Monday 30 January 2023

Speaking. Elevator pitch

 INFO CALL OF PROPOSALS: EUROPASS CONTEST 2023


How to take part:
Individually or working in pairs to shoot a 30 second video with the title: "Showcase your skills with Europass", showing skills, competencies or abilities he/she has and how these skills are part of their Europass account.

An elevator pitch—also known as an elevator speech—is a quick synopsis of your background, experience, and purpose. The reason it's called an elevator pitch is that it should be short enough to present during a brief elevator ride. This speech is all about you: who you are, what you do, and what you want to do (if you're job hunting) or are doing.
An effective elevator pitch is meant to be no more than 30 seconds, just like the length of time you ride in an elevator. You want to keep your words easily digestible, so avoid trying to get too deep into specifics as it can drag on the conversation — and lose your prospect's attention. It communicates who you are, what you're looking for and how you can benefit a company or organization. It's typically about 30 seconds, the time it takes people to ride from the top to the bottom of a building in an elevator.

Wednesday 25 January 2023

Songs. Listening. M. Cyrus/B. Mars

When I Was Your Man is a song released by Bruno Mars in 2012, from his album Unorthodox Jukebox. The song became popular again in 2023 after Miley Cyrus released her new song Flowers, with recalls the words in Bruno Mars’ lyrics. Both are breakup songs from different perspectives, and there is a reason why Miley Cyrus chose this song as an inspiration for the message she wanted to give to her ex Liam Hemsworth.

When I Was Your Man is a breakup song where Bruno Mars regrets the behaviors that led his girl to leave. In the lyrics, the singer expresses his melancholy, the feeling of loneliness, and wishes he could go back in time and behave differently, giving more attention to the girl he loves.

The reason why people rediscovered this song after Miley Cyrus Flowers is the similarity between the two choruses. Miley Cyrus sings about all the self-love she can give herself now that her man is gone, whereas Bruno Mars mentions all the things he should have done when his relationship was still present, to prevent the breakup. They are both talking about the same love gestures, as you can see in the comparison below.

From Miley Cyrus’ Flowers lyrics:

I can buy myself flowers
Write my name in sand
Talk to myself for hours, yeah
Say things you don’t understand
I can take myself dancing, yeah
I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better than you can

From Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man lyrics

I should’ve bought you flowers
And held your hand
Shoulda gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
‘Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby’s dancin’
But she’s dancin’ with another man



We were good, we were goldKinda dream that can't be soldWe were right 'til we weren'tBuilt a home and watched it burn
Mm, I didn't wanna leave youI didn't wanna lieStarted to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowersWrite my name in the sandTalk to myself for hoursSay things you don't understandI can take myself dancingAnd I can hold my own handYeah, I can love me better than you can
Can love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me betterI can love me better, baby
Paint my nails, cherry redMatch the roses that you leftNo remorse, no regretI forgive every word you said
Ooh, I did not wanna leave you, babyI didn't wanna fightStarted to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowersWrite my name in the sandTalk to myself for hours, yeahSay things you don't understandI can take myself dancing, yeahI can hold my own handYeah, I can love me better than you can
Can love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me better
I did not wanna leave youI didn't wanna fightStarted to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowers (oh)Write my name in the sand (mmh)Talk to myself for hours (yeah)Say things you don't understand (never will)I can take myself dancing, yeahI can hold my own handYeah, I can love me better thanYeah, I can love me better than you can

Monday 23 January 2023

Revising grammar, introducing vocabulary

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES:

We use gerunds (verb + ing):
  • After certain verbs - I enjoy singing
  • After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving
  • As the subject or object of a sentence - Swimming is good exercise
We use 'to' + infinitive:
We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to'):
  • After modal verbs - I can meet you at six o'clock
  • After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help' - The teacher let us leave early
  • After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) - I watched her walk away
  • After expressions with 'why' - why go out the night before an exam?
Verbs that take the gerund or 'to + infinitive' with examples and exercises:

See all the gerund and infinitive exercises here.







Thursday 19 January 2023

Saturday 14 January 2023

Job interview




COVER LETTER:

Dear Mr. Martínez,

I´m writing in response to your advertisement for English teachers on your volunteer programme.

As you can see from my enclosed resume, I have a degree in English literature and I also have a certificate in teaching  English language to young learners.

As regards experience, I have been teaching English to children in my hometown for several years. I have worked as private tutor teaching literacy and basic handwriting skills too.

I believe I´m a patient, enthusiastic teachers who gets a lot of satisfaction with my students´ success. I´m also flexible and open to new experiences. Working in a remote place would be a good challenge to me.

I would really love the opportunity to take part in a programme like this as it may make a difference in the llife of young people and help them achieve their goals.

Yours sincerely,

(Name.........)

https://www.liveworksheets.com/1-lb2396416sr



https://cantabria-elt.blogspot.com/2021/11/prospecting-future-job-interviews.html



Thursday 12 January 2023

Blue Monday

 

When is Blue Monday in 2023?

Blue Monday falls on the third Monday of January each year. In 2023, Blue Monday will take place on Monday 16 January.

What is Blue Monday?

Blue Monday has been dubbed the most depressing day of the year.

January, in general, is a time when the cold weather, lack of daylight, and general post-Christmas slump can lead to many people feeling down and lacking in motivation, which can cause low employee engagement.

Yet, the third Monday of January, aka Blue Monday, is said to be when a number of factors combine to create maximum blueness and increase the likelihood of a low mood.

Where did Blue Monday originate from?

The concept of Blue Monday originated in a 2005 press release for UK-based travel firm, Sky Travel.

They asked a psychologist, Cliff Arnall, to come up with a formula for the January blues, which they used to promote their holidays. The formula included the following factors:

  • Weather
  • Debt
  • Monthly salary
  • Time since Christmas
  • Time since failing our new year’s resolutions
  • Low motivation levels
  • The feeling of a need to take action

Wednesday 11 January 2023

Work skills