Meetings in English

time
EST/EDT
Eastern Standard Time/ Eastern Daylight Time
CST/CDT
Central Standard Time/ Central Daylight Time
MST/MDT
Mountain Standard Time/ Mountain Daylight Time
PST/PDT
Pacific Standard Time/ Pacific Daylight Time
Asia-Pacific
CST
China Standard Time
Whole of China, all year round
IST
India Standard Time
Whole of India, all year round
JST
Japan Standard Time
Whole of Japan, all year round
    The abbreviations „a.m.“ and „p.m.“ are often used in English: „a.m.“ stands for „ante meridiem“ (= before noon/midday), „p.m.“ stands for „post meridiem“ (= after noon/midday). „Midday“ (12.00 noon) is 12.00 p.m. (and therefore 13.00 = 1.00 p.m.) and „midnight“ (12.00 at night) is 12.00 a.m. (01.00 therefore = 1.00 a.m.).
    Where confusion could arise, it is a good idea to use the 24-hour clock system for specifying times of the day (in which case you no longer need „a.m.“ or „p.m.“), or to say, for example, „seven o'clock in the morning“ (meaning 7.00 a.m.) or „seven o'clock in the evening“ (meaning 7.00 p.m.).
Hierarchies and seating arrangements
    However, in some countries, hierarchies play a more important role in business culture, so keep this in mind when making seating arrangements.
    In general, the seat with the back to the door is the worst, as you cannot see who enters and leaves without turningaround. The seats on both sides of the chair signal closeness to the leader. Seating arrangements must be carefully made in meetings with Asians: the top-ranking person should sit as closely as possible to the centre of the table with his or her subordinates on either side, in descending order of responsibility. The hosts should also sit closer to the door to greet the guests.
    Asians usually bow as a greeting, with younger people and lower-ranking employees bowing lower to show their respect. An American-style slap on the shoulder would not be the right way of greeting a Japanese business partner and neither would „la bise“ (the French way of greeting familiar faces by a slight kiss on both cheeks).
    No matter of age
    In English-speaking cultures, it is not unusual for junior staff to participate in meetings and for managers higher up the hierarchy to ask their opinions where their particular areas of expertise are concerned. It is acceptable for people at all levels to contribute ideas or ask questions regarding aspects outside their specialist area to gain a clearer overall view of the problem.
Evening entertainment
    Culture may also affect your choices of evening entertainment. Whereas dinner is universally accepted as the number one choice for the evening, the Japanese also take their business partners out to a Karaoke bar, and in England it is not unusual to attend a sporting event together or, in informal situations, to have a beer at the local pub.
Useful phrases
    Inviting someone out
Can I invite you to join us for a drink before dinner?
How about Joe's Karaoke bar for tonight?
Our company sponsors the local cricket club. Would you like to join us for Saturday's match?
    Accepting an invitation
What a brilliant idea! I'd love to join you.
Absolutely! I've never been to a cricket match before, thank you!
I'm afraid I'm tied up all Saturday with a family event.
I'd rather stay in tonight. I am really tired from the long journey. I hope you understand.
I'm afraid I'm not really into cricket.
Useful vocabulary
    junction: Autobahnausfahrt
    roundabout: Kreisverkehr
    industrial estate: Industriegebiet
    venue: Veranstaltungsort
    on the hour: zur vollen Stunde
    in good time: rechtzeitig
    device: Gerät
    overhead projector (= OHP), projector: Beamer [this is a German word, not an English one! In informal British English „beamer“ means a BMW]
    transparency (for the OHP), slide (PowerPoint): Folie
    power point/power socket (for laptops, etc): Steckdose
    adapter (for power cables, etc): Adapter
    extension lead: Verlängerungskabel
    to attend a meeting: besuchen, teilnehmen an
    remote: nicht vor Ort, standortfern

Arriving at the meeting
    The time before the meeting actually starts is valuable time for socialising and getting to know the other participants better. There is no second chance to make a first impression, as the saying goes, so this is why introducing yourself to others and making introductions for the attendees you know are very important. Last but not least, the physical surroundings and the technical equipment for the meeting also have to be in place and