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

Unit 1: Wanderlust Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Grammar (Phrasal Verbs)

Ahead of Time: Abans de lo previst

Compound Adjectives

Unit 2: Living Well Vocabulary & Grammar

Vocabulary

Indefinite Pronouns and Usage

No- (nada/nadie/ningún sitio) vs. Any- (cualquier cosa/cualquier persona/cualquier sitio). Note: Anything, anyone, and anybody can also mean 'nada' or 'nadie' in negative contexts.

General Vocabulary and Concepts

• Everything/Everyone/Everybody: Third-person singular.
• The same as: Mismo/igual.
• Similar to: Parecido.
• Different: Diferente.

Common False Friends

• Carpet: Alfombra
• Folder: Carpeta
• Address: Dirección
• Direction: Indicación
• Factory: Fábrica
• Fabric: Tela
• Current: Actual
• Actual: Real
• Actually: De hecho

Existence and Manner

Existence (Hay/No hay)

• Singular: There is / There was
• Plural: There are / There were

Manner (Forma)

• This way, in a... way, in the way (the way in which), this is the way.

Verb Patterns

• Gerund (-ing): Used after

Paragraph

Is the subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals with one point and begins on a new line. Elements: purpose, audience, clarity, unity and coherence. Techniques to achieve fluency: linkers, repetition, varying sentence length, punctuation and synonyms.

What to Avoid in Summaries?

No opinion, no pronouns, no adjectives, no exact figures, achieve neutral style.

Letters

Purpose: inform, complain, request, apologize, give opinion and apply-organization-intro: aim of letter/present the idea/dear sir, madam> yours faithfully//dear mr thomas> your sincerely-body: develop idea, give previous background and specific data-conclusion: sum up the info / point of view--style: friend: semiformal, to an editor... Continue reading "Effective Writing Techniques and Styles for Different Purposes" »

ARTICLE: artículo // A text or piece of writing

BROADSHEET: periódico serio// A large-format newspaper with usually serious content

CENSOR: censurar// official with the power to stop publication of certain articles

CHEQUEBOOK: talonario de cheques// the obtaining of exclusive rights to a story by payment of large sums of money

JOURNALIST: periodista // person who writes articles for a paper

CORRESPONDENT: corresponsal// 1 person who writes a letter to a paper 2 person who writes articles for a paper

CRITIC: crítico// a person who writes articles, especially stating opinion, about art, music…

CROPPED: recortado

CAPTION: subtítulo

DESK: sección// a department of a newspaper

EDIT: editar// to check, modify, and generally prepare written material... Continue reading "Newspaper Terminology and Structure" »

Passive Voice Construction

The passive voice is formed with: Subject (patient) + to be (conjugated) + past participle + complement.

Example 1 (Active to Passive):

• Active: An old woman arrested the thief.
• Passive: The thief was arrested by an old woman.

Example 2 (Modal Passive):

• Active: They may have analyzed the results.
• Passive: The results may have been analyzed.

Passive Voice with Two Objects

When an active verb has two objects (direct and indirect), either can become the subject of the passive sentence.

Example: He sent me flowers.

• Passive (Direct Object as Subject): Flowers were sent to me.
• Passive (Indirect Object as Subject): I was sent flowers.

Passive Voice Verb Tense Transformations

Here's how common verb tenses transform into the passive voice:... Continue reading "Mastering English Grammar: Voice, Conditionals, and Essay Writing" »

The Natural Approach

This method is based on the ideas and contributions of Tracy Terrell and Stephen Krashen.

Approach

Krashen and Terrell view communication as the primary function of language. The theory and research of learning are grounded on Krashen’s five core hypotheses:

• Acquisition/Learning Hypothesis
• Monitor Hypothesis
• Natural Order Hypothesis
• Input Hypothesis
• Affective Filter Hypothesis

Design

Regarding types of learning and teaching activities, there is a gradual progression.

Procedure

In all activities, the instructor maintains a constant flow of “comprehensible input,” using key vocabulary, appropriate gestures, context, repetition, and paraphrase to ensure the input is understood.

Suggestopedia

Suggestopedia is a specific set of learning... Continue reading "Natural Approach and Suggestopedia: Language Teaching Methods" »

Marketing Innovation

Innovation in marketing is critical. Imaginative ideas on strategy exist in many places within a company.

Senior management should identify and encourage fresh ideas from three underrepresented groups: employees with youthful or diverse perspectives, employees far removed from company headquarters, and employees new to the industry. Each group can challenge company orthodoxy and stimulate new ideas.

Scenario analysis: Develop different ideas. “What will we do if it happens?”

Dimensions of Business Innovation

• Offerings (WHAT): Develop innovative new products or services.
• Platform: Use common components or building blocks to create derivative offerings.
• Solutions: Create integrated and customized offerings that solve end-to-

Traditional prescriptive grammar
Correct usage: the do¡¦s and don¡¦ts/ Dogmatic
Example: Use ¡¥must¡¦ for internal obligation, and ¡¥have to¡¦ for external obligation
It is often inaccurate and subjective, and tends to ignore actual usage
It ignores the fact that a living language is constantly on the move.
It usually follows a decontextualized, rote memorization, worksheet-driven approach void of real-life application.

More on traditional grammar
Emphasis on correctness
Based on the principles which rule Latin
Preeminence of written form over oral form
Difference between what people actually do with L and what the should do.
Objetive: to preserve proper language
Restricted mainly to SYNTAX

Structuralist applied

Text Properties: Definition and Characteristics

A text is a complete communication unit, whether oral or written, that occurs in a particular situation with a specific communicative intention. Its essential properties or characteristics are adequacy, coherence, and cohesion.

Understanding Text Properties: Adequacy and Coherence

A text demonstrates adequacy when it is well-adapted to the issuer's communicative intention and the specific communication situation.

A text is coherent if its various statements meet the following criteria:

• They are interrelated, meaning they refer to the same subject.
• They maintain a logical relationship.
• They do not contradict each other.
• They advance the information, providing new insights.

Linguistic Cohesion: Lexical and

Letter of Appointment

Dear Mr. Ryder,

Following our final interview stage, we are pleased to inform you that you have exceeded all our expectations for the position of Chief of Sales at our headquarters.

Enclosed, please find two copies of the employment contract. Kindly sign both copies and return them to Mr. F. Barbier, Head of Human Resources. The other attached forms provide information on:

• Retirement assessment
• Dining room staff
• Social club and sports facilities
• Fringe benefits
• General company policy

Employee Reference

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

My name is Salvador Gutierrez, Director of the Commercial Expeditions Department at PECOS Consulting SA. I am writing to recommend Mr. Antonio Manzano López.

I worked with Mr. Manzano on the "CIDER RED" project... Continue reading "Essential Employment Letter Samples" »