Search results for 'tag:Conversations tag:Universities' matching tags 'Conversations' and 'Universities'

Re: I want to learn to speak clearly-What do I have to know/do?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:57:53 GMT

I am a recent graduate of a university and somehow i still dont feel competent enough in verbal communication skills. I will start working soon at a reputable organization and would like to be able to have a good conversation with anyone regardless of their position. I need a daily regime that i can stick to inorder to improve. I'm going to try reading the entire newspaper ( though i usually get bored and distracted)and follow the useful tips that you have posted.

Can you check my Letter of Motivation?

Anonymous — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:31:00 GMT

Hello everyone!

I need your help..I just finish my letter of motivation for my study abroad semester. Please, can you check the grammar? Any suggestions for the content are also welcome.

I really appreciate your help. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to ask me.

Thanks a lot!

Dear Madam or Sir,

my name is ** ** and I am studying Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Applied Sciences ***(name)**, **(country)**. I am writing this letter to apply for admission for the Study Abroad program at the **(name)** University of Technology, Australia.

I finished my basic studies back in year 2007 and my 7th semester is supposed to be either a practical training or a Study Abroad semester. I have chosen to apply for one semester at your University in **(city)**.

Having the chance of studying abroad and becoming an engineer have always been the most ambition in my life since young. I like to face the challenges of living in a foreign country and to gain cross-cultural competence. I think that one semester abroad will help me learn how to adapt to a foreign culture, mentality and way of life which in my opinion are very important for broadening one's horizon.

I have never been to Australia before but I know from fellow students that Australians are very open and friendly people. The ** television shows your beautiful countryside and the multicultural appearance of most big cities like **(city)**. So I chose the country wich is the most furthest away from my homeland.

But the reason for choosing especially the ** University for my studies is based on its academic reputation and as well on the offering of courses it provides, which perfectly suit my interests. I also know from your Study Abroad Guide 2008 that the ** University is a very international university, so I would have the opportunity to meet many students from different backgrounds and cultures.

One semester in Australia will also be a great opportunity to improve my English skills. Since graduating from secondary school I regularly read English texts in newspapers, books or on the Internet, but I did not regularly have chances to talk to native speakers. As I am planning to work abroad after my graduation and, as a manager, I would like to be able to speak fluently in conversations.

With my academic background and relevant studying field, I am confidence that I am qualify and able to perform well in this program. I really hope that my application for the Study Abroad program 2008 will be allowed.

Yours sincerely,

Re: How do people greet each other?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:41:08 GMT

Hi, I have been in Canada already 6 yeras, but I cannot understand why some people do not greet each other even if they had spoken before? I study at University and see that angophones sometimes just pass by and even do not notice you even though we met each other and had conversation! In Europe it would be considerd veru impolite.

Re: vices flow....

Clive — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:35:24 GMT

Hi,

I was reading an article, and came across with a sentence, which has been giving me a hard time for a while. Could someone help me interpreting the sentence? The sentence (and the preceding sentence) is as follows:

Today, the research that dominates public conversation is not about raw brain power but about the strengths and consequences of specific processes. Daniel Schacter of Harvard University writes about the vices that flow from the way memory works.

The article is titled "The Waning of IQ" and it discusses whether IQ is the best measurement of human intelligence.

The part in bold is the part I've been having a hard time understanding. I, too, find this a bit hard to understand. It seems to suggest that bad habits, bad practices, result from the way that memory works. The way that these two sentences are written, I wouuld expect the author to follow them with an example of 'a vice that flows . . . '.

Best wishes, Clive

vices flow....

Vocabobobo — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:09:51 GMT

Hello. I was reading an article, and came across with a sentence, which has been giving me a hard time for a while. Could someone help me interpreting the sentence? The sentence (and the preceding sentence) is as follows:

The article is titled "The Waning of IQ" and it discusses whether IQ is the best measurement of human intelligence.

The part in bold is the part I've been having a hard time understanding.

Thanx a lot in advance

Vocab

Looking for Part Time ESL teacher in Dong Guan, China

Puibright — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:56:23 GMT

We are a 19-year-old women shoes factory located in Dong Guan, China. We are now looking for a English Teacher who can teach our staff at our factory during weekend. Basically, I want to provide an opportunity to my staff to learn English. May be one session during Saturday evening for staff who know a little bit about English but can't speak and write smoothly.And one session during Sunday afternoon for people who had never learned English. The job is at least 6 months long.

Details
The Oral English teacher or English Class teacher are responsible for teaching English as a second language to students who have never learned English or who only have little knowledge in oral English and English wrighting skills. The English teacher should conduct teaching English phonics in English. Planning and organization of oral conversation interest classes are also part of the English teacherâs duties.

Preferred qualification: Degree-holder
Native English speaker/s or Chinese who has studied abroad only
Teaching experience: 1 year minimum

Qualifications
- One year experience as a teacher, assistant teacher or private tutor to non native English students will be an asset
- University Degree Holder
- Holding an Teaching English as a Secondary Language Course Certificate/ Teaching Certificate/ Teaching Diploma will be an asset
- Must be a native English Speaker or Chinese who has studied abroad
- Ability to work independently without regular supervision

Compensation
- The salary is RMB 5,000 per month, 10 hours work per week (Preparation, meeting and teaching), teaching about 8 hours per week (4 hours on Saturday afternoon/evening and 4 hours on Sunday afternoon).
- Driver will be provided from home to work every time.- 3 meals per day will be provided
- Internet access at factory.

If you are interested, please let me know. I will provide driver to pick you up from home (at Dongguan) to work every time. We are only 15 mins from downtown Dong Guan (New World Garden).

Thanks,

Charles

A CURE FOR COLD FEET

Intelligent Freak — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:13:01 GMT

ONE OF THE BEST LOVE STORIES I'VE READ.... HERE GOES...

A Cure for Cold Feet

By Pamela Elessa

Winter finals were over, and the entire campus was ecstatic with relief. No more cramming, caffeine highs, tension headaches and cramped desks. We were free! We left campus en masse in the unusually crisp Seattle night, light on our feet, letting our hair down and our shirttails out. We were all going to the local dance club, the only place in the area that could accommodate a few hundred post-finals students who were ready to let loose. We squeezed ourselves into tight jeans and miniskirts, exposed some legs and bellies, and virtually wriggled with excitement. The music was loud and provocative, the figures on the dance floor sensuous, wild. The electricity was heart-stopping.
     I looked pretty heart-stopping myself, poured into a bare-backed white satin pantsuit with three-inch heels and a rose in my hair. Unfortunately, it wasn't my date's heart that was stopping. It was mine. More specifically, it was being bored to death. My date was Dumbe, a native of Cameroon, West Africa. Granted, it was our first date, so I hadn't really known anything about him, but I had thought we would at least enjoy the rhythm on the dance floor.
     Multicolored strobe lights flashed over the table in our booth, and we had to yell to make conversation over the DJ's voice. I was bobbing and swaying to the music, frantic to get out on the dance floor - and Dumbe was telling me about his plans for the next few days: going to the bookstore to get a head start on his reading for next semester. I began to think maybe this wasn't going to work.
     "It's important to get the majority of your science classes out of the way before you go on to the university," Dumbe yelled over the thumping on the dance floor.
     It's important for me to get out of here, I thought. By now it was midnight, and even the shy kids who didn't know how to dance had finally jumped out on the dance floor. Dumbe and I were still talking about college credits.
     "Let's go," I called out. Dumbe looked surprised.
     "Are you sure you want to leave?"
     Apparently, the look on my face was answer enough. This was definitely not working.
     Dumbe politely drew open the door to the dance club and let me out. To our surprise, a three-inch blanket of snow had fallen, and our ears buzzed from the sudden change from the noise of the club as we stepped out into a soft, quiet wonderland.
     It was beautiful. It was cold. And I was wearing three-inch heels with thin stockings.
     The winter weather had caught the city by surprise; no buses or cabs were running. Dumbe didn't have a car, so with an exasperated sigh, I pointed the way home and we started our slippery trek through the streets. Dumbe shoved his hands deep into his pockets to keep them warm. I, in my bare-backed suit and flimsy heels, looked like the snow queen within fifteen minutes. I stumbled, and Dumbe reached to catch me.
     "This, too, is not working," I said, laughing at the fiasco.
     Dumbe looked up and saw a tiny restaurant that was still open. A rush of warmth blew at us when we opened the door. The customers were huddled close together, talking in hushed tones that matched the weather outside.
     Dumbe ordered two hot chocolates, and we sat down. Ah, now we can talk a little more about scholarly habits, I thought morosely. I looked ridiculous in my outfit, and I was still frozen solid. Dumbe, however, didn't start any conversation this time. He watched me swallow a few, steamy sips, and then asked me to take off my heels.
     I did, puzzled. He pulled his chair up close to mine, lifted my blue feet into his lap, and gently began to rub them between his hands, easing away the numbness and ache of the cold. I watched him, speechless.
     "There, that should feel better," he said. He looked into my eyes and didn't say a word about classes or books. "You look beautiful," he said.
     I smiled, and flushed a little, pulling away.
     "Wait a minute," Dumbe said. He threw some napkins on the floor, then gently set my feet down on them. He slipped off his own boots, and took off his thick, warm socks. They were still dry.
     He slipped the socks onto my own feet, then stood up and draped his sports jacket over my shoulders. The look he gave me when he smiled thawed me from the inside out.
     "Come on," he said, turning to leave. "Hop up on my back. I'll give you a ride, and you can keep those pretty feet of yours dry."
     I was so stunned I did what he said, and we stumbled our way up the four or five hills back to my dorm. By the time we got there, we were both laughing, talking freely about ourselves. I had completely forgotten about the dance. All I could think about was how gentle Dumbe was, yet strong, how quiet he was, yet full of dreams.
     Before Dumbe left me in the lobby of my building, I reached down to return his socks.
     "No," Dumbe said. "I'd feel a lot warmer knowing they were still on your feet."
     He gave me a hug, waved good-bye, and moved slowly down the street. I stood there in his socks, virtually pulsating warmth, watching him till he was out of sight.
     It's a routine we've kept for eighteen years now, Dumbe and I. That first night was four college degrees ago for the two of us, but no matter where my husband, Dumbe, is going, I follow him to the door, hug him, and stand there in his socks, watching him move down the street till he's out of sight. It warms me down to my toes.

Feeling in love?

ESL TEACHERS for University's Teaching Project in Nontaburi, Thailand

Lclr — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:00:33 GMT

HIRING NOW!

MediaKids Academy works side-by-side with Chulalongkorn University in organizing and placing 30 NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHERS for the Universityâs âNontaburi Teaching Projectâ.

AIM: To assist and encourage the students to be able to speak English with confidence and fluency.

TEACHING DETAILS

Schools: Nontaburi, Thailand
Subject: Basic English Conversation (curriculum will be provided).
Teaching hours: 20-22 hrs/wk
Work days/hours: Monday to Friday from 8.00 am.- 4.30 pm.
Class size: Ave. of 45 students/class
Levels:
Primary: 6-12 years old (grade 1-6.
Secondary:13-18 years old (grade 7-12)

TERM OF CONTRACT

November 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008
1st semester: November 1, 2007 to February 29, 2008
Semesterâs break: March 1, 2008 to April 30, 2008
2nd semester: May 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008

THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE:

Health Insurance: The employer will provide the teacherâs health insurance budget of 2,500 baht per year.
Work Permit: The employer will provide the teacher a work permit based on the contract term.
Non-Immigrant B Visa: The employer will provide and sponsorship the teacherâs documents for applying Non-Immigrant visa.
Orientation Course: The employer will provide the teacher a free 3-4 days orientation course prior to teaching
Consultant: The employer will provide the teacher a consultant to help out with any problems/concerns.
Airport Pick-up: The employer will provide the teacher a free airport pick-up (following a scheduled plan)

SALARY

40,000 baht per month for the BA in education or English or Linguistic/BA or BS with TEFL or TESOL certificate
35,000 per month for the 1^st semester and 40,000 for the 2^nd semester (BA or BS teachers who have NO TEFL or TESOL certificate. NOTE: Those who do not have TEFL or TESOL certificate, but have BA or BS degree can take either one of these courses for only USD500 in Thailand (the regular tuition for such courses is USD1,950, but the MediaKids Academy will take care of the rest of the fee for the teachers). Classes will start in early October 2007.

35,000 per month for teachers with some college earned units but HAVE TEFL or TESOL certificate. NOTE: Those who have some college earned units but HAVE NO TEFL or TESOL certificate can teach for the Media Kids (not for Nontaburi Teaching Project)

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Native English speakers;
College/University degree and/or TEFL/TESOL; or
Some college earned units but with TEFL/TESOL certificate

Please scan and send the following requirements:

1. A copy of an accredited college/university diploma and/or transcript record, and/or TEFL/TESOL certificate
2. 1 pc. 2X2 photo and 1 full-body photo (Please look professional)

3. A copy of passport page

4. A copy of police clearance
4. A detailed resume

Please send me an email or PM me to give you my email-address. Thank you.

Korean students and older male English teachers

Pax Melmacia — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:15:31 GMT

Hello, all.

I was really unsure where to post this because much of it has to do with my experience as a teacher of English. I figured putting it here would at least be some kind of warning of the sensitive nature.

I am a 47 year old male licensed English teacher in the Philippines. In my country, there are literally thousands of schools for teaching English to Korean students. This is one of the boom industries here. (Admittedly, many of these schools are of questionable quality since there are no clear guidelines governing them.)

I taught English conversation in a speech center for six years back in the eighties, then stopped to study for my post-graduate, where I received high grades at a top state university reknowned for its Education grads. In short, I am, modesty aside, very qualified.

Yet, after more than four years of trying, I have been unable to find work in any of the Korean-dedicated language centers. The reason given me (when they bothered to give any at all) was unanimous: I was too old.

Supposedly, Korean students are 'uncomfortable' around male English teachers in their 40s. (They don't seem to have much problem with women, though.) As a result, I am still out of work. At this point, I feel so much despair because I have so much to give, but Korean students (allegedly) do not want it.

I am wondering if any other English teachers out there know anything about this. Some of these schools tell me they sometimes make exceptions if the person is qualified, but this hasn't happened with me, yet. In any case, I am, likewise, 'uncomfortable' with having to handle a class or private tutorial that will include having to wear a student's resistance down so they will not see me as some hideous mutant ior something.

I do not wish to make any disparaging remarks against any people. I merely report what I have experienced.

I wrote an paper for my mom,need your help for the grammar.thank you.

RedApple — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 21:35:48 GMT

I wrote a paper for mom as homework.I check it for several times but there still must be many mistakes.
I want someone could help me. Thank you very much!

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

SUBSTRACT: This article begin with a conversation between a daughter and her mother, depicting daughterâ thoughts about the relationship. And she found the distance between them becomes grater as she grows up. She doubt if her mother still loves her as before. But finally the girl knew that the way her mother raised her, though seemed indulgingly, was the way she expressed her love for her. After a common phone call she eventually felt the love from her mother.

KEYWORDS: conversation distance doubt care love

âTell me what you were like when you were my age, mom?â I asked my mother, one winter afternoon when I was home from college. My mother stopped her sewing and looked up surprised at my question.

But I was not surprise at all about momâs reaction of such a question. In fact, since I had gone to senior high school, We rarely talked about something related to feeling and emotion but my study or physical conditionãI still remembered when I was a junior high school student I backed home every weekend and told my mom everything happened in school excitedly even an bagatelle. And mom was listening and smiling and experiencing her dear daughterâ grow. As time passed by, for either the trifles was not worth to talk about again or she didnât willing to talk, the girl who once shared her everything with her mother had her own life now and didnât rely on her mother anymore. I didnât know if her mother should proud for her little daughter can took care of herself in school where far from home. I didnât know if the decision to sent me who was only nine yeas old to the middle school which further but better was a good idea for them then.

After what seemed like a long time she answered, âI was never like you. I never dreamed of being a professor, engineer, or anything. I was the eldest of four children, and every waking moment was filled with work and responsibilities to keep the family clothes and feed. Back then, there was only one career for girls, and it was being a hard-working woman. But I was lucky for your grandpa let me went to school.â¦â¦âMy mother grew up in GuiZhou, where like most other people during radical turbulent times with her family in a remote village. In our culture, son, the bearers of the family name, takes precedence over daughter. Since poorness, many baby girls were abandoned by their cruelhearted parents who wholehearted got a boy. Girls who lucky survived also had little chance to obtain education even their parents could afforded and girls were taught their lives were foreordained.

So, I understand what the lucky means.

âMen are more important then.â my mother would tell me when I asked about momâ childhood. âWhen you were born, your grandma didnât care about at all just for you are a girl. If not your good performance on your study......also good manners too, no one would like you. âmom apparently recalled the hour of trial and sighed with a bit querimony. I smiled and saidâreally?â

Mother is authority over my life. Mother is eldership in my life. She is thoughtful but not strict. I feel not only warm but also reverence and grateful.

Nothing appeared unpalatable.

So when I first arrived in this city, just stunt by the way one of my roommate together with her mother. They go to cinema and KTV together. They discuss my classmateâ boyfriend-plan. Even her mother sometimes performed as an young girl in a cold war. More than that is their natural sense of equality, they truly are good friends. I awaked from a long dream and knew that for the first time mother could also be friend like that.

Then, I seemed suddenly understand what the generation gap is. Mothers should intervene daughterâ unreasoning love but my mom hasnât asked me at all. Mothers should warn daughters not too concern their dress to ignore their study but my mom just asks me to buy more. Mothers should supervise daughter her future but my mom said nothing about my application for university. When I took a diploma home, she never say something asâgood job or try hard for another one.âMy mom seemed never require me to as another mother do to her child. Dose mom expects nothing of me? Is there a great distance between mom and me?

Give mom a ring, an idea appeared in my mind.

âHello?âa familiar tone sounded .

âmom, it is me.âI said.

âOh, how is everything goingï¼âmom asked and surprisedã

âwell âI said.

Then I asked how grandpa and grandma were and if my younger brother performed well in school.

At the end, mom saidâTake care of your self. Donât stay up all night and take a rest after hours work. Donât go somewhere along at night. Donâtâ¦â¦ â

âOKâhung out the phone, Tears rolled down my cheeks. I almost have heard those words for ten years.

I should know that mom actually lays her hope on me. It is not to be a world-beater or got a moneyed life. She hopes me to be safe and healthy and without loaded with expectation. She never said she loves me, but I know she dose. I want to sayâme too.â

The hand that rocks the cradle is powerful but gentle.