Learn or not: This is the eternal question
miércoles, 25 de marzo de 2015
martes, 24 de marzo de 2015
Little Britain: Scottish Chef vs Two customers
Little Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7PETX-0L9g
"Typical" conversation between a scottish chef and two customers...
Enjoy it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7PETX-0L9g
"Typical" conversation between a scottish chef and two customers...
Enjoy it!
Idioms to be used at work
A lot of American idiomatic expressions are typically used in informal English – but these 15 idioms are different! Read the idiomatic expressions and example sentences, listen to the pronunciation and repeat the words and sentences out loud to improve your English speaking.
put something off
If you put something off, you delay doing it.
“I put off writing the report until the last day, and now I have to work overtime to finish it!”
take off
If something takes off, it increases or becomes popular very quickly.
“Sales have really taken off this year and the company is making record profits.”
people person
Somebody who is a people person is extroverted, has great social skills, and loves interacting with people.
“Ashley’s been promoted to director of human resources. She’ll do a great job – she’s a real people person.”
crunch the numbers
Crunching the numbers means to do a lot of calculations.
“After crunching the numbers, our accounting department informed us that we don’t have enough money to buy the new equipment.”
have a lot on your plate
If you have a lot on your plate, it means you have a lot of work and responsibilities at the moment.
“Sorry I didn’t call you back sooner; I have a lot on my plate right now.”
selling like hotcakes
If a product is selling like hotcakes, it means a lot of customers are buying it very fast.
“The new product is selling like hotcakes. We’ll need to produce more to keep up with the demand!”
think outside the box
To think outside the box means to think in a creative way that is different from usual.
“We need to come up with a really good advertising campaign. Let’s try to think outside the box.”
win-win situation
A win-win situation is a cooperative agreement that is good for both people or companies.
“This partnership will bring increased publicity to their company and new customers to ours. It’s a win-win situation.”
test the waters
If you test the waters, you try something new to see if it will be successful or not.
“We’re testing the waters to see if changing the product’s packaging will increase sales.”
bang for the buck
If something provides more bang for the buck, it means it has more value for the money spent.
“I think we should use online ads instead of TV commercials. They give more bang for the buck.”
learning curve
The learning curve is the time it takes to learn an activity or system.
“Our database system has an easy learning curve – you’ll be able to use it perfectly within a day.”
off the top of one’s head
If you know something off the top of your head, it means you know it immediately without needing to look for the information in books, on the internet, etc.
“I don’t know the exact number off the top of my head, but I’d estimate that we spent about $400,000 on training for employees last year.”
on the back burner
If a project is on the back burner, it means it is less important at the moment.
“The preliminary market analysis is on the back burner; I have some other projects that are taking priority.”
in the red / in the black
If a company is in the red, it means it is operating with debt. A company operating in the black means that it has a profit.
“Our company ended the year in the red with a debt of $5,000,000.”
ramp up
If you ramp up something, it means you increase it.
“We need to ramp up our efforts to find new customers.”
lunes, 23 de marzo de 2015
Phrasal verbs used in Socializing context
ask (someone) over
If you ask someone over, you invite the person to your house or apartment:“My roommates and I are going to ask our English teacher over for lunch.”
ask (someone) out
If you ask someone out, you invite the person to go out for a romantic encounter:“Bill asked me out, but I turned him down (said no). He’s just not my type.”
come over
When a person comes over, they arrive at your house or apartment:“Why don’t you come over to my place after class? We can work on the project together.”
bring over
To bring something over is to bring an object to the other person’s house or apartment:“I’ll bring over my DVD collection so that we can watch some movies.”
have (someone) over
Have over is the general word for having people visit your house/apartment:“We’re having about 15 people over for Thanksgiving dinner.”
pop in / stop in / stop by
These phrasal verbs mean to enter a place for a short period of time:“I just stopped by to say hi – I need to go in about ten minutes.”
drop in
Drop in means to visit unexpectedly:“My sister always drops in while I’m in the middle of doing something important. I wish she’d call me before she came over.”
drop (someone) off
Drop off is when you take somebody in your car and then leave them in another place:“I’m going to drop my husband off at the airport. He’s traveling to London.”
pick (someone) up
Pick up is the opposite of “drop off.” If you pick someone up, you go drive to a place and get someone into your car. Remember that you drop someone off at a place, and you pick someone up from a place.“My husband returns from London on Thursday – I’ll pick him up from the airport around noon.”
meet up with (someone)
To meet up with someone is to get together at a particular time and place:“I’m going to meet up with some friends at the bar at 8:30.”
Bonus idiom: “Take a rain check”
“We’re going to play basketball tomorrow afternoon. Do you want to join us?”
“I’ll have to take a rain check – my boyfriend and I are going to see a concert. Maybe another time!”
Julie Meyer II: AVON
We talked about Julie Meyer two weeks ago. One week ago, I wrote a short article about her and her succesful career. She is the CEO of AVON and other succesful companies. She is one of the most well-paid managers in the world.
Today we are gonna talk about AVON. I am going to write short links which are supposed to be visited
(hehehehehe) and completed. You can share your results and write your oppinions to me.
Good luck!
In "british" english: http://www.businessenglishmaterials.com/avon.mp3
In "american" english: http://www.businessenglishmaterials.com/avon1.mp3
The article:
Avon is the world’s largest cosmetics and perfume company. It’s also one of the oldest. It was founded in New York in 1886 by a door-to-door book salesman David H. McConnell who gave away perfume to encourage sales. The perfume became more popular than the books so he established the California Perfume Company. Since then it has become a multinational corporation, employing over 40,000 people in 140-plus countries across the globe, and has annual sales in excess of $10 billion. The company uses a mix of sales strategies, relying on door-to-door selling, catalogues and retail stores. Traditionally, the trademark ‘Avon lady’ would come to customers’ doors. The company is expanding quickly into China and Russia and has also targeted the market for male cosmetics.
Listening Exercise:
Avon is the world’s largest cosmetics and perfume company. It’s ___________________. It was founded in New York in 1886 ___________________ book salesman David H. McConnell who gave away perfume to encourage sales. The perfume ___________________ the books so he established the California Perfume Company. Since ___________________ a multinational corporation, employing over 40,000 people in 140-plus countries across the globe, ___________________ in excess of $10 billion. The company ___________________ strategies, relying on door-to-door selling, catalogues and retail stores. Traditionally, the trademark ‘Avon lady’ ___________________ customers’ doors. The company is expanding quickly into China and Russia and ___________________ the market for male cosmetics.
Today we are gonna talk about AVON. I am going to write short links which are supposed to be visited
(hehehehehe) and completed. You can share your results and write your oppinions to me.
Good luck!
In "british" english: http://www.businessenglishmaterials.com/avon.mp3
In "american" english: http://www.businessenglishmaterials.com/avon1.mp3
The article:
Avon is the world’s largest cosmetics and perfume company. It’s also one of the oldest. It was founded in New York in 1886 by a door-to-door book salesman David H. McConnell who gave away perfume to encourage sales. The perfume became more popular than the books so he established the California Perfume Company. Since then it has become a multinational corporation, employing over 40,000 people in 140-plus countries across the globe, and has annual sales in excess of $10 billion. The company uses a mix of sales strategies, relying on door-to-door selling, catalogues and retail stores. Traditionally, the trademark ‘Avon lady’ would come to customers’ doors. The company is expanding quickly into China and Russia and has also targeted the market for male cosmetics.
Listening Exercise:
Avon is the world’s largest cosmetics and perfume company. It’s ___________________. It was founded in New York in 1886 ___________________ book salesman David H. McConnell who gave away perfume to encourage sales. The perfume ___________________ the books so he established the California Perfume Company. Since ___________________ a multinational corporation, employing over 40,000 people in 140-plus countries across the globe, ___________________ in excess of $10 billion. The company ___________________ strategies, relying on door-to-door selling, catalogues and retail stores. Traditionally, the trademark ‘Avon lady’ ___________________ customers’ doors. The company is expanding quickly into China and Russia and ___________________ the market for male cosmetics.
domingo, 22 de marzo de 2015
Hilarious article about spanish freelances (El mundo today) Spanish-English
Spanish
Analizarán la sangre de los autónomos para investigar por qué nunca enferman
LA CLAVE PODRÍA ESTAR EN EL HÁBITO DE COMER PIZZA DE PIE FRENTE AL ORDENADOR
Investigadores del CSIC tomarán muestras de la sangre
de cientos de autónomos españoles para averiguar el motivo por el que
nunca se ponen enfermos. También procurarán descubrir por qué no
necesitan vacaciones ni una vida familiar estable para conservar su
salud mental.
“Los autónomos son capaces de subsistir sin tener asegurado el suministro regular de ingresos y comida. En algunos casos, llegan incluso a reproducirse. No tienen una joroba como los camellos o los dromedarios, ni varios estómagos como las vacas, por lo que es un auténtico milagro que sobrevivan estando tan expuestos a la precariedad”, admite el doctor Israel Graulio, funcionario del CSIC que describe a los autónomos como “una extraordinaria y exótica forma de vida”.
Los expertos sospechan que los autónomos comparten con los primeros organismos que se formaron en la Tierra esa capacidad para florecer en condiciones muy adversas. “Muchos de ellos trabajan sin contrato. Para mí, que soy funcionario desde los veintidós años, es como ver una planta crecer sin tierra, encima de un trozo de plástico”, insiste Graulio.
Los científicos creen que, si se descubren las claves que permiten a los autónomos vivir en la permanente inestabilidad, resistiendo altas presiones durante horas, el resto de los seres humanos podría superar multitud de enfermedades y dejar de necesitar periodos de descanso que lastran su productividad en entornos laborales.
“Puede que la clave esté en las pizzas frías que comen de pie frente a la pantalla del ordenador. O en el hecho de no salir de casa durante días. Hay que estudiarlo muy a fondo, aunque da pereza porque hay mucho curro por delante”, explica el investigador.
El CSIC está experimentando desde hace meses con un ejemplar de “freelance” al que sacan sangre de vez en cuando. “Es increíble. Le llamas un domingo por la noche y le pides una cosa para ayer, y te la hace. Le dices que no sabes ni cuánto ni cuándo le vas a poder pagar porque estas cosas ya sabes cómo van, que está todo muy mal, y se encoge de hombros y te dice que vale”, relata el doctor Graulio.
“Necesitamos más muestras de vida autónoma y muchas más horas para experimentar. Lo que pasa es que, entre la pausa para el bocata y el cigarrillo, las bajas del personal y la excedencia que he pedido esta semana, creo que no podremos empezar la investigación hasta el año que viene. Ya sabes cómo van estas cosas”, asegura el especialista del CSIC.
Lo más probable, pues, es que la experimentación se externalice. “Es más práctico que los autónomos se investiguen a sí mismos y nos pasen un informe lo antes posible. Además nos saldrá mucho más barato”, concluyen desde la institución.
English
They will analyze the blood of freelances to investigate why they never get sickTHE KEY COULD BE IN THE HABIT OF EATING PIZZA IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER
CSIC researchers will take samples of the blood from hundreds of Spanish freelances to find out why they never get sick. They will also try to discover why they don't need holidays and a stable family life to preserve his mental health.
"Freelances are able to survive without the guarantee of regular supply of income and food. In some cases even playing. They have a hump like camels or dromedaries or multiple stomachs like cows, so it is a miracle to survive being so exposed to insecurity, "admits Dr. Israel Graulio, official CSIC describing the freelance as "an extraordinary and exotic lifestyle".
Experts suspect freelances share with the first organisms that capacity to flourish in extreme conditions on Earth were formed. "Many work without a contract. To me, a civil servant from twenty-two, is like watching a plant grow without soil on top of a piece of plastic plant "insists Graulio.
Scientists believe that if the keys that allow freelances live in permanent instability withstand high pressures for hours, discovered other humans could overcome many diseases and stop needing rest periods hindering its productivity workplaces.
"Maybe the key is to eat cold pizza standing in front of the computer screen. Or being at home for days. Must be studied very thoroughly, but I feel too lazy because there is a lot of work ahead, "says the researcher.
The CSIC is experimenting for months with a copy of "freelance" that draw blood from time to time. "It's unbelievable. You call a Sunday night and ask for something yesterday, and you do it. Tell him you do not know how or when he'll be able to pay for these things you know how to go, it is all very bad, and shrugs and says that it "says Dr. Graulio.
"We need more samples independent life and many more hours to experience. What happens is that between the break for the sandwich and smoking, low staff leave and I asked this week, I think we can not begin the investigation until next year. You know how these things go, "said the specialist CSIC.
Most likely, then, is that experimentation is outsourced. "It is more practical autonomous investigate themselves and we spend a report as soon as possible. In addition we will get much cheaper, "conclude from the institution.
“Los autónomos son capaces de subsistir sin tener asegurado el suministro regular de ingresos y comida. En algunos casos, llegan incluso a reproducirse. No tienen una joroba como los camellos o los dromedarios, ni varios estómagos como las vacas, por lo que es un auténtico milagro que sobrevivan estando tan expuestos a la precariedad”, admite el doctor Israel Graulio, funcionario del CSIC que describe a los autónomos como “una extraordinaria y exótica forma de vida”.
Los expertos sospechan que los autónomos comparten con los primeros organismos que se formaron en la Tierra esa capacidad para florecer en condiciones muy adversas. “Muchos de ellos trabajan sin contrato. Para mí, que soy funcionario desde los veintidós años, es como ver una planta crecer sin tierra, encima de un trozo de plástico”, insiste Graulio.
Los científicos creen que, si se descubren las claves que permiten a los autónomos vivir en la permanente inestabilidad, resistiendo altas presiones durante horas, el resto de los seres humanos podría superar multitud de enfermedades y dejar de necesitar periodos de descanso que lastran su productividad en entornos laborales.
“Puede que la clave esté en las pizzas frías que comen de pie frente a la pantalla del ordenador. O en el hecho de no salir de casa durante días. Hay que estudiarlo muy a fondo, aunque da pereza porque hay mucho curro por delante”, explica el investigador.
El CSIC está experimentando desde hace meses con un ejemplar de “freelance” al que sacan sangre de vez en cuando. “Es increíble. Le llamas un domingo por la noche y le pides una cosa para ayer, y te la hace. Le dices que no sabes ni cuánto ni cuándo le vas a poder pagar porque estas cosas ya sabes cómo van, que está todo muy mal, y se encoge de hombros y te dice que vale”, relata el doctor Graulio.
“Necesitamos más muestras de vida autónoma y muchas más horas para experimentar. Lo que pasa es que, entre la pausa para el bocata y el cigarrillo, las bajas del personal y la excedencia que he pedido esta semana, creo que no podremos empezar la investigación hasta el año que viene. Ya sabes cómo van estas cosas”, asegura el especialista del CSIC.
Lo más probable, pues, es que la experimentación se externalice. “Es más práctico que los autónomos se investiguen a sí mismos y nos pasen un informe lo antes posible. Además nos saldrá mucho más barato”, concluyen desde la institución.
English
They will analyze the blood of freelances to investigate why they never get sickTHE KEY COULD BE IN THE HABIT OF EATING PIZZA IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER
CSIC researchers will take samples of the blood from hundreds of Spanish freelances to find out why they never get sick. They will also try to discover why they don't need holidays and a stable family life to preserve his mental health.
"Freelances are able to survive without the guarantee of regular supply of income and food. In some cases even playing. They have a hump like camels or dromedaries or multiple stomachs like cows, so it is a miracle to survive being so exposed to insecurity, "admits Dr. Israel Graulio, official CSIC describing the freelance as "an extraordinary and exotic lifestyle".
Experts suspect freelances share with the first organisms that capacity to flourish in extreme conditions on Earth were formed. "Many work without a contract. To me, a civil servant from twenty-two, is like watching a plant grow without soil on top of a piece of plastic plant "insists Graulio.
Scientists believe that if the keys that allow freelances live in permanent instability withstand high pressures for hours, discovered other humans could overcome many diseases and stop needing rest periods hindering its productivity workplaces.
"Maybe the key is to eat cold pizza standing in front of the computer screen. Or being at home for days. Must be studied very thoroughly, but I feel too lazy because there is a lot of work ahead, "says the researcher.
The CSIC is experimenting for months with a copy of "freelance" that draw blood from time to time. "It's unbelievable. You call a Sunday night and ask for something yesterday, and you do it. Tell him you do not know how or when he'll be able to pay for these things you know how to go, it is all very bad, and shrugs and says that it "says Dr. Graulio.
"We need more samples independent life and many more hours to experience. What happens is that between the break for the sandwich and smoking, low staff leave and I asked this week, I think we can not begin the investigation until next year. You know how these things go, "said the specialist CSIC.
Most likely, then, is that experimentation is outsourced. "It is more practical autonomous investigate themselves and we spend a report as soon as possible. In addition we will get much cheaper, "conclude from the institution.
sábado, 21 de marzo de 2015
Intermediate group: Julie Meyer's Tips for Business
Julie Meyer's tips to success
Julie Meyer founded Ariadne in 2000, with the backing of 57 founding
investors,
amongst whom are the founders of some of the most successful internet and
technology companies in recent history. Including the entrepreneurs
behind WorldPay, Hotmail, Betfair, SES Astra and many more, these investors are committed
to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs build world-leading
companies out of Europe.
Match verbs from 1-6 to phrases from a-b.
Watch the video and check Julie’s tips
to success:
1) Capital a) optimistic
2) Be open b) is
key
3) Remain c) work for you
4) Play d) with people
5) Selling e) follows ideas
6) Make your business f) to your strengths
|
||||||
| Answers: 1+e, 2+d, 3+a, 4+f, 5+b and 6+c |
viernes, 13 de marzo de 2015
Do vs Make
DO VS MAKE
Do vs. Make
(El verbo hacer)
"Do" y "make" son
dos verbos que se confunden frecuentemente en inglés. Ambos se pueden traducir
como "hacer", pero hay algunas diferencias en su significado. En
general, "do" considera más la acción, mientras que utilizando
"make" nos referimos más al resultado de la acción.
- Do
Se usa "do" para acciones,
actividades, y trabajos. Se utiliza en un sentido amplio, como de
"realizar". En general, estas acciones y actividades no producen un
objeto físico.
Ejemplos:
do homework
do a job
do the dishes
do housework
do exercise
Se utiliza "do" cuando hablamos de
cosas en general, cuando no decimos exactamente qué actividad. En este sentido,
se utiliza mucho con los pronombres indefinidos como "something",
"anything", "nothing", etc.
Expresiones
- do good (hacer el bien)
- do right (hacer bien)
- do wrong (hacer mal)
- do damage (hacer daño)
- do one's best (hacer lo posible)
- do a favor (hacer un favor)
- do justice (hacer justicia)
- do research (investigar)
- do harm (hacer daño)
- do business (hacer negocios)
- do one's hair (arreglarse el pelo)
- do wonders (hacer maravillas)
- Make
Se utiliza "make" en el sentido de
"fabricar", "elaborar" o "crear". Se usa para
actividades en que se crea algo que se puede tocar, un objeto físico.
make breakfast/lunch/dinner
make a dress
make furniture
Expresiones
Nota: Hay muchas expresiones que utilizan "make".
En muchas de estas, el sentido de "make" no es
"fabricar", ni "hacer" y muy a menudo "do"
parece más apropiado, pero son expresiones establecidas, así que hay que
memorizarlas.
- make a decision (tomar una decisión)
- make a choice (hacer una elección)
- make a plan (trazar/hacer un plan)
- make arrangements (hacer preparativos)
- make an appointment (pedir cita/hora, concertar una cita)
- make a mistake (cometer un error)
- make money (ganar dinero)
- make an excuse (dar una excusa)
- make an effort (hacer un esfuerzo)
- make an attempt (hacer un intento)
- make fun of (reírse/burlarse de)
- make progress (hacer progresos)
- make an offer (hacer una oferta)
- make [a] noise (hacer [un] ruido)
- make peace (firmar la paz)
- make war (hacer la guerra)
- make a phone call (hacer una llamada)
- make an exception (hacer una excepción)
- make a confession (hacer una confesión)
- make a discovery (hacer un descubrimiento)
- make a change (hacer un cambio)
- make amends (reparar el daño [causado al alguien]//desagraviar a)
- make a comment (hacer un comentario)
- make a statement (hacer una declaración/afirmación)
- make a speech (pronunciar/hacer un discurso)
- make a difference (hacer diferencias/marcar la [una] diferencia)
- make friends (hacer amigos)
- make love (hacer el amor)
- make a fire (encender un fuego)
- make an impression (causar impresión)
- make a mess (hacer un lío)
- make a point (dar un argumento concreto)
- make a promise (hacer una promesa)
- make a suggestion (hacer una sugerencia)
- make time (encontrar tiempo)
- make the bed (hacer la cama)
Do vs. Make (El verbo hacer)
"Do" y "make" son dos verbos que se confunden frecuentemente en inglés. Ambos se pueden traducir como "hacer", pero hay algunas diferencias en su significado. En general, "do" considera más la acción, mientras que utilizando "make" nos referimos más al resultado de la acción.Do
Se usa "do" para acciones, actividades, y trabajos. Se utiliza en un sentido amplio, como de "realizar". En general, estas acciones y actividades no producen un objeto físico.- Ejemplos:
- do homework
- do a job
- do the dishes
- do housework
- do exercise
- Ejemplos:
- What are you doing today? I'm not doing anything. (¿Qué haces hoy? No hago nada.)
- He's always doing nice things for his girlfriend. (Siempre hace cosas buenas para su novia.)
- Are you doing anything important right now? (¿Haces algo importante ahora mismo?)
Expresiones
- do good (hacer el bien)
- do right (hacer bien)
- do wrong (hacer mal)
- do damage (hacer daño)
- do one's best (hacer lo posible)
- do a favor (hacer un favor)
- do justice (hacer justicia)
- do research (investigar)
- do harm (hacer daño)
- do business (hacer negocios)
- do one's hair (arreglarse el pelo)
- do wonders (hacer maravillas)
Make
Se utiliza "make" en el sentido de "fabricar", "elaborar" o "crear". Se usa para actividades en que se crea algo que se puede tocar, un objeto físico.- Ejemplos:
- make breakfast/lunch/dinner
- make a dress
- make furniture
Expresiones
Nota: Hay muchas expresiones que utilizan "make". En muchas de estas, el sentido de "make" no es "fabricar", ni "hacer" y muy a menudo "do" parece más apropiado, pero son expresiones establecidas, así que hay que memorizarlas.
- make a decision (tomar una decisión)
- make a choice (hacer una elección)
- make a plan (trazar/hacer un plan)
- make arrangements (hacer preparativos)
- make an appointment (pedir cita/hora, concertar una cita)
- make a mistake (cometer un error)
- make money (ganar dinero)
- make an excuse (dar una excusa)
- make an effort (hacer un esfuerzo)
- make an attempt (hacer un intento)
- make fun of (reírse/burlarse de)
- make progress (hacer progresos)
- make an offer (hacer una oferta)
- make [a] noise (hacer [un] ruido)
- make peace (firmar la paz)
- make war (hacer la guerra)
- make a phone call (hacer una llamada)
- make an exception (hacer una excepción)
- make a confession (hacer una confesión)
- make a discovery (hacer un descubrimiento)
- make a change (hacer un cambio)
- make amends (reparar el daño [causado al alguien]//desagraviar a)
- make a comment (hacer un comentario)
- make a statement (hacer una declaración/afirmación)
- make a speech (pronunciar/hacer un discurso)
- make a difference (hacer diferencias/marcar la [una] diferencia)
- make friends (hacer amigos)
- make love (hacer el amor)
- make a fire (encender un fuego)
- make an impression (causar impresión)
- make a mess (hacer un lío)
- make a point (dar un argumento concreto)
- make a promise (hacer una promesa)
- make a suggestion (hacer una sugerencia)
- make time (encontrar tiempo)
- make the bed (hacer la cama)
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