Coaching in chairing meetings in French for Professor Anne Chamberlain, Emeritus professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Leeds
One-on-one support to help an expert perform a familiar task clearly and effectively in a second language.
Approach
In 2002, Anne was invited to become president of the European Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine. This involved chairing meetings in French. Anne speaks French competently but had never previously chaired meetings in the language. Simone worked with Anne to identify the different tasks she would have to perform whilst chairing a meeting and to practice performing those tasks using idiomatic, appropriate French, identifying different expressions so she would not have to constantly repeat herself.
Outcomes
Simone assisted Anne to draw up a list of useful expressions for Anne to keep discretely in front of her during meetings, which she found invaluable. Following this preparation she was able to chair long meetings - often based on a demanding and sensitive agenda - effectively and comfortably throughout the four years of her presidency.