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Suport curs – limba engleza

An III

English Syllabus

for 3rd Year Business Students

2013

COMPULSORY TOPICS FOR THIRD YEAR STUDENTS (DRAFT)

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CONTENT:

1. COMMUNICATION

2. COMMUNICATING: VITAL ASPECT OF MANAGEMENT

3. LANGUAGE DISCRIMINATION

4. WRITING ISSUES

- LETTERS

- REPORTS

- ESSAYS

- MEMOS

5. FOR FUN: MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

6. LINGUA TEST

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1. Communication

Communication is a process whereby information is enclosed in a package and is channeled and imparted by a sender to a receiver via some medium. The receiver then decodes the message and gives the sender a feedback. All forms of communication require a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, however the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication in order for the act of communication to occur. Communication requires that all parties have an area of communicative commonality. There are verbal means using language and there are nonverbal means, such as body language,sign language, paralanguage, and eye contact, through media, i.e., pictures, graphics and sound, and writing.

It is essential that the basic elements of communication be identified. These elements are:

• Sender/encoder/speaker

• Receiver/decoder/listener

• Message

• Medium

• Feedback/reply

Between parties, communication includes acts that confer knowledge and experiences, give advice and commands, and ask questions. These acts may take many forms, in one of the various manners of communication. The form depends on the abilities of the group communicating. Together, communication content and form make messages that are sent towards a destination. The target can be oneself, another person or being , another entity (such as a corporation or group of beings). The history of human communication The beginning of human communication through artificial channels, i.e. not vocalization or gestures, goes back to ancient cave paintings, drawn maps, and writing. Our indebtedness to the Ancient Romans in the field of communication does not end with the Latin root "communicare". They devised what might be described as the first real mail or postal system in order to centralize control of the empire from Rome. This allowed for personal letters and for Rome to gather knowledge about events in its many widespread provinces. The adoption of a dominant communication medium is important enough that historians have folded civilization into "ages" according to the medium most widely used. A book titled "Five Epochs of Civilization" by William McGaughey (Thistlerose, 2000) divides history into the following stages: Ideographic writing produced the first civilization; alphabetic writing, the second; printing, the third; electronic recording and broadcasting, the fourth; and computer communication, the fifth. The media affects what people think about themselves and how they perceive people as well. What we think about self image and what others should look like comes from the media.

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While it could be argued that these "Epochs" are just a historian's construction, digital and computer communication shows concrete evidence of changing the way humans organize. The latest trend in communication, termed smartmobbing, involves ad-hoc organization through mobile devices, allowing for effective many-to-many communication and social networking. Electronic media In the last century, a revolution in telecommunications has greatly altered communication by providing new media for long distance communication. The first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast occurred in 1906 and led to common communication via analogue and digital media: Analog telecommunications include traditional telephony, radio, and TV broadcasts. Digital telecommunications allow for computer-mediated communication, telegraphy, and computer networks. Communications media impact more than the reach of messages. They impact content and customs; for example, Thomas Edison had to discover that hello was the least ambiguous greeting by voice over a distance; previous greetings such as hail tended to be garbled in the transmission. Similarly, the terseness of e-mail and chat rooms produced the need for the emoticon. Modern communication media now allow for intense long-distance exchanges between larger numbers of people (many-to-many communication via e-mail, Internet forums). On the other hand, many traditional broadcast media and mass media favor one-to-many communication (television, cinema, radio, newspaper, magazines). Mass media is a term used to denote, as a class, that section of the media specifically conceived and designed to reach a very large audience (typically at least as large as the whole population of a nation state). It was coined in the 1920s with the advent of nationwide radio networks and of mass-circulation newspapers and magazines. The mass-media audience has been viewed by some commentators as forming a mass society with special characteristics, notably atomization or lack of social connections, which render it especially susceptible to the influence of modern mass-media techniques such as advertising and propaganda.

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2. Communicating: Vital aspect of management (The art of being able to structure and transmit a message in a way that another can easily understand and/or accept.) Types of Communication Verbal

- Oral - Written - E-mail

Nonverbal - Expression - Expressive behaviors - Body language

Communication Distinctions - Formal/Informal - Official/unofficial information exchange - Vertical/horizontal - Superior-subordinate/peers - Personal/impersonal

Communication happens at many levels (even for one single action), in many different ways, and for most beings, as well as certain machines. Several, if not all, fields of study dedicate a portion of attention to communication, so when speaking about communication it is very important to be sure about what aspects of communication one is speaking about. Definitions of communication range widely, some recognizing that animals can communicate with each other as well as human beings, and some are more narrow, only including human beings within the parameters of human symbolic interaction. Nonetheless, communication is usually described along a few major dimensions:

Content (what type of things are communicated) Source (by whom) Form (in which form) Channel (through which medium) Destination/Receiver (to whom) Purpose/Pragmatic aspect (with what kind of results)

Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. It is concerned with internal communications management from the standpoint of sharing knowledge and decisions from the enterprise with employees, suppliers, investors and partners. Examples include: Enterprises use annual reports as corporate communications tools to convey information related to results, processes and relationships of the enterprise. Typically, these communications occur on a yearly basis. Corporations use electronic and print newsletters to share corporate diversity hiring practices and information on new hires. Enterprises use corporate Intranets to create a corporate communication platforms to formalize processes around announcing requests to supplies to submit RFPs. In corporate communications the object of communications work is company/enterprise itself as opposed to marketing communications where the object of communications is product/produce or service provided by the company/enterprise. The aim of corporate communications is building company's reputation among its stakeholders (as opposed to brand building in marketing communications

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3. Language discrimination Diversity of language is protected and respected by most nations who value cultural diversity. However, people are sometimes subjected to different treatment because their preferred language is associated with a particular group, class or category. Commonly, the preferred language is just another attribute of separate ethnic groups. Discrimination exists if there is prejudicial treatment against a person or a group of people who speak a particular language or dialect. Language discrimination is suggested to be labeled Linguacism or logocism. What is language discrimination? Language discrimination occurs when a person is treated differently because of that person’s native language or other characteristics of that person’s speech. For example, an employee may be being subjected to language discrimination if the workplace has a “speak-English-only” policy but the employee’s primary language is something other than English. The employee may also be the victim of language discrimination if he or she is treated worse than other employees because he or she speaks English with an accent, or if the employee is told he or she does not qualify for a position because of a lack of English proficiency. Outside of employment, language discrimination may also occur if a person is denied access to businesses or government services because he or she does not speak English. 2. Is language discrimination illegal? Many courts and governmental agencies consider language discrimination to be a form of discrimination on the basis of race or national origin, which are prohibited by well-established laws such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (a federal law), and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (a state law). 3. Why is language discrimination illegal? The laws mentioned above make it illegal for employers to discriminate against an employee because of his or her national origin. (“National origin” refers to the country that a person, or that person’s ancestors, came from.) But because the primary language a person speaks is closely related to the place that person came from, or the place that person’s family came from, being discriminated against for using that language, or because of characteristics having to do with that language, is essentially the same as that person being discriminated against because of his or her national origin. 4. When can an employer require an employee to speak only English at work? California law generally prohibits employers from having “speak-English-only” policies in the workplace unless: 1) the employer can show some “business necessity” for the policy - that is, that there is an overriding and clearly job-related need for the policy (such as certain customer service positions), and 2) the employer notifies its employees about the policy, and when

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4. Writing issues

Letters Memos Reports Essays

LETTERS

The layout: Address Date Salutation Closing remark Signature Business English letter How to begin the letter / How to end the letter

- an unknown firm/person: Dear Sir/Madam - Yours faithfully / Yours truly (AE) or To whom it may concern - Truly yours

- a person whose name you know: Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Fisher - Yours sincerely / Very truly yours or Sincerely (yours) (AE)

- a person you know personally: Dear Ann/John - (With) Best wishes / Yours (AE) or Love (BE) or All the best (AE) or Kindest/Best regards (AE) Example 1: MICHAEL WARRENS LTD – 78 Court Street Nottingham – UK Mrs Sara Fisher Manager 18 St. James Avenue Bournemouth HB3 4LN 4th October 2001 Our ref: US / HK 1082 Your ref: SP / T Dear Mrs Fisher, We are pleased to acknowledge your order no. 202 dated 1st October 2001. Your order is already dealt with. We will inform you when the consignment is ready for delivery. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information. We thank you for your custom and again look forward to being of service to you in the future. Yours sincerely, M Warrens (Mr) LETTER OF APPLICATION

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LAYOUT PURPOSE CONTENT

Example 2: 99 Marvin Rd City, State 00000 (999) 999-9999 info@kmd-solutions.com January 20, 2008 Mrs. Mary Farr Human Resources Manager ABC Company 1111 Bessemer Avenue City, State 00000 Dear Mrs Mary Farr I am writing to apply for the position of manufacturing engineer that was advertised in today's XYZ Times. As you will note from my enclosed resume, I have experience with a wide range of programming languages through academic projects and part-time employment. „In this section of your job application letter highlight information relevant to the description of the advertisement of the position that you are applying for. So, show the skills and expertise that you have that match the description of the job you are applying for. " I have demonstrated excellent people skills in addition to strong writing and analytical skills. I believe my education, skills and experiences fit your requirements, and I am confident my skills would be an asset to your company (or client if you are applying to a recruiter) I am available to meet with you at a time that's convenient to you. Please contact me to set up a time. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, your signature Your name LETTER OF INQUIRY

LAYOUT PURPOSE CONTENT

LAYOUT Typical of business letters PURPOSE We write an inquiry when we want: to ask for more information concerning a product, service before making a decision and responding to an advertisement that we have seen in the paper, a commercial on television. CONTENT: Giving Reference: With reference to your advertisement (ad) in... / Regarding your advertisement (ad) in ...

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Requesting a Catalogue, Brochure, etc.: After the reference, add a comma and continue - ... , would (Could) you please send me ... Requesting Further Information: I would also like to know ... / Could you tell me whether… Example for beginning an inquiry letter:

With reference to your advertisement in yesterday's New York Times, could you please send me a copy of your latest catalogue. I would also like to know if it is possible to make purchases online.

Reply to a letter of inquiry Make a good impression when responding! Best impression by providing the materials/information the perspective client has asked for! CONTENT: Thanking the Potential Customer for His/Her Interest: Thank you for your letter of ... inquiring (asking for information) about ... We would like to thank you for your letter of ... inquiring (asking for information) about ... Providing Requested Materials: We are pleased to enclose ... Enclosed you will find ... We enclose ... Providing Additional Information: We would also like to inform you ... Regarding your question about ... In answer to your question (inquiry) about ... Closing a Letter Hoping for Future Business: We look forward to ... hearing from you / receiving your order / welcoming you as our client (customer). Example 3: Dear Mr Beare Thank you for your inquiry of 12 September asking for the latest edition of our catalogue. We are pleased to enclose our latest brochure. We would also like to inform you that it is possible to make purchases online at http:\\jacksonbros.com. We look forward to welcoming you as our customer. Yours sincerely Two more letter types:

LETTER OF COMPLAINT

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LETTER OF APOLOGY

LETTER OF COMPLAINT Why do we complain? I personally believe we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain. (Jane Wagner) Letters of complaint usually include the following stages:

- Background - Problem - cause and effect - Solution - Warning (optional) - Closing

Background: This section describes the situation; e.g. a. I am writing to inform you that the gods we ordered from your company have not been supplied correctly. b. I am a shareholder of Sunshine Bank and I am very concerned regarding recent newspaper reports on the financial situation of the bank. Your company is listed as the auditor in the latest annual report of the bank, so I am writing to you to ask for an explanation of the following issues. c. I am writing to inform you of my dissatisfaction with the food and drinks at the 'European Restaurant' on 18 January this year. Cause: a. On 6 March 2009 we placed an order with your firm for 12,000 ultra super long-life batteries. The consignment arrived yesterday but contained only 1,200 batteries. b. You sent us an invoice for $10,532, but did not deduct our usual 10% discount. c. We have found 16 spelling errors and 2 mis-labelled diagrams in the sample book. Effect a. This error put our firm in a difficult position, as we had to make some emergency purchases to fulfil our commitments to all our customers. This caused us considerable inconvenience. b. I am therefore returning the invoice to you for correction. c. This large number of errors is unacceptable to our customers, and we are therefore unable to sell these books. Solution a. I am writing to ask you to please make up the shortfall immediately and to ensure that such errors do not happen again.

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b. Please send us a corrected invoice for $9,479 c. I enclose a copy of the book with the errors highlighted. Please re-print the book and send it to us by next Friday. Warning (optional) a. Otherwise, we may have to look elsewhere for our supplies. b. I'm afraid that if these conditions are not met, we may be forced to take legal action. c. If the outstanding fees are not paid by Monday, 23 March 2009, you will incur a 10% late payment fee. Closing a. I look forward to receiving your explanation of these matters. b. I look forward to receiving your payment. c. I look forward to hearing from you shortly. Example 4: Dear Mr Choi I am writing to inform you that the goods we ordered from your company have not been supplied correctly. On 6 March 2009 we placed an order with your firm for 12,000 ultra super long-life batteries. The consignment arrived yesterday but contained only 1,200 batteries. This error put our firm in a difficult position, as we had to make some emergency purchases to fulfil our commitments to all our customers. This caused us considerable inconvenience. I am writing to ask you to please make up the shortfall immediately and to ensure that such errors do not happen again. Otherwise, we may have to look elsewhere for our supplies. I look forward to hearing from you by return. Yours sincerely LETTER OF APOLOGY If you are writing a formal or business apology letter:

- begin the letter by saying you are sorry - clearly state the problem and explain as much as possible what went wrong - try to solve the problem, and give examples of how you can do this - apologize again to end the letter

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Example 5: Dear . . .

Thank you for your letter of (date) in which you informed us that (product) you purchased was (nature of problem).

We are sorry that you experienced this problem and are enclosing (nature of compensation). While we make every attempt to ensure that our products are (address complaint), this unfortunate incident can occasionally occur. We are very appreciative that you have taken the time to bring this to our attention and would like to thank you for purchasing our products. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Signature Clichés: Please accept our apology for having shipped merchandise in excess of your purchase order. We have made an adjustment in your account to reflect this error and have arranged for (delivery service) to pick up the excess merchandise on (date). We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you and are most appreciative of your cooperation and understanding in this matter. Thank you for your recent order. You are a valued customer and we apologize for any inconvenience this mix-up may have caused. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me at 0022333444.

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REPORTS

Writing a report requires special writing skills and knowledge of format. Report writing

includes several aspects that are presented in this writing guide. This page will give you a full list of report writing requirements. A transmittal or cover letter usually accompanies business, research or psychological report. This letter provides the recipient with the context of your report. Transmittal letters should be brief. They contain address, name of recipient, date and your request. A transmittal letter should be written according to the requirements of business correspondence and letter etiquette and it should not be longer than two pages. Successful report writing contains several main parts:

1) Cover Sheet. This should include full title of the report and your name. 2) Title Page. Contains report title, name and organization for whom the report has been

created, author’s name and date of fulfillment. 3) Acknowledgments page. Always include it into your research or business report saying

thank you to people who helped you with work. Besides, your business report writing will be successful if you refer to every person thanking him for some concrete assistance.

4) Summary Abstract. Usually includes the topic chosen for your paper and the scope of project. It should be completed when the report is written so that you discuss its main parts and make conclusions. Summary Abstract must be of interest to other researchers containing contemporary information.

5) Table of Contents. This page contains paper structure with numbers for every heading and subheading for the reader’s convenience. At first, a draft is created in order to organize material and ideas, though it may be changed during the report writing.

6) The List of Tables, Figures and Illustrations. You need to number all figures and tables presented in a business report and list them in order they are given. If you use more than seven tables and/or figures, you should list them on a separate page giving the page numbers they can be found in the work. Place figures, illustrations and tables in the following order: list of figures, list of tables, list of illustrations.

7) Executive Summary or Summary of the Report. This is an overview of the entire document. It should show the reader what this report is about. It includes the purpose, reviewed literature, methodology you chose, brief list of your findings and recommendations.

8) The Body. The Body of your report writing is the main part of the paper that contains all important materials and data necessary for the research of the issue. The body includes literature review, methodology, results or findings, analysis and discussion sections. Literature review helps you to place the research into a background context and show its significance as well as critically analyze scholarly articles and books, which relate to your topic. Methodology contains methods and principles, which you used in your research. Besides, in this section you must explain why you have chosen these methods for report writing and discuss ethical issues of the topic. Results and findings section contains the presentation of facts and the results of your research. It usually includes figures and tables. Analysis and discussion section shows the way you use your findings and how you compare them with findings of other researchers.

9) Conclusion. This is the final part of work. You should summarize your findings and draw conclusions, which are supported by evidence.

10) Recommendations. Make it with some suggestions concerning further research of the topic.

11) Appendix. Report may contain an appendix or several ones, which may present a copy of a questionnaire, maps, calculations, plans, etc.

12) Bibliography. List all the sources, which have direct reference in the paper. The sources should be referenced in the text using Harvard citation style.

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Most report readers do not actually read all the report. They only read the parts that interest them. Frequently these are the summary, the conclusions and recommendations. 1. Executive Summary The executive summary should include a summary of all of the key points, the idea is that an executive can read the summary and if it appears logical and inline with expectations the recommendations can be followed without the need to read further. This is in fact the most important part of the report and should be written last. The executive summary should include a summary of all parts of the report including recommendations. Writing Order: Written after the rest of the report (But before the contents page) Email Tip: If you are sending the report via email, include the executive summary in the main part of your Email, so that a busy executive doesn’t have to read an attachment to read the main points. 2. Contents The Contents of the report should be consistently laid out throughout the report and you should include both page numbers and title numbers. In this example we look at the transport requirements for sales people: 3. Introduction / Terms of Reference The introduction should say why the report is being written. Reports are nearly always written to solve a business problem. Reports maybe commissioned because there is a crisis or they maybe routine. Nearly all reports in some way answer the age-old business problem, how can we increase profits? Writing Order: Often written first, but maybe refined at anytime. (In Business studies courses this could be done later, because the exact business problem may not be given by the lecturer.) 4. Findings / Main Body Sometimes reports don’t say Findings, but it is normally assumed that the main part of your report will be the information you have found. This information is not always read by executives, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important, because without thorough research and analysis the author will not be able to come to effective conclusions and create recommendations. Also if anything in the executive summary surprises the executive, then they will turn directly to the relevant part of the recommendations. Writing Order: This is normally written after the 1st draft of the introduction. 5. Conclusions The conclusions should summarize the Findings section, do not include diagrams or graphs in this area. This area should be short, clearly follow the order of the findings and lead naturally into the recommendations. You should never include new information in the conclusions! Writing Order: Written after the Findings 6. Recommendations All reports should include recommendations or at least suggestions. It is important to make sure that there is at least an indicator of what the Return on Investment would be. It is always best if this can be directly linked, but may not always be possible. Make sure that your recommendations clearly follow what is said in the conclusions. Example – Sample report 1. Introduction – Terms of reference The purpose of this report was to analyse two portable computers and recommend a suitable machine for training staff to use at client sites. This report has considered two machines suitable for corporate use that can accommodate modern facilities such as e-mail, video conferencing and assist staff with training courses.

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1.1 Purpose The purpose of this report was to analyse two portable computers and recommend a suitable machine for our training staff to use at client locations. 1.2 Scope While investigating these two computers it was important to consider their suitability for corporate use, standard features, optional benefits and warranties. 1.3 Method The information used in this report was collected by consulting an independent review by the Australian PC Authority magazine and contacting the individual companies for additional information on the technical specifications and warranties on the machines. It has been assumed that the Microsoft Office software package will be installed on the computers to ensure our training staff have access to PowerPoint. This program will enable them to present effective teaching media. As our staff regularly use computer applications it has been assumed that the implementation of portable computers will cause little delays for the company. As most computer companies offer clients an extended warranty, it is assumed that All Purpose Training Company will have the option to purchase an extended warranty for a period of one year. All Purpose Training Company has a demand to supply new clients with numerous training courses. With such demands it is crucial that training staff can have computer access for training presentations and be able to complete day to day operations while mobile. 2. Findings In this report the comparative findings are presented in two bulleted lists. (In a different context it may be more appropriate to use numbered paragraphs rather than bullet points, particularly if the information being presented is more complex or more detailed than that in this report.) Table form is another useful way to present comparative findings in a report. 2.1 Micro-pro 8500 Series Cost: $7895 RRP Weight: 4.5 Kg Size: (W x D x H) 357 x 275 x 50mm Screen size: 15.1" Clarity of screen image: Resolution could be higher, set at 1,024 x 768 you can see the

pixels, but very easy on your eyes. (Australian PC Authority, April 1998, 'PCs and Notebooks - Reviews, p. 81)

RAM: 64 Mb, RAM can be raised to a maximum 128Mb for $1140 Disk Drive: CD-ROM and 3.5" FDD Speed of the CPU: Pentium processor Battery capabilities: Lithium-ion battery, smart battery option available. Lithium-ion battery

lasts 2.5 hours without smart battery upgrade. (Australian PC Authority, April 1998, 'PCs and Notebooks - Reviews, p. 81)

Service agreements and warranties: Two year parts and labour warranty 2.2 Hewlett Packard 3000CTX 5/233 Cost: $8245 RRP Weight: 3.1 Kg Size: (W x D x H) 304 x 238 x 47mm Screen size: 13.3" Clarity of screen image: Resolution is set at 1,024 x 768. Reasonably easy to read... with

normal working conditions. (Australian PC Authority, April 1998, 'PCs and Notebooks - Reviews, p. 81)

RAM: 16Mb, upgrade available, $242 for 16Mb. Disk drives: 3.5" FDD, CD-ROM available for $570 Speed of the CPU: Pentium processor

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Battery capabilities: - 2.5 hours from a lithium-ion battery Service agreements and warranties: All Hewlett Packard Omnibooks come with a 3 year

parts and labour warranty. (Stephen, 7/5/1998, Telephone Interview, Customer Service Officer, Hewlett Packard Information Centre, Hewlett Packard)

3. Conclusion This conclusion begins with a general statement summing up the Findings. It is important to consider the long term benefits to the company when considering which computer was best suited. Apart from initial purchasing expenses, warranty, speed, size and memory were some factors which have been taken into account. Software suitability was also considered. The computers had to be easily adaptable for new technology such as e-mail, video conferencing and presentation aids, for future company requirements. Both computers are distinct from each other and, although both companies have the corporate user in mind, Micro-pro appears to be offering an exceptional package. 4. Recommendations and implementation The Micro-pro 8500 Series portable computer is purchased at a rate of one computer per training staff member. The smart battery option is purchased with each computer; this will assist with heavy workloads and long training programs. Staff must have e-mail access on their computers to enable them to be in contact with the company. All Purpose Training Company should negotiate price, warranty and on going service agreements with Micro-pro direct. To reduce company long term expenses: The company could investigate the viability of staff leasing the computers A staff option of buying the computers for personal use after the warranty period expires. Computers should be available to staff after a maximum of 6 weeks.

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ESSAYS Main parts:

Introduction: thesis statement Body Conclusion

Introduction: The introduction should be grabbing and impressive to induce the reader to read further on. If the introduction is dull the reader will not proceed. Present your introduction in a clear, precise and interesting way. Convince your reader that your essay is worth reading. Once you have formulated the thesis, convert it into a brief statement. The thesis statement is put into the essay introduction and it should reveal your point of view on the matter, or position you intend to support in your paper. A well-formulated thesis is vital for your assignment - it is the central part of your essay - all other parts of the essays are built on the basis of a strong thesis. Body: Essay body is the main part of your writing where you present your thoughts and evidence. Each body paragraph introduces a new idea, for example if you have developed five ideas in your thesis you should present five paragraphs in the body. Remember: Each paragraph should have an identical structure !!! Conclusion: Conclusions are often the most difficult part of an essay to write. A writer needs to keep in mind that the conclusion is often what a reader remembers best. Your conclusion should be the best part of your paper. A conclusion should stress the importance of the thesis statement, give the essay a sense of completeness leave a final impression on the reader. Strategies of writing an essay: Echoing the introduction: Echoing your introduction can be a good strategy if it is meant to bring the reader full-circle. If you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay was helpful in creating a new understanding. Challenging the reader: By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are helping them to redirect the information in the paper, and they may apply it to their own lives. Looking to the future: Looking to the future can emphasize the importance of your paper or redirect the readers' thought process. It may help them apply the new information to their lives or see things more globally. Posing questions:

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Posing questions, either to your readers or in general, may help your readers gain a new perspective on the topic. It may also bring your main ideas together to create a new meaning. Specific organizational patterns and "key words" Write the essay, describing each part or component and making transitions between each of your descriptions. Cause and effect essays It involves tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects and discussing the reasonable or known cause(s). Example Q: "Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society." A: Thesis: A recession, which is a nationwide lull in business activity, would be detrimental to society in the following ways: it would .......A......., it would .......B......., and it would .......C....... . The rest of the answer would explain, in some detail, the three effects: A, B, and C. Useful transition words: because consequently therefore for this reason Comparison-contrast Example: Q: "Which would you rather own--a compact car or a full-sized car?„ A: Thesis: I would own a compact car rather than a full-sized car for the following reasons: .......A......., .......B......., .......C......., and .......D....... . Two patterns of development: Pattern 1 Full-sized car Advantages Disadvantages Compact car Advantages Disadvantages Pattern 2

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Advantages - Full-sized car - Compact car Disadvantages - Full-sized car - Compact car Useful transition words - on the other hand, similarly, yet, unlike A, B ... - in the same way - but - while both A and B are ..., only B .. - nevertheless on the contrary - though, despite - however - conversely - while A is ..., B is ... Narrative essays This involves discussing some complex procedure. The organization is almost always chronological. Useful transition words - first, second, third, etc. - next - then - following this - finally - after, afterwards, after this - subsequently - simultaneously, concurrently - first, second, third, etc. - next - another - in addition - Moreover Thesis and support essays involves stating a clearly worded opinion or interpretation and then defending it with all the data, examples, facts, and so on that you can draw from the material you have studied Useful transition words: - therefore

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- for this reason - it follows that - as a result - because - however - consequently Example – Sample essay: Should rich countries help poorer ones? Today, the world is becoming more and more closely linked. Trade has increased and the movement of people between countries is greater than ever before. However, billions of people still live in poverty, and in many places, the gap between rich and poor is widening. This essay will look at the arguments for and against helping poor countries. There are many reasons for helping poor countries. First of all, there are humanitarian reasons. Like individuals who give to charity, many countries feel it is their religious, social, or moral duty to help people in other countries who are suffering from famine, drought, war, or disease. However, many rich countries also donate money for political or diplomatic reasons. They want to maintain a relationship of dependency with the recipient, or simply to influence the government and direction of the country. A further reason why many countries help poorer ones is for economic reasons. The donors may want to control the supply of commodities such as oil, water, or wheat. Alternatively, the richer country may want to ensure markets for their own products, whether these are planes, computers or shoes. However, aid is not necessarily the best way to help a country. For one thing, billions of dollars of aid often goes missing, into corrupt governments or inefficient administration. A second point is that many foreign aid projects are unsuitable for the target country. Many agencies build huge dams or industrial projects that fail after a few years or that do not involve the local people. Furthermore, much aid returns to the donor. This can be in the form of expensive specialized equipment and experts from the donor country. There are many other ways we can help poor countries. Opening up trade barriers, so that poor countries can sell their goods is one way. Another is to remove subsidies so that imported goods from poorer countries can compete fairly. A third method is to forgive debts. Many poor countries have huge interest repayments on old loans. The needs of the poorer countries may seem obvious. However, although our humanity makes us want to help eliminate poverty and suffering, we must examine the real needs of poor countries and implement solutions that will benefit both them and us.

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MEMOS

A memo is a reminder to start or finish something, a document sent within a company; in short form. It will not exceede one page or it will become a document. It is used to help you remember something or remind someone about something. The layout: To: Ccccccc Ssssssss - this is who the memo is written for From: Ddddd Gggggg - this informs the recipient as to who is sending the memo Date: Mmmm 99, 9999 - the date of when the memo is sent Subject: Boldface the line and use words to allow filing the memo correctly what the memo is about. Example 1: To: Katherine Chu, Regional Manager From: Stephen Yu, Sales Date: 4 April 2009 Subject: Notification of My Resignation I am writing to inform you of my intention to resign from G & S Holdings. I have appreciated very much my four years working for the company. The training has been excellent and I have gained valuable experience working within an efficient and professional team environment. In particular, I have appreciated your personal guidance during these first years of my career. I feel now that it is time to further develop my knowledge and skills base in a different environment. I would like to leave, if possible, in a month's time on Saturday, 2 May. This will allow me to complete my current workload. I hope that this suggested arrangement is acceptable to the company. Once again, thank you for your support. Example 2: To: S M Chan, General Manager From: Samantha Ng, Office Manager Date: 4 April 2009 Subject: Purchase of a Microwave Oven

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1. Introduction At the monthly staff meeting on Wednesday, 1 April 2009, you requested information about the possible purchase of a microwave oven. I would now like to present these details. 2. Background Since the move to the new office in Kow Bay, staff have difficulty in finding a nearby place to buy lunch. 3. Advantages Providing a microwave oven in the pantry would enable staff to bring in their own lunchboxes and reheat their food. Also, staff members are less likely to return to work late after lunch. 4. Staff Opinion A survey found that staff would like to use the microwave oven. 5. Cost Details of suitable models are given below: ..................................................................... 6. Request If this meets with your approval, we would appreciate it if you could authorize up to $3,000 for the purchase of the microwave oven. Memo – writing exercise Situation: You are the Customer Services Manager at the Supershop Supermarket in Southampton. You have received a letter from Mr Talbot, Headmaster at At. Joseph’s Primary School in Southampton asking if a group of 12 children could visit your supermarket. The children are all working on a special project about shops and shopping. He suggests Monday 2nd May. Task: write a memo to your assistant Mrs Eileen Wright. Inform her of Mr Talbot’s request. Ask her to contact Mr Talbot directly to arrange the visit. Head Office have colourful information packs especially for children and if these would be useful to let you know. Note: write the memo and add any information you think necessary. Keep in mind the following steps: Step 1. Identify the task Step 2. Layout Step 3. Identify the relevant information Step 4. Group the relevant information Step 5. Choose the format Step 6. Write the memo. Step 7. Check your writing

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5. For fun: Motivational quotes The most important thing about having goals is having one. --Geoffrey F. Abert Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. --Joseph Addison Seventy percent of success in life is showing up. --Woody Allen In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties. --Henri Frederic Amiel A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song. --Maya Angelou Turn right and you will never be left. --Anonymous We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. --Aristotle Hope is a waking dream. --Aristotle The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead. --Aristotle Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals. --Aristotle Friendship is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. --Aristotle A man's true delight is to do the things he was made for. --Marcus Aurelius A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions. --Marcus Aurelius We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. --Jane Austen Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and sickness, to riches and poverty, to freedom and to slavery. It is we who control these, and not another.

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--Richard Bach Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours. --Richard Bach Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you're alive, it isn't. --Richard Bach There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding, and that which is lost by not trying. --Francis Bacon The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after. --Newton D. Baker Nothing is a greater impediment to being on good terms with others than being at ill ease with yourself. --Balzac Proper preparation prevents poor performance. --Charlie Batch Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well. --Josh Billings Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there. --Josh Billings It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. --Charlotte Bronte The tragedy of life is not that a man loses, but that he almost wins. --Heywood Brown Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. --William Jennings Bryan It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked. --Warren Buffett Look to the future, because that is where you'll spend the rest of your life. --George Burns You will never find time for anything. You must make it. --Charles Burton Change is the end result of all true learning. --Leo Buscaglia

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It's not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely. --Leo Buscaglia Change. It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise, open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement in life. Certainly it is worth the risk. --Leo Buscaglia A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder. --Thomas Carlyle If you don't know where you are going, you'll probably end up somewhere else. --Lewis Carroll That is happiness: to be dissolved into something completely great. --Willa Cather I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right. --Cato the Elder Life has a higher end, than to be amused. --William Ellery Channing The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. --Chinese Proverb The journey is the reward. --Chinese Proverb Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own. --Chinese Proverb If you chase two rabbits, both will escape. --Chinese Proverb It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time. --Winston Churchill Kites rise highest against the wind; not with it. --Winston Churchill We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival. --Winston Churchill The price of greatness is responsibility. --Winston Churchill

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It is better to be making the news than taking it; to be an actor rather than a critic. --Winston Churchill Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing. --Winston Churchill We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. --Winston Churchill While there's life, there's hope. --Marcus Tullius Cicero A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. --Confucius It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. --Confucius The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose. --Confucius Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. --Confucius A joyful life is an individual creation that cannot be copied from a recipe. --Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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Example of a Lingua Test I. You are going to read a text about teamwork. Some sentences have been removed from the text. Choose from sentences A- G the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one sentence which you do not need to use.

How to build the teamwork culture

by Susan M. Heathfield Team building is creating a work culture that values collaboration. In a teamwork environment, people understand and believe that thinking, planning, decisions and actions are better when done cooperatively. 1___ It’s hard to find work places that exemplify teamwork. 2___Workers are rarely raised in environments that emphasize true collaboration. Organizations are working on valuing diverse people, ideas, backgrounds, and experiences. We have miles to go before valuing collaboration will be the norm. 3___ Admittedly, they’re the hard things, but with commitment and appreciation for the value, you can create an overall sense of teamwork in your organization. Create a Culture of Teamwork To make teamwork happen, these powerful actions must occur. Executive leaders communicate the clear expectation that teamwork and collaboration are expected. 4___ People who own work processes and positions are open and receptive to ideas and input from others. Executives model teamwork in their interaction with each other and the rest of the organization. 5___ The organization members talk about and identify the value of a teamwork culture. If values are formally written and shared, teamwork is one of the key five or six. 6___ The lone ranger, even if she is an excellent producer, is valued less than the person who achieves results with others. Compensation, bonuses, and rewards depend on collaborative practices as much as individual contribution and achievement. Important stories and folklore that people discuss within the company emphasize teamwork. (Remember the year the capsule team reduced scrap by 20 percent? People who “do well” and are promoted within the company are team players.)

(adapted and abridged from http://humanresources.about.com/library/weekly/aa122001a.htm)

A. You can, however, create a teamwork culture by doing just a few things right. B. No one completely owns a work area or process all by himself. C. People recognize, and even assimilate, the belief that “none of us is as good as all of us.” D. Actually, teamwork is not a difficult thing to achieve at all. E. In America, our institutions such as schools, our family structures, and our pastimes emphasize winning, being the best, and coming out on top. F. They maintain teamwork even when things are going wrong and the temptation is to slip back into former behavior.

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G. Teamwork is rewarded and recognized. II. QUESTIONS 1-10 DIRECTIONS: For each blank think of ONE word that can best fit in the context. On your answer sheet write the ONE word you have found.

Starting your (1)____ business could be the way to achieving financial independence, or (2)____ could just as well land you in debt for the rest of your life. That, at (3)____, is the view of Charles and Brenda Leggat, a Scottish couple, who last week saw (4)____ fish farm business put into the hands of the receiver. ‘We started the business in 1985 when (5)____ was being encouraged by the banks to borrow money. (6)____ the time we were sure that we could make (7)____ into a going concern,’ said Charles Leggat, a farmer from (8)____ Highlands, ‘and the banks lent us more or less (9)____ we asked for. Their people analysed the proposals we put (10)____, and they agreed that it would be a highly profitable business.’ QUESTIONS 11-20 DIRECTIONS: For each blank decide which of the options A, B, C or D is best. ONLY ONE answer is correct and THERE IS ALWAYS ONE correct answer. On your answer sheet write A or B or C or D. Sure (11)____, within five years the Leggats were exporting trout and salmon products to hotels (12)____ over Europe, and employed over fifty staff. But with the advent (13)____ the recession, they began to lose ground as orders dried up. ‘The awful thing (14)____,’ said Brenda Leggat, ‘that now the business had been valued by the banks at a fraction of its true worth. If they had left us to work our way out of our difficulties I am sure that we could have gone back into profit. (15)____ it is, we have been left (16)____ a livelihood, and the banks have not recovered (17)____ they lent us.’ The Leggats both felt that their banks had not treated (18)____ fairly. ‘They were falling over (19)____ to lend us the money, but they have done very little to keep the business going, and fifty local people (20)____ work.’ A spokesman for the main bank concerned, the National Caledonian, refused to comment.

11. A enough B however C fairly D of course 12. A in B all C around D throughout 13. A of B in C with D for 14. A was B is C had been D will have been 15. A There B How C Like D As 16. A out of B off C without D outside 17. A that B that which C what D whatever 18. A it B that C rather D them 19. A themselves B them C ourselves D us 20. A to B at C in D with

QUESTIONS 21-25 DIRECTIONS: For each of the following questions there are four parts underlined and lettered A, B, C and D. One of the underlined parts, A or B or C or D contains a mistake. On your answer sheet write te letter (A or B or C or D) that corresponds to the underlined part that contains the mistake. 21. (A) Someone once described the age we live in (B) like that of a vanishing world, one in which (C) the familiar is constantly disappearing for ever and technological change (D) is often difficult to cope with.

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22. (A) So it should come as no surprise (B) to most of us to hear that (C) yet another part of everyday life is (D) almost to go for ever. 23. (A) Still, when I read recently that (B) within the next decade money as we know it (C) will probably seize to exist in technologically advanced countries, I had to read the article twice (D) to make sure it wasn’t April 1st. 24. (A) According to Professor Gerry Montague of the Institute for Economic Reform, (B) the familiary coins and banknotes (C) will soon be replaced entirely (D) by credit cards of various kinds. 25. And the shop of the future (A) will be linked directly on the network of banking computers; (B) the assistant will simply key in your (C) bank account code number and the amount (D) you have spent, and thank you politely. QUESTIONS 26-30 DIRECTIONS: Starting from the word in CAPITAL LETTERS at the end of each sentence, derive another word that best fits in the context of that sentence indicated by a blank space (“____”). On your answer sheet, write the derived word. There will be no pay rises in the (26)____ future. SEE Jim is one of the most (27)____ members of the committee. SPEAK What are the entry (28)____ at this university? REQUIRE All (29)____ must be received before July 20th 2013. APPLY Taking into consideration the findings, we can predict some (30)____ growth. ECONOMY III. Write an essay in response to the following question. Where necessary, you may wish to make qualified generalisations, mention cause and effect or use examples. Make your own position clear at the end and try to give reasons for your view. Your essay should not be longer than 200 words.

When some people win, must others lose, or are there situations in which everyone wins?

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Key: 1 C 2 E 3 A 4 B 5 F 6 G BE USE 15

1 OWN 2 IT 3 LEAST 4 THEIR 5 EVERYONE 6 AT 7 IT 8 THE 9 EVERYTHING 10 FORWARD 11 A 12 B 13 A 14 B 15 D 16 C 17 C 18 D 19 A 20 C 21 B 22 D 23 C 24 B 25 A 26 FORESEEABLE 27 OUTSPOKEN 28 REQUIREMENTS 29 APPLICATIONS 30 ECONOMIC