Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Teaching & Education

Meet up with: quedar con alguien
Show someone around: enseñar
Pick someone up: recojer a alguien
Drop someone off: dejar a alguien
Stock up: abastecerse
Out of stock: quedarse sin
Track of: controlar pedido
Running low: agotandose
Check it out: comprobar
Get back: devolucion
Run out: quedarse sin ninguno
On stock: hay material
Keep track of: controlar pedido
Adapt: to change something to suit a particular need
Advertisement: a short film on TV to persuade people to buy something
Aha moment: when you suddenly realize or understand something
ASAP: as soon as possible
Brainchild: an idea for something new
Catalyst: something to cause change
Challenging: difficult in a satisfying way
Client: customer of the company
Come up with: think of a new idea or plan
Concept:... Continue reading "Business Vocabulary and Phrases" »

Qualities of a Good Business Letter:

1. Clarity: Clear thinking and simple expression are the two important virtues of effective writing. A good letter should show its idea directly and clearly. Each sentence should be as simple as possible. The reader should have no difficulty in understanding what the writer means to say.
2. Conciseness: Transmission of maximum information by using minimum words should be the aim of letter-writing. Unnecessary details and roundabout expressions should be avoided. People are busy and they receive a number of letters daily.
3. Completeness: The letter should contain all the essential points a reader is expected to know. For example, a sales letter should include the description of the goods, price, quality, how and where

The Foundation of Forensic Linguistics

When Halliday wrote, “Language is as it is because of what it has to do,” he opened many avenues in the field of linguistics. One of these avenues was the application of linguistics in a forensic context, which I discovered by chance. This happened two years ago when I saw a poster in my faculty announcing a lecture on this subject matter. Driven by curiosity, I attended, and since that moment, I realized that I would like to dedicate my final year research to the historical development of this branch of linguistics. During my research, my interest was further aroused when I sourced documents relating to forensic linguistics’ applicability to real-world situations.

Thus, I consider the Forensic Linguistics

An e-mail requesting job information

To: Mrs Tess Gladstone

From: Marian Alarcón Romero Subject: Sales Director Vacancy

Dear Mrs Tess

I am writing in response to the Sales Director ad at Nova Fashions. I am interested in the position but I would like more information about it. What is the work schedule? Would you be willing to hire someone who does not have much previous experience in the field of fashion? Is it necessary to have knowledge of English? What is the level of French you require?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Marian Alarcón Romero

Covering letter

From: María de los Ángeles Alarcón Romero

To: [email protected]

Subject: Sales Director

Dear Mrs Tess Gladstone

I am writing in reference to the position of sales director

Work and Education Vocabulary

• Apply for a job - trobar feina
• Claim benefits - reclamar beneficis
• Do a course - fer un curs
• Do a degree - fer una carrera
• Do an assignment - fer una assignació
• Do business - muntar un negoci
• Do your homework - fer els deures
• Drop out - abandonar
• Get a job - aconseguir feina
• Get fired - ser acomiadat
• Get good - millorar / fer-se bo
• Bad grades - notes dolentes
• Get paid - rebre el pagament
• Get promoted - ser promogut
• Graduated from - graduat en...
• Leave school - deixar l'escola
• Pass an exam - aprovar un examen
• Pass with flying colors - aprovar amb matrícula d'honor
• Pass your driving test - aprovar l'examen de conduir
• Start a business - muntar un negoci
• Start a career - començar una carrera
• Start work - començar a treballar
• Teach yourself

IKEA Customer Service: Complaint Handling

A: Hello, IKEA, Mary Black speaking. How may I help you?

B: Hello, this is Carlos Cotta from Notary's Office. I'm afraid I have a serious complaint. I would like to speak with Mr. X, please.

A: Okay, I will put him through. Wait a moment, please.

C: Hello, Mr. X speaking. How can I help you, Mr. Cotta?

B: Hello, Mr. X! I ordered some furniture and I have received the wrong furniture.

C: I apologize most sincerely, Mr. Cotta. Please give me the order details, and we'll replace the correct furniture within 24 hours. We will also send you a discount for future orders.

B: Okay, thanks. I hope this won't happen again.

C: I'll be in touch with you, Mr. Cotta, in the next few hours to confirm that everything is all... Continue reading "IKEA Customer Service: Handling Complaints & Workplace Vocabulary" »

Intriguing Reads: A Collection of Diverse Articles

Culture and Travel

The Da Vinci Code

Pieces of an Ancient Culture

Meeting an Old Friend

Michael Palin: The “Travelling Comedian”

Svalbard – The Land Beyond the North Cape

Living in Greenland

Smiling Indians

Norwich

U.S. National Parks: Yellowstone

The Mystery of Jim Thompson

Karen Blixen

Animals and Environment

Animal Rights

Save the Animals

A Better World

Building for a Better World

Counting the Bugs and Bacteria

Is Life in the Outback Compatible

Technology and Science

Annoying Cell Phones?

Do You Get on Well with Your Smartphone?

Are We Alone in the Universe?

Telepathy

Food in Space

Are Insects the Future of Food?

Does Handwriting Have a Future?

Education in the 21st Century

We’ll Be on Mars Again

Sports and Recreation

A

ZERO CONDITIONAL

If + Present Simple + Present Simple

USE a general truth or fact

FIRST CONDITIONAL

If / Unless + Present Simple + will + base form of verb

USE an action that is likely to happen in the future. If the economy improves, unemployment will end.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

If / Unless + Past Simple + would + base form of verb

USE a hypothetical or imaginary situation in the present or future.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

If + Past Perfect Simple + would have + past participle

USE an impossible or unfulfilled situation in the past

Passive Voice

Present Simple: am / is / are + past participle

Millions of birds are killed by cats every year.

Past Simple: was / were + past participle

Dinosaurs were wiped out more than 65 million years ago.

Future Simple: will be + past

Should Teachers Worry if VYL Students Understand but Speak Little English?

No. If students are very young learners (VYLs), limited speaking is normal. It's a phase in language acquisition. Teachers can encourage speaking as students get older.

Why Are Top-Down Listening Skills Difficult for VYLs?

Top-down listening skills are harder to develop because VYLs typically learn English through a bottom-up approach (lexical recognition). They don't spontaneously use mental schemata and prediction skills due to limited experience and knowledge.

Features of Effective Teacher Talk with VYLs

• Eliciting, recasting, repeating
• Effective voice modulation: chunking, intonation, stress
• Grading language appropriately
• Engaging voice
• Using supporting gestures, visuals,