello everyone. I would like to begin by saying that I believe this is a great investment opportunity. This is a project that, if funded, has the potential to revolutionize much of the technology we use today. It is becoming clear that nanotechnology is the way of the future. It can be applied in virtually every field of our lives, from medicine, to travel, to entertainment. Let me offer just one example. Imagine this: you are in your car and a pebble hits your windshield, causing a big crack. At the press of a button or even automatically, hundreds of tiny robots would get to work and could quickly repair your windshield to make it as good as new. Furthermore, while nanotechnology might be a bit expensive today, as soon as it gets to the stage where it is mass produced, it will become more affordable. And there is no doubt that it will soon become a necessity. |
 Akio Adachi | We understand what you’re saying, but we would like some projections regarding the financial gain. |
 James | Regarding the financial gain, you can rest assured that this project will be profitable. In addition, you can always take the necessary action to ensure profitability. For example, you could make the lifespan of the nanobots shorter, so that they would need to be refilled with fuel. Customers would have to pay for the refill, which would assure that you would make a consistent profit. |
 Mark Smith | That seems like a sound plan. We will discuss this amongst ourselves now and try to make a decision. Thank you for your time and for the detailed explanation. |
 James | I am glad I could help. Thank you, as well. |
Check your understanding:
1.
What fields did James say nanotechnology could be used in?
2.
What were the investors more interested in?
3.
According to James, how could nanobots provide a consistent profit?
Role Play
Role-play the following situation with your teacher.
Situation
You are in a meeting and you are discussing whether you should be investing in social media marketing or not. Your manager asks you to convey your thoughts on the topic. You may use the following expressions:
- I believe...
- It is clear that...
- For instance,...
- Therefore,...
- Moreover,...
- When it comes to...
Discussion
1.
What do you think is most important when trying to convey your ideas to someone? (e.g. confidence, good examples, good arguments, etc.)
2.
Are you frequently asked to convey your thoughts on things at work? How do you feel about that?
3.
Are you good at persuading people that you are right? Why or why not?
4.
Are you generally open to listening to the opinion of others? Do you change your opinion easily?
