What is the most satisfying job in the world? There are probably many answers. This English lesson will explore a few of them.
You might think being President of the United States or being the British Prime Minister are two of the most satisfying jobs in the world.
Teaching or working in a bank could be equally satisfying. Perhaps not, as the former sees too many teachers quit the profession and in the latter, one just earns a living!
Today, we are going to talk about speaking. Do you remember how to speak? Sorry, am I interrupting a message you have just received on your mobile? Oh! You’d better look at it. It obviously takes priority over this speaking exercise!
Honestly – we need to reclaim the art of conversation. I mean, look around you. Half the people in the café, pub or bus are on their mobile phones sending messages to people they’ve probably never met. Why? Because it’s easier to use an app on their mobile rather than talk to that real person sitting opposite them.
Recently in the UK the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced the approval of the first new grammar school in England in 50 years. It is a breakthrough decision, as under socialism grammar schools were banned.
The new grammar school in Sevenoaks, Kent is officially an annex of the Weald of Kent Grammar School for girls that is based in Tonbridge, Kent 10 miles (16km) away. The new all girls grammar school will offer a mixed sixth form.
The Times Higher Education Magazine recently published its annual list of the world’s top 800 universities. This year it includes 70 countries. The California Institute of Technology continues to be the number one university in the world. It has maintained this position for five years running.
The US remains the world leader when it comes to top universities. It has six of the top ten universities, down from seven last year. These include Stanford University (No 3), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (No 5), Harvard University (No 6) and Princeton University (No 7).
Today, we are going to be looking at more bad office etiquette. For example, bad language is often used at work. It shouldn’t be. Whilst some is probably ok, endless swearing is not ok!
Boasting to others how much you earn is another big no-no. Perhaps it’s better to be a bit coy. Bragging about your salary to someone who you then discover actually earns more than you might make you look like a fool! That person, if earning less, might then resent you. Simply by buying your round of coffees might signal your earning power in a more subtle way – right?
Today, let’s talk about bad office etiquette. We’ll discuss many things; including checking your phone while talking to a colleague to not buying a round of coffees… It’s incredible just how many bosses check their emails while talking to their staff. Does yours? It’s bad manners, but everyone does it!
Bad behaviour at work is rife! Nobody likes to admit bad behaviour and we probably do it without thinking. Many of us have bad electronic manners. Some people might steal other people’s ideas.
Today, let’s talk about national service. It is something I hadn’t given much thought to, but when one of my students suggested I do a lesson on it I thought, why not?
National Service is the name used for compulsory government service. This is usually conscripted military service. It is typically for male citizens around the age of 18, who have to enrol for one to two years’ of military service.
In the old days right across Britain there was the end of term or Christmas school disco. Today, thousands of schools in Great Britain put on the High School Prom for year 11 students as a reward for completing their GCSE’s. These 16 year old students will then go on to take their A levels, leave school to go to college or start work.
The High School Prom idea is based on the American-style High School Prom, which is actually geared for older 18 year old students. In Central Europe 18 year old students do a similar such thing in February by attending a Vienna style Ball.
Category: School / High School Prom / Teenagers
Many students want to learn English, as it is the business language of the world. One can blame the British Empire for that! Of course, there are 101 other languages out there to learn but where to learn English?
In England is the obvious answer! However, many students in non-English speaking countries enroll on local courses in their country. At each level - be they a beginner, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper intermediate or advanced level they learn grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking. Having a conversation in English is a vital part of the learning process.
Many students will probably be taught by a non-native speaker, as in some countries there is a shortage of native speakers. These teachers have themselves learnt English and are happy to pass their knowledge on to others. Some students however will get the opportunity to practice their English with a native English speaker.
Category: Languages / Studying a Language / English
Students are to be given etiquette lessons from next term at a school in Wales. The reason is that teaching staff are so fed up with the demise of good etiquette they have decided to place politeness on the curriculum for all children. Thus from next term pupils at Llandovery College in Carmarthenshire, South West Wales will receive etiquette lessons in class.
The idea is based upon the TV programme ‘Ladette to Lady’; a former TV reality show in the UK and Australia that taught wayward girls good manners. It is about to be mirrored by the school in Wales. Students will be taught lessons in good manners. This includes how to hold cutlery in restaurants and holding doors open for females.
Llandovery College warden Ian Hunt wants to drive home the message that ‘manners maketh man or woman.’ “Teachers at the college will be teaching good manners, which will equip our students for the outside world. From holding doors open for fellow students to understanding the importance of an RSVP, we hope our programme puts old fashioned manners into a modern context,” he said.
Category: Teaching / Etiquette / Wales
