IPT Reusable Activities V6

International Proficiency Track Professional
Reusable Activities
Lesson 01A
Max de Lotbinière
Tuesday 5 July 2011 14.10 BST
Research backs English as key to development

Data indicates speakers can earn 25% more but high-value language remains preserve of elites
A study into the economic impact of learning English in developing countries has concluded that the
language can increase the earning power of individuals by around 25% and that developing economies
need access to English if they are to grow and position themselves in the global economy.
The British Council, the UK's education and cultural relations organisation, which commissioned the
report from Euromonitor, a leading research organisation, says that it is the first statistical research into
the benefits of English in developing countries.
The report, which was published last month, gathers data from five target countries: three with linguistic
links to Britain through colonialism, Nigeria,Bangladesh and Pakistan, and two with a stronger French-
language colonial legacy, Cameroon and Rwanda.
The data was gathered from existing research and through interviews with businesses and employers in
each country.
While English skills levels vary among Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan, the researchers found a link
between even a moderate competency and higher levels of investment from countries such as the US and
UK. In the three countries, investment from English-speaking countries accounts for between 33% and 41%
of total FDI.
"By contrast, largely French speaking Cameroon and Rwanda lose out, with only 2% and 1% of their total
FDI coming from English-speaking countries," the report said.
But the report also shows that the benefits of English are seen predominantly by urban elites, who have
access to a better standard of teaching – mostly delivered through private education – and higher-paid
jobs.
Adapted from: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jul/05/research-backs-english-language-delotbiniere
Material de uso exclusivo da Associação Cultura Inglesa São Paulo. © 2015

Lesson 01B
Countries With The Best Business English
I can has cheezeburger? Hey, nobody's perfect. The best business English goes to the multinational aerospace companies.
China might have more people, but when it comes to the language of global capitalism, English is the gold standard.
How many of us have had to call for IT services only to end up getting rerouted to an India line and have our computer problems get totally
lost in translation. I’m trying to picture a guy from Alabama operating a Windows XP machine from a houseboat trying to understand a girl half
his age in Hyderabad explain where to type in c-colon-backslash-run.
One in five employees working for a U.S. tech company are not native speakers. Brazil and even U.S. neighbor Mexico score below 4 on a
scale of 1 to 10 in business English proficiency, with 10 being advanced and 4-6 being basic, according to a business English survey released
this week by the GlobalEnglish Corporation (GEC).

Sure it is GlobalEnglish’s best interest that more foreigners study the language of commerce, butaccording to McKinsey & Company, only 13%
of graduates from emerging countries are suitable for employment in global companies, and the number one reason cited is a lack of English
skills.
Four out of 10 global workers from 76 countries were ranked as Business English beginners, by the GEC survey. That ranks them as having an
average understanding of English, able to hold a conversation, but not lead one. The majority (60%) of the 108,000 people who took the GEC
test from the represented countries scored between a 4.0 and 7.0, indicating an inability to take an active role in business discussions through
global conference calls or perform complex tasks such as presentation development and customer or partner negotiations.
See: Low Business English A Threat To Success

I love a good accent as much as anybody. And as an expat American who lived 10 years in Brazil (left in 2010), there is a lot more leniency
when you can’t speak Portuguese like a native than there is when you can’t speak English. One colleague of mine spoke Portuguese so poorly,
that even the Americans and Brits made fun of him behind his back. Oh, those were the days.
But serious career-minded individuals who hope to work as foreign correspondents for O Globo TV in New York, Brazil’s biggest broadcaster,
will need solid English. As will the IT service guys coming to the U.S. from India on business visas, and the Russia venture capitalists looking to
close deals with investors in Silicon Valley.
This is partially why the Philippines has taken over India as a hub for call centers. Their English is better. The islands attained a score above 7,
putting them within range of a high proficiency that indicates an ability to lead business discussions and perform complex tasks. India? A low
5.57.
“The current shortage of talent with the aptitude to speak, write, present, sell and service customers in English has become a high
performance dilemma for individual companies, and even countries,” says Mahesh Ram, GlobalEnglish CEO.
Around 92% of non-English speakers say that speaking the language is important to their career growth, but only 7% of them say that their
skill level is adequate to move up the ladder and get offered more international opportunities, according to a Global English survey conducted
in 2010.
Not surprisingly, India ranks highest in this year’s Business[/entity] English Survey among the BRICs with 5.57, followed by China at 4.4, Russia
at 3.6 and Brazil at 2.95. The countries were ranked by size of labor force.
According to survey results, global companies are 7% worse at communicating in English than they were a year ago. I’m just glad I don’t have
to speak, read or write in Cantonese. Adapted from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/04/05/countries-with-the-best-business-english/2/

Lesson 01C
Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 18:52 UTC By Emily McHugh– The Santiago Times
Latin America's English proficiency ‘very low’

Despite a strong economy attracting new international business and increasing the need for multilingual professionals in the workforce, Chile remains one of the
countries with the lowest levels of competency in English among adults worldwide, according to a study released Friday.
Education First, a Swiss-based education company with English language schools all over the world, created the third edition of
its English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) by drawing on the test results of an estimated 750,000 adults worldwide who took English
proficiency tests online, including only countries with over 400 participants in the final index.
Of the 60 countries included in the report, Chile ranked 44th, placing the country in the lowest proficiency bracket and below
Latin American nations Peru, Mexico, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Argentina.
In the EF EPI’s initial report two years ago, Latin America was identified as the region with the lowest proficiency in English in the
world.
“Latin America is the weakest of all regions, with an average English proficiency score barely surpassing the low proficiency cut-
off,” the report states, putting the low scores down to, “the poor quality of public education across Latin America, combined
with often low enrollment ratios.”
Despite Chile's low ranking, the EF EPI report indicates that proficiency in the country has improved since 2011. English classes
were made mandatory for fifth graders and above and subsequent efforts by the English Open Doors Program — first created in
2003 — and the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) have have further bolstered English language education in
Chile. CORFO implemented a program for 2012 providing scholarships for intensive English courses and study abroad programs
to 7,534 Chileans.
The only Latin American country to rank in the moderate proficiency bracket, the report claims that Argentina’s higher rate of
English proficiency among adults is due to its school enrollment rates, which have been consistently high since the 1970s,
differing from other neighboring Latin American countries.
“Poor English remains one of the key competitive weaknesses of Latin America,” the report reads. “More than half the countries
in the region are in the lowest EF EPI proficiency band. Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Chile have improved, but they still lack the
large base of competent English speakers necessary for a globalized workforce.”
Education First’s goals in creating this report was to offer a general interpretation of global trends regarding English language
education and to provide countries with a way of judging national improvements or degradations over time. While the EF EPI is
inherently limited in scope because it is only administered online, excluding countries and individuals without internet access
and limiting examples to subjects who voluntarily took the online tests, it does offer a broad impression of leading trends, with
28 countries showing upward trends in the most recent report.
The report stresses how crucial learning English is to succeed in the modern business world, claiming that studying English is no
longer a luxury but a necessity.
“Although English skills have long been an explicit requirement in certain types of jobs such as diplomacy and translation, those
skills today are an implicit advantage in nearly any job across all sectors of the economy,” the report reads.
It goes on to add that English skills are a fundamental component to a country’s economic development.
“Rather than considering English as a nice bonus skill, to be added to the school day after more basic skills are mastered,
curriculum planners would be wise to consider the central role English plays in determining employability and professional
success,” the report reads.
The EF-EPI of 60 countries shows Argentina first among Latam in position 19; followed by Uruguay, 29; Costa Rica, 37; Brazil, 38;
Peru, 39; Mexico, 40; Chile, 44; Colombia, 44; Ecuador, 46; Venezuela, 49 and Panama, 56.
Adapted from: http://en.mercopress.com/2013/11/13/latin-america-s-english-proficiency-very-low

Lesson 02 A
By Michael Schuman Nov. 19, 2013
Globalization Isn’t Dead, It’s Only Just Beginning

Once upon a time, globalization simply meant the export of Western culture to the rest of the world. Now the world is turning the tables
There’s been a lot of talk these days that globalization is dead, even reversing — and for good reason. It seems that many of the factors that
had been driving globalization have run out of steam. The growth of trade, which has long outpaced the expansion of the world economy, has
slowed in recent years. Negotiations to forge a new global-trade agreement, the Doha Round through the World Trade Organization, have
been stalled for years. Evolving technology is altering the manufacturing industry and convincing some U.S. firms to shorten supply lines and
even “reshore,” returning factory work back to America and making production more local and less global.
But ignore the naysayers: globalization is very much alive and well. The White House, for instance is engaged in a renewed push for free
trade with proposed pacts with the European Union and a collection of Asian and Latin American nations under the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
More importantly, though, globalization is changing in key ways. It is knitting together a society that, more than ever, is truly global.
In the past, globalization was to a great degree a one-way street — from the developed to the developing world. Money and technology
flowed from the U.S. and Europe into China, India and other low-income countries, drawing them into the global trading system. The process
was the same with ideas (democracy, capitalism, Marxism) and culture (popular music, social networking, fast food, Hollywood movies).
Emerging nations had few connections between themselves, and limited influence over world politics and finance.
Now, though, the rise of China, India and other emerging economies is shifting that old, one-way globalization into a new, vibrant multilateral
globalization, with major consequences for how our world works. More than half of humanity now lives in South and East Asia, and Chinese
and Indian consumers have become the most sought after in the world. Global commerce is changing as a result. General Motors, for instance,
sells more cars in China than in America; Yum! Brands cooks up more Kentucky Fried Chicken for Chinese diners than Americans.
Emerging-market companies are becoming equally important global players. Apple’s chief rival is not a European or even Japanese company,
but South Korea’s Samsung; China’s Huawei is the new force in telecom. Firms from emerging nations are becoming more important global
investors and job creators too. Chinese pork processor Shuanghu is buying America’s Smithfield; Ford offloaded Volvo to China’s Geely and
Jaguar to India’s Tata. Companies like China’s Lenovo and India’s Wipro are true multinationals that employ people throughout the globe.
Global politics and finance are no longer dominated by just a few powerful nations either. The G-8 has been replaced by the G-20 as the main
global discussion forum, giving greater voice to nations like Turkey, South Africa and Brazil. Tiny Persian Gulf state Qatar is using its financial
clout to muscle in on Middle East geopolitics. According to a recent survey from the Bank for International Settlements, China’s yuan entered
the list of top 10 most traded currencies for the first time.
Similarly, culture is becoming increasingly globalized as well. How else can you explain grammar-school kids in the Boston suburbs dancing to a
song in Korean performed by a guy named Psy? Or young people in Seattle or Denver driving to anime conventions in their Hyundais and
comparing notes over dim sum afterward? Hundreds of Confucius Institutes promoting Chinese language and culture have popped up around
the world. Bollywood flicks and Korean soap operas are wildly popular around Asia.
All of these trends are set to continue. Companies you’ve probably never heard of before might one day offer you a job; what the central bank
of India does will impact your stock portfolio; your kids will be downloading music and movies from every corner of the world if they don’t
already. Globalization is deepening, becoming more inclusive and more balanced between different parts of the planet. And it is introducing us
all to new ideas, products and arts. Globalization is not just still with us; it’s just getting started.
Adapted from: http://world.time.com/2013/11/19/globalization-isnt-dead-its-only-just-beginning/

Lesson 02 B
There is heated debate about the true ___________ of ___________.
There is greater access to ___________now.
We've ended up (as) ___________.
___________are becoming too _____________to ___________.
___________ing ___________sharpens the mind.
There was a ___________shortage in ___________.
One ___________is that ___________ helps with ___________.
___________ (not exactly) chomping at the bit to ___________.

Lesson 05A
The Importance of Learning Other Languages

We live in an increasingly globalized, multilingual world. The benefits that stem from learning other languages enable us to more
successfully cope with the reality facing us and its challenges. Benefits include the fact that an additional language enables you to make
progress in your career; that it provides you with greater awareness of other cultures; and that it helps increase our knowledge of our first
language and our cognitive capabilities.
It is a known fact that being skilled in multiple languages gives individuals opportunities for professional growth which are not open
to those who cannot boast of the same skills. Evidence can be seen in job advertisements, which now specify that they seek candidates who
can speak a second language, or in some cases, two or three other languages. These ads make it clear that knowing other languages improve
your prospects of securing a job to a significant extent. Furthermore, as an ever larger number of companies begin to trade internationally,
people are frequently starting jobs for which they need no language skills at first, but then being asked to relocate abroad, or offered a
promotion that requires additional language skills. Some may refute the importance of language skills by claiming that there are plenty of
other jobs available, but, in actual fact, this is no longer the case as a result of the far-reaching impact of the recent economic crisis. In
addition, knowing other languages allows individuals to network on a wider, global scale, and this in itself can lead to job prospects that might
not emerge otherwise. It is clear, therefore, that learning other languages can set one on the path to professional success.
Another point to bear in mind is that knowing more than one language is not only beneficial on its own, but also in the sense that it
increases cultural awareness and allows you to communicate with different people. It is true that effective methods of learning languages also
entail learning about another culture, especially as you reach higher levels competence in a language. This awareness allows people from
different nationalities and religions to develop rapport, which is vital given the frequency of immigration today. No one would dispute that
countries with high immigration levels are faced with a seemingly unsurmountable challenge of integrating its citizens. This is often
symptomatic of an existing linguistic and cultural barrier amongst citizens, and consequently, people become segregated; staying in
communities where their own language is spoken. A common language and shared cultural knowledge can help you find your place in
communities you may come in contact with, be it in your local area, abroad, or in your professional community.
Finally, learning foreign languages can lead to mastery of one’s own native language and enhance your cognitive abilities. No one
would dispute that learning a new language is an opportunity to familiarise oneself with a new set of grammar rules, and this in turn, can
deepen one’s knowledge of grammar as whole, which can be applied to one’s own native language in order to better grasp the rules governing
the expected standards of that language. As far as monolinguals are concerned, they have no such advantage and sometimes struggle with
their own language when the context calls for correct, standard language use. Furthermore, as one improves their language skills and develop
their own strategies for doing so, it will become increasingly easier to learn additional languages. As well as this, learning other languages is
proven to have favourable effects on the brain. It is said that as individuals develop fluency in other languages, becoming readily able to
switch from one language to the other as needed, they also increase their capacity for multi-tasking. In other words, speakers of multiple
languages gradually develop the cognitive power necessary to process information more efficiently. There are, of course, those who claim that
learning more languages leads to confusion as a result of the influence of other languages. However, occasionally choosing an awkward word
for expressing an idea that a speaker would never have had the opportunity to express without some knowledge of the language to begin with
is not a setback at all if you consider the advantages of in-depth language awareness and improved cognitive abilities.
In short, there can be no denying that learning other languages is entirely beneficial for individuals and society and that, given the
present scenario, the advantage of speaking multiple languages is not to be underestimated. Learning new languages helps professionals scale
the career ladder of success, promotes understanding amongst individuals, and sharpens our mental faculties. If more people were
multilingual, the world would ultimately be a more harmonious and more prosperous place.
Adapted from: http://careers.theguardian.com/graduate-view-language-skills-are-helping-me-onto-the-career-ladder

Lesson 05B
The Importance of Learning Other Languages
I. INTRODUCTION
a. General Statement: Globalization is a fact + knowledge of languages is beneficial
b. Thesis Statement: three main benefits of language learning:
i. .........
ii. .........
iii. ………..
II. BODY PARAGRAPHS
a. .........
i. Evidence in job ads
1. These are clear about chances for prof. growth
ii. Expanding companies/businesses update skills required of employees
iii. Claims of abundant opportunities refuted by economic crisis
iv. Expansion of your contact network leading to more opportunities
b. ………
i. Effective Language Methods often account for cultural awareness
ii. Cultural awareness enables bonding despite cultural background differences
iii. Integration of communities
c. ………
i. Better understanding of first language standard rules
1. Monolinguals at a disadvantage in this respect
ii. Development of language learning strategies
iii. Switching languages leads to improved multi-tasking abilities and cognition
iv. Claims of confusion are minor setback compared to benefits
III. CONCLUSION
a. Language learning entirely beneficial in current scenario
i. .........
ii. ........
iii. .........
b. Learning multiple languages leads to harmony and prosperity

Lesson 05 C
Graduate view: Language skills are helping me onto the career ladder
Since moving to Paris to find work and improve her French, Eva Bearryman has realised the value of languages,
including English, in the global job market
I really love it when I hear reports of how important language skills are for getting a job nowadays. The debate surrounding the
value of learning languages increasingly seems to point to the fact that they help graduates to be successful in finding work.
Although I cannot testify from personal experience to this being true in the UK, I know that my language skills definitely helped
me clinch my first post-graduation job overseas. In addition, being a native English speaker has been invaluable in creating other
opportunities since I moved to Paris to find work.
I have spoken to people who doubt the importance of learning languages, and with English spoken by millions of people across
the world you can see that there might be something to their argument. However, I still believe language skills can be a useful
addition to the CV of any grad, and it seems I am not alone.
Research carried out by the National Centre for Languages suggests why languages make us more employable – take a look
at Languages Work, a website offering information on careers using languages, or the National Centre for Languages for more
information and specific tips on which languages make you most employable.
If, as is the case for me, reading job adverts is becoming an annoyingly regular occurrence in your daily routine, you may have
noticed how often languages are either a "minimum" or "desirable" requirement for applications. The likes of the Financial
Times and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, as well as numerous NGOs, often look for people with additional language skills,
while in the context of international industries, such as finance, it is often expected that candidates can speak at least two
languages fluently.
Being able to speak the lingo of another country definitely opens doors – I got an internship on my year abroad, as well as my
current job, based on my (albeit, not so great) French. I can also now apply for jobs which – because of the fact that I have a
single honours, non-language degree – I would have been otherwise unsuitable. Such is the case for several adverts I have seen
for work within the parts of the European Union, as well as with international aid agencies; a second language is a minimum
requirement and employers look for candidates with a third language.
It might sound extreme, but since having lived abroad and spent time with friends and classmates from all over the world
(coincidentally these are the people I could be competing against for jobs in the future), I have realised how common it is to be
able to speak at least two, if not three, languages. This is perhaps due to the emphasis that is put on learning foreign languages
in the majority of European nations, as well as in numerous countries across the world. For example, the Scandinavians and
Germans have a reputation – one that in my experience is accurate - for speaking excellent English. We, on the other hand, have
an abysmal reputation for learning languages. Changes to the league table system in the UK could see an increase in the number
of students taking GCSEs in a foreign language, but it is too early to tell whether this will really make any difference.
I am also hoping that learning another language will make me more employable in the UK. I have yet to really discover whether
this is true, but from the limited feedback I have received in interviews it seems that such skills are well received. At the least,
they don't do any harm and at best I hope they make me stand out from the crowd.
Yet, I do have some proof that languages skills are useful in today's job market and I would not have secured a job in Paris
without my French language skills. I had not, however, realised the extent to which my experience would be enhanced by the
fact that I am a native English speaker. Without any great personal effort, it has been easier to find additional opportunities
because English is my mother tongue; I was offered my babysitting job on the condition that I speak English to the kids, and the
work experience that I do on my day off takes place in an office that can be best described as a mini UN, where, because there
are staff members from every corner of the world, English is spoken.
Perhaps it goes without saying, living in a city as cosmopolitan as Paris, that my opportunities are likely to be increased because I
am a native English speaker, but it has only dawned on me since living here how much of an advantage we Anglophones really
have in the international job market, where English is so regularly used and relied upon as the language of communication. The
real test will perhaps come when I attempt to put my language skills to good use in the job market back at home, where "native
English speaker" is no special addition to my CV.
Adapted from: http://careers.theguardian.com/graduate-view-language-skills-are-helping-me-onto-the-career-ladder

Lesson 06
9 unrealistic expectations I had about working life

Graduates starting their first job want naps and have no idea what to expect, according to a new report. Radhika
Sanghani shares the shocking realisations she had when she started work
A
I entered the working world in September 2012. I was fresh out of university, having spent four years studying and preparing for my debut
onto the bottom rung of the career ladder.
I was enthusiastic, excited and full of rose-tinted ideas about what working would be like. I had worked before – but it was only part-time jobs
tutoring, summer jobs or retail work. As I soon found out, that was nothing like working full-time in an office for 340 days a year.
My unrealistic expectations of working, which were a cross between Bridget Jones's take on office life and the second half of The Devil Wears
Prada, were quickly shattered. A report by the British Chamber of Commerce shows I was not alone in this. Business leaders found employees
failed to turn up for job interviews and once employed, have even asked where they could take a nap at work.
I didn’t assume nap-taking would be a part of working life, but the minute I left university, I had a few rude awakenings of my own:
1. There’s no such thing as ‘summer holidays’
It isn’t like school, or even better university, where you force yourself to keep on working because a long summer/Christmas/Easter is coming
up. Those month-long holidays will never happen again.
If you want to go on holiday, you have to book it out of the 25 days of annual leave you’ll have, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever get to take more
than 10 days off in a row. Even worse, there is no guarantee that you’ll get the whole of Christmas week off. In some jobs, you might even get
roped in to work Christmas Day…
2. 9-5 is a lie our parents told us
Do you remember those 80s American movies where the office worker with shoulder pads would clock out at 5pm? So, that doesn’t happen in
the real working world. There is no such thing as Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, regardless of what industry you work in.
You will be expected to stay in the office until your work is finished, and that doesn’t mean you get to come in late the next day. Even creative-
types, who get to start later, will finish later, and getting paid for overtime doesn't happen.
B
3. Tax takes SO MUCH OF YOUR MONEY
I’m still not really over this one, even though I’ve now been paying income tax for 18 months. It turns out you get taxed at least 20 per cent (40
per cent if you earn a higher rate, in which case you shouldn’t be complaining), and on top of that you have to pay National Insurance, and can
contribute to a pension fund.
If you took out a student loan like I did, you then have to see more of your remaining salary disappear monthly. By the time all the taxes, bills,
and rent are deducted, you will look back with longing at the days of student loans. At least back then you got 10 per cent off at Topshop.
4. You won’t get the levels of guidance you did at school
In the working world, bosses don’t have time to give you feedback for every little thing you do. It isn’t like school where everything you hand in
comes back to you with an A-F grade and a comment.
You can’t treat your bosses like teachers and ask them for constant advice, tips and feedback. If you’re lucky, you will get a boss who gives you
due praise and constructive criticism, but this isn't always the norm.
5. Office politics is actually a thing
When I heard my parents discussing office politics, I thought they had decided to be a part of the drama. I was convinced that when I entered
my own office, there would be no drama, and if there was, I just wouldn’t get involved.
But office politics is an inescapable part of working life, and it isn't optional. A friend tells me she entered her first job to find out that her desk
had an invisible boundary around it, and crossing it would lead to office turf wars. Beware.
C
6. You will not strut around in heels and cool office clothes
My vision of ‘working’ always entailed me looking like Anne Hathaway post-make-over in The Devil Wears Prada. I thought I’d wear stylish
office clothes and want to wear heels every day.
But it turns out heels hurt your feet, even when you’re only walking from the tube station to the office, and when you have to leave your bed
at an ungodly hour, all you want to do is put on warm, comfortable clothes.
7. There's no easy way to prove yourself
Gone are the days of having final exams to prove that you’re on track, and can go on to the next level. It's a bonus that cramming and
coursework are forever banished, but it does make it harder to prove yourself.
In the working world, you have to remember your own achievements and learn how to network. Promotions and great opportunities will
rarely appear on their own accord; you have to get to know the right people and make things happen yourself.
8. Weeknight drinking is no longer OK
At university, it was the norm to go out on weekdays, while weekends were spent recovering from the week. But in the working world, you
can’t drink on weeknights anymore as your body won't be able to handle a hangover at work.
You'll still spend your weekends recovering, but this time it's from working so hard and not from partying. If you want to have enough energy
to get through the working day (remember it's longer than 9-5) you have to cut down on drinking and socialising.
9. You don’t all go to the pub together on a Friday
I always imagined this would be an integral part of my working life, but actually, I’ve come to realise that everyone in the office has a life of
their own. Friday pub sessions rarely happen now, as everyone wants to spend their precious weekends with their actual friends and not the
colleagues they can chat to in the canteen.
Taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10606941/9-unrealistic-expectations-I-had-about-working-life.html

Lesson 07
1. Dan Thurmon refers to the 5 spheres he is juggling as…
(a) Five moments of success in anyone’s life.

(b) Five areas that represent different things in our lives.
(c) Five successful steps to grow, mainly professionally.
(d) Five things to consider when choosing a career.
2. What does the speaker think is ridiculous?
(a) Accountants trying to define the work-life balance.

(b) The fact that people try to protect their time.
(c) The attempt to limit areas in our lives.
(d) Not enough time to do things we like.
3. “Not only do we hope to improve ourselves physically, but also spiritually.” One of the key aspects here is
to…
(a) Live in agreement with your spiritual purpose.

(b) Live a smart spiritual life in a peaceful community.
(c) Live focusing on philanthropy and helping others.
(d) Live actively always looking for bigger challenges.
4. The five spheres together…
(a) Are all linked and cannot be separated representing our joys.
(b) Are connected and represent our inner potential.
(c) Reflect our personal interests, hobbies and passions.
(d) Create a pattern of our uniqueness.
5. Dan Thurmon’s conclusion in his talk is that…
(a) There is no balance, everything is out of control.

(b) There is balance and everything is connected.
(c) There is balance and it shows your key pattern.
(d) There is no balance, but there is a pattern.

Lesson 12
Millennials vs. Boomers: 5 Stereotypes That Aren't True (Mostly)

Stereotype 1: Millennials are lazy, entitled and think they know everything.
Reality: Millennials are far more likely than Boomers to seek out training and career development, to tout their technology
proficiency to employers, and to work collaboratively with and learn from tech support. They are quite proactive in developing
their __4__ careers and selling their tech skills to employers. They also seek different kinds of training. They are less interested
in traditional classroom training and far more interested in e-learning, educational mobile applications, gaming simulations and
other non-traditional types of training. __5__ the horrendous job market they graduated into and the fierce competition with
other Millennials, it is no surprise that most don’t view having a good job as a given.
Stereotype 2: Boomers don’t get new tech.

Reality: According to the study, __6__ Boomers are just as tech savvy as their Millennial counterparts, they just don’t think they
are. Millennials are far more likely than Boomers to describe their technology use as “cutting edge” or “upper tier.” The other
difference seems to __7__ that Boomers learn and use the latest tech out of career necessity, __8__ Millennials see it as a
natural part of their lifestyle.
Stereotype 3: Millennials waste time at work on their phones and social websites.
Reality: It’s not exactly what you think. Millennials blend the lines between work and personal life with their tech, using
Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging and their own smartphones in __9__ to communicate at work, much more so than
Boomers. They play when they work and work when they play. In them, we can see the workweek evolving into a 24/7 affair.
Boomers, on the __10__ hand, view work and personal life as very separate things, and ne’er the twain shall meet.
Stereotype 4: Baby Boomers stubbornly won’t switch over to the latest tech tools and are getting left behind.
Reality: Microsoft tools such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint are still very much the predominant tool used in the workplace by
far, so Boomers can keep on using them with confidence. Millennials use them, too, along __11__ bringing more out-of-the-box
things to the table, like Keynote and Google docs, in __12__ to new avenues such as gaming, social media and job-specific
mobile apps. It couldn’t hurt Boomers to learn them, but they won’t be usurping what you’re used to anytime soon.
Stereotype 5: Millennials would rather talk to a screen than a person, while Baby Boomers waste time with endless meetings.
Reality: This one is basically true, but in a good way. Millennials prefer to use multiple tools to communicate with coworkers:
text, instant messaging, social media and other virtual tools. Boomers prefer the good ol’ fashion meeting or phone call. All
methods have their benefits, and the workplace is best __13__ both are used appropriately; there are some meetings that a
couple of IMs can handle more efficiently, and there are some that are far __14__ complex to happen over a group text
message.
Adapted from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gyro/2013/11/04/5-millennial-stereotypes-that-arent-true-mostly/

Lesson 13 A
Busy-Bragging
You’ll hear Oliver Burkeman, a journalist, talking about feeling overwhelmed by the things we have to do. For questions 1-5,
complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Nowadays, everybody is constantly bragging about being busy. However, it’s not the busy-ness that comes from
having to work two jobs just to (0)make ends meet but the busy-ness of having a high status job. In the past,
(1)……………….. set the limit on what we could do. Now, we live in an era of infinite information and constant
connectivity. As we work with information and computers, there’s (2)……………….. on how much we can theoretically
do. Furthermore, in this consumer economy, there’s always a better brand to buy and a lifestyle upgrade to make.
So, we need to find ways to earn more to keep up. The more efficient you become at doing what you’re asked to do,
the more stuff you’ll attract (3)……………….., but getting it all done is an illusion. You’ll never get to the summit of
that mountain because the climb goes on forever, and worse, it is (4)……………….. on the future, which will make the
moment you’re living now miserable. We need to schedule time to do the things that we value and be prepared to
let some other things fall by the wayside, even if they’re worthwhile. The (5)……………….. here is seeing that the
game is rigged; that we’re never going to get everything done.
Adapted from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2014/dec/31/too-busy-busyness-trap

Lesson 13 B
Busy-Bragging
You’ll hear Oliver Burkeman, a journalist, talking about feeling overwhelmed by the things we have to do. For questions 1-5,
complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Nowadays, everybody is constantly bragging about being busy. However, It’s not the busy-ness that comes from
having to work two jobs just to (0)make ends meet, but the busy-ness of having a high status job. In the past, physical
resources set the limit on what we could do. Now, we live in an era of infinite information and (1)………………... As we
work with information and computers, there’s no ceiling on how much we can theoretically do. Furthermore, in this
consumer economy, there’s always better a brand to buy and a (2)……………….. to make. So, we need to find ways to
earn more to keep up. The more efficient you become at doing what you’re asked to do, the more stuff you’ll attract
into your orbit, but getting it all done is an illusion. You’ll never get (3)……………….. of that mountain because the
climb goes on forever, and worse, it is focused entirely on the future, which will make the moment you’re living now
miserable. We need to schedule time to do the things that we value and be prepared to let some other things fall
(4)……………….., even if they’re worthwhile. The big takeaway here is seeing that (5)……………….. is rigged; that we’re
never going to get everything done.
Adapted from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2014/dec/31/too-busy-busyness-trap

Lesson 17
What is business ethics?

Business ethics is the behavior that a business adheres to in its daily dealings with the world. The ethics of
a particular business can be diverse. They apply not only to how the business interacts with the world at
large, but also to their one-on-one dealings with a single customer.
Many businesses have gained a bad reputation just by being in business. To some people, businesses are
interested in making money, and that is the bottom line. It could be called capitalism in its purest form.
Making money is not wrong in itself. It is the manner in which some businesses conduct themselves that
brings up the question of ethical behavior.
Good business ethics should be a part of every business. There are many factors to consider. When a
company does business with another that is considered unethical, does this make the first company
unethical by association? Some people would say yes, the first business has a responsibility and it is now a
link in the chain of unethical businesses.
Many global businesses, including most of the major brands that the public use, can be seen not to think
too highly of good business ethics. Many major brands have been fined millions for breaking ethical
business laws. Money is the major deciding factor.
If a company does not adhere to business ethics and breaks the laws, they usually end up being fined.
Many companies have broken anti-trust, ethical and environmental laws and received fines worth millions.
The problem is that the amount of money these companies are making outweighs the fines applied. Billion
dollar profits blind the companies to their lack of business ethics, and the dollar sign wins.
A business may be a multi-million seller, but does it use good business ethics and do people care? There
are popular soft drinks and fast food restaurants that have been fined time and time again for unethical
behavior. Business ethics should eliminate exploitation, from the sweat shop children who are making
sneakers to the coffee serving staff who are being ripped off in wages. Business ethics can be applied to
everything from the trees cut down to make the paper that a business sells to the ramifications of
importing coffee from certain countries.
In the end, it may be up to the public to make sure that a company adheres to correct business ethics. If
the company is making large amounts of money, they may not wish to pay too close attention to their
ethical behavior. There are many companies that pride themselves in their correct business ethics, but in
this competitive world, they are becoming very few and far between.
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-business-ethics.htm

Lesson 18
Behave Yourself!
Good manners can protect you from the petty annoyances of the modern workplace.
by Amy Bernstein
FROM THE APRIL 2014 ISSUE
Let’s admit it. We all slip up occasionally. Maybe we don’t respond promptly to every e-mail message, or we swear under our
breath from time to time. But we’re doing OK, right? Do we really need to worry about the finer points of correct behavior? Let
me answer that question with a polite “Yes.”
In an age when offices have given way to cubicles, when electronic devices keep us in constant communication, and when the
boundaries (1) our professional and personal lives are dissolving, we need the rules of etiquette more than ever. Etiquette, after
all, is just a code (2) conduct that allows us to live and work together with relative ease, fosters good relationships, and reduces
the social frictions that impede our happiness and even our professional success. As Peggy Post and Peter Post argue, “Knowing
(3) to behave in a wide variety of professional settings not (4) makes you a more pleasant, confident, and enjoyable person to
work with; it also provides you with all-important tools…that will help propel you and your company toward your mutual
goals.” Or, as Judith Martin puts it tartly in her recent Miss Manners Minds Your Business, we’re all fumbling (5) a “wider cultural
confusion that has left the workplace riddled (6) etiquette land mines. Whether you blame resistance to relaxing the old rigidity
of behavior or ignorance of traditional businesslike behavior, everybody…seems to be getting on everybody else’s (7).”
Indeed, social mores are changing so quickly and home and office becoming so intertwined that (8) the most mannerly are
probably confused. Thus the staying power of the etiquette advice genre, the ongoing popularity of trusted authorities, and the
rise of such relative newcomers as Slate’s Dear Prudence, the Financial Times’s Dear Lucy, and the New York Times’s “Social Q’s”
column.
Consider: Should a female manager stand to (9) hands with a younger male associate? Miss Manners instructs us to factor in age,
rank, and venue. The core rules still apply generally: Women don’t rise for men, older people don’t rise for younger ones, and
higher-ranking people don’t rise for those of lower rank. (10) if you’re an older, higher-ranking woman, and you’re meeting in
your office, then you should stand to (11) hands—as a (12) of “hostess.” However, allowing that someone’s sex is the least
important (13) in an office setting.
“When attempting (14) enter the business world, you need to learn to be someone else. It is called having a
professional identity.”
Got it. But how do you (15) with the petty annoyances of the modern workplace? What do you do (16) the colleague in the
neighboring cubicle breaks out a smelly lunch? When people bellow into their cell phones? When your boss fails (17) respond to
your e-mail? The rules of work are changing. Does that mean that the basics of good manners are changing, too?
Emphatically not. The Posts put it simply: Good business etiquette “is not a set of ironclad ‘rules.’ In fact, most of what people
call business etiquette is really little more than common (18) driven by being considerate, respectful, and honest with others in
your business life.” The Martins draw a helpful distinction: Manners are “the principles of courteous behavior” and etiquette
“the rules that (19) to a particular situation.” So manners don’t change, but etiquette evolves. Once you understand that, you can
pretty much figure out the rest.
Adapted from: https://hbr.org/2014/04/behave-yourself

Lesson 19
Dress for the Job You Want?

Hectored by the blogosphere, mocked by the press, UBS has recanted its 43-page employee primer on how to
appear polished, proficient, and professional. As a result, a lot of up-and-comers badly in need of grooming guidance
simply won’t get it.
The brouhaha over the Swiss bank’s dress code manual, which dictates protocol on everything from heel height to
hair coloring, erupted late last year, when The Wall Street Journal reprinted some of the manual’s more pointed
advice (“Light makeup consisting of foundation, mascara and discreet lipstick…will enhance your personality,” and
“Avoid garlic and onion-based dishes”).
Perhaps the Swiss were a bit over the top in the particulars they imparted. But new research from the Center for
Work-Life Policy suggests that the dress code’s (1)__________ audience — those on the (2)____________ lines of
the bank’s retail operations, many of them temporary staffers new to the banking environment — absolutely needed
the advice, and may have even been grateful for HR’s over-rotation on red lingerie, gray roots, and two-day stubble.
These turn out to be exactly the issues CWLP survey respondents (1,000+ male and female college graduates
working in the U.S. within large corporations) identified when asked what (3)____________________ to, or
detracted from, “executive presence” (EP) at their firm.
Women, in particular, believed that dressing the (4)_________________ was a vital factor in (5)_________________
success: 53% of them felt aspiring female execs needed to toe a very conservative line, avoiding flashy make-up,
plunging necklines, too-short or too-tight skirts, and long fingernails — exactly the sort of sartorial no-nos UBS
spelled out. Indeed, half the women surveyed and 37% of the men considered appearance and EP to be intrinsically
linked; they understood that if you don’t look the part of a leader, you’re not likely to be given the role. Far from
imagining that appearance is a personal matter, they perceived that looking well-turned-out engenders self-
confidence, a trait they considered the bedrock of authentic leaders.
The research also revealed, (6)_____________________, that it is one thing to grasp the importance of looking
professional, and quite another to interpret the ever-shifting notions that define a professional appearance. Women,
certainly, struggle more than men to achieve the look of leadership, a factor that (7)_______________ to their
overall stall in middle- and upper-middle management. On the one hand, they’re told to conform; on the other,
they’re advised to stand out. They’re told to downplay their sexuality, but warned against coming off as too mannish
and threatening. They know they will be (8)________________ on their appearance, perhaps unreasonably so.
Yet they cannot get the guidance they so desperately need, because their superiors are afraid to give it. Men who
wouldn’t think twice about telling a male colleague to take a breath mint clam up around women. Some fear being
slapped with a harassment suit; most simply don’t wish to hurt feelings. “Women are so hypersensitive about their
appearance already,” one male executive shared in a CWLP focus group. “I told one of my directors I thought her
skirt was on the short side — that’s all I said — and she never wore a skirt again!”
Hence the wisdom of the ever-precise Swiss in detailing the dos and don’ts of personal grooming and banker wear.
The “beauty bias,” as Stanford scholar Deborah Rhode calls it, continues to favor the attractive at every step
(9)_______ the path to power; (10)____________ it comes to overcoming it, everyone, from the new hire to the
seasoned manager, could (11)_______________ some pointed advice. Since leaders shrink from suggesting that
subordinates don flesh-colored underwear, a 43-page handbook on dress, decorum, and grooming is precisely what
thousands of would-be professionals need to negotiate treacherous fashion fads.
Not (12)____________ clothes make the man, of course. But they might make the woman.

Lesson 20
How Should Your Leaders Behave

Anyone with responsibility for the performance of a large organization knows the value of effective
leaders. Most of us are more than happy to invest in developing them. But even a cursory review of the
management literature shows that there’s no consensus on how to do that. When fast growth pressured
us at Amgen to bring along the talent in our leadership pipeline, we had to figure it out for ourselves.
Here’s what I learned: We had to put the focus on the behaviors we expected leaders to display, and those
had to be spelled out by a top team that was highly engaged, intellectually and emotionally, in the process.
First we discussed at a headline level what a leader in our (1) ….. should do. Even at that stage, our debate
was impassioned, but we arrived at a list: (2) ….. act as a role model; deliver strong results in the right way;
build, develop, and lead empowered and (3) ….. teams; and motivate others with a vision for the future
that can be implemented.
The discussions got livelier when we sought to describe each behavior with enough (4) ….. to inform
selection, training, and evaluation. Take, for example, acting as a role model, which challenges leaders to
bring their best selves to the job day after day. We came to agree that leaders should work to gain (5) ….. ,
seek and accept feedback, grow and improve (6) ….. , and embrace Amgen’s (7) ….. values (which, by the
way, we defined through a separate, similar process). (8) ….. under every heading had to be precise, real,
and (9) ….. . The words mattered.
We could have styled these must-haves as character traits or attributes. By casting them instead
as behaviors, we underscored two messages: It isn’t worth much to have an attribute that you don’t
display; and if you fall short of what the best leaders do, you can close that gap.
Emphasizing behavior over traits also opens the door to style differences. An organization doesn’t benefit
when all of its leaders ape some icon-of-the-moment’s style. That’s a failure to capitalize on diversity, like
trying to improve an orchestra’s performance by asking every section to sound more like the woodwinds.
I said that this exercise should be undertaken by the top team. Let’s put a finer point on that: I mean not by
consultants, facilitators, or how-to books. Enterprise leaders must value, at their core, each behavior that
they expect others—and themselves—to exhibit and be judged on. The only way to capture their authentic
beliefs and benefit from their collective experience is to get them working from scratch.
Don’t stop there, however. Put the behaviors, as defined by the enterprise leaders, in front of your top 100
people. We hosted sessions where we asked folks to push back on language they couldn’t live with, add
new items, and become true partners in the overall process. Then we found ways to foster the behaviors
using evaluations, surveys, communications, and highly visible actions by leaders—including the occasional
dismissal for consistent and significant violations.
Does this sound time-consuming for a CEO? It is. But as a CEO, you should realize that your greatest
contribution is the behavior you cause or allow to thrive in the organization’s upper ranks. It’s hard work to
answer the all-important question “What do we expect leaders to do here?” But at your level, it is precisely
the behavior everyone needs to see.
Adapted from https://hbr.org/2013/10/how-should-your-leaders-behave

Lesson 21 B
Jade Caine
28b Raine Road
Bristol
PC1 2MA
7 April 2015
B Sparks
1 Raine Road
Bristol
PC1 2MA
Dear B Sparks,
I’m writing you cause I’m looking for help to deal with a problem that I’m having at work. It’s a problem I couldn’t
solve on my own so I decided to come to you. Now that I have, I hope you’ll deal with this problem ASAP.
In December, some time before the office Christmas party, my boss said that she’d have to look into my working
arrangements in the New Year. I’ve been working from home on Fridays as I think driving from home into town five
days a week really tiring. Till then, my boss had been OK with this arrangement, but she’s been treating me horribly
since I told her I was pregnant. That was in late October or early November. Since then, she has been bashing my
work like she never had before. She’s gossiped about me to some of my colleagues and they have started saying
that I don’t pull my weight and am never in the office cause of what she said. But the truth is, I’ve been coming in
four days a week like we had arranged, and on the day I work from home, I get even more work done than when I’m
in the office. My boss has said so herself before. Even though I’ve had headaches thinking about this problem all
through Christmas time, I’d hoped she’d come to her senses in the New Year.
However, on 2 January, the first day back at work, my boss said that I’d have to work in the office every day of the
week till I went on maternity leave. When I confronted her, she just brushed me off saying she needed staff in the
office. I said I’d try, but I thought it was really hard getting to work before I was pregnant, and I thought it was
obviously only going to get harder as my pregnancy moved along. She said if I couldn’t work in the office, I should
think of other options. I asked what she was really trying to say, and she said I was free to go somewhere else.
I tried to confront her again, but it didn’t work and I’m pretty fed up now. When I tried to talk to her she just
wouldn’t talk to me about it. She said she’d already said what she had to say.
I was really angry about this cause I have been in this job for over 10 years and had never been treated badly before.
I’m still getting all my work done like before so I can’t understand why she’s been acting up like that. She’s got me so
angry that I’ve had to go to my GP and have been signed off sick for a month.
I want to come in and talk to you face to face immediately and I want my boss, J. Sinden to have to come to this
meeting too.
Yours sincerely
Jade Cane.
Adapted from http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/work_w/work_problems_at_work_e/letter_to_raise_a_grievance_at_work.htm

Lesson 21
Jade Caine
28b Raine Road
Bristol
PC1 2MA
7 April 2015
B Sparks
1 Raine Road
Bristol
PC1 2MA
Dear B Sparks,
I am writing to seek your help in resolving a matter that I am experiencing at work. It is an issue of concern, which I
have been unable to solve prior to bringing to your attention. I hope in doing so we can resolve this matter promptly
and amicably.
In December, some time before the office Christmas party, my boss said that she would have to review my working
arrangements in the New Year. I have been working from home on Fridays as I find commuting into town five days a
week quite tiresome. Up to then, my boss had been supportive of this arrangement, but her attitude towards me
changed when I told her I was pregnant four months ago. As of late, she has been rather critical of my work. She
has also made derogatory comments about me to some of my colleagues, who have started saying that I do not do
my fair share and am never in the office. Fact is, I have been in the office four days a week, honoring our
arrangement, and on the day I work from home, I manage to be more productive than in the office, which my boss
has acknowledged in e-mail. Despite, worrying about the situation during the Christmas period, I had hoped the
situation would improve in the New Year.
However, on 2 January, the first day back at work, my boss said that I would have to work in the office every day of
the week until I went on maternity leave. When I asked why, she simply said she needed staff in the office. I said I
would try, but I had been finding it difficult before I was pregnant, and it was likely to become more of a challenge as
my pregnancy advanced. She said if I were not able to work in the office, I should consider other options. I asked
what she meant, and she said I was free to go elsewhere.
I raised this matter informally, but have not been satisfied with the outcome. I tried approaching my boss but she
refused to speak to me about this, saying she had nothing further to add to the matter.
I was deeply upset about this as I have been in this job for over 10 years and have not had any grievances in the past.
I have maintained my level of productivity and cannot understand why her attitude towards me has changed. I have
been so distressed that I have had to go to my GP and have been signed off sick for a month.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with you at a convenient time and location. I would also
request to be accompanied to the meeting by J Sinden.
Yours sincerely
Jade Cane.
Adapted from http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/work_w/work_problems_at_work_e/letter_to_raise_a_grievance_at_work.htm

Lesson 22
Find one word to complete the gaps in three different sentences.

1 AUTHORITY
Charles was an authority on antique musical instruments.
She took her complaint to the local health authority.
The Security guard clearly did not have the authority to make an arrest.
2 CONCEIVED
The Facilities had been conceived with families in mind.
The website has been conceived of as a peer-review portal.
How could they have conceived of doing such an appalling thing?
3 ………………..
The mall used to be a place where people would ……………….. for more than just shopping.
Rarely do our opinions ever ……………….. on this matter.
The city centre needs a station where more railway lines ………………...
4 ………………..
It’s safe to ……………….. that mall has become replaced the main streets of the US
I’ll deal with the second point first, that is to ……………….. the change to the club’s rules first.
I think, if I may ……………….. so, that this isn’t the right thing to do.
5 ………………..
The ……………….. of such policies will inevitably be higher taxes.
Some experts believe that obesity is a natural ……………….. of human evolution.
Your views are of no ……………….. in this matter.
6 ………………..
US naval and air superiority was ……………….. by Soviet superiority inland-based missile systems.
The road ……………….. the stream for fifty miles before veering to the north.
This strategy must be ……………….. by a social inclusion programme in order to be truly effective.
7 ………………..
The measures taken should considerably ……………….. the residents’ quality of life.
Accountability and reliability serve to ……………….. mutual trust.
The software allows you to easily ……………….. your photos.

Lesson 23
Paper 3 Part 2 Sentence Completion
For Questions 1 – 6, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
According to Andrew, the fact that the (1)_____________________ is having no limits on what we may
wish to accumulate through shopping is something we cannot disguise.
He feels that our incessant desire to consume is a fact which (2)_____________________ considering the
limited resources on Earth.
He believes that there’s a great deal of (3)_____________________ around that proves consumerism is a
failure.
He says that the more you consume, the more you get (4)_____________________ of endless
consumption.
Ultimately, consumption can only (5)_____________________ and dissatisfaction and the desire to
consume more.
Overall, he believes that the consumer society has (6)_____________________ about how we should seek
well-being and satisfaction in life.

Lesson 23
Paper 3 Part 2 Sentence Completion
For Questions 1 – 6, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
According to Andrew, the fact that the (1)_____________________ is having no limits on what we may
wish to accumulate through shopping is something we cannot disguise.
He feels that our incessant desire to consume is a fact which (2)_____________________ considering the
limited resources on Earth.
He believes that there’s a great deal of (3)_____________________ around that proves consumerism is a
failure.
He says that the more you consume, the more you get (4)_____________________ of endless
consumption.
Ultimately, consumption can only (5)_____________________ and dissatisfaction and the desire to
consume more.
Overall, he believes that the consumer society has (6)_____________________ about how we should seek
well-being and satisfaction in life.

Lesson 24
1.
I’m so shy. 2.
I wish I ____ ____ ____ shy. I can’t resist buying stuff I don’t need when it’s on sale.
If only ____ ____ ____ so shy. If only ____ ____ ____ buying stuff when it’s on sale.
I felt so shy yesterday at the party. I wish ____ ____ ____ buying stuff because it’s on sale.
I wish I ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ yesterday at the party.
4.
3. I spend too much money on shoes.
When I saw everything in the store was on sale, I purchased I wish ____ ____ ____ ____ so much money on shoes.
tons of stuff. I shelled out way too much for these sneakers.
If only ____ ____ ____ ____ all that stuff despite the huge I wish ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ so much for these sneakers.
sale. I’d rather ____ ____ ____ shelled out so much for these
I’d rather I ____ ____ ____ all that stuff. sneakers.
I regret ____ ____ all that stuff just because it was on sale. It’s high ____ ____ ____ spending so much money on shoes.
I should ____ ____ ____ ____ so much money for shoes.
5. 6.
My friends will squander money on useless stuff every time I should not have bought another TV set just because it was on
they walk into a shop. sale.
I wish my friends ____ ____ ____ money on useless stuff every I wish ____ ____ ____ ____ another TV set just because it was
time they walk into a shop. on sale.
It’s about ____ ____ ____ ____ wasting so much money. I regret ____ ____ another TV set just because it was on sale.
1.
I’m so shy. 2.
I wish I were not so shy. I can’t resist buying stuff I don’t need when it’s on sale.
If only I were not so shy. If only I could resist buying stuff when it’s on sale.
I felt so shy yesterday at the party. I wish I could resist buying stuff because it’s on sale.
I wish I had not felt so shy yesterday at the party.
3. 4.
When I saw everything in the store was on sale, I purchased I spend too much money on shoes.
tons of stuff. I wish I did not spend so much money on shoes.
If only I had not purchased all that stuff despite the huge sale I shelled out way too much for these sneakers.
I’d rather I had not purchased all that stuff. I wish I had not shelled out so much for these sneakers.
I regret having purchased all that stuff just because it was on I’d rather I had not shelled out so much for these sneakers.
sale. It’s high time I stopped spending so much money on footwear.
6.
5.
I should not have bought another TV set just because it was on
My friends will squander money on useless stuff every time
sale.
they walk into a shop.
I wish I had not bought another TV set just because it was on
I wish my friends would stop squandering money on useless
sale.
stuff every time they walk into a shop.
I regret having bought another TV set just because it was on
It’s about time my friends stopped wasting so much money.
sale.

Lesson 25 A
Over the past 15 years, the world as we know it has been taken by storm through the onset of social media. According to
Comscore (2011) about 90 percent of U.S. Internet users visit a social media site each month. Because we live in such a largely
global-society, creating and maintaining an online presence has become most relevant in promoting your brand and expanding
your social network.
As we know, perception is everything; especially in the world of social media. In terms of perception, we all have an ideal self.
We all wish to maximize our careers, our profession, and aspire to be like those who we find most successful. As the use of social
media continues to evolve; the concept of presenting our ideal selves versus our real selves has become more and more
prevalent on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, and even LinkedIn.
As research suggests, your "real self" is what you are - your attributes, your characteristics, and your personality. Your "ideal
self" is what you feel you should be; much of it due to societal and environmental influences. From a societal standpoint, many
of us are driven by competition, achievement, and status; hence, the creation and portrayal of our ideal selves.
Consider the fact that on social media sites, we consider our profiles to be presentations of who we are. Therefore, through
interaction with the social medium, the real and ideal selves intersect; and the ideal self is at least partially actualized. In
essence, our online selves represent our ideals and eliminate many of our other real components.
The question we have to ask ourselves is: Are we really presenting who we are or are we presenting a hyper-idealistic version of
ourselves? It has been argued that the social media effect creates a false sense of self and self-esteem through the use of likes,
fans, comments, posts, etc. For many social media users, it is an esteem booster, which explains why so many people spend so
much time on social media. It provides many individuals with a false sense of self and an inflated sense of who they really are.
In considering these points, here are three important factors to consider while social networking:
1. Stop comparing yourself to others; you are comparing yourself to an ideal figure, not a true representation.
2. Authenticity is Key. Stay true to your real self. Instead of creating an inflated, unrealistic version of yourself; examine who you
are and your best attributes. Do not be afraid to show who you really are.
3. Align your "Real" self with your "Ideal" self. If you are portraying yourself as an ideal figure or with an ideal career, why not
work towards those goals to achieve your ideal status?
If you're consistent and transparent in your online and offline persona, you have nothing to fear from exposure (Emily Magazine,
2013). Everything about your online persona should be reflective of your offline persona i.e. your background, experience,
education, etc. Rather than focusing your attention and effort into creating an ideal online persona, use your time and effort to
accomplish the goals that will align your real self with your ideal self. By doing so, you will ultimately become more fulfilled as
you accomplish the goals that will lead to your path to self-actualization i.e. becoming the best you... the "real" you.
Adapted from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/r-kay-green/the-social-media-effect-a_b_3721029.html

Lesson 25 B
CNN put together a list of 10 people who learned social media can get you fired. Among them are these four
examples:
• Barista Matt Watson anonymously blogged about dealing with difficult customers, was outed by sprudge.com and
fired for writing about his place of employment during work hours.
• Tenth-grade math teacher Carly McKinney posted racy photos and tweets about marijuana. She was ultimately
fired.
• California Pizza Kitchen server Timothy DeLaGhetto claims he was fired for tweeting about the company's "lamest
ever" new uniforms.
• Perhaps most pertinent to CIO.com readers, two male software developers at a PyCon conference made crude
jokes with sexual innuendos with a tech twist -- overheard by SendGrid tech developer Adria Richards. She was
offended, took a picture of them and tweeted it. One of the men was fired. Hackers exposed Richards' private
information before she was fired for "publicly shaming the offenders," SendGrid CEO Jim Franklin wrote in a blog
post.
Adapted from: http://www.cio.com/article/2381308/social-media/social-media-costs----and-some-workers-are-

paying-with-their-jobs.html

Lesson 25 B
CNN put together a list of 10 people who learned social media can get you fired. Among them are these four
examples:
• Barista Matt Watson anonymously blogged about dealing with difficult customers, was outed by sprudge.com and
fired for writing about his place of employment during work hours.
• Tenth-grade math teacher Carly McKinney posted racy photos and tweets about marijuana. She was ultimately
fired.
• California Pizza Kitchen server Timothy DeLaGhetto claims he was fired for tweeting about the company's "lamest
ever" new uniforms.
• Perhaps most pertinent to CIO.com readers, two male software developers at a PyCon conference made crude
jokes with sexual innuendos with a tech twist -- overheard by SendGrid tech developer Adria Richards. She was
offended, took a picture of them and tweeted it. One of the men was fired. Hackers exposed Richards' private
information before she was fired for "publicly shaming the offenders," SendGrid CEO Jim Franklin wrote in a blog
post.
Adapted from: http://www.cio.com/article/2381308/social-media/social-media-costs----and-some-workers-are-

paying-with-their-jobs.html

Lesson 26 A
Why it that some professionals have managed to identify what makes them unique and naturally project it,
building their own personal brand effortlessly, while many of us struggle to come to grips with how to
reach out to the world? The answer is that some of us need a little guidance on our paths. The stuff inside
that makes folks different and unique has a tough time making it to the surface for some. The process to
aid that struggle is known as personal branding. The fact of the matter is this – whether you are trying to
land a job interview, raise funds for charity, seek a book deal, or perform almost any people-based activity,
having a strong personal brand helps immensely. By taking steps to build their brand, people can further
their careers, open new doors, and add value to their communities. And in the Web 2.0, social-
powered world of today, personal branding matters more than ever before.
Adapted from: http://personalbranding101.com/the-surprising-truth-about-personal-branding-critics

Lesson 26 B
Many people are not aware of behavior which may be sabotaging their personal brand. Firstly, you
shouldn’t try to do everything yourself. You may think that because you’re trying to promote the brand
“you”, it means you can’t ask for help from others. However, you should identify areas where you don’t
have expertise and ensure you get resources to assist you with building and marketing a personal brand.
For example, you may need assistance for writing up an article or case study if your writing is not a skill
you’re confident about. Also, you shouldn’t be complacent about your personal brand. The marketplace is
evolving all the time, and to keep it relevant, you need to constantly evolve your brand. You need to
research new trends and constantly develop your skills in order to understand how you can add even more
distinctive and measureable value to your brand.
Adapted from: http://brandingandmarketingyou.co.za/three-personal-branding-bad-habits-you-should-ditch-in-2014/

Step 1: Face the speaker and maintain eye contact.

Talking to someone while they scan the room, study a computer screen, or gaze out the window is like trying to hit a
moving target. How much of the person’s divided attention you are actually getting? Fifty percent? Five percent? If the
person were your child you might demand, “Look at me when I’m talking to you,” but that’s not the sort of thing we say to
a lover, friend or colleague.
In most Western cultures, eye contact is considered a basic ingredient of effective communication. When we talk, we look
each other in the eye. That doesn’t mean that you can’t carry on a conversation from across the room, or from another
room, but if the conversation continues for any length of time, you (or the other person) will get up and move. The desire
for better communication pulls you together.
Do your conversational partners the courtesy of turning to face them. Put aside papers, books, the phone and other
distractions. Look at them, even if they don’t look at you. Shyness, uncertainty, shame, guilt, or other emotions, along
with cultural taboos, can inhibit eye contact in some people under some circumstances. Excuse the other guy, but stay
focused yourself.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Step 2: Be attentive, but relaxed.

Now that you’ve made eye contact, relax. You don’t have to stare fixedly at the other person. You can look away now and
then and carry on like a normal person. The important thing is to be attentive. The dictionary says that to “attend”
another person means to:

• be present
• give attention
• apply or direct yourself
• pay attention
• remain ready to serve

Mentally screen out distractions, like background activity and noise. In addition, try not to focus on the speaker’s accent or
speech mannerisms to the point where they become distractions. Finally, don’t be distracted by your own thoughts,
feelings, or biases.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Step 3: Keep an open mind.

Listen without judging the other person or mentally criticizing the things she tells you. If what she says alarms you, go
ahead and feel alarmed, but don’t say to yourself, “Well, that was a stupid move.” As soon as you indulge in judgmental
bemusements, you’ve compromised your effectiveness as a listener.
Listen without jumping to conclusions. Remember that the speaker is using language to represent the thoughts and
feelings inside her brain. You don’t know what those thoughts and feelings are and the only way you’ll find out is by
listening.
Don’t be a sentence-‐grabber. Occasionally my partner can’t slow his mental pace enough to listen effectively, so he tries
to speed up mine by interrupting and finishing my sentences. This usually lands him way off base, because he is following
his own train of thought and doesn’t learn where my thoughts are headed. After a couple of rounds of this, I usually ask,
“Do you want to have this conversation by yourself, or do you want to hear what I have to say?” I wouldn’t do that with
everyone, but it works with him.


Step 4: Listen to the words and try to picture what the speaker is saying.

Allow your mind to create a mental model of the information being communicated. Whether a literal picture, or an
arrangement of abstract concepts, your brain will do the necessary work if you stay focused, with senses fully alert. When
listening for long stretches, concentrate on, and remember, key words and phrases.
When it’s your turn to listen, don’t spend the time planning what to say next. You can’t rehearse and listen at the same
time. Think only about what the other person is saying.
Finally, concentrate on what is being said, even if it bores you. If your thoughts start to wander, immediately force yourself
to refocus.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Step 5: Don’t interrupt and don’t impose your “solutions.”

Children used to be taught that it’s rude to interrupt. I’m not sure that message is getting across anymore. Certainly the
opposite is being modeled on the majority of talk shows and reality programs, where loud, aggressive, in-‐ your-‐face
behavior is condoned, if not encouraged.
Interrupting sends a variety of messages. It says:

“I’m more important than you are.”
“What I have to say is more interesting, accurate or relevant.”
“I don’t really care what you think.”
“I don’t have time for your opinion.”
“This isn’t a conversation, it’s a contest, and I’m going to win.”

We all think and speak at different rates. If you are a quick thinker and an agile talker, the burden is onyouto relax your
pace for the slower, more thoughtful communicator—or for the guy who has trouble expressing himself.
When listening to someone talk about a problem, refrain from suggesting solutions. Most of us don’t want your advice
anyway. If we do, we’ll ask for it. Most of us prefer to figure out our own solutions. We need you to listen and help us do
that. Somewhere way down the line, if you are absolutely bursting with a brilliant solution, at least get the speaker’s
permission. Ask, “Would you like to hear my ideas?”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Step 6: Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions.

When you don’t understand something, of course you should ask the speaker to explain it to you. But rather than
interrupt, wait until the speaker pauses. Then say something like, “Back up a second. I didn’t understand what you just
said about...”

Step 7: Ask questions only to ensure understanding.

At lunch, a colleague is excitedly telling you about her trip to Vermont and all the wonderful things she did and saw. In the
course of this chronicle, she mentions that she spent some time with a mutual friend. You jump in with, “Oh, I haven’t
heard from Alice in ages. How is she?” and, just like that, discussion shifts to Alice and her divorce, and the poor kids,
which leads to a comparison of custody laws, and before you know it an hour is gone and Vermont is a distant memory.
This particular conversational affront happens all the time. Our questions lead people in directions that have nothing to do
with where they thought they were going. Sometimes we work our way back to the original topic, but very often we don’t.
When you notice that your question has led the speaker astray, take responsibility for getting the conversation back on
track by saying something like, “It was great to hear about Alice, but tell me more about your adventure in Vermont.”

Step 8: Try to feel what the speaker is feeling.

If you feel sad when the person with whom you are talking expresses sadness, joyful when she expresses joy, fearful when
she describes her fears—and convey those feelings through your facial expressions and words—then your effectiveness as
a listener is assured. Empathy is the heart and soul of good listening.
To experience empathy, you have to put yourself in the other person’s place and allow yourself to feel what it is like to be
her at that moment. This is not an easy thing to do. It takes energy and concentration. But it is a generous and helpful
thing to do, and it facilitates communication like nothing else does.

Step 9: Give the speaker regular feedback.

Show that you understand where the speaker is coming from by reflecting the speaker’s feelings. “You must be thrilled!”
“What a terrible ordeal for you.” “I can see that you are confused.” If the speaker’s feelings are hidden or unclear, then
occasionally paraphrase the content of the message. Or just nod and show your understanding through appropriate facial
expressions and an occasional well-‐timed “hmmm” or “uh huh.”
The idea is to give the speaker some proof that you are listening, and that you are following her train of thought—not off
indulging in your own fantasies while she talks to the ether.
In task situations, regardless of whether at work or home, always restate instructions and messages to be sure you
understand correctly.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Step 10: Pay attention to what isn’t said—to nonverbal cues.

If you exclude email, the majority of direct communication is probably nonverbal. We glean a great deal of information
about each other without saying a word. Even over the telephone, you can learn almost as much about a person from the
tone and cadence of her voice than from anything she says. When I talk to my best friend, it doesn’t matter what we chat
about, if I hear a lilt and laughter in her voice, I feel reassured that she’s doing well.
Face to face with a person, you can detect enthusiasm, boredom, or irritation very quickly in the expression around the
eyes, the set of the mouth, the slope of the shoulders. These are clues you can’t ignore. When listening, remember that
words convey only a fraction of the message.



Lesson 28

This column will change your life: the perils of feedback
'We want to feel we're learning and improving, but we also want appreciating for who we are'
Oliver Burkeman
Saturday 8 March 2014 09.00 GMT
It's appropriate that we use the same word, "feedback", to mean a) the
annual performance review at work and b) that wince-‐inducing howl made
by amplifiers when microphones get too close. Feedback of the interpersonal
kind is a minefield of misunderstandings and emotional conflict. In a 2011
survey, one (1) _________ four people said they hated the annual review more
than anything (2) _________ in their jobs; 55% thought theirs was unfair or inaccurate.
To make matters (3) _________, we teach bosses heinous claptrap such as the "sandwich technique" – praise, then
criticise, then praise – which confuses the recipient and makes the feedback-‐giver sound shifty. (Were those compliments
real, or just delivery mechanisms for the fault-‐finding in the middle?) In romance and friendship, feedback's more fraught
still. Even if you're right about the problem I've got, I don't necessarily want to hear it from you: it might make me anxious
you're going to leave me, or fuel my conviction that you're always picking holes, and anyway, what about all your failings?
As I said: a minefield. Listening to high-‐pitched howling would be a pleasure by comparison.
(4) _________ the root of this – according to Thanks For The Feedback, a new book by two Harvard law professors,
Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen – is one internal tension we all share. We want to feel we're learning and improving, but
we also want to be appreciated (5) _________who we are. So even when feedback's delivered perfectly, we're primed to
react badly, because both needs can't be (6) _________at once.
When delivered imperfectly, as it usually is, it's a nightmare. Too many managers muddle three types of feedback, write
Stone and Heen: appreciation (praise for accomplishments), coaching (tips for improvement) and evaluation (rating
someone's performance, especially relative to others). At the least, they argue, companies using formal reviews should
separate those three (7) _________different sessions. And outside the office, don't be surprised if a friend or lover gets
shirty when you respond with coaching – "Here's how you can solve your problem!" – when all she or he wanted was
appreciation, or a (8) _________to cry on.
But the real shift we need to make, they say, is from focusing on how feedback's delivered to how it's received: we all
need to get better at hearing feedback. That doesn't entail always accepting it; indeed, part of being a good receiver of
feedback is knowing when to conclude that your boss or partner is so critical that it's time to walk away. (It's a common
misconception, when people disagree, that their disagreement must be resolved. But as Stone and Heen put it, if someone
you're breaking up with gives the feedback "that you are a terrible person, the two of you don't need to (9)
_________consensus on this point".)
What it does entail is abandoning the kneejerk response of "wrong-‐spotting" – railing against feedback you consider unfair
– and instead trying to figure out why the difference of viewpoint has arisen. At work, it means demanding clarity: is this
an evaluation session, coaching, or what? Are you making suggestions or issuing commands? The book asks a question
worth memorising: "What's the one thing you see me doing that (10) _________in my own way?" For feedback-‐givers,
meanwhile, it's simple. Tell me what I did well, tell me what I should do differently, and don't confuse the two. If I wanted
a sandwich, I'd go to the office canteen.
oliver.burkeman@theguardian.com


Lesson 29

David: Judge me by my results.

Neil: This is not the first time you've forgotten something important. It’s not the first time this week. It
worries me when someone feels they have to go over your head and (1) _________________.

David: Snitches.

Neil: Do you know...? I've never seen you (2) _________________. You’ve got two computers? I don’t
even know what you’re using for. You got to have some sort of system.

David: It's all up there.

Neil: Yeah, but it's not all up there, is it?

David: (3) _________________.

Neil: Look, David. I’ll tell you now, yeah. When I was managing the Swindon branch, our perception of
your branch was: they are having a laugh.

David: Thanks very much.

Neil: No, not in a good way. Having a laugh, mucking around at the expense of Wernham-‐ Hogg.

David: Who's to say if they weren't mucking around, having a laugh all the time, it would be
(4) _________________.

Neil: I'm not interested in that, David. Look, I get the impression you'd rather (5) _________________
than steer the ship in the right direction.

David: Well, rubbish. And I resent the accusation, because this branch has performed very well.

Neil: It performed OK. I want it to perform (6) _________________.

David: There you go. What is “better”? Because I could show you a graph of people versus task and where
does the line go.

Neil: The line goes where I want it to go. Now, if you can't improve your margin and your volume sales,
with or without making people laugh... if you can’t do that, you and I are going to have a very
serious chat.

David: Is this why you're (7) _________________? Keeping tabs on me? Because I don't need a
babysitter.
Neil: Well, with respect, David, I think you do. And I’m aware of this management training thing you’re
doing tonight and I'm worried that is going to affect your performance at work.

David: That’s extracurricular, you know. Some people play golf.

Neil: Well, I play golf.

David: There you go, so...

Neil: Yes, but I'm performing as I want me to perform. You’re not performing as I want you to perform.

David: I’m performing as (8) _________________.

Neil: I don’t want you to perform like that.

David: It's a good performance. (9) _________________.

Neil: No. Let's agree that you agree with me.

David: Ooh. You're hard. Showing off because...

Neil: Ok. I think I've made my point, David. Thank you, I'll see you later.


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International Proficiency Track Professional

Research backs English as key to development

Adapted from: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jul/05/research-backs-english-language-delotbiniere

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Countries With The Best Business English

this week by the GlobalEnglish Corporation (GEC).

See: Low Business English A Threat To Success

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Latin America's English proficiency ‘very low’

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By Michael Schuman Nov. 19, 2013

Globalization Isn’t Dead, It’s Only Just Beginning

Adapted from: http://world.time.com/2013/11/19/globalization-isnt-dead-its-only-just-beginning/

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There is heated debate about the true ___________ of ___________.

There is greater access to ___________now.

We've ended up (as) ___________.

___________are becoming too _____________to ___________.

___________ing ___________sharpens the mind.

There was a ___________shortage in ___________.

One ___________is that ___________ helps with ___________.

___________ (not exactly) chomping at the bit to ___________.

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The Importance of Learning Other Languages

Adapted from: http://careers.theguardian.com/graduate-view-language-skills-are-helping-me-onto-the-career-ladder

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The Importance of Learning Other Languages

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9 unrealistic expectations I had about working life

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1. Dan Thurmon refers to the 5 spheres he is juggling as…

(a) Five moments of success in anyone’s life.

2. What does the speaker think is ridiculous?

(a) Accountants trying to define the work-life balance.

(a) Live in agreement with your spiritual purpose.

4. The five spheres together…

5. Dan Thurmon’s conclusion in his talk is that…

(a) There is no balance, everything is out of control.

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Millennials vs. Boomers: 5 Stereotypes That Aren't True (Mostly)

Stereotype 2: Boomers don’t get new tech.

Adapted from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gyro/2013/11/04/5-millennial-stereotypes-that-arent-true-mostly/

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International Proficiency Track Professional

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What is business ethics?

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Adapted from: https://hbr.org/2014/04/behave-yourself

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Dress for the Job You Want?

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How Should Your Leaders Behave

Adapted from https://hbr.org/2013/10/how-should-your-leaders-behave

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Adapted from http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/work_w/work_problems_at_work_e/letter_to_raise_a_grievance_at_work.htm

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Find one word to complete the gaps in three different sentences.

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Paper 3 Part 2 Sentence Completion

For Questions 1 – 6, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.

There is heated debate about the true _ of _.

_____are becoming too _to _____.

_ing _sharpens the mind.

There was a _shortage in _.

One _____is that _ helps with _______.

_ (not exactly) chomping at the bit to _.