Guess who game

Guess who. A speaking or writing activity.

Speaking. Before the class, prepare a set of pictures of famous people with very clear personality traits. For this activity the students are sitting in pairs, one student (A) facing the board and the other (B) with his back to the board. Display the photo of a celebrity and ask student A to describe this person in general terms focusing on his personality.

Writing. Before the class, prepare a collage with pictures of famous people with very clear personality traits. Ask students to write a description of one of them focusing on their personality without saying their names. Descriptions are read aloud and students will need to determine the identity of the person being described.

Market research techniques

Do you know the techniques you can use for doing market research? What differences are involved in doing qualitative research as opposed to collecting quantitative data?

Read the text and then do the exercises.

1

Companies carry out Market Research to gather and analyse data to understand and explain what people think about products or adverts, to find out about customer satisfaction and to predict how customers might respond to a new product on the market.

2

Market Research can be categorised under two subheadings – Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research. The questions asked with Quantitative Research are structured whereas Qualitative Research questions are much more open and can often reveal consumption habits which the researchers hadn’t previously considered. You carry out Quantitative Research when you need to know how many people have certain habits and the Qualitative Research when you need to know why and how people do what they do.

3

Companies involved in Market Research include the Research Buyer and the Research Agency. The research agency carries out the market research in ways previously discussed with their clients – the research buyer. Sometimes companies only need their own data analysed, or are simply looking for advice on how to carry out their own research. Points that are discussed between the two parties can include:

• The time duration of the research
• The budget available
• Who the target groups are
• Predictions of results
• How the results will be helpful

4

• Street Surveys - stopping people in the street
• Phone or postal - people fill in questionnaires and send them back
• Internet surveys - a relatively new technique which functions in a similar way to other surveys except that a large number of people are interviewed at the same time

5

• Am I asking the right groups of people?
• How many people should I speak to in order to get representative answers to my questions?
• Are my questions easy to understand?
• How am I going to analyse the data?

6

• Focus groups - discussion between a small number of people about a product, or advert etc. to find out their views or habits
• Personal interviews - in-depth discussions on a one-to-one basis
• CAPI - computer assisted personal interviewing where questions are ‘asked’ by the computer and the answers are typed by the interviewee directly into the database for analysis
• Observation - this can be used as a complement to asking questions to see how people do what they do

7

• Are my questions open enough to get personalised answers?
• Have I restricted my target group?
• Do I only need to find out ‘why’ people do what they do or should I also do some quantitative research? 

Task 1

Comprehension

Match the article's paragraph headings with the paragraph numbers.

Types of data                      Why carry out Market Research?              Who does Market Research?
Ways of collecting Qualitative data            Qualitative research - questions to ask yourself
Quantitative research - questions to ask yourself
Ways of collecting Quantitative data



Task 2

Question formation

Put the words in these questions into the correct order.

people?     asking     of     I     the     right     groups     Am

understand?     my     questions     Are     to     easy

the     I     goin     am     How     data?     analyse     to

enough     open     personalised     answers?     to get     Are my     questions

target     I     group?     Have     my     restricted


Keys
Task 1
1. Why carry out Market Research?
2. Types of data
3. Who does Market Research?
4. Ways of collecting Quantitative data.
5. Quantitative research - questions to ask yourself.
6. Ways of collecting Qualitative data.
7. Qualitative research - questions to ask yourself

Task 2
Am I asking the right groups of people?
Are my questions easy to understand?
How am I going to analyse the data?
Are my questions open enough to get personalised answers?
Have I restricted my target group?

Business and ethics

The primary goal of a company may be to make money but some companies nowadays also recognise that they have a responsibility towards the society in which they operate.

Read the text and then do the exercises.

Case study – James Carston, Fine Shirtmakers

Set up in the 1920s by James Carston, a Manchester tailor, the company has remained in the family and is now run by James’s grandson, Paul Carston.  Employing fewer than 50 people, the company has a reputation for producing high-quality men’s shirts, which it sells by mail order, and has a loyal customer base.  As Paul Carston says, ‘Once someone has tried our shirts, they tend to come back for more.  Our customers appreciate the attention to detail and the high-quality fabric we use.’ And it’s the fabric they now use that makes the company almost unique in the world of men’s shirt manufacturers.

When Paul Carston took over running the company in 1999, he inherited a business that prided itself on using local well-paid machinists rather than sweatshop labour, and looked upon its employees as members of an extended family. Paul, a committed environmentalist, felt that the company fitted in well with his values. The shirts were made from 100 per cent cotton, and as Paul says, ‘It’s a completely natural fibre, so you would think it was environmentally sound’. Then Paul read a magazine article about Fair Trade and cotton producers.  He was devastated to read that the cotton industry is a major source of pollution, and that the synthetic fertilisers used to produce cotton are finding their way into the food chain.

Paul takes up the story.  ‘I investigated our suppliers, and sure enough found that they were producing cotton on an industrial scale using massive amounts of chemicals.  Then I looked into organic cotton suppliers, and found an organisation of Indian farmers who worked together to produce organic cotton on a Fair Trade basis.  Organic cotton is considerably more expensive than conventionally produced cotton, so I did the sums. I discovered that if we were prepared to take a cut in profits, we would only need to add a couple of pounds to the price of each shirt to cover the extra costs.  The big risk, of course, was whether our customers would pay extra for organic cotton.’

Paul did some research into the ethical clothing market and discovered that although there were several companies producing casual clothing such as T-shirts in organic cotton, there was a gap in the market for smart men’s shirts.  He decided to take the plunge and switch entirely to organic cotton. He wrote to all his customers explaining the reasons for the change, and at the same time the company set up a website so they could sell the shirts on the internet.  The response was encouraging. Although they lost some of their regular customers, they gained a whole customer base looking for formal shirts made from organic cotton, and the company is going from strength to strength.

Task 1

Read the case study again and decide if the statements are true or false

James Carston was Paul’s grandfather.

⧠ True                         ⧠ False

The company has over 50 employees.

⧠ True                         ⧠ False

The shirts are sold in shops.

⧠ True                         ⧠ False

When Paul started running the company, he immediately decided to change to organic cotton.

⧠ True                         ⧠ False

Conventionally produced cotton is cheaper than organic cotton.

⧠ True                         ⧠ False

The company didn’t lose any customers when they changed to organic cotton.

⧠ True                         ⧠ False

Task 2

Read this case study about an ethical business and choose the correct profile for the company:  A, B or C.

A

• began trading in 1923
• has always been a family business
• has always paid its employees well
• now produces men's shirts using organic cotton

B

• began trading in 1919
• was sold to Paul Carston in 1999
• stopped using sweatshop labour in 1999
• now produces t-shirts in organic cotton

C

• began trading in 1999
• set up by Paul Carston
• all employees are members of his family
• produces formal and casual men's clothes in organic cotton

The correct profile is letter ______.

Keys

Task 1

True, False, False, False, True, False

Task 2

A

An introduction to coaching

What is coaching? Here are the basic principles of coaching and what happens when somebody engages in a coaching partnership. Find out what a good coach does.

Read the text and then do the exercises.

An introduction to coaching

1
Coaching is a useful tool in today’s challenging world of business and commerce. Companies are downsizing, merging and restructuring and there is far more job transition than before. Sometimes managers are no longer equipped to do their work because their jobs have changed so much. They were originally trained to do one job but that training cannot be applied to the job they are doing today. Coaching is also one of the most powerful tools that a leader has in order to improve the performance of his team.

2 
Coaching is a partnership between an individual or a team and a coach. For the purpose of this article we will refer to an individual but the concepts are exactly the same for a team. First of all the individual identifies his objectives. Then, through the process of being coached, he focuses on the skills he needs to develop to achieve those objectives. In professional coaching the individual begins by leading the conversation and the coach listens and observes. Gradually, as the coach begins to understand the individual’s goals, he will make observations and ask appropriate questions. His task is to guide the individual towards making more effective decisions and eventually achieving his objectives. Coaching looks at where the individual is now and where he wants to get to.

3
Between the initial interview and an individual achieving the goals he identified, there is a process in which the two parties meet for regular coaching sessions. The length of time each session lasts will be established at the start of the partnership. Between sessions an individual might be expected to complete specific tasks. A coach might also provide literature for the individual to study in preparation for the following session. Most coaches employ an “appreciative approach” whereby the individual identifies what is right, what is working, what is wanted and what is needed to get there. An appreciative approach focuses more on the positive rather than problems.

4 
An individual who enters into a coaching partnership will usually adopt new perspectives and be able to better appreciate opportunities for self-development. Confidence will usually grow and the individual will think more clearly and be more confident in his roles. In terms of business, coaching often leads to an increase in productivity and more personal satisfaction. All of this leads to a growth in self-esteem.

5
In a coaching partnership the coach first needs to listen carefully in order to fully understand the individual’s situation. He needs to support and encourage forward-planning and decision-making. A coach also needs to help an individual recognise his own potential and the opportunities that are on offer. A good coach will guide an individual to fresh perspectives. Finally, the coach must respect the confidentiality of his partner.

6
Coaching can bring out the best in workers, highlighting what they can achieve if they are given the right support. Both individuals and teams can enjoy an increased level of motivation after receiving the right coaching. When individuals are keen to make progress in their jobs, they usually enjoy being coached and find the experience extremely useful.

Task 1

Read the text and match the titles to the paragraphs.

Paragraph 1

1. The recent growth in coaching
2. The growing need for coaching

Paragraph 2

1. Coaching: What does is mean?
2. Why do we need coaching?

 Paragraph 3

1. The process of coaching
2. What happens in a coaching session?

 Paragraph 4

1. Becoming a better person
2. The benefits of coaching

 Paragraph 5

1. How to be a coach
2. The role of the coach

Task 2

Match the verb with their definitions.

to downsize     to guide     to observe     to merge     to restructure     to support

• to join together or combine
• to make a company smaller by reducing the number of workers
• to organise something in a new way so that it operates more effectively
• to carefully watch the way that something happens
• to give somebody help and advice on how to do something
• to give encouragement to someone because you want them to do be successful

Task 3

Complete the sentences.

individual     listening     an individual or team     well     outdated     change

1. Some managers are unable to do their jobs well because their training is           .

2. Coaching is a partnership between a coach and                .

3. A coach needs to have excellent                   skills.

4. The                       identifies the objectives.

5. In an ‘appreciative approach’ the individual focuses on what is going                    .

6. It is important for the individual to                         their perspectives.

Task 4

Enter the correct forms (infinitive or –ing) of the verbs in the brackets.

1. Managers often want                           coaches themselves. (use)

2. Coaches need                          what a worker’s goals are. (know)

3. Employees enjoy                      an opportunity to identify their strengths. (have)

4. Companies need                      productivity. (increase)

5. Businesses have stopped                        the old techniques of training. (use)

6. Coaches recommend                        regularly to discuss progress. (meet)

7. Some employees refuse                  coached. (be)

8. The business risks                       clients. (lose)

Keys

Task 1

2, 1, 1, 2, 2

Task 2

to merge          

to downsize

to restructure

to observe

to guide

to support

Task 3

outdated    

an individual or team

listening

individual

well

change

Task 4

to know

having

to increase

using

meeting

to be

losing

Relationships and relations

A CV

Look at the job adverts and the CV and do the exercises to improve your writing skills. Preparation Tick all the things that you write on a CV. Then look at the CV below and see if you were right. 1. date of birth 8. friends 2. address 9. languages spoken 3. family 10. references 4. pets 11. telephone number 5. education history 12. email address 6. work experience 13. favourite food 7. skills

1. Check your understanding: multiple choice

Circle the best answer or answers to complete these sentences.

1. Where does Natasha live? a. Liverpool b. London c. Leeds

2. How many of her exams did Natasha pass at school? a. 0 b. 2 c. 9

3. Natasha doesn't have an email address. a. true b. false c. answer not given

4. Are all the advertised jobs for weekend work? a. yes b. no c. answer not given

5. Which two jobs are for weekday evenings? a. babysitter b. waiters and waitresses c. computer shop assistant d. lifeguard

6. Which three jobs could Natasha apply for? a. babysitter b. waitress c. computer shop assistant d. lifeguard

2. Check your writing: gap fill – completing a CV

Use the headings in the box to complete the CV.

Languages References Email Education Address Date of birth Work experience Skills and interests Mobile

CV – Martin Luke Moore 1 _______________ 26 August 1997 2 _______________ 94 Albion Street, Birmingham, B23 2TF 3 _______________ Mooro@myworld.com 4 _______________ 0778 445 288 5 _______________ 7 GCSEs including English, Maths and Science 6 _______________ Cashier at a large supermarket 7 _______________ French – A2, German – A2 8 _______________ Mountain biking, drawing and computer programming 9 _______________ Mr Williams, Albion High School, Park Drive, Birmingham

Discussion

Have you ever had a part-time job? Do you think it's a good idea for students to do part-time work?  

Answers to A CV – exercises

Preparation 1.  date of birth 8. friends 2.  address 9.  languages spoken 3. family 10.  references 4. pets 11.  telephone number 5.  education history 12.  email address 6.  work experience 13. favourite food 7.  skills 1. Check your understanding: multiple choice 1. a. Liverpool 2. c. 9 3. b. false 4. b. no 5. a. babysitter, d. lifeguard 6. a. babysitter, b. waitress, d. lifeguard 2. Check your writing: gap fill – completing a CV 1. Date of birth 2. Address 3. Email 4. Mobile 5. Education 6. Work experience 7. Languages 8. Skills and interests 9. References

New Year

Do you want to know what people do on the biggest party night in the UK? Read on to find out.

New Year´s Eve celebrations start in the evening on December 31 in the UK. Some young people go to parties and others stay at home with their family. After the celebrations, it´s traditional to make plans for the new year on January 1. These plans aree called ´New Year´s resolutions´ and the idea is to make some positive changes in your life. Some of the most popular resolutions are: to do more exercise, to stop smoking, to eat more healthily, to save money and  to learn something new. We asked young people around the UK about  their plans and resolutions for the new year.

How to use quantifiers

Using stative verbs in the continuous form

Angelic Dan is being bad today! But 'bad' Dan has some 'good' tips for using state verbs in the continuous form.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Tattoos

Love them or hate them, tattoos are really popular nowadays in the UK. What do you think of tattoos?

In Britain, tattoos used to be seen mainly on sailors, prisoners and bikers and were considered as a sign of being a rebel. However, now they are popular with all kinds of people and it’s pretty normal to have a tattoo these days.

Which design?

Japanese and Chinese characters, and loved ones' names are among the most popular designs today. Mario, who runs his own tattoo parlour, says ‘I have more women than men customers. Women often prefer smaller designs like stars, flowers, cherubs and men are into much bigger images.’ Many well known Brits have tattoos. Here are some of them:

• David Beckham has a crucifixion scene and his kids’ names on his back. He has a tattoo in Hindi of his wife’s name.
• Victoria Beckham has stars on her back to symbolise the members of her family.
• Robbie Williams has a lion on his right arm, Maori designs on his left arm, a French phrase on his collar bone, the musical notes to ‘all you need is love’ on lower his back, ‘I love you mother’ on his arms, 2 birds on stomach and many more!
• Kate Moss has a small crown on her shoulder.
• Samantha Cameron, wife of the British Prime Minister, has a dolphin tattooed on her ankle.

Forces of Nature vocabulary

FORCES OF NATURE

NATURAL DISASTERS

Avalanches

Tsunamis

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Earthquake

Bushfires

Volcanic eruptions

Rock slides

Twister

Seaquake

EXTREME WEATHER

Floods

Droughts

Heat/Cold waves

Monsoon

Sand storm

Storms

Thunderstorm

Snow drifts

Hail

Lightning

Thunder

Heavy rain

Torrential rain 

Wind storm

Words used to describe memory and memories

Words used to describe memory and memories

Blurred: borroso, confuso

adjective

difficult to understand or remember clearly

catchy: pegadizo, atrayente

adjective

if a tune or phrase is catchy it attracts your attention and is easy to remember

commemorative

adjective

produced for an important event to help you remember it

conscious

adjective

a conscious thought, memory, experience etc is one that you realize you are having

dim: vaga

adjective

a dim memory is something that you cannot remember very well because it happened a long time ago

dimly: vagamente, remotamente

adverb

if you dimly remember or understand something, you only remember or understand a little of it

elusive: vago, impreciso

adjective

difficult to remember or understand