Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for English

Unit 3: Job Search Advice

P=Presenter, J= Jürgen, M=Marta, A=Alex, L=Luli, I=Ivan

P: So, finally, let’s have some advice from each of you about how to go about getting that first job, the one you’ve studied so hard to prepare for. Jürgen?

J: My advice is this: especially with the first job, prospective employers want to get a complete picture of you, not just what you’ve been studying and your holiday jobs. So, include a section in your CV for the things which you like doing in your free time. These say a lot about you and may make you a lot more interesting than all those other kids who just spend their evenings going to the pub or listening to music.

P: Ok. Marta?

M: I was reading somewhere that in the US, more than 80% of applications... Continue reading "Ace Your First Job Search: Expert Advice for New Graduates" »

Rephrasing Examples

• He's never driven a Porsche before.
  • It's the first time he's ever driven a Porsche.
  • This is the first time he's ever driven a Porsche.
• They have never heard such a funny joke.
  • It's the funniest joke they've ever heard.
• It's a week since she visited me.
  • She hasn't visited me for a week.
• I last called her two days ago.
  • The last time I called her was two days ago.
  • I haven't called her for two days.
• When did she buy the car?
  • How long ago did she buy the car?
  • How long is it since she bought the car?

Writing: Describing a Place

The best place that I have ever visited was (place). I was with my (my friends/family) when I was (number) years old. It was great because we had a good time then.

In (place) you can find several (mountains, rivers, beaches.... Continue reading "Mastering English: Rephrasing, Writing, and Grammar" »

South Africa: A Photographic Safari Dream

I would love to visit South Africa because it is one of the top destinations in the world for photographic safaris.

South Africa boasts some of the oldest mountains on Earth, evidence of our earliest ancestors in the Cradle of Humankind, the ruins of an ancient African kingdom, and South Africa's oldest castle.

It is a country rich in history and vibrant cultural activities. My greatest desire is to experience South Africa firsthand.

Future Plans and Aspirations

It is very important to have future plans because they represent goals that one sets to achieve, whether in the short or long term.

My aspirations include owning my own home within ten years to start a family, achieving several professional qualifications,... Continue reading "Life's Aspirations: South Africa, Home, and Soccer Dreams" »

1.2 An Encounter of a Special Kind.

Chit - Cha

1) What do you see in this picture?

Ans: I see a small girl carrying a puppy in a large round tub, in neck-deep water of the river.

2) What do you think the girl is trying to do? Why?

Ans: The girl is trying to rescue the puppy from drowning in the river because she wanted to save the puppy at all costs.

3) If you were in the place of that girl, what would you do?

Ans: If I were in the place of that girl, I would also try to rescue the puppy if it was within my reach.

4) Do you think she was successful in her action?

Ans: Yes, the girl has successfully rescued the puppy from drowning in the river. So I think she was successful in saving the puppy.

The Most Common Irregular Verbs List

Base form - Past simple - Past participle

Be was/were been

Bear bore born

Beat beat beaten

Become became become

Begin began begun

Bet bet bet

Bite bit bitten

Blow blew blown

Broadcast broadcast broadcast

Break broke broken

Bring brought brought

Build built built

Burn burnt burnt

Buy bought bought

Can could

Catch caught caught

Choose chose chosen

Come came come

Cost cost cost

Cut cut cut

Do did done

Draw drew drawn

Dream dreamt dreamt

Drink drank drunk

Drive drove driven

Eat ate eaten

Fall fell fallen

Feed fed fed

Feel felt felt

Find found found

Forget forgot forgotten

Freeze froze frozen

Get got got

Go went gone

Hang hung hung

Have had had

Hear heard heard

Hit hit hit

Hurt hurt hurt

Keep kept kept

Know knew known

Lead led led

Leave left left

Lend lent... Continue reading "Common Irregular Verbs List with Past Simple and Past Participle" »

Understanding Marked and Unmarked Terms

Within an opposition, the difference between a marked term and an unmarked term can be explained as follows:

The negative terms of an opposition are often formally marked: happy, unhappy; like, dislike. The morphologically simple term may have an alternative simple partner: unmarried-single; untrue-false. Sometimes there are differentiating nuances, in that the morphologically marked word suggests that the other term was expected: unsafe-dangerous; unclean-dirty; unkind-cruel; unhappy-sad.

• Cases with formal marking in both members include: increase-decrease; accelerate-decelerate.
• Perceptual salience tends to be associated with the positive term in gradable concepts: long-short; fast-slow; heavy-light. The

Money

You'll be able to get money at the airport, but otherwise, most Japanese banks/ATMs won't accept foreign cards. However, all the post offices and all 7-Elevens have ATMs that will work. These are, thankfully, everywhere. Japan is a cash society, so I'd always make sure to have around $200 on you at least. With the exception of a few obviously touristy places (Asakusa's Sensoji Temple, for example), you really don't ever have to worry about theft (and even in the touristy places, you're probably just fine).

Convenience Stores

Convenience stores have everything. They are magical places. But they are particularly good for picking up toiletries, random stuff, and snacks. Especially onigiri (rice balls), which are fantastic when you get caught... Continue reading "Money and Food Tips for Traveling in Japan" »

Verb Simple Past P.Partic Signifc Regular Verbs