How to RESCHEDULE and talk about TIME - Business English lesson + Vocabulary

Rescheduling events and talking about time in English can be hard when speaking English, especially if you're not a native English speaker. In this podcast we talk about how to schedule and reschedule events, appointments, and meetings, how to sound more polite when doing this in spoken English at work, and pronunciation. We talk about how to ask people about times and their availability. We look at phrasal verbs, idioms, formal, and informal language, and you'll hear some great natural and native sounding examples of spoken English, using all of this new vocabulary. 

Also, if you're studying for the IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge English tests and exams then you might find some of the vocabulary in this episode really useful.

This podcast is all about helping you to communicate better, in English, at work. I work with international English speakers from around the world who use English, at work, as a second or third language and I hope that I can bring some of the ideas, vocabulary, and grammar, from those sessions, to you in this podcast.

Don’t forget that my full time job is helping international professionals who use English at work to improve their communication skills. So, if you need English to do your job but don’t speak it natively then maybe we can work together to help you to achieve your language goals. 

Book a class: https://www.breakoutbusinessenglish.com/start

Transcript

Welcome to the Breakout Business English podcast, where I help you to communicate better and at work in English. Hi everyone, my name is Chris and I am a business English coach and sometimes tutor. Thank you so much for listening. And... Today's topic: is agreeing on times and rescheduling.So scheduling and rescheduling. One thing that is always important from the first day of any job at any level in any company is definitely the ability to talk about time. Not only correctly communicating the time of events, but agreeing and changing the time that scheduled events will happen. With that being said, it's kind of a wonder how it's taken me almost 30 episodes of this podcast to actually discuss this, but... Definitely something that I'm glad we have gotten around to. Let's start by talking about moving events Rescheduling. I don't know about you. But although I try not to inconvenience people by asking them to move meetings and appointments around, sometimes it's just unavoidable.So, let's listen to some examples of how we can ask people to reschedule in the most polite and native-sounding ways possible. Would it be possible to push our meeting back by a couple of hours, please? "Would it be possible to push our meeting back by a couple of hours please?" Is there any chance we can move up our next appointment by a day or two? Is there any chance we can move up? Our next appointment by a day or two.Some things come up. And I was wondering if you'd mind postponing our next session until next month.Some things come up. And I was wondering. If you'd mind postponing our next session until next month. Those examples, as always, contained a mix of formal and informal language.So, let's get started with two informal phrases that actually mean the opposite of each other. And these are to move up. And to push back. To move up. And to push back. In our examples, we heard: Would it be possible to push our meeting back? To push our meeting back, And... Can we move up our next appointment? Is there any chance we can move up our next appointment?So. Can you guess which of these means to move an event to an earlier time and which means to move an event to a later time? Personally, I think that the clearest one here is to push back. You push back. To push back means to move an event to a later date or time. Therefore, the opposite. To move up means to move an event to an earlier date or time. You can use move forward to mean the same thing if that's a little clearer for you. To bring it closer and set an earlier date or time is to move an event forward. However, even if you don't use the phrase 'to move up', it's still a really useful one to know. If you're working with native English speakers. In the final example there, we heard the word postpone. In the example, this was, I was wondering if you'd mind postponing our next session. I was wondering if you'd mind postponing our next session. This is a word that comes to English from Latin, from the ancient language of Latin. It's a combination. Of the Latin words for to place. Are to put something somewhere And... Host. Meaning... Maybe you've heard the word post. Used in things like a postgraduate course. Meaning a course of study, taken. After you've graduated. We use this to talk about things like master's degrees and PhDs. Postponing something, to postpone something, literally means to place it at a later date or time. Postpone. We had a couple of great, slightly formal, but very polite ways to ask a question. Starting in our first example with, would it be possible to? Would it be possible to?And then in our second example: Is there any chance? Is there any chance? Both of these are really polite ways to... Ask something for a favour. For instance, rescheduling or changing a date or time. However, Starting with, would it be possible? Is usually the most polite way to do this. And if you've been pushing back your time to work on your English, then don't forget that my full-time job is helping international professionals who use English at work to improve their communication skills.So, if you need English to do your job, but you don't speak it natively, then maybe we can work together to help you to achieve your language goals. If you'd like to book some time to meet with me through one-to-one video calls, just you and me, then you can go to breakoutbusinessenglish.com. That's the title of the podcast, BreakoutBusinessEnglish.com, and find out more. Or you can click the link down in the show notes there. I sometimes have offers and discounts on class packages, and entering your email address on the website is the best way to be the first to find out when those limited time deals are available. I've worked with over 1,000 non-native English-speaking professionals, from new graduates up to CEOs and government leaders, to help them achieve their goals, and I look forward to meeting you. Okay, let's briefly have a conversation about Pronunciation. You may have noticed that I often say the word 'schedule' with a hard 'k' sound, like 'candy' or 'kite'. I say 'schedule' a lot, instead of the other pronunciation, which is 'she'. Schedule. Schedule. I must admit that my accent has changed a lot over the past five years, but is generally still recognizable as a British accent.Some people have guessed that I'm from Canada, which is definitely wrong. I've visited Canada before. It's a lovely country, but I am not from there. A few people have guessed Australia, that is wrong, although again, I really like Australia. One person once guessed Ireland, but I can only assume that this person had never actually been to Ireland, because I definitely don't sound Irish. Again, a beautiful country, but I'm definitely not from there. Ciao. Back to the word SCHEDULE. The Harder pronunciation. Thanks for watching! Schedule S. ...schedule with that hard K. Is technically US English, American English. And the softer 'schedule' Schedule is British English. However, you will definitely hear both in the UK and around the world. This is an example. One way that language is changing. There are words where the pronunciation is a little more predictable. Famously, Americans say "tomato" whereas in the UK we say "tomato". I don't see this one ever changing. But for a lot of words like data and data, status and status, for instance, you'll often hear both pronunciations all over the world. I guess what I'm saying is, please don't worry too much about this pronunciation point. A lot of people ask me which they should be using, which is better, which is more common. The fact is that both will be understood around the world. And it really makes very little difference your ability to communicate. Next. We're going to talk about periods of time. For instance, from 1 p.m. To 2 p.m. That's a one hour period of time from 1 p.m. To 2 p.m. There are some interesting pieces of vocabulary that we can use to talk about this idea. With that said, Let's take a look at some of them now.I have a window tomorrow between 11 and 1. I have a window tomorrow between 11 and 1. I have a gap this afternoon from two to three. Would that work for you? I have a gap this afternoon from two to three. Would that work for you? Do you have any slots on Monday morning? Do you have any slots? On Monday morning. The first thing I want to talk about here is the word "window". You probably know this one already, albeit in a very different context. A window, of course, is a space in a wall. Usually covered by glass that lets light into a room. Hopefully you can open the windows in your office. I once worked in an office where the windows didn't open, which was awful in the summer. Having said that, I've worked in an office with no windows at all. . And I'm really not sure which one I preferred. Anyway. When we're talking about times and scheduling, a window is an amount of time with a beginning and an end, during which something is possible. In fact, we often say 'window of time' instead of just 'window'. But both are fine and will both be understood. Maybe you ask me what time you can Dall-E. I might say that I have a meeting finishing at 2 p.m., then I'm driving to another meeting that starts at 4 p.m.So I have a window of time of around two hours where I could take a call from you. So, just like a window is an opening in your wall, It can be an opening in your schedule.You know, these days I work from home and the windows in my office or the window in my office is very old. So there's just one part of it that opens right in the top corner. And I've only lived here since when did I move in? October, yeah, October last year.So this is my first summer in this office. I'm a little bit scared of what this office is going to be like when it gets really hot outside. But we shall see. Hope that I survive. And in the third example, we heard the word 'slots'. The plural slots are a slot. As a singular. As in, do you have any slots on Monday morning? In the example we heard, do you have any slots on Monday morning? We often use time slots. That's S-L-O-T and then the plural S. Talk about scheduling with people who regularly open and make available different periods of time on their schedule for booking. For instance, my schedule is open for people to book, you can book a slot of time. Or a time slot on my schedule. For us to meet and work on your communication skills. However, This vocabulary has come to be used much more generally just to mean an available amount of time, often on a busy schedule. Another way to use this is as the phrasal verb to slot in. In. To slot in. If you can slot something in, then you mean that you have a window or period of time that would accommodate or fit a particular event.So, if you ask me if I have any slots on Monday morning, then I might say, I can slot you in at 11am. I can slot you in at 11am. Or maybe I'd say, I can slot in a quick meeting at 11 a.m. I can slot in a 30-minute meeting, maybe, at 11 a.m. Let's now talk about how to ask someone about a time or offer a time to someone. Maybe you're not always in control of your own calendar and schedule, but for those times that you are, We're going to make sure that you have some great natural and native ways to set up those appointments and meetings. Let's take a listen and see what we've got here. I can make it on Monday morning if you're around. I can make it on Monday morning if you're around. Can you squeeze something in just after lunch tomorrow? Can you squeeze something in just after lunch tomorrow? What's your availability like on Thursday? I could meet at 1pm if that works for you. What's your availability like on Thursday? I could meet at 1pm if that works for you.Let's start with that first phrase: to make it. To make it. In the first example, We heard I Can Make It on Monday. I can make it on Monday. This is an informal way to say that I am available. And it's possible for me to be at a particular event. We often use this phrase To say that someone has achieved something That was... Unlikely? All. Difficult. We often hear it said that a celebrity has made it once they become famous. They've made it. Or maybe if someone is badly injured and it might look like they're not going to make it. But with the help of great doctors and medical professionals, it's okay. They make it.So, what does this mean when we apply it to time and scheduling? Well, if you arrive at an event, and I didn't think you'd have time to attend, then I might say, Hey, you made it! Hey, I'm so glad that you could make it. When I put this into a question, I'm asking if you have this time available. I know it might be difficult for you to attend at this time, But... Do you think it's possible? If you can make it, that's great. However, if you can't make it, then maybe we can choose another time. Because it would be great If you could make it. Another idea that we heard in the first example is to be around. To be around. In the example, we heard: I can make it on Monday if you're around. If you are around. If someone is around, This means that they are in a specific area or place. You might tell a friend that you're visiting their city next week. And ask if they are around. In this context, you're asking if they're in the city. Or if you tell your boss that you'll be around until 8pm this evening. Then you're telling them. That you'll be in the office until 8pm. Or maybe... At your desk until 8pm if you're working from home. We sometimes hear people make this a little longer with the phrase "around and about". Around and about. For instance, I'll be around and about all day if you need help with anything. I'll be around and about all day. If you need help with anything. This has essentially the same meaning, but is even more informal. Okay, let's talk about the phrase to squeeze in. In the second example, we heard "Can you squeeze something in just after lunch tomorrow?" and you squeeze something in. Let's start with that verb. Wheeze. What does this mean on its own?Well, to squeeze is to push or press something hard with your fingers to make it smaller. You might squeeze a plastic bottle in the kitchen to get the last sauce out of it. Or maybe you might squeeze a tube of toothpaste in the bathroom. Another reason to squeeze is to try and get something into a smaller space. I've definitely tried to squeeze into trousers or jeans that I'm sure fit me a couple of years ago, and I really should start going to the gym again.So, if I ask you if you can squeeze in a meeting, appointment or event, then I'm saying that I know that your schedule is very busy, but is it possible to find this amount of time in that? I know you might have no time before it and no time after it and you might be running between meetings and have to finish strictly on time but I'd really appreciate it. If you could squeeze this in. I should say that the phrase 'to fit in' has the same meaning. And is a little less informal.Still casual, still informal, but professional, but to squeeze in sounds quite informal. So, if you want to sound a little more professional, maybe you can go with, can you fit this meeting in? Can you fit this meeting in? Or maybe can you fit in this meeting? But if you're chatting with close colleagues who you work with every day, then squeeze is fine. Business or professional English doesn't always have to be formal. It always depends on the situation and the people you are talking to. And we heard the noun 'availability'. Availability. In the third example, we heard "What's your availability like on Thursday?" What's your availability like on Thursday? I should say there, the word like is optional. What's your availability on Thursday is an equally good sentence. Availability is simply the noun form of the adjective 'available'.So. You might be used to asking, "Are you available?" Are you available? Now, you can ask, "Can you tell me about your availability?" Or even just, can you tell me your availability? Which maybe sounds a little more professional and formal. Don't forget that between episodes of the podcast, you can get videos every couple of days on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Just search for Breakout Business English. If there's a topic that you'd like to hear me talk about on the podcast, then I'd be excited to hear your ideas. Leave me a message or a comment on one of my YouTube videos and I look forward to hearing from you. Once again, if you would like to book some of my time to work on whatever communications challenges you have, either preparing for job interviews, preparing for presentations, understanding your colleagues better, or developing your ability to discuss a particular topic, then feel free to book some of my time. I'd love to meet you and get to work. You can do that at breakoutbusinessenglish.com. That's the title of the podcast, BreakoutBusinessEnglish.com, and I look forward to hopefully meeting you soon. Finally, if you are listening on Apple Podcasts, then I invite you to leave a review. It only takes you a couple of seconds and every review really helps me out. It helps to push the podcast to new listeners and helps the show to grow, which ultimately helps me to have the encouragement and a great reason to make a new episode every week.So, If you have the time, if you have 30 seconds, it would be great if you could leave a review. If you've found this podcast useful and you think that there are some valuable things in here, then feel free to write a couple of kind words And I thank you in advance. That's another great place to request a topic for a future podcast. That is it for today. Thank you so much as always for your time and for listening and I'll talk to you again next time. On the Breakout Business English podcast.