Search results for 'tag:Interviews tag:Contractions' matching tags 'Interviews' and 'Contractions'

Re: Where to find daily conVerSation

Tanit — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:13:00 GMT

Hi K.,

I spent a whole year in the UK, doing a postgraduate course. To make things worse, I chose to go to Wales because Cardiff Uni is at the cutting edge in my field. Have you ever heard somebody speaking with a Welsh accent? For the first two months there, I only wanted to cry... In spite of my excellent performances during tests and exams (I had taken the FCE, the CAE and the TOEFL), I could understand very little outside the Uni
You know, most teachers' accents were pretty standard and easy... something like BBC's anchors, and my classmates were mostly international students, each with their own accent (we were a funny bunch!). I simply became accustomed to them... Welsh English (there was a girl who had a nice Swansea accent), Scottish English, Cornish English, Virginia English (AmE), Indian English, but also French-English, Chinese-English, Pakistan-English, Greek-English and lot more! Oh, I really miss them!
However, cashiers in supermarkers and kids playing in the parks were too hard for me... real English, lots of phrasal verbs I had never heard before, lots of contractions, and intonation quite different from the one I am used to!!!
Funnily, for a piece of coursework I had to interview six people. I was quite discouraged when I had to do the write-ups of the interviews (I remember you posted in the thread I created, "Spoken English").

Anyway, what I wanted to say is: formal education (all of the four skills) has helped me a lot to deal with University tasks, or with "formal" situations; it was not of (great) use, though, when it came to "real", daily life. I had often to guess, but people were usually kind, and when I made it clear I hadn't understood, they would repeat slowlier what they had just said, or rephrase it.

Re: constant corrections of my use of verb contractions

Aperisic — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:20:05 GMT

Doesn't it drive everyone crazy when your girl/boyfriend constantly corrects your use of verb contractions to start a sentence.

Doesn't it drive you mad when you know you're right but the other person refuses to consider that a possibility?
Doesn't it drive you mad when people make a huge deal about you making a small mistake?
Doesn't it drive you crazy when a small client who is clearly on a shoestring budget manages to pay you on time but that huge corporate or government client keeps you waiting?

All I can say is that you need a question mark:

Doesn't it drive everyone crazy when your girl/boyfriend constantly corrects/is constantly correcting your use of verb contractions to start a sentence?

I understand that the use of verb contractions is best avoided in formal writing, but is it grammatically correct to start a sentence in conversation using one.

Why not? I found it in many interviews all around the Internet. It is not a true question. It is a call to agree with the observation that follows and to give the personal reasons or opinion.

Re: Was vs Were

just the truth — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 05:12:35 GMT

It is also important to remember that this form is not acceptable for the TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Eiken STEP, ACT or Cambridge Level Tests, for commercial correspondence, academic papers, essays, job interviews or many other formal situations.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Allowing, for the moment, that what you say is true, Mr M, why isn't there more outrage at the highly inaccurate 'rules' that have, for much too long, been passed off as how English actually works?

Regarding these tests you mention, active steps are being taken by all [most? many?] of these organizations to make their tests more reflective of what is real English. Expect to see fewer of these trick questions on exams such as those mentioned.

Expect to see informal conversations on TOEICs employ what is perfectly natural English. In actuality, they already do. Contractions are not for formal writing but no one would expect conversations to occur without contracted speech. Why should this abomination occur on tests. Shouldn't we strive to keep the informal out of tests? :s :s :s

Again, if teachers fail to set up a rich enough contextual situation in their test questions, that preclude all but the answer they seek, and they then mark a natural English response wrong, DEMAND that they defend their position.

It's truly a sad commentary on teaching that students are misinformed simply to satisfy erroneous test situations. As the CGEL states, students must learn all aspects of language if they are to function as natural users rather than like an inexpert person reading out of a book.

The amount of time that any one person spends in formal or test situations is miniscule compared to the time we all spend in life situations.

Regarding Eiken and the entrance exams that Japanese students are subjected to. These are not, in any meaningful way, tests of English. The president of one Japanese university, Gregory Clark [was it Tama?] abandoned them precisely because they were all but meaningless.

Re: To moutainhiker

anon1 — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 02:35:59 GMT

Like a lot of other people, I had heard of high blood pressure but I never thought of it as being a big concern. My first introduction to high blood pressure was when I found out that my mother had it. I remembered my instructor explaining the I-Search Paper to the class, and she said that it had to be related to us or related to someone that we knew. I recalled sitting in class undecided about what topic I would search. As I looked around I noticed that most of the students in class already had their topic or at least an idea, but me I was still clueless. The following day when class began I became excited when the words high blood pressure came to mind. I thought to myself that high blood pressure would be the perfect topic. I knew that more blacks than whites had high blood pressure but I did not know why. I also knew that not only older but younger people have high blood pressure. Knowing that my knowledge about high blood pressure was superficial, I wanted to know more in depth about it.

I am assuming the above is simply your note to me.

Because my mother is afflicted with high blood pressure, also know as the silent killer, I decided to learn more about this ugly and deadly disease. I wanted to how I could avoid getting high blood pressure. Therefore I decided to interview my mother as a first step to learn more about the disease. I wanted to get her perspective of high blood pressure. I began by asking my first question: How did you learn that you had high blood pressure? "When I was pregnant with my second child," she replied. She explained that had gone to the doctor for prenatal care when the doctor suspected she had the disorder.

I cleaned up your first paragraph.

[After collecting my sources from the Internet and Nursing 2002 magazine, I was ready to begin my I-Search. I learned and searched what the experts had to say about the difference between high blood pressure and normal blood pressure. ..don't think you need to say what you did every step. Just go ahead and provide us with information.] [A medical doctor] Chua tells us that high blood pressure/hypertension is a condition that keeps the blood pressure elevated above normal Normal blood pressure ranges from 100/140 over 60/90, written or recorded as 100/60 to 140/90. Systolic is the top number and diastolic is the bottom number(N.page). Chua defines systolic pressure as the force of the flow of blood traveling through the arties pipe and diastolic pressure as the force exerted by the blood against the inside wall of the artery (N.page).[1] High blood pressure for those without diabetes is XXX/XXXX and Woods[doctor?] wrote that high blood pressure for those with diabetes 130/85(N.page). [-->Keane[doctor?] put it this way, "think of your arties as a garden hose. When water comes out of the end it only reaches an inch or two then drops to the ground. The bush at the end of the garden didn't get watered; therefore you will have to add a nozzle to make the water shoot out the end easier, so it will reach the bush at the end of the garden" (N.page). I fail to see the link between the garden hose and the nozzle and my veins.]

Chua tells us that primary and secondary hypertension is he most common high blood pressure condition.[You lose us here] He said that despite primary hypertension/essentially hypertensive has no known cause, but heredity is believed to be its origin. Anne Montague writes that four in ten men and women have hypertension, but approximately eighty percent of them are not being treated (Interests). Graham Gregor says that high blood pressure is one of the biggest causes of preventable death, in the UK. Gregor also writes that a ten year study shows that are overweight are more likely to have high blood pressure. Gregor also writes that African Americans are more vulnerable to hypertension. Research suggests that they are more sensitive to salt in diet and have a higher risk of stroke.

One website (NameThatWebSite.com) writes that fifty million American adults, especially African Americans tend to develop the disease earlier and more than whites. Obesity, eating too much salt, alcohol, lack of exercise, and stress are controllable risk factors. Race, heredity, and age or uncontrollable risk factors.("Health Beat"). Furthermore Chua tells us that secondary hypertension is caused by certain condition or disease like bilateral kidney disease, excessive alcohol intake, and ingestion of contraceptives. [He is quick to not forget...don't understand this], white coat hypertension, a condition that cause a person blood pressure to rise in the presence of the doctor, but return to normal when the doctor is absent (N.page)

[Now that I have learned what high blood pressure is, Chua answers my next question.Delete the prior sentence.] Once a person is diagnosed as hypertensive will he always be diagnosed hypertensive? He answers yes, even when the blood pressure is normal range. He adds that some people have symptoms such as headache, short tempered, being flushed, nervousness, irritability, impatience, and a feeling of wanting to explode. Then he adds not everybody that has high blood pressure show symptoms and that is why it is called the "Silent Killer"(N.page). According to sterbaf [???], an estimated 65 million adults age 18 and older in the USA have high blood pressure compared with 50 million reported in a 1995 study that looked at survey data from 1998 to 1994 (N.page). Then Carrol tells about an 8 year old girl who is being prescribe blood pressure medication. This is disturbing because most people think of high blood pressure as a disorder of adults (page5).

This is when Chua tells us how a person can live normally with high blood pressure. He mentions current day treatment such as: antihypertensive pills, low salt and low-fat diet, exercise, and no smoking, one can live a normal life (N.page). Woods suggest some food choices- cut fat and cholesterol by choosing chicken and turkey without the skin, well trimmed pork, most fish, no shellfish, us whipped margarine, and olive oil and vegetable oil usually work better when used ins small amounts. She also tells us to avoid excess salt, take your medication, if needed loose weight, and if you drink alcohol limit the amount to one or two drinks. (pge54-55). [2]

After researching my topic, I have no doubt in my mind that I will reduce my salt intake and exercise more. I feel very informed after researching high blood pressure. I found information not only helpful to me but also to other people. I think the worst act that a person could do is to not take medication. Skipping proper medication can be deadly. But the most important thing I discovered is that anyone can live a normal and healthy life.

P.S. I know that I might have some miss spelled words but I was tired as I was typing this. So if you don't mind could you read my I-search paper and let me know how it sounds. By the way I attend a junior college and I am from Mississippi as you probably can tell. THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Notes:

[1] Your description of blood pressure numbers appears incorrect.

"Chua defines systolic pressure as the force of the flow of blood traveling through the arties pipe and diastolic pressure as the force exerted by the blood against the inside wall of the artery (N.page)."

The pressure travelling through a pipe and against the walls of the pipe should be the same? For example, the pressure of water in a pipe is 15 psi and that pressure acts in all directions? In any event, I found your definition hard to understand. Look at the link I provided below. I think it gives a better definition. It has to do with what the heart is doing.

http://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/bloodpressure.htm

A blood pressure reading indicates the force of blood during two different events in the circulatory system:

1. When the large chambers of the heart contract (the systolic reading), and...
2. When the chambers relax between the contractions (the diastolic reading).

[2] I would rewrite that paragraph. Rather than saying Chau tells us blah blah blah, rewrite it as....

"Once a person has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, he needs to do take antihypertensive pills, have a low salt diet...."

This essay is a thousand times better than your previous effort. You can still improve it. Don't give us step by step things you did to learn. Put the things in your own words. We did this in note [2] above. Also, don't say, Joe said....Sally said....Jack said.... Just tell us in your own words.

Again, much better, but still some room for improvement.

Please just use ONE THREAD. DO NOT create separate threads every time you enter a note. Thank you!

MountainHiker

Re: Poor english let me down

terryng — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 09:46:15 GMT

I think someone can have a look and tell me on the typical errors I did:

Preface

The Bramah House had caught fire on August 2001, caused by a fault fan located at the third floor roof. The fourth floor (attic) and the roof had completely burnt down. The building was partially destructed. The structure was considered unsafe above third floor. The gable and flank walls were left free standing. The whole building was water damaged due to fire saving.

L-A had advised KI to take the fast track programme using two stages tender procedure. Stripping works was commencing in parallel with architectsâ design period. At the same time, contractors were invited to enter into first stage tender for the main contract. So it would lead into second stage tender once the final detail design package ready.

The Bramah House fire reinstatement works started immediately after the accident. Living-architects was appointed by Bramah House Ltd on the beginning because their Executive Director Kevin Ireland is our repeated client. I became involved from the inception to the completion. Project is now under defects liability period until April 2005.

The main text and the incidents studies will focus on project management before construction stage. The first section is giving the overall view of project. It will set the scene for the following section to analysis two incidents of the project:
â¢ Mechanical & Electrical consultant HMS Building Services Ltd Procurement
â¢ Adjoining owners Issues

Introduction

I have been working in L-A since July 2000. I am given opportunity to involve in projects including office refurbishment, maisonette conversion, school extension and public housing.

Marian Biernet is the project architect running the job. I was engaged as assistant from the time we were appointed. I was given chance to take pat in design process from schematic design, fire escape strategy, architecture details to room finishes and specification. I was responsible for preparing drawings and schedules of works, planning design programme, assisting consultant information collaboration, following up site meeting minute and site inspection and coordination works.

MB and I coordinated well as a team. Client are very pleased about work and our professional services that we are appointed again on his Hudson House refurbishment works

Project Summary

Client: Kelvin Ireland (KI) is manager director of The Bramah House Limited under the parent charities corporation called The London Housing Foundation.
The Bramah House is one of their properties.
Their property was under lease to different housing related charity organizations for an affordable rent.

Site: The Bramah House, 65-71 Bermondsey Street SE1, London
The Bramah house is a restored and refurbished four storeys Victorian warehouse.

Contract: two stage contract
Stripping out contract: JCT minor work
Main contract: JCT 98 with bill

Contract value: stripping out contract Â£62,000 main contract Â£1.65 million

Stripping out: Christmas Ward Demolition

Main Contractor: Kingswood Contraction Limited

Planning Supervisor: Martin Gray of Living Projects Ltd

Quantity Surveyor: E P Stevens

Structural engineer: Train & Kemp Engineers

Electric & Mechanical
Engineers: HMS Building Services ltd and Mihaka ltd

SECTION A- Project Background

The project critical dates:

Aug 01 The Bramah House had caught fire. The building was partially destructed
12 Feb 02 stripping out works commence on site
14 Mar 02 stripping out contract completion date
15 Mar 02 interview date for contractors of main contract
17 Mar 02 first stage tender received, Kingswood win the bid
15 Apr 02 practical completion of stripping out works
11 Jun 02 planning applications for roof top plant and lift housing were submitted
26 Jun 02 M&E consultant HMS were dismissed
7 Jul 02 second stage tender received from Kingswood
22 Jul 02 site procession date for the main contract
14 Sep 02 planning permissions were granted
15 Apr 03 main contract completion date
22 Apr 03 practical completion date of main contract

Project meeting minutes:The project background is discussed under topics as following:

1 Financing

Quantity surveyor E P Stevens was appointed on the early stage to negotiate with Loss adjustor to identify parameters of costs of reinstatement works. E P Stevens had been told that the building was under insured, thus insurance will only cover only to reinstate the fabric of shell (~Â£1.5 million). Replace works of Individual let space is not under cover. The total consultant fee expanded would be 11% and disbursements. Client was advised to draw realistic and cost-effective reinstatement strategies which KI & the London House Foundation would agree.

E P Stevens had outlined the main contract value of around Â£1.4m, plus remedial works, stripping out +fees for the first stage tender. Loss adjuster had broadly agreed but noted the insured amount only Â£1.515m. Additionally, Bramah House had very minimal fund available. KI was under pressure to keep the cost under control:
â¢ Total consultant fee was capped at 11%. It was the area KI looked at on reducing expense. He was under wrong impression that, under M&E works design and build contract, design fee could be saved. That was the reason HMS were appointed.
â¢ Given the chance, KI was agreed to trade the right of light to the adjoining owner Davis Wine Merchants to fund the project.

2 Architect Appointment

KI had had quite a few happy working relationships with us living-architects for decades. Our retired senior Stanley Barnett is his most trusted consultant. It was the reason then Kelvin Ireland contacted us immediately after the fire and building had been propped up by Southwark Council.

L-A provided some un-paid preliminary before the commission secured. Later, client accepted our fee proposal for the feasibility study on a time basis.

On Oct 2002, L-A were officially commissioned to take the role of design team leader. Percentage rate Profession fee at 5.5% was agreed

The above is only the part of it.