Ad_Lib English Blog

Christmas Recipe - Mince Pies | Ad_Lib English Online

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:14:00 +0000

2010 is coming to an end and Christmas atmosphere can be felt everywhere in England - especially that it looks like we are going to have a white Christmas for a change.

Ad_Lib English would like to wish all our students and readers a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Here is a recipe we've recently discovered for delicious Christmas mince pies. Enjoy!

Christmas Recipe - Mince Pies | Ad_Lib English Online

Why English Language is Dum | Ad_Lib English Online

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:10:00 +0000

Some time ago I wrote this little post illustrating why some people think that English spelling is dum(b).
The video in the post has since been taken off YouTube but you can still view it here.

In my new post, I have presented some more evidence indicating that English language all together is dum(b). Or, if not dumb, at least a little irregular. Hope you enjoy the post. :-)

Why English Language is Dum | Ad_Lib English Online

Words Often Confused - 'delicate' / 'sensitive' / 'fragile' / 'vulnerable' | Ad_Lib English Online

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:11:00 +0000

Words Often Confused - 'delicate' / 'sensitive' / 'fragile' / 'vulnerable' | Ad_Lib English Online

The words ‘delicate’, ’sensitive, ‘fragile’, and ‘vulnerable’ are quite close in meaning and in many languages there may be one word to cover all of them. This is why it’s worth knowing that in English they don’t all mean the same and cannot be used interchangeably.

Click on the link above to read the full post.

Quantities and Numbers Quiz | Adlib English

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:53:00 +0000

Quantities and Numbers Quiz | Adlib English

Reading and writng numbers correctly is particularly important to Business English students. Not knowing how to read out the data correctly can ruin an otherwise well-prepared presentation.

See how well you know numbers, measurements, and quantities in English.

English Idioms - Quiz 1 | Adlib English

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:25:00 +0000

English Idioms - Quiz 1 | Adlib English

This exercise checks your understanding of the English idioms introduced in the series of posts on Ad_Lib English Online Blog.

The post that we recommend you read before doing the exercise are:

Annoying Orange and Cool Cucumber - Vegetable Idioms | Ad_Lib English Online

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:24:00 +0000

(as) cool as a cucumber
to be green with envy
to be in a (right) pickle

...and many others

Annoying Orange and Cool Cucumber - Vegetable Idioms | Ad_Lib English Online

Alternative Love Poem - "I Wanna Be Yours" by John Cooper Clarke

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:55:00 +0000

Spring has finally arrived and with it; warm weather, fresh flowers and chirping birds. All this put me in a kind of romantic mood and, as we didn't have anything appropriate for Valentines Day, I decided to take this opportunity and share with you this lovely poem by John Cooper Clarke.

It goes like this:

I wanna be your vacuum cleaner

breathing in your dust

I wanna be your Ford Cortina

I will never rust

If you like your coffee hot

let me be your coffee pot

You call the shots

I wanna be yours

I wanna be your raincoat

for those frequent rainy days

I wanna be your dreamboat

when you want to sail away

Let me be your teddy bear

take me with you anywhere

I don’t care

I wanna be yours

I wanna be your electric meter

I will not run out

I wanna be the electric heater

you’ll get cold without

I wanna be your setting lotion

hold your hair in deep devotion

Deep as the deep Atlantic ocean

that’s how deep is my devotion

VOCABULARY:

I wanna (colloquial) = I want to

rust = a red or brown substance that appears on steel when it comes into contact with oxygen

you call the shots = you are in charge // you are the boss

to run out = to end // to finish

We've run out of money. = we don't have any money left.

We are running out of time. = soon there will be no time left; it will be too late.

setting lotion = a cosmetic that you put on your hair for the hairstyle to hold.

devotion = love

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Email - How Not To Write

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:23:00 +0000

In my previous post on Ad_Lib Business Blog, I listed 15 Rules for (Good) Business Writing. In today's post, I decided to look at an example of a really badly written email and list all of the things that are wrong with it. As a result, I created a list of 7 things that you definitely should avoid when writing business correspondence.

Read 'How not to write emails' on Ad_Lib Business Blog.

Strange English Idioms

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:18:00 +0000

You might also like:

12-second English Idioms
Some Say English Spelling is DUM
TimesOnline Spelling Bee
Spelling - continued
Can you learn English without studying grammar?

The problems with learning idioms is that they don't always make sense. Here are three sentences that might help you remember some of them:

Why is it that when you are fit you are healthy, but when you have a fit you are ill?
Why a fast horse runs but fast colours don't?
Why is it that when you wind up your watch you start it, but when you wind up a project you end it?

VOCABULARY:

to be fit - to be healthy and in good physical condition.

I'm not very fit and I cannot run very fast; I get tired easily.

to have a fit - to have a sudden, uncontrollable attack; eg. an epileptic fit

fast colours - coloured clothes that don't 'run' in the wash. If you wash fast colours, you don't have to worry that the dye will colour other clothes in the washing machine.

to wind up (a watch, a toy, etc) - to tighten the spring that makes the mechanism work.

to wind up (a project, an operation) - to finish a project or an operation.

Are native speakers the best tutors you can have?

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:41:00 +0000

The question of whether native speakers make better tutors of English than non-native speakers is not an easy one to answer. It has also been the subject of many rather heated debates.

Many students do seem to think so. This usually is the first question we get from new students - 'Am I going to be taught by a native speaker?' - and the answer is 'yes'. Ad_Lib English is based in the UK and we only use the services of native English speaking tutors.

Does that, however, mean that tutors whose first language is not English are necessarily worse than native speakers? Not at all. In fact, there are situation where going for a non-native English tutor would actually be a better option. You can read about it in greater detail on our other blog.

How To Display Impeccable Manners

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:41:00 +0000

You might also like:

How To Learn Telephone English Fast?
How To Network?
How To Leave a Job on Good Terms?
How To Call In 'Sick'?

Whether at work or in your private life, it is always good to display impeccable manners. Here is a quick guide for those who still believe that etiquette matters.

How To Display Impeccable Manners on Howcast

Step 1: Respect authority
Respect authority by always introducing a subordinate to a superior, not vice versa.

Step 2: Don’t celebrate yourself
Do not take so much as a sip of your cocktail when everyone else is drinking theirs in your honour. Drinking during your own toast is like giving yourself a hearty round of applause.

Step 3: Know left from right
Know the rules regarding left and right. If you’re handed a name tag, slap it on your right lapel. Then hold your drink in your left hand, so your right is free for handshakes. And don’t eat the dinner roll on your right or drink the water on your left.

Step 4: Know the codes
If you must leave mid-meal to use the powder room, place your napkin on your chair. When you leave for good, put it beside your plate. If you’re “resting” between bites, cross your knife and fork on your plate, with the knife on the right. If you’re done, place knife and fork side by side, pointing at the 11 o’clock position.

Step 5: Know when to say when
Know when to say when: When everyone is done eating, so are you.

Step 6: Know how to sneeze
Try to sneeze and cough into a tissue, then throw it away immediately. If there’s no time for a tissue, direct your nose into your upper arm. While this may sound like the equivalent of wiping your runny nose on your sleeve, it is not. It’s meant to keep germs off your hands, where they will infect others.

VOCABULARY:

authority - the power or right to give orders or make decisions.

The Prime Minister has the authority to appoint ministers.

I would like to get a new printer for our office but I don't have the authority to make that decision; I have to ask my boss to approve the purchase.

subordinate / superior - if you have a boss, he is your superior and you are his subordinate.

a hearty round of applause - when you get a round of applause, people stand up and clap their hands to show that they think you are a great guy.

powder room - a more elegant name for a bathroom or toilet

to leave for good - when you leave for good you are not coming back

done eating - when you are done with something it means that you have finished with it. When you're done eating, you have finished your meal.

germs - tiny organisms that cause disease

How to Learn Telephone English Fast?

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:57:00 +0000

You might also like: Survival Tips for Speaking English on the Telephone

Ad_Lib English has been running for 2 years now and in that time I have spoken to very many people wanting to improve their English (check out our free consultations).

It seems that one problem area that is consistently mentioned is the fear of speaking English on the telephone.

This is why we have decided to develop a course specifically designed to help people overcome this fear and gain confidence when talking on the phone in English.

English for Telephoning is a blended learning course, prepared in cooperation with the publishing house Cornelsen.

What is means, is that with English for Telephoning you will have 24/7 access to interactive learning materials online, where you can learn standard telephone phrases, revise grammar, and practice listening to business telephone conversations. This means that when you meet with your tutor for your lesson, you will concentrate on the things that are the most important to you - speaking, speaking, speaking.

But this is not all, your tutor will have access to your online learning plan and will be able to monitor and assess your progress. There will be forum tasks for you to carry out, where you will be asked to give your opinion on many business and telephone-related topics, and if after all that you still will feel that you need extra practice, you will be able to book additional live lessons at a very low price - offered only to our blended learning students.

To find out more about our courses please go here.

You will find more information about English for Telephoning here.

Are you still not sure if this course is right for you? Then book a FREE Consultation to speak to an advisor.

A New Blog to Join Ad_Lib Family

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:41:00 +0000

It's been a while since we posted anything on Blogger, but it's only because we have been very busy introducing new services and making Ad_Lib English even better.

Among other things, we have just launched the second Ad_Lib blog, hosted on our Ad_Lib English website.

The first post deals with a little-know function that allows you to resend your Ad_Lib grammar test results to you email, multiple times.

You can read the post here: How to resend your Ad_Lib test results to your email?

Those who don't know yet about our free grammar test, can find out all about it from one of our earlier posts or watch this video:

'How to Make a Fruitcake' - a Christmas recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Time flies and Christmas is just round the corner. It's getting more and more difficult to concentrate on work when all we're thinking of are presents and Christmas parties.

In the spirit of this festive season, I have decided to share with you a recipe for a typically English cake. It needs to be prepared at least two weeks before Christmas, so it is high time to start baking.

How To Make a Fruitcake on Howcast

YOU WILL NEED:

(roll the cursor over the camera icon in a linked word to see the image)

* 1 c. golden raisins

* 1 c. currants

* 2 c. mixture of your favorite dried fruit, chopped

* 1/4 c. candied ginger, chopped

* Zest of 1 lemon, chopped

* Zest of 1 orange, chopped

* 1 c. bourbon or rum

* 1 c. unfiltered apple juice

* 2 c. sugar

* 1 1/4 sticks butter

* 4 whole cloves, ground

* 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

* 1 tsp. ground ginger

* 1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

* 1 1/2 tsp. salt

* 1 tsp. baking soda

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 2 eggs

* 1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

* 1 c. brandy

* 1/2 c. water

* Extra dried fruits and nuts for garnish

* A nonreactive pot

* A large bowl

* A sifter

* A wooden spoon

* A 10-inch nonstick loaf pan

* A pastry brush

* Parchment paper

* Aluminum foil or plastic wrap

* Orange, cranberry or apple juice

Step 1: Plan ahead

Fruitcake should be made at least two weeks ahead to give the fruit and brandy time to age, so be sure to leave yourself enough time.

Step 2: Soak the fruit

Combine the raisins, currants, mixed dried fruit, ginger, and citrus zest in the nonreactive pot. Then pour the bourbon or rum over the fruit and let it soak overnight.

For non-alcoholic fruitcake, use orange, cranberry or apple juice instead of bourbon or rum.

Step 3: Heat fruit mixture

To the soaked fruit, add the apple juice, sugar, butter, cloves, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Then the reduce heat and let it simmer. After 10 minutes, remove from heat.

A nonreactive pot is one made of stainless steel, anodized aluminum, or enameled aluminum—not aluminum on its own.

Step 4: Preheat oven

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Step 5: Prepare the batter

In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

Step 6: Combine fruit and flour mixtures

When the fruit mixture has cooled for 15 minutes, sift the flour mixture into it. Then combine using the wooden spoon.

Step 7: Add eggs and nuts

Mix in the eggs one at a time, and then fold in the chopped nuts.

Step 8: Bake

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Step 9: Liquor it up!

Using the brush, baste the top with some of the brandy or fruit juice. Let the loaf cool completely before removing it from the pan.

Step 10: Wrap it up

Wrap the cake in parchment paper, then in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and store in a cool, dark place. Check the cake every few days and, if dry, brush it with enough brandy or juice to moisten—not soak—it. Then rewrap tightly.

If you’re planning to freeze the fruitcake, age it first.

Step 11: Glaze and garnish

Just before serving, heat the remaining sugar with water over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Brush this glaze over your fruitcake and garnish with dried fruits and nuts.

Did you know? In 17th-century England, when fruitcake was served at weddings, unmarried guests would take a slice home and put it under their pillows so they would dream of the person they would marry.

VOCABULARY:

zest - the skin of an orange, lemon or lime, used to add flavour to food.

to soak something - to leave something in liquid, especially in order to clean it, soften it, or change its flavour.

to grind (past: ground) - to make something into small pieces or a powder by pressing between hard surfaces. People usually grind coffee, or pepper.

to simmer - to boil something slowly; to cook something liquid, or something with liquid in it, at a temperature slightly below boiling.

batter - a mixture of flour, eggs and milk, used to make pancakes or to cover food before frying it. The fish, in the traditional English 'fish and chips' is usually covered in batter before frying.

to garnish something - to decorate food with a small amount of different food.

Garnish the dish with parsley before serving.

Would you like to learn more real English? All Ad_Lib English tutors are native speakers of English.
Go to Ad_Lib English website and book a trial lesson or a FREE CONSULTATION.
You will also be able to do a FREE GRAMMAR TEST that will tell you how well you know English grammar.

How to Network

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:56:00 +0000

You might also like:

How to Write a CV in English?

How to Write Your Personal Value Statement on Your CV?

How to Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview?

What to Wear to a Job Interview?

How To Leave a Job on Good Terms?

Recession is still raging, and job-search still seems to be high on many readers' agenda. In the previous posts we have covered topics such as how to write a CV and how to 'sell yourself' during a job interview in English.

Reports differ as to the exact numbers, but it is estimated that between 50 and 85 percent of jobs are found through networking, so today we are going to devote some time to this much overlooked method of seeking employment.

How To Network on Howcast

Step 1: Practice "Four F rule"

Practice the “Four F rule”—family, friends, family of friends, and friends of family. In other words, talk to everyone you can think of about your career goals.

Step 2: Have business cards made

Have business cards made so you have something professional to hand out when you meet people.

Step 3: Join organizations

Join professional organizations related to your field. For example, if you are a woman working in the media world, you could join the not-for-profit womeninfilm.org.

Websites like www.linkedin.com can help you find out what professional contacts your friends have.

Step 4: Listen to mentors

Listen attentively to potential mentors. As the saying goes, “You can make more contacts in two hours by showing interest in people than you will in two years of trying to get them interested in you.”

Maintain eye contact when you are speaking with someone. There’s nothing more insulting than a person who is looking over your shoulder for someone more interesting!

Step 5: Do them a favour

Listen for how you might be able to help someone else. Doing a favour for them is the fastest way to make them want to help you.

Do your research on the speakers at trade events, and have a pitch prepared for them.

Step 6: Contact former bosses

Contact former bosses. Research shows that one in three job seekers gets job search help from a previous employer.

Seventy-nine percent of college graduates responding to a 2007 survey said they found networking an effective job search tool.

VOCABULARY:

agenda - a list of things that are important to you; a list of things you would like to achieve.

Women's rights have been put back on the agenda. = are being discussed publicly again.

The subject of safety must be placed high on the agenda = must be discussed because it is very important.

to estimate - to guess the cost, size, value of something.

They estimate that the journey will take two weeks.= They think that the journey will take approximately two weeks. = They think that the journey will take two weeks, more or less. (it might take 10 days, it might take 16 days).

to devote some time to something = to spend some time on something, usually trying to achieve something.

She devoted a lot of time to this project and was very disappointed when her name wasn't even mentioned. = She spent a lot of time working on this project and was very disappointed when her name wasn't even mentioned.

to overlook something or somebody - to fail to notice or consider something.

She was bitter about being overlooked in the selection of the team. = She was bitter about the fact that nobody noticed her (nobody took her into consideration) in the selection of the team.

to seek something (a formal expression) = to look for something

trade organisations - organisations for people who work in the same sector of business. For example: Electronic Industries Alliance or Educational Software Cooperative and similar.

social skills - ability to communicate, persuade, and interact with other members of the society, without undue conflict or disharmony. (taken from BusinessDictionary.com)

tenacity - the determination to continue what you are doing, the quality of never giving up. (synonyms: determination, perseverance).

potential (adjective) - something that may happen, if everything goes the way we think it will.

We have a potential buyer for the house already. = There is a person who might buy the house.

There are several potential problems with this solution. = There are several problems that we may have if we accept this solution.

Listen to potential mentors. = Listen to people because they may become your mentors.

a mentor - an experienced person who teaches and advises you. (for example: a business mentor).

maintain eye contact = keep eye contact

a favour - a kind action that you do for someone.

She rang up to ask me a favour.

Could you do me a favour - would you feed my cat this weekend?

He designed our business cards as a favour. = he didn't want any money for that.

a pitch - a speech or act which attempts to persuade someone to buy or do something

The man in the shop gave me his sales pitch about quality and reliability. = He told me about how great the product was in an effor to sell it.

They made a pitch for the contract but she didn't get it.

ALSO: They pitched for the contract but she didn't get it.

former bosses = people who used to be your boss.

Eight Secret Tips to Save Gas (Petrol)

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:57:00 +0000

This week I have decided to touch on a completely different topic from the ones covered so far. I am not a driver myself, but I'm sure that many readers will find this advice very useful.

Before we start, however, some words of explanation are required. The word 'gas' (or 'gasoline') - as used in the title of this post - is an American English word for what the British refer to as 'petrol'. In Britain, the word 'gas' is used to mean a fuel for heating and cooking (just as in the US) but not for driving cars.

How To Save Gas With Eight Secret Tips on Howcast

Step 1: Don't sweat it

Go on — enjoy your air conditioner on the highway. Consumer Reports says that AC’s gas-guzzling reputation is undeserved. And, at higher speeds, opening the windows or sunroof can hurt fuel economy by increasing drag.

Step 2: Run on empty

Don’t fill up your tank until you’re practically on empty; the less fuel you’re toting, the lighter your car, and the more efficiently it will run.

Step 3: Turn nozzle upside down

After filling up your car, turn the nozzle upside down before you remove it from your tank. You’ll get another half a cup of gas that’s stuck in the hose.

Step 4: Tighten your gas cap

Tighten your gas cap after filling up so you don’t let any precious fuel evaporate.

Try to park in the shade. This will also help prevent evaporation.

Step 5: Use your overdrive

Put your car in overdrive for highway driving. It lowers your RPM, or revolutions per minute, which saves gas. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended speed at which you may use overdrive.

If you’re due for new tires, get radials; they improve gas mileage by two or three percent.

Step 6: Stay in your lane

Stay in one lane as much as possible; weaving uses up more gas.

Step 7: Cruise correctly

Use cruise control when you’re on a flat highway, where it can increase mileage by 7%. But don’t use it on uneven roads, where it’s not efficient.

Step 8: Turn off everything

Turn off all electronics and climate controls before you cut the engine. With the extras off, your engine won’t have to strain so hard to restart, leading to better gas mileage.

VOCABULARY:

highway - an important road that joins cities or towns together.

gas-guzzling reputation - reputation for using a lot of petrol.

to guzzle (informal) - to eat or drink quickly, eagerly and usually in large amounts.

I'm not surprised you feel sick after guzzling three ice-creams!

AC = air conditioning - the system used for keeping the air in a building or vehicle cool.

sunroof - part of a roof of a car which can be opened to allow air and light from the sun to come in (see picture).

drag (specialized, technical vocabulary) - the force that acts against the forward movement of something which is passing through a gas or a liquid.

Engineers are always looking for ways to minimize drag when they design new aircraft.

tank - a container which holds liquid or gas.
a water tank / a fuel tank / a petrol tank / a gas tank (American English)

The car blew up when flames reached its fuel tank.

nozzle - a narrow piece fixed to the end of a tube so that the liquid or air that comes out can be directed in a particular way (see picture).

Attach the nozzle to the garden hose before turning on the water.

hose - a long plastic or rubber pipe, used to direct water onto fires, gardens, etc. (see picture).

to evaporate - to cause a liquid to change to a gas, especially by heating.

The bottle was empty - it was left open and all the perfume has evaporated.

overdrive - a high gear used at high speeds to keep the driving speed with less power.

revolution - one complete circular movement of something, for example a wheel; one turning of a wheel.

Engine speed can be measured in revolutions per minute.

revolutions per minute - how many times something turns within one minute.

tire (American English) = tyre (British English) - a thick rubber ring, often filled with air, which is fitted around the outer edge of the wheel of a car. (see picture).

I've got a flat tyre (= the air has gone out of it) .
I keep a spare tyre in the back of the car. = I've got one more tyre in the back of my car in case I need it.

weaving - changing lanes

mileage - the distance that a vehicle has travelled or the distance that it can travel using a particular amount of fuel.

'What's the mileage on your car?' 'Oh, about 40 000'.
Smaller cars have better mileage and so cost less to run.

cut the engine = stop the engine.

to strain - to experience pressure, or to make something do or experience this.

Don't watch TV in the dark - you'll strain your eyes!
I was straining my ears to hear what they were saying. = I was listening very hard to hear what they were saying.
The engine had to strain to restart. = The engine had to work very hard to restart.

How To Leave a Job on Good Terms

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:29:00 +0000

You might also like:

How to Write a CV in English?

How to Write Your Personal Value Statement on Your CV?

How to Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview?

What to Wear to a Job Interview?

Here, on Ad_Lib English Blog, we've had plenty of posts about how to find a job, I think it is time for some advice on how to leave a job that you have had enough of.

How To Leave a Job on Good Terms on Howcast

While it may be tempting to tell your boss where he can stick his letter opener when you’re ready to quit, it’s not a great career move.

You Will Need:

A job to resign from
Good stationery
Acting skills (optional)

Step 1: Submit resignation

Submit a letter of resignation that includes the position you are resigning from and your proposed last day of employment.

Provide sufficient notice to your employer. Two weeks is customary.

Step 2: Inform supervisor first

Tell your supervisor you are quitting before you tell your office buddies.

Resist the temptation to brag about your new job or trash your current one.

Step 3: Be productive

Continue to be a productive employee until you leave. You’d be amazed at how quickly two weeks of slacking off can wipe out years of hard work.

Step 4: Don’t leave them in the lurch

Take the time to write a detailed memo about any projects in the works. Say that you will be accessible after you leave should any questions arise.

Step 5: Send positive farewell

If you plan to send a farewell email on your last day, keep the tone positive. Now is not the time for parting shots.

Include your contact information in your farewell email.

Step 6: Send friendly note

A month or so after you leave, send a friendly note to your former colleagues. Let them know that as you continue to settle into your new surroundings, you think of them fondly.

According to one survey, the most common reasons for leaving a job are better pay, boredom, and lack of advancement.

VOCABULARY:

letter opener - a small knife used for opening letters.

to quit (informal) - to stop doing something or leave a job or a place.

Would you quit your job if you inherited lots of money?

I want to quit smoking but I don't have the will power.

to resign - to give up a job or position by telling your employer that you are leaving.

stationery - writing materials, paper pads, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.

sufficient - enough.

We don't have a sufficient amount of money to go travelling. = We don't have enough money to go travelling.

notice - a letter or statement from an employer or from an employee saying that they will leave their job after a particular period of time, or this period of time.

I have to give my notice now if I want to start the new job on the 1st February. = I have to officially inform my employer that I am leaving now, if I want to start my new job on the 1st February.

My contract says that I have to give one month notice before I quit.

customary - usual.

She's not her customary cheerful self today. = She's not as cheerful as she usually is.

buddies (informal, American English) - friends

to brag about something (informal) - to speak too proudly about what you have done or what you own.

She's always bragging about how much money she earns.

to trash something (informal, American English) - to criticize, to speak badly of something or someone.

The boss completely trashed her work, in front of everyone.

slacking off - being lazy, not doing your work properly.

to wipe something out - to destroy something completely.

Three villages were wiped out by the plague. = People in three villages all died in the plague.

(the plague = a serious disease which kills many people.)

to leave somebody in the lurch - to leave someone at a time when they need you to stay and help them.

projects in the works - projects that haven't been completed yet.

farewell - goodbye.

colleagues - people you know from work.

fondly - well, in a way that shows love or great liking.

lack of advancement - you feel that you are not going anywhere, you haven't been promoted, you haven't got a pay-rise. You have been stuck in the same place for a long time.

How To Get the Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:32:00 +0000

You might also like:

How to Call in 'Sick'?

Everyday English - 'Health Fanatic' by John Cooper Clarke.

Can you learn English without studying grammar?

It seems that the main wave of swine flu panic is over - in the UK at least. However, it is always good to be informed and this HowCast video contains lots of very useful vocabulary that you might need to understand health-related public broadcasts.

How To Get the Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine on Howcast

Protect yourself from swine flu – also known as H1N1 flu – by getting vaccinated.
You Will Need

    * At-risk information
    * A vaccination location
    * A seasonal flu shot
    * The usual cold precautions

Step 1: Know the risk groups

Know the at-risk groups encouraged to get the vaccine: Pregnant women; anyone in close contact with children younger than six months; health care and emergency medical personnel; all people six months through 24 years of age; and people age 25 to 65 who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

So far, the Centers for Disease Control’s data indicate the risk of infection among people age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups.

Step 2: Be aware of prioritizing

Be aware that if you are not in one of the at-risk groups, it is possible you will have to wait. If supplies are limited, at-risk groups will be vaccinated first.

Step 3: Don't assume prior protection

Don’t assume that you’re immune to the 2009 H1N1 virus if you were vaccinated against the 1976 swine flu. They are different viruses, and you still need to be immunized against the 2009 strain.

Step 4: Know where to get the vaccine

Know where to get the vaccine. Each state has its own plan. Locations include vaccination clinics organized by local health departments, health care provider offices, schools, pharmacies, and even some workplaces.

For state-by-state information, go to the Center of Disease Control’s web site.

Step 5: Get both flu shots

Get your regular seasonal flu shot. The flu vaccine that’s been developed specifically to prevent the H1N1 flu is not meant to replace your annual flu shot. You may get both on the same day, but the seasonal shot will likely be available before the H1N1 shot.

Step 6: Take the usual precautions

Take the usual precautions against catching any kind of cold or flu virus: Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you come down with flu symptoms, ask your doctor if antiviral drugs may be right for you – and stay away from others until you’re well!

The H1N1 virus is made up of genes not only from pigs, but also from birds and humans.

VOCABULARY:

vaccination - (also: vaccine) a substance that contains a small amount of viruses or bacteria. You get injected with this substance and it helps your body to 'get used to' the bacteria or viruses so that when you get in touch with people infected with this virus, your body will know how to fight it.

Apparently, there are many people in London who have TB, but I'm not worried because I had been vaccinated against TB.

Before going on holidays to some exotic countries you need to get vaccinated against certain diseases such as malaria.

to encourage (somebody to do something) - to say that they should do something because you think it will be good for them.

My mother encouraged me to read books from an early age. = My mother tried to get me interested in reading books even when I was very young. (Active Voice).

Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against swine flu. = The government thinks that pregnant women should get vaccinated against swine flu. (Passive Voice).

health conditions = health problems.

health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza. = health problems that may make you more likely to get complications if you catch flu.

influenza = flu

priority = something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things.

My first priority is to find a job. = I need to find a job before I do anything else.

to prioritize = to decide which of a group of things - or people - are the most important so that you can deal with them first.

You must learn to prioritize your work. = You must learn to organise your work and do the most important things first.

supplies - amount of something that is available for use.

If supplies are limited, at-risk groups will be vaccinated first. = If there there aren't many vaccines available, the people who are at the greatest risk of catching swine flu will get the vaccine first.

to assume (something) - to accept something to be true without question or proof.

I assumed that you knew each other because you went to the same school. = I thought that you knew each other because you went to the same school. (but I didn't check that, I just made a guess).

immune - if you are immune against an illness, you will not catch it.

flu shot (informal) - flu vaccination.

annual - happening every year.

Your annual flu shot = The flu vaccination you get every year.

precautions - actions which are done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous from happening.

Take the usual precautions against catching any kind of cold or flu virus. = Do all the usual things you always do to stop yourself from catching a cold or flu.

To come down with a cold. = To catch a cold.

Everyday English - 'Health Fanatic' by John Cooper Clarke

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:23:00 +0000

You might also like:
Spelling - continued
12-second English Idioms
More Than One Way to Skin a Cat - a Thought or Two About Expanding Our Vocabulary
The Problem with Articles

We have already had several posts in a row about job interviews, writing CVs, and using English in the office. I think it's time for something more light-weight. Life is not all about work, after all.

This is a poem by a punk-poet John Cooper Clarke (my particular favourite), entitled 'Health Fanatic'. It contains lots of colloquial, idiomatic English expressions that you don't often find in language course-books.

You can view the whole text at John Cooper Clarke's website.

"HEALTH FANATIC"

AROUND THE BLOCK - AGAINST THE CLOCK
TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK
RUNNING OUT OF BREATH - RUNNING OUT OF SOCKS
RUBBER ON THE ROAD... FLIPPETY FLOP
NON-SKID AGILITY... CHOP CHOP
NO TIME TO HANG ABOUT
WORK OUT HEALTH FANATIC... WORK OUT!

THE CRACK OF DAWN HE'S LIFTING WEIGHTS
HIS TELL-TALE HEART REVERBERATES
HE'S HIGH IN POLYUNSATURATES...
LOW IN POLYSATURATES...
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD AWAITS
IT'S A MAN'S LIFE
HE'S A HEALTH FANATIC... SO WAS HIS WIFE

TIME OFF DOESN'T PAY
ENJOYS HIMSELF THE HARD WAY
ALLOWS HIMSELF A MARS A DAY
HOW OLD AM I - WHAT DO I WEIGH
PUNCH ME THERE... DOES IT HURT... NO WAY
RUNNING ON THE SPOT DON'T GET TOO HOT
HE'S A HEALTH FANATIC, THAT'S WHY NOT

RUNNING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC JAM - TAKING IN THE LEAD
HYPERACTIVITY KEEPS HIM OUT OF BED
DEEP DOWN HE'D LIKE TO KICK IT IN THE HEAD
THEY'LL REGRET IT WHEN THEY'RE DEAD
THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN FUN
HE'S A HEALTH FANATIC - HE'S GOT TO RUN

BEANS GREENS AND TANGERINES

AND LOW CHOLESTEROL MARGARINES
HIS LIMBS ARE LOOSE, HIS TEETH ARE CLEAN
HE'S A HIGH-OCTANE FRESH-AIR FIEND
YOU'VE GOT TO ADMIT HE'S KEEN
WHAT CAN YOU DO BUT BE IMPRESSED
HE'S A HEALTH FANATIC... GIVE IT A REST

...view the whole text at John Cooper Clarke's website

VOCABULARY.

against the clock - If you do something against time/the clock, you do it as fast as possible and try to finish it before a certain time.

The test consisted of typing out a long passage against the clock, they had 5 minutes to complete it. = The people taking the test had to type out a long passage very quickly and somebody was measuring the time. They had 5 minutes to finish it.

out of breath - unable to breathe comfortably because of tiredness or excitement.

He is not very fit. We went jogging and he was out of breath after just 500 metres.

When you run out of something it means that you had something but you used it all up and there is nothing left.

I went for a year-long trip around the world but I had to come home after just 3 months because I ran out of money. = I had money but I spent it and I don't have it any more.

Hurry up! We're running out of time. = Soon we will have no time left.

to hang about (informal, British English) - to move or do things slowly, to waste time.

Come on! We only have three more hours to finish the job; there is no time to hang about! = there is no time to waste.

to work out - to exercise (especially in a gym).

She works out at the gym five times a week and she has already lost 7 kilos.

at the crack of dawn - at sunrise.

polyunsaturates - the type of fats that are good for you, such as the ones you find in fish,

traffic jam - when there are so many cars on the road that they cannot move, or move very slowly.

lead - a chemical substance; very bad for humans. There is lead in car-fumes.

hyperactivity (noun)

hyperactive (adjective) - Someone who is hyperactive has more energy than is normal, gets excited easily and cannot stay still for longer than a minute.

Hyperactive children often have poor concentration and get into trouble at school.

greens = vegetables (especially cooked and served on your plate).

(Parent to a child) You won't leave the table until you've eaten all your greens! = all the vegetables on your plate

limbs - arms and legs.
a rest - a period of time in which you relax, do not do anything active, or sleep

After they had carried the piano up the stairs, they stopped for a rest.

The doctor prescribed some pills and told her to get/have a week's rest.

I've been working very hard for the past year. I think I need to take some rest and go on holiday.

give it a rest (informal) - said when you want someone to stop talking about or doing something that is annoying you.

You've been whistling that tune for the past three hours; give it a rest, won't you?

Would you like to learn more real English? All Ad_Lib English tutors are native speakers of English.
Go to Ad_Lib English website and book a trial lesson.
You will also be able to do a FREE GRAMMAR TEST that will tell you how well you know English grammar.

How To Write Your Personal Value Statement on Your CV?

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:36:00 +0000

You might also like:
How to Write a CV in English?
How to Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview
What to Wear to a Job Interview
Survival Tips for Speaking English on the Telephone

Personal statements are notoriously difficult to write for non-native speakers. Mostly because packing lots of information into just one or two sentences requires a certain proficiency in English.

I have therefore decided to provide our readers with a simple template that will allow them to create a professional looking personal statement for their CVs.

For those who don't know, personal statement goes at the beginning of a CV, just below your name and contact

details.

A typical personal statement looks like this:

A well-organized and reliable nanny with 5-years of experience in child care and an NVQ Level 2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development; a highly creative person, with a warm and engaging personality, looking for a position as a nanny or nursery-school assistant.
Able to provide excellent references and available for an immediate start.

An enthusiastic, sporty A level student with coaching skills and qualifications and experience of managing a local football team, seeking interesting work opportunities.

Friendly and efficient communicator with experience in administration and customer service, wishing to take up a part-time position as an office administrator / receptionist / customer service assistant.
Available for an immediate start.

An ambitious, confident, and articulate communicator with a background in media; a Public Relations graduate, looking for an opportunity to gain PR/marketing experience in a challenging environment where relevant knowledge and skills could be further improved

A dynamic, ambitious and money-driven sales executive, with experience in B2B cold-calling and a proven track record of achievement against targets, seeking a full-time position in telesales.

When we look closely at all of these statements, we will soon realise that there is a pattern to all of them. It looks like this:

A... (2 or 3 adjectives describing your positive traits) + (noun to describe you) ....with (here your state your experience, education, achievements) .... looking for / seeking / wishing to take up + (what job your are looking for).

The next thing that we need to do is to make a list of all the words (adjectives) that describe us and pick the ones that the prospective employer will value the most.
Sometimes we can get that information from the job advert - what qualities is the company looking for? Otherwise you will have to decide which qualities are important for a particular job.

sales people - money-driven, dynamic, ambitious, energetic, enthusiastic.

accountants, data-entry clerks, admin assistants - accurate, analytical, efficient, honest, reliable, methodical, logical, organised.
teachers, carers, child-minders - reliable, responsible, caring, creative, honest, fun, patient.
bus / coach drivers - capable, professional, responsible, reliable, polite, communicative, patient.
managers - experienced, dynamic, mature, knowledgeable, open-minded, commercially-minded.

Try using the GOOGLE TRANSLATE application in the right-hand column to translate the above-listed adjectives into your own language.

Once we've picked two or three strong adjectives, we then need to decide what noun describes us best.

If you are looking for a similar job to the one you had before, use your job title:

An astute, knowledgeable and experienced manager...
A competent, reliable dental hygienist...
A realistic, reliable and open-minded researcher...

If you are still at school, university or you have just graduated then say so:

An outgoing, innovative advertising student...
A dynamic and creative PR graduate...

If you are applying for a job that is not directly related to what you have done in the past (so that you cannot use your old job title), use a more general-sounding word:

An energetic and enthusiastic person...
A motivated and confident individual...
A confident and articulate communicator... (for jobs where communication skills are essential)
A dynamic and people-oriented professional...

Next we need to state our main argument for why we should get the job.

The surest way for you to get the job is to demonstrate to the prospective employer that you have relevant experience:

...with 5-year experience in child care.
...with a proven track record of generating and closing sales.
...with a proven track record of delivering to tight deadlines.
...with a sound customer-service experience.

If you cannot demonstrate that you have relevant experience, you might want to stress the fact that your education puts you in a good position to learn what you need to learn quickly:

...with an NVQ Level 2 in Children's Care.
...with a degree in engineering.

The least effective way of securing the employer's interest is to stress your interest in the job:

...with a passion for marketing.

And lastly, you need to state which job you are looking for:

seeking employment in a customer service / front-desk reception role.
looking for a position as a....
wishing to take up a challenging role within the hospitality sector.

We wish you best of luck in your job-search!

How to Write a CV in English?

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Find free interactive activities for this post on our website.

You might also like:
How To Write Your Personal Value Statement on Your CV?
How to Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview?
What to Wear to a Job Interview?
Survival Tips for Speaking English on the Telephone

I have noticed that there has been a lot of interest in our previous post about preparing for a job interview and since I've just come across another very useful video about job-search, I've decided to share it with you. Let me know what you think.

What information should be at the top of my CV?

The information you should put at the top of your CV is your full name, your address, your email address and your telephone number.

What information should be in the main body of my CV?

CV Writing:
What information should be in the main body of my CV?

In the main body of your CV, the most important information you need to put in is a passage to sell yourself to your future employer. This part of your CV should say something like, "I am a lively, enthusiastic team worker," or, "I am a very strong sales person with proven track history." Following on from that selling statement, you then need to cover your employment history with no gaps, and include information about your educational history with all the grades.

Do I need to add dates of my work history?

CV Writing:
Do I need to add dates of my work history?

It's very important that you put the correct dates of your work history on your CV. The one thing that employers don't want to see is gaps. If you finished a job in a certain month, put the month that you finished. If there's a gap of three months or four months between starting a new job, put on your CV that you were unemployed, or that you went travelling, etc. An employer does not want to see a gap on a CV. The reason for that is they will suspect that maybe something else is going on. They don't need to have to probe into those sorts of areas.

Do I need to add descriptions of my jobs in my work history?

CV Writing:
Do I need to add descriptions of my jobs in my work history?

In the work history section of your CV, you'll be including the titles of roles you have had. It's also a good idea to give your employer an idea of what that job was all about, so include a job description, too. You may want to list some duties and responsibilities that you had within certain jobs.

What is a Personal Statement / Value Statement, and do I need to include one?

CV Writing:
What is a Personal Statement Value Statement, and do I need to include one?

It's very important that you include a Personal Statement in the main body of your CV. The reason for this is the employers looking at the type of person that you are. Don't make it too generic. If you are a strong salesman with a proven track history, put that specific statement down. If you're a good communicator with strong teamworking skills, put that example down. And if you can give an example of why you are like that so much the better. It's your opportunity to sell yourself to your future employer.

Note: We will look at how to write your Personal Statement in our next post.

What is the ideal length for a CV?

CV Writing:
What is the ideal length for a CV?

The ideal length of a CV should be two pages of eight-fourths. If it runs to five or six, then the employer is going to lose interest. They don't want to wait through that much information on you. Certainly I understand that if it runs over two pages a little bit that's fine. The one danger you have is trying to squeeze it all on two pages and you make the font unreadable because it's so small. So just over two pages is fine. Certainly five or six is much much too much.

How long will a potential employer spend looking at my CV?

CV Writing:
How long will a potential employer spend looking at my CV?

Your potential employer will only look at your CV the first time for about 90 seconds. Remember, they've got a lot of CVs that they're going through, so it's absolutely essential that you capture their attention very, very quickly. You can do this by having a very strong values statement, in terms of selling yourself, in the main bulk of your CV. That's where they're going to look first.

What typical errors do people make in CVs?

CV Writing:
What typical errors do people make in CVs?

The typical errors that people make in CVs are typing errors and spelling errors. Put your CV through a spellchecker, read it through yourself thoroughly and get somebody else to proofread it for you as well. If it has any errors, no matter how simple they are, that CV will potentially get rejected. Other areas that you may find people making mistakes with CVs are in the use of too many fonts, which make it look very messy, and the overuse of colour, trying to make it look too jazzy. Employers reject CVs on those bases.

VOCABULARY:

a passage - a short piece of writing

generic - general, something that doesn't say anything about you specifically

a proven track history - (expression used mainly in recruitment) you can prove that you actually achieved what you say you have achieved.

'I know I am a good sales person. I have a proven track record of closing sales; when I worked for ABC Ltd, I sold advertising space for £200,000.'

strong teamworking skills - you work very well in a team

essential - very, very important

to capture their attention - to get them interested

values statement - (expression used mainly in recruitment) the part of your CV where it says what kind of a person you are (character traits, achievements, etc)

the main bulk of your CV - the body of your CV, the main part

to proofread - to read and check if there aren't any mistakes

fonts - letters and symbols in a particular design and size. For example: Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, etc.

Would you like somebody to help you prepare for a job interview, or write a CV?

Go to Ad_Lib English website and book a trial lesson.

You will also be able to do a FREE GRAMMAR TEST that will tell you how well you know English grammar.

How To Call In 'Sick'

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:32:00 +0000

You might also like:
Everyday English - 'Health Fanatic' by John Cooper Clarke.

Survival Tips for Speaking English on the Telephone.
How To Write Your Personal Value Statement on Your CV?

The flu season has started, so you may need to call in sick sooner or later. It is best to keep it simple:

Introduce yourself first:

Hello? This is.. (your name) calling.
I work... (say the department you're working for - unless, obviously, you are calling your supervisor)

Get to the point:

I'm afraid I won't be able to come to work today...
(say why) I've got a bug of some sort. / I'm down with a bad cold. / I think I've got food poisoning...
....and I'm in no state to leave the house.

Appear helpful:

if you are working on a project, say who else they can go to in your absence if there is a problem
you may want to let them know that they can call you in an emergency, but make sure you sound so ill that they'll know not to take you up on your offer.

Here is a video from Howcast on how to fake being sick and get a free day off. Obviously we don't approve of such practices but the video contains loads of nice colloquial expressions that you may find useful. Enjoy!

How To Call in "Sick" on Howcast

Step 1: Pick a day

Decide what day you want off. Try to pick a day where you’ll get out of something unpleasant.
Monday and Friday are particularly conspicuous; the three-day weekend is a dead giveaway.

Step 2: Decide what to do

Think about how to spend your day off. Forget going to a tanning or beauty salon. If you show up the next day with a tan or a perm , you’ll be busted.

Step 3: Decide on malady

Decide on a reasonable malady, and keep it simple. “I’ve got a bug” is easier to remember than a long, involved tale of exotic food poisoning. And remember: you’ll have to be “better” in 24 hours.

Step 4: Rehearse your story

Rehearse what you will say when you call in. Repeat your story until you’re satisfied you have struck the right mix of fact and fiction.

Step 5: Call before office hours

Make the call before office hours so you get your supervisor’s voicemail, which can’t talk back or ask probing questions.
Play an alibi tape you recorded when you really were sick—and silence any background noise—to leave a convincingly pitiful message.

Step 6: Prepare to return

After spending a glorious day doing whatever you like, prepare to return to work. Rehearse your response to inquiries about your health and other questions that might catch you off guard.

If you’re a woman, return to work without a stitch of makeup. This will convince any doubters that you truly were sick. If you’re a man, stay unusually quiet all day.

Step 7: Find out what you missed

Once you’re back, make a show of finding out everything that happened the day before, so you can catch up on whatever work you missed. You’re so dedicated!

VOCABULARY:

conspicuous - something that attracts attention, something that people notice very quickly:

In China, her blonde hair was conspicuous. = everybody noticed her because of her blonde hair, since blonde hair is unusual in China

a dead giveaway = a sure giveavay ('dead' followed by another adjective often means incredibly, absolutely, extremely and is used to add emphasis to the adjective that follows)

I don't think it's a good idea. In fact, I'm dead against it. = I'm totally against it.

a giveaway - something that tells or shows something secret, often without intending to:

He said he'd given up smoking, but the empty packets in the bin were a dead giveaway = clearly showed the secret truth (that he was still smoking).

busted - (slang) caught doing something bad, also: arrested

He got busted last year for stealing cars. = The police arrested him last year for stealing cars.

malady - (very formal) an illness, a disease

to rehearse - to practice, especially before a performance such as a theatre play or a concert.

The musicians rehearsed (the symphony) for the concert.

probing questions - difficult questions; questions that are meant to get information out of you

inquiries - (formal) questions

All inquiries should be directed to Mr Jones. = If you have any questions, ask Mr Jones

to catch somebody off guard - to surprise someone by doing something which they are not expecting and are not ready for.

Her question caught me completely off guard and I didn't know what to say. = I wasn't expecting her to ask me this question and I didn't know what to say.

without a stitch of makeup = without any makeup

Survival Tips for Speaking English on the Telephone

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:44:00 +0000

You might also like: How to Learn Telephone English Fast?

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a one-day conference in Ulm, Germany, about teaching English for Specific Purposes. I attended several very interesting seminars, which will probably provide me with ideas for blogposts for weeks to come.

Today I would like to start with very practical, hands-on, advice on dealing with the stress of speaking English on the phone. Conducting telephone conversations in English - especially with native speakers - regularly comes up as one of the most stressful language situations for a student of English to handle (others being: conducting and participating in meetings, giving presentations, and small talk at work).

This post was inspired by a seminar presented by Ms Kasiane Antona on the subject of ESP and coaching. Complete workshop results are available for download in a PDF form on her website: www.kasiane-antona.com

Prepare first

If you need to answer the telephone at work, it is always good to have a standard 'script' prepared, so that you can read the greeting and an appropriate standard reply off the page.
If possible, try practising your telephone skills with an English-speaking friend or your tutor.

During a call

Remember to speak slowly - especially if the caller speaks fast. People tend to mirror other people's speaking patters; there is a chance that the caller will slow down to adjust to you.
If you are not sure that you understood the caller correctly, repeat back to them what they said. For example:

'I understand that you would like to postpone the meeting till tomorrow'
'You would like to speak to...'
'If I understood you correctly....'

Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat or spell any names, place names, etc.
Agree to confirm arrangements by email to avoid any misunderstandings

When problems arise

Put the caller on hold for a short while to collect your thoughts.
If possible, ask an English-speaking colleague if you can forward 'difficult' calls to them. A native speaker of English will always be better equipped with dealing with a regional accent than a foreigner.

TIP: It is usually a bad idea to tell people that you can't understand their accent. A person's accent is an important part of their identity and they may be very offended by your remark.

When everything fails and you are in absolute panic

Blame a bad line (or poor reception on the mobile / cell phone)

'I'm terribly sorry, but the line is pretty bad; I can hardly hear you. Can I call you back?'
'I'm really sorry, but I can hardly hear you. Could you possibly send me an email?'

Want to practice your telephone skills with a tutor? Go to Ad_Lib English website and book a trial lesson.
You will also be able to do a FREE GRAMMAR test that will tell you how well you know English grammar.

VOCABULARY:

hands-on advice - practical advice. Someone who has hands-on experience of something has done or used it rather than just read or learned about it

'Many employers consider hands-on experience to be as useful as academic qualifications.' = Many employers think that practical experience (while actually doing the job) is as good as a university degree

small talk - conversation about things which are not important, often between people who do not know each other well.

'My boss came into the office and started asking me about my holidays and what I did during the weekend. I really didn't know what to say - I'm not very good at small talk.'

standard reply - a typical answer; what you normally say in such situations. For example, if somebody asks you 'How are you?' you reply 'I'm fine, thanks'.

to mirror - to copy, to imitate somebody's behaviour.

'People tend to mirror other people's speaking patters' = When you speak slowly they will imitate you and also speak slowly.

to postpone - to delay something, to put something off till later

'Initially we wanted to get married in November, but then we decided to postpone the wedding. We now are planning to get married next year.'

to forward a call - to put the call through to a different person

to blame (somebody or something) - to say or think that someone or something did something wrong or is responsible for something bad happening

'She blamed her husband for the accident' = She thought that the accident was her husband's fault.

LANGUAGE NOTE:

When we say 'I can hardly hear' we mean that we can hear very little, almost nothing.

How To Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Find free interactive activities for this post on our website

With the recession still raging and more and more people looking for employment, I thought it might be useful to publish another post about job interviews. I have just found another interesting video on the topic on Howcast and I thought I'd share it with you.

How To Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview on Howcast

Step 1: List your strengths

Determine what your strengths are. Include specific skills, like “proficient in HTML,” as well as general qualities, whether it’s being “a big-picture person” or having “great attention to detail.”

Step 2: Relate to the job

Now correlate each skill to the current opening. Think hard about how all of your abilities can be put to use at the position you want.

TIP: Ask friends and coworkers what they see as your strengths—their answers might help you see yourself in a new light.

Step 3: Prepare for questions

Prepare for difficult questions. If you quit your last job to follow a band on tour, be ready to put a positive spin on it—maybe you were considering writing a book about the experience rather than just goofing off

Step 4: Use a thesaurus

Get out the thesaurus and look for words to describe your attributes that aren’t as clichéd as “hard-working,” “dedicated,” and “team player.” Or else you might as well say, “I work hard, yadda yadda.”

Step 5: Think up examples

Come up with concrete examples of your attributes. For example, if you plan to say, “I’m a good manager,” be ready to follow it up with proof of how you spurred people into action.

TIP: During the interview, be confident but not cocky. Overconfidence is just as unappealing as its opposite.

Step 6: Turn negatives positive

Turn negatives into positives. If you’re asked why you only stayed at your last job for six months, say it was a bad fit and you didn’t want to remain where you felt you couldn’t do your best.

TIP: Don’t badmouth your former employer, no matter how tempting. You’ll look unprofessional and give the interviewer reason to suspect you’re difficult to work with.

Step 7: Own your weaknesses

If, despite all your preparation, a weakness is revealed during the interview, don’t panic. Owning your weaknesses can be a strength. Acknowledge them and say how you plan to overcome them.

If I could add one more piece of advice to the above-listed - or perhaps qualify something that has already been said - it would be to be extra careful when using a thesaurus. You don't want to sound like my favourite character from 'Everything is Illuminated' and get 'not so premium' results. ;)

Good luck with your job search! :)

VOCABULARY:

to determine - to discover the truth about something (a formal expression):

The doctors have not determined the cause of death yet = they haven't discovered what the patient died of.

proficient - very good at something; skilled and experienced

to correlate - to connect (a formal expression)

Smoking and heart disease are strongly correlated = there is a strong connection between smoking and heart disease (people who smoke have more chances of developing heart disease)

an opening - (in this context) a job opportunity

There's an opening for an editorial assistant in our department. = They are looking to employ an editorial assistant in our department.

to put a positive spin on something - to present it in a positive light, to present it as something good even if it isn't.
goofing off - being silly
clichéd words - words that are used too often and are therefore not original and not interesting
a spur - a sharp, metal, wheel-shaped object which is fixed to the heel of boots worn by people riding horses and is used to encourage the horse to go faster
to spur people into action - to get people motivated to do something
cocky - overconfident to the point of being rude
to remain - to stay (a formal expression)
to badmouth somebody - to criticise somebody in an unpleasant way

FREE E-BOOK - Crosswords 1: Vocabulary Revision for Cambridge KET

noreply@blogger.com (Ad_Lib English) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:59:00 +0000

I have just discovered a new online library service that allows you to publish your own content, as well as browse through loads of great e-books and magazines. It is called Yudu, and I have just published there our first book of crosswords 'Crosswords 1: Vocabulary Revision for Cambridge KET'. (click on the link to download)

Not many people know about Key English Test (KET). It is the first and the easiest in the range of tests offered by Cambridge ESOL. It is not half as popular as First Certificate in English (FCE), probably because it doesn't offer a certificate as such. The level of KET is probably too low for it to be recognised by any employers or educational establishments as a valid language qualification.

Obviously, Key English Test is not without its merits. It is certainly motivating for a beginner to be able to prepare for, and hopefully tackle, a Cambridge ESOL exam. It stresses the practical implementation of the acquired knowledge and skills, and students who have familiarised themselves with Key English and Preliminary English Tests (KET and PET) will probably have less trouble with the more advanced Cambridge ESOL exams such as FCE, CAE, and CPE.

Anyone interested Cambridge ESOL exams - or any other internationally recognised English language qualifications - will find more information on Ad_Lib English website.

We also offer 1-to-1 exam preparation courses for all of the listed exams and more.

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'Crosswords 1' is a rather versatile book, which - I am sure - will be useful to many people; not only those thinking of taking the Key English Test. The vocabulary covered ranges from very easy, such as colours, clothes, etc, to slightly more advanced, reaching up to pre-intermediate level. There is also a word index at the end of the book, which should be particularly useful for lesson preparation.

The topics include:

Colours
Sport and Leisure
Clothes and Accessories
Family
The Home
Appliances and Services
Time
Jobs and Work
Food
Shopping and Money
Documents and Texts
Body
Health
Buildings and Places We Live and Work
Travel and Transport
Communication, Culture and Entertainment

This publication can also be downloaded from Scribd.