English Mindset

Business English Topic – How to deal with Failure?

2011-05-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

The subject of failure has come across my mind various times these days and that prompted me to find out how successful business people deal with this abominable monster. For some of us failure is something to avoid at all times and this attitude precludes us from trying new ideas because of our innate fear to fail.
Successful business people, however, persevere past the blows of failure and quickly spring back to action. They are prone to find new ways to achieve their goals until they find a viable solution; for them failure is almost by default essential for success.
Please review the following excerpts from articles about failure and you will see how they all consider failure as an opportunity to succeed.
Please visit our blog for frequently for useful business.

Failures and Success
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/failures/
Failure as a Business Imperative
Many innovations have come through failure. Post-It notes came about because of glue that didn’t set right. Sam Walton was told he couldn’t make up his own sales at his Ben Franklin store so he quit and founded Wal-Mart. Henry Ford ran two automobile companies that failed before he got it right.
Edison said, “If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”
Failure is a beautiful thing. It leads to more chances to try something new

5 Secrets for Turning Failure In to Success
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/salesselling/a/failuresuccesrf.htm
Instead of viewing failure as something to be avoided, turn it into a "stepping-stone" on the path to success and gratification. In other words: Success is the destination. Failure is how you get there.
To achieve significant success in today's world, failure is not just a possibility. It's a requirement. We must see success and failure for what they truly are. They're not opposites, but instead opposite sides of the same coin.

How fear of failure destroys success
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/how-fear-of-failure-destroys-success.html
Trial and error are usually the prime means of solving life’s problems. Yet many people are afraid to undertake the trial because they’re too afraid of experiencing the error. They make the mistake of believing that all error is wrong and harmful, when most of it is both helpful and necessary. Error provides the feedback that points the way to success. Only error pushes people to put together a new and better trial, leading through yet more errors and trials until they can ultimately find a viable and creative solution. To meet with an error is not to fail, but to take one more step on the path to final success. No errors means no successes either.

NPR Interview:
The NPR interview that follows is with Tim Harford, a columnist with the Financial Times. I reviews his recent book "Adapt, Failure As An Option On The Way to Success"

Video about Chong-Moon Lee
http://www.ambex.com/management.htm

Chairman and CEO of AmBex Venture Group, LLC
Founder, CEO, Chairman and Chairman Emeritus of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.
Chong-Moon Lee founded Diamond Multimedia Systems in 1982, which later achieved the No. 1 ranking in revenue and market share for PC graphics accelerator product in America (by IDC Computer Industry report, 1995). Diamond Multimedia was ranked 17th and 18th fastest growing privately held company in America for 1993 and 1994 on the Inc. business magazine's 500 fastest growing company list, and as the 8th fastest growing privately-held company in Silicon Valley by the Business Journal of San Jose in 1993. As the sole founder, it took 13 years of struggles to take the company to its successful IPO in early 1995. In 1996 he started another high technology venture company under the name of AmBex Venture Group. Since then, active investments have been made in the areas of wireless communication, voice over IP applications, internet infrastructures, network security and multimedia applications.

Watch it on Academic Earth

Wonderful Destinations: Peru and Canada (part 2 of 2)

2011-05-06T23:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome back I hope you enjoyed your Peruvian tour on part 1! Now let's get ready to start exploring Beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

The natural diversity of British Columbia is second to none. BC is a wonderland for people who seek opportunities for exploration and adventure. No matter where you go in BC you will be close to lush rainforests, wildlife, supernatural sceneries, and most importantly remarkable people. You will appreciate the well kept balance between men and the environment where conservation, ecology and respect for nature go hand in hand with its development. Visit this site for an awesome outlook of this great Canadian province: http://www.hellobc.com/
We will also take you to Vancouver, the third largest city in Canada a place of elegance and sophistication. This modern city impresses its visitors with an spectacular natural setting; the rugged Coast Mountains across the Lion’s Gate Bridge to the north and the waters of the Georgia Strait to the west. Discover Vancouver with your own eyes by clicking on this link http://pretravel.vancouver.com/ . After watching these spectacular panorama pictures and presentation you will have reasons to believe why Vancouver is the world’s most favourite destination.
Please watch the three videos below and read their audio transcripts to improve your listening comprehension skills. You will find more travel videos on our website’s video corner: http://www.englishmindset.com/apps/videos/ Enjoy the videos:
You Gotta Be Here!

Life is a journey, It’s all about chasing your dreams… it's an amazing adventure that can take you anywhere your heart desires. It may take a lot of twists and turns, but the then around the bend; there it is! And that is when you realize that it doesn’t get any better than this. We show that to the world, this is our province, this is our playground, and this is the better place on earth! In the spirit of 2010, now more than ever, you gotta be here, you gotta be here, you gotta be here! This summer explore supernatural British Columbia.

Whistler Beyond Winter

My Name is Munro Duncan, people here in Whistles call me Munny. I have lived here for 18 years and we are out here on Lost Lake. This is definitively a 4 season’s town. Every season you have here, you can do pretty much anything you need to do, to get your outdoor fix. This is definitively one of the best areas to come for people who don’t have a lot of experience, say ha… hiking or running or mountain biking…. (Vincent Massey, resident) Hey! The thing that is so unique about Whistler and one of the reasons I keep on living here year after year is that this is a winter town for six months of the year and for the other 6 months it’s a mountain bike town. A lot of these trails, they end up; up at lakes, so I am behind this here that is Lost Lake, some of them are cross country trails, some of them are high alpine trails. You could show up in Whistler with absolutely nothing to do with mountain biking; no equipment, no gear, no knowledge of mountain biking and take a clinic, a one week long clinic if you want. You could hire a guide for the day that will take you all over town ….(A couple of mountain bikers) We are from Colorado, so we are of kind of touring BC and just checking out all the bike trails, this place is unreal, there in no where else like this place its absolutely awesome. (back to Vincent Massey) If mountain biking is not up you alley, then trail running is by far the best way to go. Get off the pavement and out into one of these trails and you cannot not beat it…. (Keith) My name is Keith, I am from Southern California, I am here on vacations. This morning I just went out for a nice jog and it has been a great morning. In know other places where there is, you know, hundred of thousands of tourists you kind expect to be run down, but this is just awesome….(David Udow Ziptrek Ecotours) Hi, I am David Udow from Ziptrek Ecotours … (lady’ voice) scoot around please and I get you set your cleats in here…You are ready to rock! …. Ziptrek Ecotours is a great opportunity for people to come out to Whistler and enjoy the majesty of the beautiful rainforest environment that we have.-- We run 365 days a year, we bring people literally of all ages shapes and sizes. Our youngest guest are typically around 6 years old and they get right up into to their 90’s! Whistler is awesome you have to come here; you got to enjoy all the things it offers because it is more than what you would expect.
Gas Town From Old to Hip

On Water Street here, we have seen a real revival of Gas Town, from the tourist area to a residential district and a real street life here in Gas Town… (John Atkin – Tour Guide) We are standing on Maple Tree Square behind me is Captain Jack Dayton also popularly know as Gassy Jack ….(Nadia Cabrera & Dr. Jaqueline Correa - Tourists) We are looking for the clubs to dance, to see the nice people here in Gas Town; its something new for us – its really nice so far… (John Fluevog Designer & Owner, John Fluevog Shoes) I sell my shoes in different places of North America, Australia, we sell a bit in Europe and here and there; but it all does in fact comes out from Vancouver, British Columbia which seems like and odd place for shoe design to come from, but odd things do happen… (Salt Tasting Room) We are tucked in Blood Alley, you just have to look for a flag that has a salt shaker on it. People are really open to our suggestions, wanting to try specifically BC wines, a lot of local fair and we are happy to offer that. (Kurtis Kolt, General manger, Salt Tasting Room) The chalk board behind me is the focus itself --- there are 10 cheeses, 10 cured meats, 10 condiments. What people do is choose cheese, meats and condiments; we pair wines with them and let you have at her… (tourist speaking in their native languages with captions in English)
[Transcripts made by Cesar Macher]

Wonderful Destinations: Peru and Canada (part 1 of 2)

2011-05-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

Dear student, this is a series of two postings related to our Travel English conversation studies.
On the first part we will show you 4 videos of Peruvian travel destinations together with their corresponding audio transcripts so that you can watch the video scenes and also read along for better comprehension.
We recommend that you watch the video first without reading the text, then read the text and watch the video again. Afterwards you may wish to listen as you read for a few times and finally read the text as if you were the announcer yourself!
We will show you places in Lima, the Inca trails, Machu Picchu and the famous Santa Catalina convent in Arequipa.
On the second part of this series, we will take a long jump across the skies heading north and land in British Columbia, Canada! Likewise the transcripts will be there for you to read along and practice your English.
Please visit our video corner on our website; there you will find a collection of similar videos to help you improve your English! Here is the link:

http://www.englishmindset.com/apps/videos/

Please fasten your seat-belts and let your imagination take you to the wonders of Peru!
Lima-Peru

Script from the YouTube site.
Lima, Its the capital city of Peru, and the only large city on the Pacific coast of South America.
With 8 million people living in the rain shadow cast by the Andes mountain range, Lima is the second largest desert city in the world, behind Cairo in Egypt.
Its now considered the gastronomic capital of the continent, with Peruvians proud to show off their unique cuisine.
Dozens of restaurants serve the national dish ceviche, using lime juice to cook raw fish and seafood.. Its also the birthplace of the novo andino movement that combines ancient Inca ingredients with the latest trends in high cuisine, and Lima now has the most cooking schools of any city in the world, with trainee chefs eager to learn the trade.
A string of gardens connect the financial, cultural and tourist areas of the city, leading down to the Parque del Amor at the top of cliffs overlooking the beaches and rolling surf of the Pacific coastline.
Paragliders float over the heads of surfers and fishermen who brave the rich cool waters of the Humboldt current for its abundant seafood.
Located on Perus central coast, Lima was founded by Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and was originally known as the City of Kings.
Colonial and Republican architecture adorn its streets plazas and churches, from the Cathedral and Presidential Palace on the main square, to the convent and catacombs of nearby San Francisco.
UNESCO declared Limas historic center a World Heritage Site in 1988.
The city guards its pre-Columbian past. The pyramids of Pucllana seem to sprout up from the heart of a wealthy suburb, and the mud city of Pachacamac lies a short distance away on the southern edge of Lima.
These ancient monuments stand in contrast to the cutting edge skyscrapers in the financial district.
The Inca Trail-Tambomachay, Peru

Script from the YouTube site:
ot far from Puca Pucara, on the road from Cusco to the Sacred Valley, Tambomachay combines intricate stonework with the Incas devotion to water.
Known as the Baths of the Incas, a number of aqueducts and channels run through the site. But the focal point is a string of carefully designed waterfalls, which split spring water into a series of cascades
that fall in such a precise and delicate manner that its believed they were built as part of a water cult.
The trapezoidal niches on the high terrace and off to the side of the waterfall are among the most highly crafted stone constructions left by the Incas.
The precision of the falls is matched by a similar water feature at Ollantaytambo, but the Incas also showed great control over water for more practical purposes.
Their use of stone irrigation channels to feed agricultural terraces around Cusco and the Sacred Valley allowed them to grow abundant crops at high altitudes, something previous Andean cultures never achieved.
Fertur Peru Travel.
A full service travel agency and tour operator dedicated to making your journey to Peru a dream come true.
Machu Picchu - Cuzco, Peru

Script transcribed by Cesar Macher
Invisible from below and completely self contained in the Andes Mountains of Peru, few words can capture the beauty of Machu Picchu. This travel video postcard was contributed by Venessa Velles.
Perched on a mountain ridge at almost 8,000 feet the ancient Inca site is enigmatic and spectacular. Climb the steep Inca Trail to Machu Picchu if you are up to it, or ride the tourist bus that wines from Aguas Calientes. If you descend by foot don’t forget to stretch when you reach the bottom, your legs will thank you the next morning. Arrive before dawn and don’t be disappointed by the fog. The ruins and surrounding peaks reveal themselves as the fog lifts and steal your breath away! Marvel at the genius of the ancient builders, in truth no cam or camera can do justice to Machu Picchu. Inspiring and timeless yet almost forgotten until its rediscovery in 1911, this magnificent site, is a place not to be missed.
Santa Catalina Convent - Arequipa, Peru

Script from the YouTube website.
Santa Catalina Convent is one of South Americas most prominent religious establishments, a city within a city famous for its astounding architecture and its brightly painted walls, murals and religious artworks.
Located in Perus second largest city, Arequipa, the convent was founded in 1580.
During its first 300 years, Santa Catalina was a refuge for unmarried daughters of wealthy Spanish families who paid a dowry for inclusion into the Catholic order.
But instead of keeping to vows of poverty, the nuns kept servants and slaves and lived lavish lifestyles. In 1871, the Pope sent Sister Josefa Cadena to put things right. She did so by sending most of the daughters of nobility back to Spain, setting the slaves and servants free and giving them the choice of staying on as nuns.
The walled-in convent, covering an area of almost 30 thousand square meters, was opened to the public in 1970. Visitors can stroll the streets and cloisters and appreciate this masterpiece of colonial architecture.

The Internet to overtake television as the biggest advertiser.

2011-04-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

On this posting we present a sample topic for discussion with our advanced Business English students. Topic: The future of Internet Advertising.

The internet is bound to overtake television to become the biggest advertising media, and as the online social networks boom joins the mix, their combined impact will again be revolutionary.
Success in online shopping for consumer goods is one of the areas that internet advertisers have helped develop as an alternative to the traditional brick and mortar experience. The growth of online shopping has attracted more marketers to join as they find creative ways to make online features more attractive, thus bringing consumers closer to the products they help promote.
The change is irreversible and these days millions shop from the convenience of their homes, saving them time to spend on other more important tasks and hobbies. In addition, our new consumer trends also help us save energy as more automobiles remain parked in their garages rather than on their way to and from the mall.
Despite the enjoyment lost in making social connections when one shops online, the increasing threat of cyber fraud, the unwanted solicitations and the use of consumer information for purposes other than the trade of goods and services; online shopping and the symbiotic relationship with internet advertisers is here to stay.

Image: Salvatore Vuono /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This month English Mindset features a company that I stumbled upon on Twitter. Their video advertizing concept combines the interaction between internet advertizing and online social networks. This extremely creative company, which you will realize simply by visiting their website, gives you great insights of what the future of internet promotional flicks will be like.
Their short introductory video contrasts the differences between conventional TV-type ads found on the internet these days with the new "shared-video" advertising style they propose; an approach that would make the old rules of TV-style commercials obsolete.
They are called Epiheo Studios here is their link http://www.epipheostudios.com/
Note: Their name “Epiheo”, derives from the combination of the words epiphany and video. Epiphany meaning the sudden, intuitive perception or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience. As per definition on Dictionary.com

Cheers to William and Kate!

2011-04-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

If you have not yet received an invitation for the nuptial service, chances are that you are not one of the 1,900 some selected UK and world dignitaries, senior politicians or celebrities who will be attending this century’s most pompous wedding ceremony. On April 29, 2011 the Royal couple Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton will say “I do”; witnessed by the privileged guests and observed by millions of TV spectators around the world.
Countless royal subjects and fans of the crown have joined a lively countdown for this magical fairytale story. Heartfelt outburst of admiration erupt as if temporarily isolating them from the hardships of natural calamities, nuclear meltdowns, wars, and horrendous human rights violations that plague our planet and that affects us all.
To make sure that the world tunes for the event the city of London is preparing for an onslaught of 8,000 journalists heavily equipped with cameras, microphones and far reaching antennas. They are all competing for a strategic locations on top of buildings and view sites between the Buckingham Palace and the Westminster Abbey . They have promised to bring to the world the most spectacular television event in history and the masses expect nothing but the best. A media frenzy that will start with royal wedding procession across the most memorable and picturesque surroundings in London will climax with the wedding itself.
As a conscientious observer of the occasion, I wish that when the excitement subsides and reality takes its reign, the wedding and the subsequent story of their glamorous lives does not downgrade itself into a forgotten footnote of contemporary history. The philanthropic legacies left by Princess Diana should inspire this couple to return with deeds for those who suffer; and preserve the confidence we place on them through our encouragement and continuous support. Cheers to William and Kate!
--------
Note: The official Google blog has spectacular 3D images of London's landscape of the procession from the palace to the abbey. It is worth a visit. The video clip below features there as well.

Geishas of the Yohkiroh

2011-04-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

The Geisha -
A Film by Hideo Gosha; a winner of 9 Japanese academy awards.
Released: 1983 - based on a novel by Tomiko Miyao - the script by Kôji Takada.
The story takes place at the beginning of the Showa era (1925) in Tosa, Koichi prefecture; where there is a palace of sensual and beautiful woman: the Yohkiroh. The story centers around Momokawa who was sold to the Yohkiroh at the age of 12 by her father - there she starts her journey to a place in hell where hundreds just like her, struggle to bloom behind the glamorous veneer of their polished ways, but inevitable bend to wilt in the heat of their passionate lives...
Hideo Gosha portrays the Geishas of the Yohkiroh very unlike many historians who depict them as living work of art: the image of the perfect woman, the embodiment of Japanese culture and refinement. On Gosha's film they drink and dance burlesque western rhythms; and to the dismay of many purist have sex with their clients.
Geishas have generally not been prostitutes. Part of their allure has been the suggestion not the reality of sex. However, on occasion, if the mood, the man and the money were right, they sold their bodies or served as mistresses to wealthy men who took care of them, but they are not supposed to utter one word about it. Follow this link if you wish to learn more about geishas.

Enough is ENOUGH!

2011-02-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

Considered as a cradle of civilization the Middle East has been a place of constant change. This year marked by colossal social unrest, the region has dominated the news headlines throughout the world (where news are not censored).
Humanity is at the harbingers of a new era of hope; where true democratic values based on our human rights will not be taken for granted by tyrant states, embezzling corporations, corrupt entities or criminals of all stirps.
People across the Middle East have stopped to be silent, history is unfolding before our eyes and we are hearing the same message across their land very loud and clear – Enough is enough!
Proud and at the center stage are the courageous people of these ancient lands that once again will lead humanity to a genuine rebirth of our civilization and add true meaning to our universal human rights.
To mark this awakening I have selected two videos about our human rights. The third one shows a chronological map of the evolution of the Middle East since the onset of civilization.

Imperial History of the Middle East
Who has controlled the Middle East over the course of history? Pretty much everyone. Egyptians, Turks, Jews, Romans, Arabs, Persians, Europeans...the list goes on. Who will control the Middle East today? That is a much bigger question.

How to Give an Effective Business Presentation

2011-02-22T00:51:00.000-08:00

This week you will learn how to make effective Business Presentations and to create a powerful business case.
The video is a courtesy of Howcast as featured in YouTube, and the slideshow presentation at the bottom from DocStoc. We recommend both sites to all our Business English students.
Note to our students: you will find the text of the video beneath the video frame; please read the text a few times and then watch the video for better retention. - Cheers and happy learning!

Text:

Keep your palms dry and your audience alert with these tips.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Visuals

Handouts

Practice

And a strong closing statement

Red visuals (optional) (optional)

And tongue twisters

Step 1: Focus

As you prepare, focus on your main points, and illustrate each one with a visual aid, which can be anything from PowerPoint slides to a flip chart to sample products. Studies show that people's minds begin to wander after 10 minutes of passive listening.

Step 2: Clean up your visuals

Go for a minimalist look in your visuals; educational psychologists have found that the fewer words and pictures you have on a visual, the more your audience will remember.

Tip: Use the color red; psychologists say it's the color most quickly noticed and easily remembered.

Step 3: Use handouts

Prepare handouts that list all your main points. This will make it easier for the audience to follow along, and people will pay better attention if they don't feel pressure to take notes.

Step 4: Practice

Practice your speech as much as you can -- in the mirror, with a friend or coworker, or in front of a video camera.

Step 5: Check your surroundings

Before your presentation, familiarize yourself with the room you'll be using. Make sure you have all the equipment you need, that it works properly, and that you know how to use it.

Step 6: Visualize success

Imagine your presentation going well. Research shows that visualizing success can help you make it happen.

Tip: Do some tongue twisters before you take the stage; it's a favorite trick of speech-givers to loosen up.

Step 7: Position yourself correctly

Stand to the left of the screen or your flip chart from the viewpoint of the audience, making it easier for them to see the material.

Tip: Take a step toward the audience when you want to emphasize something; it unconsciously signals them to pay special attention.

Step 8: Have a strong close

Save your most memorable lines for your close, because that is what your audience will remember most when the presentation is over.

Preparing and Presenting an Effective Business Case.

Preparing and Presenting an Effective Business Case Presentation ... -

Welcome Georgina Hudson

2011-02-16T22:52:00.000-08:00

English mindset is joyous to announce that Georgina Hudson has joined our instructor’s team. She has specialized in adult education and believes that teachers should lead by their example. She has a passion for helping students achieve their learning objectives and believes that radiating happiness is the most effective way to deliver; a trait that comes built in her professional demeanor. We are certain that Ms. Hudson will make significant contributions to English Mindset. Like us, she is also the type that makes every minute count because our accomplishments are based on our shared belief that success is happening right now!

Bio: Born and raised in Argentina within an Anglo-Argentine family, she got her College Degree in Teaching English at the Profesorado Nacional de Rosario in 1997. She’s specialized in teaching adults ever since. She has worked in Argentina, France and England. She taught Franco-African children in Paris with no knowledge of the Spanish or English language encouraging everyone to speak in the target language at all times. This proved how effective teaching methods can be even when there has been no contact with the new language. While living in London, she got her Certificate in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and upon getting her certificate, she became an International House teacher, one of the most respectable language schools worldwide with a strong global presence and a high reputation for innovative and quality teaching. Convinced that teachers should be excellent communicators who inculcate happiness and a passion for learning through creative and innovative activities, she embarked on the completion of her Neurolinguistic Programming PractitionerCertificate at Instituto Argentino de Formación e Investigación last year. She runs a consulting firm which specialises in “in-company teaching and learning” implementing the academic program, managing the teaching team, displaying a flexible bespoke teaching approach, handling testing and liasing with training departments. Among her publications are “Teaching English at University level: How to Make it a Memorable Experience when Reading Comprehension and Grammar Instruction Prevail” Humanising Language Teaching Magazine, UK, Jan / Feb 2011 issue, ISSN 1755-9715 and her teaching blogs at the BBC & British Council. These articles have been frequently chosen and recommended by the editor. Her main areas of professional interest are how adults learn and developing hands-on curriculum that reaches every student learning style and ability. Georgina is fond of modern dance lessons, yoga and drama classes.

Trafalgar Square: photo remix permitted. original by Alex Dawson - (Creative Commons)

Playing for Change and the musicians from La Garriga

2011-02-16T01:22:00.000-08:00

This post is about the Playing for Change Foundation.
They started their activities about 10 years ago from a group of documentary filmmakers who had the idea to film music from people out in the streets. What started as a small project today has grown into a global movement; they are dedicated to connect people from all over the world through music. One of their main objectives is to help people by bringing hope through music and education. Please visit their site at http://playingforchange.org/ and find out how they make a difference.
By the way, the last video on this post was not filmed by Playing for Change; instead it was put together by musicians from La Garriga, a town 35 Km away from Barcelona. Their intention was not to intentionally copy the initiative from the original filmmakers; they only wanted to add to their cause through the universal language that anyone understands: music.
Now sit back and enjoy their music - you may want to get involved...

Welcome María Salaberry

2011-02-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires (Bkgd - Luis Argerich - Creative Commons)

English Mindset is proud to announce that Ms María Salaberry of Bahía Blanca, Argentina, has joined our teaching staff. She brings with her many years of experience teaching English to executives and professionals of prestigious corporation. She is a real agent of change and we are sure that her work will have a significant impact on her students' education and careers.

As a Sworn Translator from La Plata University in Argentina, María began her career in 1979 at the National Research Council helping in the edition of scientific papers and the organization of international seminars and conferences. Upon getting a Post Graduate Degree in Education she was also hired to provide in-company language training for professionals and executives at prestigious global companies doing business in South America, also assisting them with legal and technical documentation as well as business video conference sessions. She works as a free-lance translator and interpreter mostly in topics related to exports, business, finance, engineering, medical science, human resources and education and teaches English at Universidad Nacional del Sur. Getting involved in various educational, art and cultural exchange programs, such as the Bahía Blanca-Jacksonville Sister Cities Association, which she has chaired for the past 3 yrs has been a passion. With interests varying from tango dancing to travelling, cycling and swimming, she is the proud mother of two under-graduate university students. Helping develop effective communication at all levels has always been her main professional focus.

Bahía Blanca - by J. Allermann.

Do you have the mindset?

2011-02-11T04:54:00.000-08:00

By Alex Juorio

A Letter to prospective instructors.
It may seem a bit unusual for a career consultant in engineering & business development to make an unusual turn and start something totally new.
As absurd as it may look to you, my paradigm shift happened as a consequence of being dissatisfied foot-soldier-on-demand, a mercenary of sorts. I am not complaining for I had my share of joys: a few “hired-gun-solution” trophies here and handful of “problem-solver-sniper-shooter” medals there. Yes, the front lines are always thrilling and packed with action; it is indeed a place for the tough! But my traveling adventures reached a point that I told myself that being a lone warrior was not enough and that my time to change had come. So here I am back in Tokyo close to my family after having roamed the world; I am now starting a new chapter in my life.
English Mindset has been “brewing” for a long time and it was not until early November of 2010 that I decided to virtually lock myself up and promised not to leave my office until I had it done; on January 8th 2011 a new website went on-line.
We all have seen ventures start and then vanish, why? There are numerous reasons, some say that start-ups fail for a lack of a mission, a myopic vision or because of both. Sometimes they go under because of bad leadership or bad financing or are forced to close by catastrophic events of which one has no control. There are so many reasons and many more excuses. On the other side of the spectrum, there are other ventures that flourish and become prosperous, but why?
I feel that most entrepreneurs are obsessed with making a sizeable “bottom line” as their ultimate goal. The minute they start to deviate from that course they loose their bearings, they panic and finally succumb.
Giving extreme consideration to only one, but important metric: the “bottom line” misses the broader picture. But such is the “status-quo” that prefers to maintain a very simplistic but universally accepted misconception: that 2 is greater than 1, but 3 is greater than 2 and 1 and thus is better than either one! Unfortunately that is how most have been indoctrinated to think. Many tend to tag a price to success and sneer at those who made less. That is why people loose contact with the real value behind the numbers. But, let’s recall Oscar Wilde adage: "A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” This is so true and we must not loose sight of it.
As an MBA, I was trained to snap my whip with the most effective management techniques. Arrogantly I thought I had mastered the sciences that maximized the proverbial bottom line – I unmistakable “knew” the course and took command. Invincible, I graduated to conquer the world – “vini, vidi, vici, stand asside I am Cesar”!

ByTom

But today, decades after, I stand deeply humbled by my former arrogance and narrow mindedness; for I have witnessed and shared the disastrous consequences when corporations packed with gurus much “better” than myself went under!
I have transformed myself from a foot-soldier into a Naval Commander! Today I am set to steer our course on the right direction – I think to have learned a few good lessons! But we must be careful to avoid following the crowds that set sail only to seek for "Paradise Island" and her "forbidden treasures" or the types that brag about their bottom line as their ultimate destination.
Now as you stand out there considering joining our fleet, I will ask you to promise one thing before you make that commitment:
Please make every minute of your journey counts because our accomplishments are based on our shared belief that success is happening right now!

Who are we?
English Mindset is an Internet platform where students of the English language and instructors meet and the results of that interaction translates into a value added experience for the student and the instructor. We will provide the infrastructure so you have all the resources to plan and conduct your classes successfully. But this is not a job for anyone; to become an instructor at English Mindset you must buy into our values.
Allow me to explain:

You must be a firm believer that you are an agent of change. That your work will have a significant impact on your students and consequently your efforts will help them improve their lives.
We aim to create long term relationships based on trust, respect, tolerance and kindness. We equally offer the same respect to all those who come within our sphere of influence for we don’t take our values for granted, we act on them.

What is in it for you at English Mindset?

A place where you can stand tall for being amongst those who like you, care for others and want to make a real impact
Become part of an international community of instructors who collaborate to make us all successful; a true culture of synergy where the sum of our collective efforts produce greater results than sum of our individual(istic) efforts, that is 1 + 1 > 2
You will be able share your work related experiences, your joys and struggles with the world and learn from that. Our blog, website and social media channels are open for you to express your thoughts and broadcast your goodwill.
You will be able to earn money to support your livelihood, but equally important you will also be able to help those who cannot afford to pay for our programs. These persons will be able to access the same tools we use to teach our paying students and all that from within our own website.
At English Mindset you will find an environment that is conducive to continuous learning and discovery; where trustworthiness is our common currency.

If you look around our websites you can already begin to see sings that we are working to fill those expectations; please visit our video channels, our self-study corner and our soon to be expanded page for featured sites and blogs.
It is not our intention to become a one stop destination for all the English language needs, but we will at least offer our visitors veritable information and point them in the right direction when they seek our help.
Finally, as we learn to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses we will be able to proactively draw from our reserves to solve our problems when setbacks occur.
I also believe that we are all capable of continuously strengthening our significant others through our own example, and as you become an advocate of our shared goodwill, you will understand why the path to success is effectively now and the rest is a forgone conclusion.
Welcome on board!

A virtual trip to London!

2011-02-04T23:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,
Today English Mindset is going to take you on a virtual trip to London! We will visit three magnificent places; so please relax and enjoy the trip. The picture of the Royal Albert Hall at the bottom of this page, is an spherical image - try spinning the picture with your mouse on full screen mode - it is simply hallucinating! Enjoy your tour!
Buckingham Palace:
The Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the heart of the London borough of the City of Westminster, close to the historic Westminster Abbey and the government buildings of Whitehall and Downing Street.
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable the world over. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage. Each year it hosts more than 350 performances including classical concerts, rock and pop, ballet and opera, tennis, award ceremonies, school and community events, charity performances and lavish banquets. (source Wikipedia)

PanPublish Postorama of Buckingham Palace supplied by Panoramic Earth

Panorama of Palace of Westminster supplied by Panoramic Earth

Panorama of Royal Albert Hall - Inside supplied by Panoramic Earth

Welcome Ana Maria Beeck

2011-02-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

English Mindset is proud to announce that Ms Ana Maria Beeck of Miami Florida has joined our teaching staff. She is a native speaker of English, however since the age of three she has had the opportunity to enrich her life by living in various countries where she learned Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French.
Her capacity to communicate cross-culturally is second to none; she is a firm believer that the English language has attained a unifying role in its ability to make people around the world understand each other better.
We are absolutely delighted to have you with us and we hope that you find English Mindset a place where you will find great pleasure helping others improve their English speaking abilities.

Bio: Ana was born in the US but her journey into living and working in different countries began at the age of 3… She is a native English, Spanish and Portuguese speaker, is fluent in Italian and understands French. Throughout her career she used her language skills to effectively communicate with nationals of different countries and backgrounds. After working in the corporate world for many years she now enjoys teaching, transcribing and translating from the shores of Miami, Florida. She also teaches a self-healing, expansion of consciousness seminar on-line (www.isha.com). She holds a JD and a Masters in International Management and Finance.
Here is a short video of the Isha Judd System that claims to be a "revolutionary method that creates an internal experience of peace, joy and unconditional love." and from where Ana Maria teaches people to attain internal beauty.

Welcome Beth Sarla Persky

2011-01-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

English Mindset is proud to announce that Ms. Beth Sarla Persky of Santa Fe, New Mexico has joined our teaching staff. Her passion to help others succeed in life is evident from her work-life trajectory. Our association with Beth will strengthen our ability to reach more people from diverse cultural backgrounds who seek the English language as a tool for a better future. Together we feel that by helping others speak better English we are effectively closing the communication gap that separates people.

Beth has a stellar academic background that begins with a Political Science B.A. from the university of Michigan and graduate degrees in the following areas:

· M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Illinois at Chicago

· M.A in International Relations from Tufts University Fletcher School of Law

· Juris Doctor Degree from Boston University.

She has been practicing immigration law since the early 1990s and has worked in Washington state, southern California, Oregon and now New Mexico. Beth teaches legal studies on-line for Kaplan University. In her spare time Beth likes to ski and dance. Beth traveled to Brazil in December and is currently working on her Portuguese. She has traveled and lived in Europe and Latin America.

Please visit her web site at bethspersky.com to learn about the immigration and naturalization services she offers.

The Road Ahead is Still Dark (part 2)

2011-01-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

by: Ken Banks http://bit.ly/h1ZrUE

I apologize for not making proper introduction on my first posting Last week we heard from:
Mr. Jason Ball - Project Manager IT Infrastructure, Consulting at GoodPeople Japan
And from:
Mr. Andrew Brown - Senior Partner at Brown and Takezawa
Washington D.C. Metro Area Government Relations
this week more fuel was added by the auspices of:
Mr. Tamas Gecse - B.Sc. ITIL / ISMS / JPLT1
Experienced ITIL/ISMS/Project Management Professional, Japan Management Consulting
Here is the last part of this blog but please do not feel discouraged to rekindle the fire because I have plenty of mash-mellows in stock to enjoy with anyone who wishes to join and sit by the fire!

------ xxxxx ------

Tamas Gecse
Good reporting. The situation is grim, and is getting grimmer by the day.
The Japanese government must stop firefighting and provide incentives to corporations to retain their operation in Japan. It is the same issue what the US faces with the undervalued Chinese currency.
Cesar Macher
That is not happening Tamas (firefighting to protect their "amakudari" interests is what they do)... since Junichiro Koizumi's failed economic reforms there has been systematic dumping of young graduates into to the temporary agencies lanes. These days, as reported on the article, 4 out 10 graduate seeking the job market are guided into a low wages future on a ever growing aging society. Manufacturing continues on exodus mode.
Tamas Gecse
You are absolutely right Cesar. The japanese people were not represented by a japanese government since the end of world war 2. The japanese government was simply a beneficial segment of society of the hard work japanese people for many decades. The Koizumi government's reforms were not aiming at to improve the life of the hardworking, tax-paying japanese people, but to improve the chances of a continued LDP rule. Koizumi has eventually made the japanese salary-man redundant. He has ensured, that Japan will never be Japan again. I am sadened, that his son is now also in the government (corruption at its best)! Father and son politics reminds me of North-Korea! The damage is done and Japan never will be the same again. Thank you Koizumi family and thank you all time japanese government.
Cesar Macher
Greetings Tamas, I have made an entry on my blog about the matter; here is the link: http://bit.ly/hOv0V3 . I feature a commentary by Andrew Brown from Washington DC that signals to the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel; he is very insightful and worth reading! I'd be glad if you post your opinion on my blog.
Have a good day. - Cesar
Tamas Gecse
Hi Cesar! I have read the blog. Indeed very insightful and full of bright thoughts. Yet sadly, I need to disagree with Andrew.
"While I agree that the transition away from life time employment and early hiring is going to be both painful and protracted I believe that the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel is getting closer."
I think we are transitioning away from employment itself and not the form of it. (Life-time or non life-time). I think jobs and wealth are migrating to new geographic locations, and they were never ment to stay in one place. With the advent of globalization we have made wealth and job opportunities mobile, and you hear quite often even from politicians that some jobs will never come back. Yes, we are in a tunnel, yes there is light on the end of it, if you are willing to be mobile yourself, and follow the tunnel which ever country it might take you.
This is a one way process, and as manufacturing and export is one of the greatest pillars supporting the Japanese society, without it I cannot imagine today's Japan.
What do you think?

Michele Ahin http://bit.ly/hSCzNS

Cesar Macher
Thanks for asking where I stand Tamas. I am about to cut the discussion right in the middle between where you and Andrew stand. I hope that by doing that I will not be left standing under the sword of Damocles ready to split me in half for being conciliatory!
What we are observing in Japan these days is the accelerated crumbling of the most powerful manufacturing economy left in the “first world” – (I don’t think I’m too off the mark.)
The manufacturing exodus is so fast and new fledgling service economy replacing the old is so weak that it is not reabsorbing the workforce of thousands who could not catch their planes to follow, as you mentioned, their old jobs to wherever is they went.
Structural unemployment is the fancy word coined by economists that affect thousands of unemployable workers who lack the skills, education, experience, plus a few esoteric Japanese reasons based on age or gender that defines it. Realistically most will not make it back to the workforce meaningfully.
I wish I knew where we are heading for it seems that the manufacturing exodus is damaging the county more that it can take it. The value that justifies mere advantages gained by corporations investing in cheap labor elsewhere cannot longer be understood or measured in terms of return on investment or the bottom line. The world needs to move away from monetary gains as only measure of success… British politicians and intellectuals are talking a lot about “happiness” these days, a serious topic… money will soon be old fashioned!
Returning to our discussion, structural unemployment amalgamates the “structurally unemployable” masses created by the manufacturing vacuum. But what about the 4 out of 10 college graduates who are the ones best honed to succeed in the brave new world of services? Where do we place them, how do we define them? Sardonically, of course, these 40% will effectively end up in the service economy all right; that is, servicing as waitresses, part time office staffers, at gas stations or counters of 100 yen shops full of goods made in sweatshops throughout Asia!
As an optimist I will borrow Mr. Brown’s perspective now and hope that he is right in saying that the new service economy will eventually pick up the slack and produce jobs for everyone who was left behind in the wash. On top of that, I also wish that there will be enough resources left to provide dignified social services for the “structurally handicapped jobless-survivors” of today, who by then would have been aggregated to the aging group category… thank goodness that we are not discussing that today!
Furthermore I will have to rely on faith, (and read my thoughts on that) so that the subsequent governments will selflessly work to embrace policies that increase innovation and the knowledge base required to continue making world class products, and not the Galapagos sort that go no where else, plus the advanced services that will lead Japan to continuous prosperity.
Tamas Gecse
Cesar, I enjoy reading your post. They are much more insightful, deep-thinking, and enjoyable than most news magazines. You and David (Andrew) B. are some of the few who still know how to write this way.
Me, I always need to visualize what I am thinking about. As to Japan, I picture a bathtub, in which the water is getting quite old, and many hands pulling its plug. This hands are politicians and profit quizzing corporations. I do not blame them, all of us would do the same in their place. But I don't think that it can end in a rosey situation.
Jobless aging Japan will need to end in a huge and lasting social change, which will not happen in the usual quiet manner, but with a big bang. On the End there will be simply no where left to retreat for the Japanese salaryman or unemployed carreer-starter just a social upheaval.

The Road Ahead is Still Dark

2011-01-22T01:50:00.000-08:00

Picture by Fernado de Souza (flickr-yahoo) - Looking Glass http://bit.ly/gZTxbz

Being the father of an almost graduating University student in Tokyo, an article by Ms. Rie Ishiguro of Reuters-Tokyo - caught my attention a few days ago.

This prompted me to start a discussion at LinkedIn which I named "The Road Ahead is Still Dark". It pertains to unemployment conditions for young university graduates in Japan. Dismally 4 out of 10 youth are not hired on their first attempt to join the workforce making them virtually not eligible to pursue higher paying careers as they will be stomped by the graduating crowds following right behind. This follows the traditional mass recruiting practices of university graduates reminiscing from pre-bubble glory of Japan-Inc. that still pervades in the system. As a result a student that has fallen once, is virtually doomed to follow the staff-agency carousel of jobs that leads them into an unpromising future of temporary assignments and very low wages.

The discussion starts with the mentioned article. A this point it has reached a very insightful Analysis made by Mr. Andrew Brown, of Washington D.C. Here is the transcript of the discussion starting with Ms. Rie Ishiguro’s article on Reuters.

The Article:

Analysis: Graduates' jobs gloom bodes ill for Japan recovery - By Ms. Rie Ishiguro TOKYO | Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:18am EST (link to the article)
Reuters -
While Japan's jobless rate has been coming down from recession-time peaks unemployment among young people remains near record highs -- a bad omen for the economy in desperate need for domestic drivers of growth.
First, Japanese firms' reluctance to hire young workers reflects their pessimism about the home market and suggests no quick turnaround in business investment.
First, Japanese firms' reluctance to hire young workers reflects their pessimism about the home market and suggests no quick turnaround in business investment.
Secondly, those who miss out on a round of graduate hiring risk being shut out of steady, well-paying jobs later on, perpetuating a vicious cycle of weak consumer demand hurting business sentiment, which in turn leads to more jobs gloom.
"Japan has suffered job losses in past economic downturns but never managed to recover them in up cycles, because the all-important manufacturers did most of the shedding as they relocated production abroad but service sectors were unable to create new jobs due to heavy regulation," said Hisashi Yamada, chief economist at Japan Research Institute.
"Given the economy's continued dependence on manufacturing jobs, this vicious pattern may keep repeating, even though the economy is expected to recover modestly in the near term."
At the face of it, the Japanese jobs numbers don't look bad at all.
The headline jobless rate of just over 5 percent would be an envy of most nations, while youth unemployment at just over double that rate also looks OK compared with an OECD average of nearly 20 percent. In Spain, particularly hard hit by the global financial crisis, four out of 10 young job-seekers were out of work last year.
The difference is that the way big Japanese corporations go about hiring makes it extremely hard to recoup jobs lost in recessions during upswings.
SIDELINED
The practice, dating from the glory days of Japan Inc. and life-long employment, is for big companies to hire school-leavers "in bulk" to replace retiring workers and groom in-house talent and the numbers can vary widely from year to year.
Toyota, for example, hired more than 1,500 graduates last year, nearly halving the intake from the year before and plans to cut it further to 1,200 for the upcoming year. The company may offer more jobs later on, but those who missed out on the current round of hiring will have a slim chance to land one because they will get trumped by fresh graduates.
It leaves thousands of young Japanese sidelined in extended studies, part-time jobs or on the dole instead of supporting the domestic economy as confident consumers and productive workers aging Japan badly needs.
The Bank of Japan's "tankan" business survey has shown strong correlation between graduate hiring and corporate investment, both a reflection of firms' long-term outlook.
And jobs data leave little doubt that corporate Japan remains pessimistic about its home market.
The overall unemployment rate has been steadily declining from its record high of 5.6 percent reached in July 2009 and is expected to dip below 5 percent this year, in part thanks to government incentives for companies to retain workers. But in the 15-24 age group, the jobless rate has been stubbornly stuck around 10 percent.
"Today's young generations have never experienced the bubble economy and they are worried about jobs and future," says Mari Iwashita, chief market economist at Nikko Cordial Securities. "They have never grown a habit of spending extravagantly and this further limits room for expansion in consumption in addition to the shrinking population."
And 18 months since Japan pulled out of recession, those about to hit the labor market have little to look forward to.
"Students increasingly start their job searches very early. This is making me anxious and unable to focus on my graduation thesis," said Kasumi Yasuda, 21, who is due to graduate from Doshisha University in western Japan in spring 2012.
It is not hard to see why. Vacancies awaiting university students have fallen to an all-time low, with just over one job offer available for every two candidates graduating next spring.
Admittedly, young Japanese still favor big corporations as employers because of better pay, prestige and perceived job security. But they also have fewer alternatives than, for example, their European peers because of tightly regulated services sector and market rigidities that make it hard to switch jobs or re-enter labor force after retraining.
And there are signs that Japanese employers will continue to shift their focus abroad, meaning more stress for graduates and little chance for a revival of the domestic economy that the ruling Democrats promised in their 2009 election campaign.
A government study last year showed companies expected economic growth to average at a meager 1.3 percent over the next five years and manufacturers planned to bring the share of overseas production to a fifth of total output from less than 18 percent last year.
"You wonder why companies are not making more use of young workers in an aging society," said Hideo Kumano, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.
"But companies apparently feel they should invest more abroad than at home, because their long-term expectations for domestic growth are still on the decline." (Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
------------ end of article -------------
Here are the discussion threads:
Andrew Brown • An interesting story but the reduction in the rate of pre graduate hires may also indicate that Japan is finally moving away from lifetime hiring and towards a more open job market which allows people to be better matched to jobs and allows for great mobility later in ones career. Not to mention a much more efficient use of labor.
I find the view, prevalent in Japan these days, that any move away from the old way of doing things is a cause for concern very negative. Also you have to look at the total rate of unemployment in Japan right now (5.1%) which is fantastically low for a nation which has been mired in very low growth for over a decade.
Jason Ball • Good points Andrew.
Might add though that while the move 'away from' lifetime hiring & the graduate program most Japanese are used to could be viewed as a positive thing by many and in some fundamental ways of looking at it, many in this economy might not view it as a good thing, and any major transition may not only be painful & protracted, but be driven initially by the same financial & business factors faced by most countries in the world at the moment & the very factors, possible implications discussed in the article therefore just as valid...
Cesar Macher • Andrew and Jason good analysis I appreciate your input. Indeed the job market is shifting from the old ways and Japan with an “official” unemployment rate hovering around 5% is comparably not as bad as other countries. Yes this brings us some degree of solace.
However, 4 out 10 young graduates are missing on their "only good change” to a well paid future and that is the reality… and has been like that and getting worse since Junichiro Koizumi failed structural reforms. There is a systematic dumping of youngsters to the temporary staffing lanes driving these young citizens into a future of uncertainty and low wages.
Hideo Kumano, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, who is mentioned at the end of the article, reminding us that the manufacturing incentives to expand abroad is preventing youngsters to fill the needed jobs to sustain an again society. I feel this is only part of the story… you are welcome to shed more light please.
Andrew Brown • While I agree that the transition away from life time employment and early hiring is going to be both painful and protracted I believe that the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel is getting closer. As the shift begins to accelerate away from the older practices new practices are going to take their place. You do see many young people opt out and go for the lower wage short term employment options but then these are young kids and you see this kind of behavior in the US and elsewhere as well and so far it hasn't crashed the economy or doomed college grads who do not instantly find work to a twilight existence for ever. After a certain amount of time employers will pick up these people and they will find their way into more rewarding jobs. Basically put I think that as the Japanese system moves further away from life time employment and towards a more flexible system people will not only be able to find jobs that suit their interests and talents better but also be able to succeed at a higher level since those mid and upper level positions will now be available to them as the jobs won't be only locked into precedence by date of hire.
In response to Mr. Macher's point the simple economic truth is that it makes no sense to continue isolating the Japanese market in order to maintain industrial jobs that can much more easily be filled for far lower wages by moving them overseas. It is the old argument does Japan need to still keep manufacturing brooms and screws? I would argue that Japan, over the long term, will find much more economic benefit from employing overseas manufacturing to lower the cost of manufacture for labor intensive items and that if Japan can concentrate on updating its manufacturing capacity and move towards a more service oriented stance (both domestically and beyond) those who lose out on making bicycle tires will be able to find alternative employment in other emerging industries. But the transition is always hard (witness the continuing clamor in America over this same issue).
-------- end of discussion threads ---------

You are welcome to join the discussion at LinkedIn following this link, or if you wish simply add your point of view below.

Thanks for reading:

Cesar Macher

The ugly side of not speaking English? Indiana’s SB 590 Attacks Immigrants and their Languages

2011-01-19T01:27:00.000-08:00

This posting was inspired based on an article I read dated January 14, 2011 from Hispanically Speaking News titled: “Indiana’s SB 590 Attacks Immigrants and their Languages” - this is the link
These words reflect my opinions and are sardonic in tone. They do not intended to insult anyone living or dead. Hopefully you will find this entertaining and and at best humorous.
Remember though:
"A joke is a very serious thing". Winston Churchill
Picture by:

Silhouette Of Carrie | Flickr - Photo Sharing! http://bit.ly/e9ERUe
by Mike Saechang

Being allowed to act on “reasonably suspicious” premises may totally eclipse prejudice; it reminds me of the fascist practices imposed by the Nazis during WWII.

Please let me know about your thoughts on being questioned to proof your identity on the basis of your looks, that is, on the grounds of being "reasonable suspicious".
Visible minorities, who are residents of Indiana, should not be afraid these days, you live in the “developed” world and this is the year 2011. The probability of being questioned because the pimple on your nose is ugly, or because your accent is foreign, or because you prefer to speak in a foreign language is absolutely zero! Believe me; all officers in Indiana are reasonable except when suspicious.
If the color of your skin you wear is not within the “norm” it should not be a problem to you either; however, it may be a little controversial (if not illegal) if on top of your color your moves betray you as suspiciously gay! But now seriously speaking, never mind if your loose apparel reveals you ethnicity or religious believes (touchy subject, mind me writing so small). Don’t worry for any of these totally insignificant stereotypes my dear friendly; minority looking resident of Indiana. I am absolutely sure that it is still safe to J-walk there!
One should only be fearful of “reasonable suspiciousness” if you are an innocent white Polish immigrant going through the control gates at the Vancouver international airport… There, the authorities mercilessly greet those of that kind with powerful Taser stun guns! (Robert Dziekanski – RIP Nov. 2007) But then, Indiana is not in Canada and thus one more reason not to be fearful.
The truth is that legislators in the State of Indiana are reasonable persons and wish to protect your civil rights – they are only after illegal humans and not you. What???? Did I say that right?… illegal humans? – How can it be illegal to be a human? … Trust me there are illegal humans amongst us. There is nothing to hide about it any more. This was on the Wiki leaks cables, but even Mr JA (the big mouth!) had his reservations about going public with this one, but I will not!
Legislators are mainly concerned about persecuting mutant aliens coming from outer space that look suspiciously human; these are the culprits of all things that go wrong in Indiana, they are dangerous to society, and the world is being invaded as we speak… watch out for them as they are lurking in your neighborhood, and we know for a fact that Indiana is a preferred destination!
Now you have the real picture and an explanation of the truth, Please tell the world that you read it in my blog! If you still want to play it safe, my other best advice for you to evade being singled out in public, is to mind flatulence that smells too spicy – that will certainly get you in trouble, unless of course, you can blame it on someone else!
Cheers.
Cesar Macher

---- x ----

Here is a copy of the article:

"Indiana State Sen. Mike Delph, R- Carmel not only wants to implement a Arizona style bill but wants to bar the use of any language but English in most government transactions.
“We’re taking the handcuffs off of law enforcement. We’re holding employers who are thumbing their noses at the law accountable. And we’re lifting up the English language,” Delph said Friday.
Opposition groups fear the bill will lead to profiling and hurting businesses in the state.
“I’m worried that the unintended consequences of what he’s doing is to put a sign on our state saying we don’t want immigrants,” said John Livengood, co-chairman of the Alliance for Immigration Reform in Indiana, a coalition of groups that want to see immigration reforms left to the feds.
Senate Bill 590 is a thirty page proposal and includes:
-requires state and local law enforcement officers who stop anyone for violating a law or ordinance to ask for proof that the person is here legally if the officers have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is not a citizen or legal visitor
- Businesses that hire illegal immigrants can be shut down.
- Most government transactions, documents and meetings would be in English. The state would shut down their Spanish language portal and printing forms, ballots in other languages
-The state will bill to Congress for reimbursement of all costs for undocumented residents in Indiana.
-No financial aid, scholarships or grants for education at U of I and would have to pay out of state tuition.
- Cities and counties would be barred from limiting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.( No Sanctuary Cities)
According to the Pew Hispanic Center, Indiana was estimated to have 120,000 illegal immigrants in 2009, up from 10,000 in 1990.
“This is going to lead to profiling almost surely,” Livengood , Alliance for Immigration Reform in Indiana co-chair, said. “Our biggest fear—my biggest fear—is that Indiana becomes known as a state where immigrants aren’t welcome.”
Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, a Hammond Democrat who is one of two Hispanics in the legislature, agreed.
“While I don’t condone illegal activity, it’s pretty foolhardy to pass a bill modeled after a bill being litigated in federal court,” she said.
The bill has already been promised a hearing in the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee. Ten senators have signed on as co-sponsors, and Delph expects more.
He predicted: “This is going to fly.”

---- x ----

the article also features on our facebook page, this is what a friend of mine had to say about it:

Oswaldo Trigueiros
It seems the republicans have nothing better to do, than blame immigrants for their failures, so instead of working on positive attitudes to generate employment, better working conditions for their states they sit around and waste their time on coming up onlaws based on prejudice. I guess they should have listened to MLK speech.
I agree everybody should speak english, and not only in the US but everywhere, its the language for doing business, plus we dont any more laws regulating our lives, we have to keep the Govt out of our lives.

Send us your opinion!

Welcome Deborah Gray

2011-01-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

English Mindset is proud to announce that Ms Deborah Gray of Santa Fe, New Mexico has joined our teaching staff. She brings with her many years of experience teaching English at all levels focusing on language intonation, pronunciation and proper grammar usage.

We are absolutely thrilled to have you with us and we hope that you find English Mindset a place where you will find great pleasure helping others improve their English speaking abilities. Your friendly ways and innate abilities to teach are all you need to make this a memorable journey. Welcome Deborah!

Bio: Raised in what she considers the best of both worlds, Deborah Gray, a dual national, and fluent in English and Portuguese is the youngest of three children of Brazilian and American parents. Born in Mobile, Alabama, she and her family moved from Air Force base to Air Force base, from eastern to western U.S. and back and forth to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also lived in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, off the Portuguese mainland, in the archipelago of the Azores Islands, for three years.

She began her teaching career in 1977, providing corporate professionals and adult individuals with beginner, intermediate and conversational fluency lessons through a local English course in Copacabana to students all over the city of Rio. Growing to love the profession and appreciating the teacher - student interaction her main focus is on teaching her students language intonation, pronunciation and incorporating grammar usage into everyday dialogue. With years of teaching experience, the methodology she uses ensures the student to grasp the language in three months. Students are amazed at being able to communicate in a foreign language in such a short time.
Click here to see her class schedule

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This short video features Santa Fe, New Mexico - the place that Deborah calls home!

Our Website and Our Philosophy of Teaching

2011-01-17T00:51:00.000-08:00

English Mindset

Apart from the "what we do", "how we do it", "how much we cost" ingredients that most websites must have to survive, we have made an effort to include educational, recreational and informational features in order to keep our students entertained and at arms length.
We will continue to expand and improve our website with our students in mind. At this moment we already have installed a video channel that includes amenities such as English language tutorials, superbly creative advertisement, songs and even travel tips.
For example, we feature two outstanding widgets: one that teaches vocabulary, courtesy of VocabAhead.com (Vocabulary Videos) and the other created by the BBC that links you directly to their English language learning portal; a site with immense multimedia resource. English Mindset feels that by guiding its students to explore for themselves these and other wonderful free resources on the web, we will be contributing to effectively improve their English language skills.

These are the widgets:

And here is the BBC widget:

A message from our Managing Director

2011-01-16T22:42:00.000-08:00

English Mindset

Communications portal for ESL students, professionals and travelers, via Skype!

Greetings,

Our ability to understand each other effectively is crucial to our well being.

We live in an age where exponentially more and more people use advanced Internet communication technologies to reach worldwide audiences. The English language has a central unifying role that helps people around the world understand the intricacies of our single shared humanity; more and more people use English as the language of choice in cross cultural communications and the rate of growth is unprecedented.

As a consequence of globalization, whether in commerce, academia, diplomacy, or while traveling these days, etc., people from all cultural backgrounds seek English as a common language to bridge the communication gap that divides us.

English Mindset's mission is to utilize state of the art communication technologies to reach students and instructors around the world and match them up for a value added experience. We welcome qualified English instructors and students of all levels to participate in this most beneficial exchange.

Either form the comfort of their homes or from anywhere with an Internet connection, people from all walks of life, like full time workers with limited time, persons with disabilities, homemakers, ESL students, professionals, travelers, etc., will be able to gain confidence in speaking English as they advance through our courses. English Mindset is committed to select only the most reliable and expert language instructors.

These instructors are either English native speakers or those with English as a second language with superior skills. We believe that instructors who can speak more than one language may consequently offer great assistance to students in their own language.

Last but not least, English Mindset wishes to explore opportunities towards promoting tourism into Western Canada by providing services to travelers who wish to use their stay in Canada as an opportunity to have fun and at the same time practice their English skills. English Mindset looks forward to your thoughts on this matter and invites you to start a dialog with us.

Thank you very for your kind consideration,

Sincerely yours,

Cesar Macher

Managing Director,

English Mindset