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

Common Mistakes and Corrections

Instead of:

• The lifts were SO old that: Use: The lifts were so old that...
• the..photocopied some copies for me: Use: I had some copies photocopied.
• She takes 1min: Use: It takes her 1 minute.
• Althoug: Use: Although
• Too+adj: Use: Not + adjective + enough
• If he doesnt: Use: Unless he...
• I would prefer to+inf: Use: I'd rather + infinitive

Remember:

• Use the -ing form after "remember".
• Use "regret to" + infinitive.
• Use the -ing form after "try".
• Use "had better not" instead of "shouldn't/ought to".
• Use "on the point of" + gerund instead of "be about to" + infinitive.

Other Useful Tips:

• Instead of "It's time + past simple", use present perfect continuous: "They have worked here for... years."
• Use "like + gerund" instead of "to be fond

Words for Predicting the Future

Prescient - knowing or suggesting what will happen in the future

Prognosticate - to foretell from signs or symptoms

Prophecy - a prediction of what will happen in the future

Speculate - form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence

People Who Make Predictions

Town Planner - a professional involved in the planning and control of the construction, growth, and development of a town or other urban area

Weather Forecaster - someone whose job is to study the weather and predict what it will be like in the future

Career Advisor - someone who gives information about education and work opportunities to children and youths

Financial Advisor - a person whose job is to provide financial advice to clients

Football

SECI Knowledge Conversion Model

The SECI model describes four modes of knowledge conversion between Tacit (T) and Explicit (E) knowledge:

• Socialization: Tacit (T) → Tacit (T)
• Externalization: Tacit (T) → Explicit (E)
• Combination: Explicit (E) → Explicit (E)
• Internalization: Explicit (E) → Tacit (T)

Strategic Environment and Postures

The environment is characterized by dynamics, complexity, and uncertainty.

A) Different Types of Future

1. Clear Enough Future
2. Alternative Futures
3. Range of Futures
4. True Ambiguity

B) Strategic Postures

1. Shape the Future: Play a leadership role in establishing how the industry operates.
2. Adapt to the Future: React to market changes.
3. Reserve the Right to Play: Invest sufficiently to stay in the game, but avoid major commitments.

Human Resources Management

Training and Development

The main objective is to increase the relational abilities of the future expatriate and, if possible, their family. Training varies by country, influenced by industry, technology, strategy, and organizational structure.

Performance Management

Employees require processes for rewarding, promoting, demoting, improving, retaining, or terminating. Management must provide objective, honest, and fair data on employee performance to ensure pay and promotions are merit-based. This process contains four elements:

• Performance standards
• Measurement
• Feedback
• HR intervention

Recruitment

Recruitment is the process of finding the right person for the right job at the right time. This involves identifying vacancies,... Continue reading "Human Resources and Organizational Structure Essentials" »

A graphic novel is a longer, complex piece of text that usually covers the story in one book. A comic book is shorter and tells the story over many volumes.

Why Are Graphic Novels Important for Learning?

Graphic novels are important tools for cognitive learning and are rich in visual literacy. The more image-based nature of graphic novels can make them less intimidating to read for beginners and also allows readers to understand words through pictures.

Graphic: Single volumes. It is monographic. Full-length novel.

Comic: Serials. They are published every once in a while. They can be compared with short stories.

Caption: A box of text that gives details on the background and setting of the scene. Often at the top or bottom of the panel.

Close-up:... Continue reading "Difference Between Graphic Novel and Comic: Importance for Learning" »

Contrasts Between American and European Cultures in Daisy Miller

Innocence vs. Knowledge/Experience

Innocence vs. knowledge or experience
Utility vs. form and ceremony
Spontaneity vs. ritual
Action vs. inaction
Nature vs. art
Natural vs. artificial
Honesty vs. evil

Daisy Miller: A Representation of American Innocence

In Daisy Miller, Henry James focuses on the differences in behavior between Americans and Europeans. Daisy Miller embodies the American, while Mrs. Costello, Mrs. Walker, and Winterbourne represent the European perspective. Ironically, these "Europeans" are American-born but have adopted European views.

Sophistication and Prejudice: A Two-Fold Meaning

Europeans in James's novels are often portrayed as more sophisticated and art-conscious,... Continue reading "American vs. European: Innocence and Experience in Henry James's Daisy Miller" »

Problem 1: European Call Option Valuation

A stock price is currently at 40 euros. It is known that at month-end, the price will be either 42 euros or 38 euros. The risk-free interest rate is 8% per annum, continuously compounded. We have a call option with a strike price of 39 euros.

1. Shares for Riskless Portfolio: Calculate the number of shares to buy to create a riskless portfolio. Given Answer: 0.75 shares.
2. Cash for Replication: Determine the cash needed to replicate the portfolio at the end of the month. Given Answer: -57/2 euros.
3. One-Month European Call Value: What is the value of the one-month European Call option? Given Answer: 1.69 euros.
4. Put Option Value: What is the value of a corresponding put option? Given Answer: 0.43 euros.
5. Call-Put

Announcement: to announce something unrelated to a brand.

Advertisement: to promote something like an ad or a campaign.

Mark: a visible sign on the face.

Brand: a type of product manufactured by a company under a specific name.

Label: used for clothes.

Make: refers to electrical equipment, cars, and domestic appliances.

Trademark: a name, symbol, or design used by a company on its products, legally owned by the company, or something that characterizes a person, place, or product.

Audience: a group of people gathered in one place to listen to a concert, watch a movie, etc.

Public: ordinary people.

Viewers: people who watch TV, computers, etc.

Spectators: people who watch an activity, especially sports, without participating.

Grief: sorrow.

Bond: a connection.... Continue reading "Understanding the Difference: Announcement, Advertisement, Mark, Brand, and More" »

Chapter 12: International Marketing Concepts

Questions and Answers

1. Market Segmentation View (1990s)

   Question: Which of these best describes the view towards market segmentation in the 1990s?

   Answer: Global integration versus local responsiveness.

2. Dell's Inventory Policy (Question 2)

   Question: Dell Computer Corporation maintains no inventory and builds each computer to order. Dell is most likely following a policy of _____?

   Answer: Mass customization.

3. Marketing vs. Finance Conflict (Question 3)

   Question: John is part of the marketing team. There is a conflict between the finance team and the marketing team regarding market segmentation. The finance team argues for a standardized approach, while John's team emphasizes understanding customer requirements

The Decline of Vers Libre

This school [Imagism] has since been “joined” or “followed” by numerous people who, whatever their merits, do not show any signs of agreeing with the second specification. Indeed vers libre has become as prolix and as verbose as any of the flaccid varieties that preceded it. It has brought faults of its own. The actual language and phrasing are often as bad as that of our elders without even the excuse that the words are shovelled in to fill a metric pattern or to complete the noise of a rhyme-sound. Whether or not the phrases followed by the followers are musical must be left to the reader's decision. At times I can find a marked metre in “vers libres,” as stale and hackneyed as any pseudo-Swinburnian;... Continue reading "Ezra Pound on Poetic Innovation and Criticism" »