reader up to scratch

Up to Scratch?

First year English module M2 Windesheim University of Applied SciencesSchool of Business & EconomicsAuthors: Ewing Selcraig, Ellen Keates and Hans Korsten

Reader “Up to Scratch” 2011-2012

1. Introduction

“Up to scratch” is an English expression meaning that something meets the standard required or expected. Originally it was used in boxing matches and the scratch was a line drawn in the ground indicating where the boxers had to stand. If they could no longer come “up to scratch” they were no longer fit to fight and were considered defeated. Nowadays it is used in any situation to describe something that meets certain pre-determined requirements. For you, personally, the question is whether or not your English meets the requirements demanded of a student in Higher Education. In terms of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEF) this means you have reached the B1 level of proficiency in English.

The module consists of seven two-hour lessons in which you will be able to display all your language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Whether or not you have the necessary knowledge to meet the required level of proficiency will be tested in a written examination during the exam period. In class it is possible to gain bonus points for a writing, speaking and/or listening assignment. You are free to decide for yourself whether or not you wish to try and gain any bonus points. Bonus points will be added to the grade for your written test. The final grade must be at least 5.5 for you to be awarded the 2 credits available for this module. Bonus points gained will no longer be valid after the first time the written test has been taken!

We hope this is a challenging experience and that you will do your utmost to come “Up to scratch”. Good luck!

July 2010Hans Korsten


2. Study guide English M2 “Up to Scratch”

This compulsory module consists of seven two-hours’ lectures in which you are given the opportunity to demonstrate your English language skills such as reading, listening, writing and speaking.

Your proficiency is tested in a written examination which takes place in the test period. The written exam is a multiple choice exam, consisting of 40 questions in which 3 alternatives are given for each question. The questions will assess your knowledge of English grammar, business vocabulary, reading comprehension and your ability to translate Dutch sentences into correct English ones.

As mentioned before it is possible, but not compulsory, to do a writing, speaking and/or listening assignment for bonus points. In total a full point can be added to the grade you have scored for your written exam. For both the listening and writing assignment either 0 or 0,3 bonus points can be earned; for the speaking assignment a maximum bonus of 0,4 can be earned, depending on the quality of the work.

The writing assignment will be done in week 5, the listening assignment in week 6 and the speaking assignment in week 7. For the writing assignment you need to write a short letter, email or memo; the listening assignment is a so-called ‘gap-filling’ exercise for which you need to fill in the words you have heard in a recording; the speaking assignment involves doing a group presentation on a business subject. Each group is free to choose its own subject as long as it can be related to one of the topics discussed in class or your field of study in general.

Failing to participate in any of the assignments means there is no opportunity for a retry. Bonus points earned with any assignment will no longer be valid after the first time the written test has been taken. The lessons are compulsory! Your attendance will be registered.Your final grade should at least be 5,5 in order to get your 2 ECs. Homework assignments must have been done before coming to class; should you have failed to do so, you will be requested to leave.

LiteratureIn order to be able to prepare for your classes and participate in them, you must have the reader “Up to Scratch”. The reader can be found on Blackboard which you then print yourself. The reader can also be bought in the Windesheim shop. You can order the reader on Sharenet by clicking on ‘Bestellen readers’ in the middle, blue column of ‘My Site’. Be sure to have a copy with you in week 2! You will also need to have “Basisvaardigheden Engels voor het Hbo” (Noordhoff publishers; ISBN 978-90-01-76795-2) for self-study and lectures. Be sure to have the book as quickly as possible since it will be used in every lesson!Keep in mind that the personal code on the voucher that comes with the book gives you access to the website that can be used for self-study and additional practice material.


ContentIn week 1 you will do a translation exercise which will give you an indication of the level of your English. It will also indicate which aspects of your knowledge of especially English grammar need further attention. You can then brush up on those aspects by using “Basisvaardigheden Engels” for self-study at home.In this module different aspects of the English language are dealt with. You read texts on various subjects which you then have to summarise or you are asked to answer questions about these texts, showing your understanding of the texts. These texts are also dealt with in the group discussions in class in which you are expected to participate.

You are also expected to study the vocabulary in order to be able to recognise and use it effectively for the class assignments and final examination. At the end of this reader you will find word lists for every single text in this reader. You are expected to find the correct translation yourself; this is part of your homework for every week. Only during class can you ask your teacher about that week’s word list. No full translation of the word lists will be issued by your teacher, not during class and certainly not at the end of the period. As part of your preparation for the written exam you will have to learn this vocabulary both ways, so from English to Dutch and from Dutch to English.

There is an opportunity to practise your group presentation in class in week 5; you will be given feedback that can be used to improve your presentation in week 7 when bonus points can be earned. Written skills are also practised, using different formats such as writing an email, memo etc. Your listening skills can be practised at home by listening to short podcasts, broadcasts etc that can be found on the websites of, for instance:The British Council: www.britishcouncil.org/new/learningand the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish)Moreover the basics of English grammar will also be discussed and put into practice in the translation or writing assignments. All in all you will be fairly busy for English M2 but if you manage to get organised it should not be too difficult to complete the module successfully!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish

http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/learning

3. Planning

Homework assignments for week 21. Read the text about ‘Global customs and etiquette’ (pages 10-11) make sure you

understand all the words and answer the questions (on page 11). 2. Study paragraphs 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (grammar) and

do the exercises (see page 11).3. Study paragraphs 6.2 and 6.8 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (business letter

layout and writing a letter of complaint).

Homework assignments for week 3

1. Read the text “Hurdles to cross-cultural business communication” (pages 14-15) and make sure you understand all the words.

2. Study paragraph 6.1 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (writing an email).3. Study paragraphs 2.4, 2.5 and 3.1 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (grammar) and

do the exercises (see page 16).

Homework assignments for week 4

1. Read the text “EasyJet” (pages 17 -18), make sure you understand all the words and answer the questions on page 18.

4. Study paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (grammar) and do the exercises (see page 18).

Homework assignments for week 51. Read the text “Zuid-Afrika wil de WK-geest vasthouden” (pages 19-20) so that

you can do the assignment on page 212. Read “Some rules for giving a presentation” (on pages 20-21). 3. Study paragraphs 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (grammar) and

do the exercises (see page 21).4. Study paragraph 6.3 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (making a summary).5. Prepare your trial presentation on “How important is English to be successful in

international trade?”.

Homework assignments for week 61. Read the text “English as a national foreign language” (pages 22-23), make sure

you understand all the words and answer the questions on page 23. 2. Study paragraphs 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (grammar) and

do the exercises (see page 24).

Homework assignments for week 71. Prepare your group presentation. Use overhead sheets and NOT PowerPoint; the

presentation should last no longer than 7 minutes, do NOT read from paper! You


are free to choose your own topic for the presentation as long as it is a ‘business topic’!

2. Study paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ (grammar) and do the exercises (see page 25).

4. Table of contents

Page

Week 1 Introduction and translation exercise (see handouts) 7“The Banker to the Poor” 7

Week 2 “Global customs and etiquette” 10“How Xerox got up to speed” 12Grammar: paragraphs 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ 13

Week 3 “Hurdles to cross-cultural business communication” 14Grammar: paragraphs 2.4, 2.5 and 3.1 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ 16

Week 4 “EasyJet demands still strong” 17Grammar: paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ 18

Week 5 “Zuid-Afrika wil de WK-geest vasthouden” 19Grammar: paragraphs 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ 21Writing assignment for bonus points 21

Week 6 “English as a national foreign language” 22Grammar: paragraphs 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ 23Listening assignment for bonus points

Week 7 Grammar: paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ 24Group presentations for bonus points 25

VocabularyIntroduction 25Study Guide 27Translation exercise 28The banker to the poor 29Global customs and etiquette 30How Xerox got up to speed 31Hurdles to cross-cultural business communication 32EasyJet 33Zuid-Afrika wil de WK-geest vasthouden 35English as a national foreign language 36


Week 1: Introduction, translation exercise and text (handout)

Classroom assignment week 1: Translation exercise Translate these sentences. Sentences such as these will also be part of the written exam at the end of this period. Doing this exercise will give you an indication of your proficiency in English and how much work still needs to be done, at school and at home (self-study).

1. Hij is met zijn eerste onderneming in 1988 in Leeds begonnen.2. Er zijn vorig jaar grote verliezen geleden in deze branche.3. Vorige week is de waarde van het Britse pond aanzienlijk gestegen.4. Hij zit sinds vorig jaar in de hoofddirectie.5. Hij is vertrokken zodra de bijeenkomst afgelopen was.6. Verleden jaar hebben we meer omzet gehad dan in de drie daaraan voorafgaande

jaren bij elkaar.7. Het is te vrezen dat dit jaar veel bedrijven failliet gaan.8. U kunt beter wachten totdat de directie haar besluit bekend maakt.9. We hadden al vele jaren goede contacten met hen voordat er besloten werd nauwer

samen te werken.10. Toen wij aankwamen was de vergadering al een uur aan de gang.11. Ze is twee jaar geleden ontslagen en sindsdien is ze nog steeds werkloos.12. Het spijt ons zeer dat wij de order hebben moeten annuleren.13. Als we niet tussenbeide gekomen waren, zouden de onderhandelingen allang

vastgelopen zijn.14. Ik heb u niet kunnen bellen omdat ik uw telefoonnummer vergeten ben.15. Wilt u ons laten weten wanneer de zaak geregeld wordt?

Classroom assignment week 1: gap-filling

Read the following text and choose the correct answer

The Banker to the Poor

Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi banker and economist. 1) __________ a professor of economics, he is most famous for his successful application of the concept of microcredit, the 2) __________ of small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. He is the 3) __________ of Grameen Bank, and he and the bank were 4) __________ awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to create economic and social development among the poor.

During visits to the poorest households in the village of Jobra near Chittagong University, Yunus discovered that very small loans could make a 5) __________ difference to a poor person. Jobra women who made bamboo furniture had to take out usurious loans to buy the bamboo. He made a loan of USD 27.00 from his 6) __________ pocket to 42 women in the village, who made a net profit of USD 0.02 each on the loan. Yunus believed that if given the


chance the poor would repay the 7) __________ money and hence microcredit could be a 8) __________ business 9) __________. He eventually managed to 10) __________ a loan from the Janata Bank to lend it to the poor in Jobra in December 1976.By July 2007, the Grameen Bank had 11) __________ USD 6.38 billion to 7.4 million borrowers. To ensure repayment, the bank uses a system of solidarity groups.

These small informal groups apply together for loans and its members act as co-guarantors of repayment and support each other's efforts at economic 12) __________.

The 13) __________ of the Grameen model of micro financing has inspired similar efforts in many countries throughout the developing world, and even in industrialised nations, including the USA. Many, but not all, microcredit projects also retain his emphasis on lending specifically to women. More than 94% of Grameen loans have 14) __________ to women, who suffer disproportionately from 15) __________ and who are more likely than men to devote their earnings to their families.

1)a. Formerb. Formerlyc. Ex-d. The former

2)a. Extendb. Extentc. Extensiond. Extends

3)a. Finderb. Founderc. Foundationd. Findings

4)a. Jointb. Eitherc. Jointlyd. Bi-

5)a. Disproportionateb. Disproportionatelyc. Proportionated. Proportionately

6)a. Selfb. Ownc. Onlyd. Private

7)a. Lendb. Loanc. Borrowingd. Borrowed

8)a. Viableb. Viably


c. Unviabled. Unviably

9)a. Modelsb. Modellingc. Modeld. Modelled

10)a. Incurb. Securec. Insecured. Procure

11)a. Ensuedb. Issuedc. Borrowedd. Lend

12)a. Advanceb. Advancingc. Advancementd. Advanced

13)a. Failureb. Mediocrityc. Successd. Problem

14)a. Goneb. Arrivedc. Sentd. Issued

15)a. Poorb. Poorlyc. Impoverishedd. Poverty


Week 2: text, grammar and writing a business letter

Text

Homework assignment for week 2Read the following text so that the assignment can be made.

Be sure to have a look at the vocabulary list at the very end of this reader as well!

GLOBAL CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

IntroductionWhen interacting with persons of other cultures, it is important to know their customs toassure that the intended meaning is conveyed and to avoid unintentionally offending them. For example, in some cultures, people shake hands as part of the introduction, while in other cultures bowing when being introduced is customary. In addition, dining customs vary with the culture. Integrating knowledge of global customs into business courses can be very beneficial to students as they graduate and enter the workforce and as they travel abroad.

Introducing yourselfIntroductions are part of making a positive initial impression when interacting with othersin business and social settings. A difference between cultures is the use of titles when making introductions. In such countries as Germany and Italy titles are used with the last name when introducing people to show respect. Since surnames are reversed in such Asian countries as China and Japan, you would be expected to address Sung Lo Chang as Mr. Sung. In Latin American countries people add their mother’s maiden name to their surname, so you would address Teresa Gomez Sanchez as Señorita Gomez.Introductions are accompanied by a handshake, an embrace, kiss, or bow, depending on theculture. Russians are famous for their bear hug often followed by a strong handshake between male friends. People of Latin America, the Mediterranean, and parts of Africa embrace, often accompanied with a slap on the back. In Japan and China, the bow, rather than the handshake, is customary; the handshake though is often combined with a bow during international business encounters so that each culture shows the proper respect

Business cardsExchanging business cards is an important part of encounters with businesspersons in othercountries. Since the business card plays such an important role in relationship building, it would be wise to have cards for every country you plan to visit printed in the local language on the back of your cards. Although it is permissible in the United States to glance at a business card and place it in a pocket, this practice is not universally accepted around the world. In countries like Japan, for example, the examination of the business card is done with great deliberation. The Japanese will examine the card carefully for clues to hierarchy within the firm and will make a comment about your position with the company or ask a question about some other information on the card before putting it away. In addition, it is customary to use both hands when presenting your card in Japan or South Korea and to position the card so that the other person can read it. In the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and African cultures (except Israel), use only your right


hand to present and accept business cards as the left hand is reserved for taking care of bodily functions.

DiningSince many business and social encounters involve dining, it is important to be aware ofcultural variations in eating styles and mealtime customs. In addition, it is important to learn the nuances of tipping, especially restaurant and travel tipping, when visiting another country.While knives, forks, and spoons are commonly used eating utensils in many countries of the world, they are uncommon in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam where chopsticks are used. When eating with chopsticks, one should remember that they should not be placed on the table or upright in a bowl of rice; they are placed on a chopstick rest or positioned together across the top of the dish.

Other variations in eating styles include use of the fingers of the right hand in Middle Eastern countries and India to eat from a common container. Refusing to join others in this practice would be an insult. Other customs related to dining involve whether or not you are expected to clean your plate and the appropriateness of making noises while eating. In some countries of South America (such as Bolivia, Peru, Panama, and Guatemala), you are expected to eat everything on your plate; in Costa Rica and Colombia, on the other hand, you are expected to leave food to indicate you have had enough to eat.While slurping or making other noises while eating is considered rude in the western world, in Japan and Hong Kong, making noises while eating is considered appropriate as this indicates enjoyment of the food. Saudi Arabians, as well as people of the Philippines, belch and make other noises during a meal, which is intended to express appreciation for the food.

Homework assignment week 2: True/false exercise and vocabulary

State whether the following sentences are True or False. Explain your answers, using your own words. Literal quotes from the text will not be accepted unless you also paraphrase them.

1. Being instructed about global customs is something students find boring. 2. It is easy to mistakenly address your Japanese host.3. Russians are very cordial to everyone they meet.4. In Latin America, the handshake is often accompanied by a slap on the back.5. In the Middle East use only the right hand to present and accept business cards.6. In Middle Eastern countries, eating with one’s fingers is customary.7. Belching and making other noises during a meal is bad manners in all cultures.

Grammar

Homework assignment for week 2All paragraphs and exercises are from ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’

Study: paragraph 2.1Do: exercises 1, 2 (also explain why a sentence is wrong!) and 3


Study: paragraph 2.2Do: exercises 1, 2 (also explain why a sentence is wrong!) and 3

Study: paragraph 2.3Do: exercises 1 and 2 (also explain why a sentence is wrong!)

Homework assignment week 2:Study paragraphs 6.2 and 6.8 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ so that you are able to do the class assignment.

Class assignment week 2:Read the following text so that you do the assignment in class.


'How Xerox got up to speed'

Xerox Corp. thought it was doing a smart thing when it consolidated 36 administrative centres into 3 back in 1999. But the move came just as Xerox was also reorganizing its sales division. The simultaneous upheaval in two key units unleashed chaos across the company's billing system. Customers received invoices quoting prices they had never agreed to - or detailing equipment they had never ordered. Worse, the mistakes took months to sort out, prompting some long-time customers to defect. The so-called document company had failed miserably at its own documentation.

Five years later. Xerox can see the bright side of that fiasco. After struggling to fix the problem itself, it hired General Electric Capital to handle its billing. GE brought more than order to the process: It showed Xerox a whole new way to diagnose and fix its problems. If the company could omit steps from its design, manufacturing, and servicing processes, as well as fine-tune those that remained, it would be able to deliver better printers and copiers to customers far faster and at lower cost. Today, GE continues to handle Xerox' billing.

What did GE have that Xerox didn't? For one, years of experience in applying Six Sigma, the data-driven technique for eliminating defects in any business process. Companies are using the techniques to analyze and improve tasks ranging from simple processes such as customer credit checks to complex product-design challenges. 'Companies are starting to realize this is becoming a very competitive weapon,' says Deborah Nightingale, engineering systems director of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's lean aerospace initiative.

Xerox kicked into high gear in late 2002 with training for top execs, including CEO Anne M. Mulcahy, who has spearheaded the effort. The company has since launched about 250 projects, both for itself and its customers. 'We've gone at it with a vengeance,' says Mulcahy. And the results are already rolling in: Xerox claims a $6 million return in 2003 on a $14 million investment in Lean Six Sigma. It expects an even bigger payoff this year.

Class assignment: Open questions and vocabulary

NB Answer the questions in English using your own words. Literal quotes from the text will not be accepted unless you also paraphrase them.

1 Which are the 'two key units' mentioned in the text?2 Why did things go so wrong with the company's billing system?


3 Does Xerox still prepare its own invoices?4 What kind of software programme is Six Sigma?5 Which word in the text gives you a clue as to how Six Sigma functions?6 What was Xerox' reaction to Six Sigma?7 Why is Xerox in the text referred to as the 'so-called document company'?

Class assignment week 2:

Write a letter of complaint to Xerox. You are one of Xerox’ customers that has received a number of wrong bills. You are very disappointed and you point out why. You also mention what you expect Xerox to do if they wish to keep you as a customer. End the letter in an appropriate way.Use at least 150 words!


Week 3: text, grammar and writing an email

Text



Hurdles to cross-cultural business communication

Internal communication within international companies faces strains and challenges brought on through internationalization.

International businesses are facing new challenges to their internal communication structures due to major reforms brought about through internationalization, downsizing, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. The loss of clients/customers, poor staff retention, internal conflicts/power struggles, misunderstandings, stress, poor productivity and lack of co-operation are all by-products of poor cross-cultural communication. Cross-cultural communications consultants work with international companies to minimise the above consequences of poor cross-cultural awareness. Through such cooperation, common hurdles to effective cross-cultural communication within companies have been recognised. Here we outline a few examples of these obstacles to cross-cultural co-operation:

Lack of Communication

It may seem obvious to state that non-communication is probably the biggest contributor to poor communication. Yet it continues to prove itself as the major problem within most companies.Lack of communication with staff is not solely due to lack of spoken dialogue. Rather it relates to access to information. For example, not giving feedback (negative or positive), or failure to properly communicate expectations are all ways in which information can be withheld from staff. This will eventually result in a staff that feels divided from management and superiors.A management which does not and will not communicate and interact physically with staff demonstrates a lack of interest, trust and respect. In the West it is often the case that communication lines are vertical. Staff report up to managers and managers up to senior levels and so on. Ideally lines of communication should run both ways. Those with a subordinate place in the communication process tend to feel estranged, indifferent.

Language

Communication difficulties through language come in two forms:


Use of inappropriate languageThe wrong use of words or emotions hidden behind phrases can send messages that affect staff self-perception, confidence and attitude. Critical language causes poor interpersonal relationships and low self-confidence whereas supportive language and tones has the opposite effect. Foreign LanguagesThese days, offices may have native speakers of over 50 languages all under one roof. It is important that the main language of the office is established, whether it be English, French or Spanish. Once this has been done, all employees should only converse in the main language. This avoids exclusion of staff who cannot understand other languages. In addition, a company should ensure that all its employees are able to communicate in the main language. Language tuition should be seen as a necessity not a luxury.

Culture

International businesses with a highly diverse workforce in terms of nationality and cultural background face challenges from the differences in language, values, business ethics, business practices, behaviour, etiquette and expectations. Cross-cultural differences can negatively impact a business in a variety of ways, whether in team cohesion or in staff productivity. As we have seen above, different methods of communication are just one area in which cross-cultural differences are manifested. In such multicultural companies, objective help may be needed through a cross-cultural consultant who will show teams and individuals how to manage communication and work together more cohesively and productively.

Conclusion

Understandably many companies are primarily focused on the financial and strategic side of company operations. International businesses are now realising that many of their business problems have roots in man-management and communication. In summary, we can conclude that the biggest hurdle to effective cross cultural communication is a reluctance to invest in the expertise and resources needed to overcome the problems as outlined above. Cross cultural hurdles are easily negotiable with some objective and well-qualified assistance.

Homework assignment for week 3Study paragraph 6.1 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’ so that you are able to do the class assignment

Class assignment week 3:

Write an email to your head of department of this big multinational where you are working, in which:

You express your concerns about the problems that you feel are caused by the management’s ignorance of dealing with several of the issues mentioned in the above-mentioned article.

Indicate in what way you think these problems could (or should) be solved.


Grammar


Study: paragraph 2.4Do: exercises 1, 2, 3 (also explain why a sentence is wrong!) and 4

Study: paragraph 2.5Do: exercises 1, 2 and 3

Study: paragraph 3.1Do: exercises 1, 2 and 3


Week 4: text, grammar and writing a summary

Text

Homework assignment for week 4Read the following text so that the assignments can be made.


EasyJet reports demand still strong

EasyJet and other airlines cannot make a profit if the oil price stays at current levels, analysts say.

The consumer downturn has not damaged the public’s appetite for weekend breaks and holiday trips on low-cost airlines, EasyJet said today, as it reported strong demand for budget flights last month.

Europe’s second-largest no-frills carrier, which carried nearly 38 million passengers last year, reported a 19.5% increase in travellers in June to 4.1 million. However, with much of that increase due to a growing fleet and the recent acquisition of GB Airways, it was the passenger load factor – or the proportion of seats sold per flight – that showed continued strength in the short-haul flight market. Last month’s load factor, compared with the same downturn-free period last year, was up slightly at 86.9%.

Strong demand is one of the few positive points for an airline industry that is facing an unprecedented rise in costs due to an oil price of more than $140 a barrel – which is threatening to push the entire sector into a loss of more than $6bn (£3bn) this year. EasyJet and close-rival Ryanair, two of the world’s most profitable carriers, cannot make a profit if the


http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/03/theairlineindustry.oil

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/oct/26/theairlineindustry

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/easyjetbusiness

oil price stays at this level, according to analysts. EasyJet’s director of communications, Toby Nicol, said fuel costs had now doubled from £10 a passenger last year to £20 today.

“Those airlines which are in the market this summer will have another good few months in terms of revenue, but it will not be enough to cover the costs,” he said. Ryanair said last week that its load factor had dipped by a percentage point to 84% in June, but the number did not concern analysts who expect budget carriers to post load factors in the mid-80s, with the odd fluctuation every month.

Gert Zonnefeld, analyst at stockbroker Panmure Gordon, said the “robust” EasyJet figures reflected the importance of load factors to low-fare airlines. Budget carriers prioritise keeping their aircraft in the air as much as possible, while filling them with as many passengers as they can – allowing the airline to wring extra profits from add-ons such as car hire deals and baggage check-in fees. Yields, or the average ticket price, are the key factor in filling up budget flights as fares are set at a low enough level to tempt leisure travellers.

“EasyJet has yield management systems that target a level of load factor and the fares are adjusted in order to get there,” said Zonnefeld. However, he added that EasyJet will struggle to pass on higher fuel costs once the peak summer season has finished. Profits will suffer badly as a result, with income struggling to meet soaring costs. “It is difficult to see how, given that fuel prices are going up so fast, they will pass it on to the consumer. Just because we have not seen a demand slowdown yet does not mean it is not going to happen.”

Two years ago, fuel as a proportion of EasyJet’s revenues stood at 24%. Next year it is expected to hit 36%. EasyJet is scouring its cost base and work methods to shave pounds off its annual expenditure. It is now flying its planes up to 2% slower on some routes in order to conserve fuel, saving hundreds of pounds per flight – with 30,000 flights per month this could save the company millions of pounds every month.

Homework assignment for week 4: Open questions and vocabulary

NB Answer the questions in English using your own words. Literal quotes from the text will not be accepted unless you also paraphrase them.

1. Have people been travelling less since the credit crisis started?2. Explain in your own words what is meant in the second paragraph by “passenger

load factor”.

3. How does EasyJet keep the passenger load factor high?

4. Does Gert Zonneveld think EasyJet’s demand will slow down? Explain your answer in your own words in English.

Grammar



Study: paragraph 3.3


http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/28/travelandtransport.oil

Do: exercises 1, 2, 3 (also explain why a sentence is wrong!) and 4

Study: paragraph 3.4Do: exercises 1, 2, 3 and 4

Week 5: Text, giving a presentation and grammar

Text

Homework assignment for week 3Read the following text so that the assignment can be made.Study paragraph 6.3 of ‘Basisvaardigheden Engels’


Zuid-Afrika wil de WK-geest vasthouden

Twee dagen na het einde van het WK is Zuid-Afrika weer een beetje tot rust komen. De vuvuzela's en vlaggenverkopers zijn verdwenen. In de media gaat het echter nog steeds over de succesvolle organisatie van het WK 2010 dat van FIFA-baas Sepp Blatter een 9 kreeg en ook in de buitenlandse pers als een van de indrukwekkendste en kleurrijkste kampioenschappen ooit werd omschreven. De grote vraag die men zich stelt: hoe kunnen we de spirit van de afgelopen maanden vasthouden en gebruiken om andere problemen in Zuid-Afrika op te lossen.

Het WK 2010 is een groot succes geworden. Daarover is iedereen in Zuid-Afrika het eigenlijk wel eens. Na het einde van het toernooi zijn de commentatoren in de Zuid-Afrikaanse media eensluidend in hun oordeel:

Zuid-Afrika heeft met een gemeenschappelijke inspanning de critici de mond gesnoerd. Het toernooi heeft de bevolking dichter bij elkaar gekregen en de perceptie in het buitenland op Zuid-Afrika enorm verbeterd.

Dat laatste gold zeker ook voor Nederland. De Nederlandse fans die we spraken, konden maar niet geloven dat dit vriendelijke, mooie en goed georganiseerde Zuid-Afrika hetzelfde land was als waarvoor ze vooraf zo waren gewaarschuwd. Maar vooral ook veel Zuid-Afrikanen waren totaal verrast door de positieve atmosfeer rond het evenement en het ontbreken van criminaliteit of dreiging. Het heeft vrijwel de gehele bevolking een ongekend trots gevoel gegeven.

Autoriteiten en prominenten roepen inmiddels stuk voor stuk op om de geest van het WK vast te houden en met een vergelijkbare focus als waarmee het WK is georganiseerd, ook de andere problemen in het land op te lossen. 'Het WK is het begin van een betere toekomst voor Zuid-Afrika,' vertelde president Zuma op een post-WK persconferentie. 'Als overheid hebben we enorm veel geleerd van de organisatie, vooral van het projectmanagement in


samenwerking met de private sector in binnen- en buitenland. Die ervaring en expertise gaan ons helpen om meer banen te scheppen en het onderwijs en de gezondheidszorg te verbeteren.'

Zuma denkt dat met de succesvolle organisatie van het WK het toerisme, de handel en de investeringen flink zullen toenemen. Ook oud-president Thabo Mbeki constateert in de ‘Cape Times’ dat het WK 2010 Afrikanen weer waardigheid heeft gegeven. 'De Afro-pessimisten die dachten dat we een hopeloos continent waren die zo'n groot evenement niet aan zou kunnen, hebben ongelijk gekregen... Onze bevolking heeft nu gezien dat we net als andere continenten tot alles in staat zijn.'

De Amerikaanse president Obama liet weten altijd al in het succes van Zuid-Afrika 2010 geloofd te hebben. 'Dit is het Afrika waar wij graag zaken mee doen, landen die op eigen benen staan en vol zelfvertrouwen en zonder financiële steun de wereld iets unieks bieden.'

Aartsbisschop Desmond Tutu kiest in een ingezonden brief voor vergelijkbare woorden: 'Er lijkt een nieuw Zuid-Afrika ontstaan. Wat we hebben gerealiseerd met het WK, is van grote waarde. Die waarde moeten we vasthouden. De uitdaging is nu om er voor te zorgen dat de nieuwe infrastructuur, inclusief het openbaar vervoer, aan alle Zuid-Afrikanen ten goede komt. De mouwen opstropen om met dezelfde geest huizen te bouwen, klaslokalen en ziekenhuizen. We weten nu waar we toe in staat zijn als we iets echt willen.'

In dezelfde ‘Cape Times’ noemde minister Tokyo Sexwale 27 problemen die Zuid-Afrika heeft moeten overwinnen om een succesvol WK te organiseren, van de recessie tot Afro- pessimisme, negatieve publiciteit van de buitenlandse pers, stakingen en terreurdreiging. Aan het einde van het krantenartikel voorziet hij de organisatoren van het volgende WK in Brazilië (2014) van advies: 'Laat je niet van de wijs brengen door onterecht uitgedeelde rode kaarten. Hou je vast aan je plan en maak je doelpunten.'

Some Rules for Giving a Presentation

Golden rule:Human attention is very limited. Don't cram too much information, either in each slide, or in the whole talk. Avoid details: they won't be remembered anyway. When called upon to make a speech, consider the following suggestions to help make your speech more interesting and fun for both you and your audience.

• Prepare.— Find out about your target audience. Consider their interests, their needs, and anything else about them that will help you connect with them.— Write down the purpose of the speech and decide on the ideas that should be covered.— Research the subject, taking brief notes.— Outline your speech, including only the most important points. Put them into a logical order.

• Practice.— Rehearse your speech until you have it well in mind. — Write in your notes how much time you can spend on the major points. This will help you stay within the time limits.— Put your outline in final form, using keywords only.— Try to be ready to be talking to your audience, with an occasional look at your outline. Do not memorize or read it word for word!!— When you are well prepared, you will feel more at ease during the speech. Also, it helps to


take a few deep breaths before you begin.— Introduce yourself, say what you are going to talk about.— Start by saying something about the structure of the presentation (introduction, body,

summary) and which aids you will be using.• Personalize.— Make each person feel that you are talking to him or her. Look at the audience as individuals, not as a group. If you are nervous, find a friendly face in the audience, and direct your remarks to that person for the first few minutes.— Watch the group’s reaction as you go. Stay close to their interests.

• Illustrate.— Use effective slides in your PowerPoint. Don’t give hand-outs during the presentation.— Balance what you say with what you show. Don’t let the visual aid be so elaborate that it is distracting.— Illustrate your important points with human interest stories, preferably something that actually happened. True stories, not necessarily funny, are excellent.

• Pace yourself.— Stay within the time limit.— Stay on the subject; don’t get sidetracked.— Speak slowly and clearly so that everyone can understand you. You may have to adapt

your volume to the size of the room and the audience.— Articulate well and keep the volume of your voice up.

• Summarize.— Restate the main idea or problem, its importance, and the major points you have made. The end of the presentation is very important! That is the impression the audience will take home with them.— Tell your audience that you will answer questions at the end of the presentation.

Grammar


Study: paragraph 3.5Do: exercises 1, 2, (also explain why a sentence is wrong!) and 3



Classroom Assignment week 5: Write an English (!) summary of the text about South-Africa and the WC with your group.

Week 5: Writing assignment for bonus points


Week 6: Text and grammar

Text



English as a National Foreign Language

India has two national languages for central administrative purposes: Hindi and English. Hindi is the national, official, and main link language of India. English is an associate official language. The Indian Constitution also officially approves twenty-two regional languages for official purposes.

Dozens of distinctly different regional languages are spoken in India, which share many characteristics such as grammatical structure and vocabulary. Apart from these languages, Hindi is used for communication in India. The homeland of Hindi is mainly in the north of India, but it is spoken and widely understood in all urban centres of India. In the southern states of India, where people speak many different languages that are not much related to Hindi, there is more resistance to Hindi, which has allowed English to remain a lingua franca to a greater degree.

Since the early 1600s, the English language has had a toehold on the Indian subcontinent, when the East India Company established settlements in Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai, formerly Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay respectively. The historical background of India is never far away from everyday usage of English. India has had a longer exposure to English than any other country which uses it as a second language, its distinctive words, idioms, grammar and rhetoric spreading gradually to affect all places, habits and culture.

Generally, English is used among Indians as a ‘link’ language and it is the first language for many well-educated Indians. It is also the second language for many who speak more than one language in India. The English language is a tie that helps bind the many segments of our society together. Also, it is a linguistic bridge between the major countries of the world and India.

The importance of the ability to speak or write English has recently increased significantly because English has become the de facto standard. Learning the English language has become popular for business, commerce and cultural reasons and especially for internet communications throughout the world. English is a language that has become a standard not because it has been approved by any ‘standards’ organization but because it is widely used by many information and technology industries and recognized as being standard. The call centre phenomenon has stimulated a huge expansion of internet-related activity, establishing


the future of India as a cyber-technological super-power. Modern communications, videos, journals and newspapers on the internet use English and have made ‘knowing English’ indispensable.

The prevailing view seems to be that unless students learn English, they can only work in limited jobs. Those who do not have basic knowledge of English cannot obtain good quality jobs. They cannot communicate efficiently with others, and cannot have the benefit of India’s rich social and cultural life. Men and women who cannot comprehend and interpret instructions in English, even if educated, are unemployable. They cannot help with their children’s school homework every day or decide their revenue options of the future. A positive attitude to English as a national language is essential to the integration of people into Indian society. There would appear to be virtually no disagreement in the community about the importance of English language skills. Using English you will become a citizen of the world almost naturally. English plays a dominant role in the media. It has been used as a medium for inter-state communication and broadcasting both before and since India’s independence. India is, without a doubt, committed to English as a national language. The impact of English is not only continuing but increasing.

Homework assignment for week 6: mc questions

Read the text and choose the correct answer

1) According to the writer, the Indian constitution recognises:a. 22 official languagesb. Hindi as the national language.c. 2 national, official languages.d. 2 national languages.

2) English's status as a lingua franca is helped by:a. its status in northern India.b. the fact that it is widely understood in urban centres.c. the fact that people from the south speak languages not much related to Hindi.d. it shares many grammatical similarities with Hindi.

3) In paragraph 3, 'toehold' means that English:a. dominated India.b. changed the names of some cities in India.c. has had a presence in India.d. has been in India longer than any other language.

4) In paragraph six, it says 'the prevailing view', which suggests that:a. the view is correct.b. the view is held by the majority.c. the view is incorrect.d. the view is held by the minority.

5) English in India:a. is going to decrease.b. has decreased since independence.c. causes disagreement.d. is going to have a greater importance.


Grammar




Study: paragraph 4.4Do: exercises 1, 2, 3 and 4 (also explain why a sentence is wrong!)

Week 6: Listening assignment for bonus points


Week 7: Grammar

Grammar



Study: paragraph 4.6Do: exercises 1, 2, 3 (also explaining why a sentence is wrong!)

Week 7: Giving a presentation for bonus points

These presentations are also group presentations which should last no longer than 7 minutes. PowerPoint is not allowed, overhead sheets should be used and reading from paper is absolutely forbidden!

The subject for the presentation is any topic within the ‘business’ context, so you are free to choose your own subject as long as it is related to ‘business’.


Vocabulary

On the following pages you will find the vocabulary that may be used in the written examination. It has all been taken from the introduction and the texts in this reader. It is up to you to make sure you understand it all and that are able to translate it from English into Dutch or from Dutch into English.

Introduction

English Dutch?

To be up to scratch -

Expression -

Standard -

Required -

Drawn -

Indicating -

To be considered -

Defeated -

Nowadays -

To describe -

To meet -

Pre-determined -

Requirements -

Demanded -

Be able to -


To display -

Language -

Skills -

Proficiency -

To gain -

Assignment -

To be added -

To be awarded -

Available -

Challenging -

Experience -

Utmost -

Study Guide

English Dutch?

Lectures -

Opportunity -

To demonstrate -

To assess -

Comprehension -

Ability -

Topic -

To participate -

Valid -

Grade -

To be requested -


A copy -

Access -

Additional -

Content -

Indication -

To brush up -

Various -

To summarise -

To deal with -

To be issued -

To improve -

Moreover -

Fairly -

Translation exercise

English? Dutch

- Onderneming

- Branche

- Verliezen lijden

- Waarde

- Aanzienlijk

- Stijgen (van prijzen)

- Hoofddirectie

- Aflopen (van een bijeenkomst)

- Omzet

- Voorafgaande


- Failliet gaan

- Bekendmaken

- Samenwerken

- Ontslagen worden

- Werkloos zijn

- Annuleren

- Tussenbeide komen

- Onderhandelingen

- Vastlopen

Gap-filling: The banker to the poor

English? Dutch

Application -

Entrepreneurs -

Efforts -

Furniture -

Usurious -

Hence -

To ensure -

To retain -

Emphasis -

Disproportionally -

Formerly -

Extension -

Extent -


Viable -

Foundation -

To incur -

To procure -

Advancement -

Mediocrity -

Issued -

Impoverished -

Global customs and etiquette

English Dutch?

Interacting -

Customs -

To assure -

Intended -

To convey -

Unintentionally -

To offend -

Customary -

Beneficial -

To graduate -

Abroad -

Initial -

Surnames -

To reverse -


To address -

Mediterranean -

To exchange -

Permissible -

To glance -

Deliberation -

An encounter -

Tipping -

Utensils -

A bowl -

An insult -

Appropriateness -

Rude -

To belch -

Appreciation -

How Xerox got up to speed

English Dutch?

To consolidate -

Simultaneous -

To unleash -

An invoice -

To detail -

To defect -

Billing -

To omit -


To eliminate -

Defects -

Ranging from -

To spearhead -

To go at it with a vengeance -

A $6m return -

A payoff -

Hurdles to cross-cultural business communication

English Dutch?

Hurdles -

To face -

A strain -

Due to -

Major (adj) -

Downsizing -

A merger -

An acquisition -

Staff retention -

By-products -

Obvious -

Solely -

Eventually -

Divided -

Subordinate (adj) -

To tend -


(To feel) estranged -

Indifferent -

To affect -

Self-perception -

Attitude -

To cause -

Whereas -

Native speakers -

To converse -

Exclusion -

Language tuition -

Diverse -

Cohesion -

To be manifested -

Man-management -

Reluctance -

Resources -

Negotiable -

Well-qualified -

EasyJet reports demand still strong

English Dutch?

Current -

Downturn -

To damage -

Public -


Appetite -

Demand for -

Budget flights -

No-frills carrier -

Short-haul -

Unprecedented -

To threaten -

Entire -

Profitable -

Fuel -

In terms of revenue -

To cover the costs -

To dip -

To concern -

To post -

The odd fluctuation -

Stockbroker -

To reflect -

Importance -

To prioritise -

To wring extra profits -

Add-ons -

Yields -

The key factor -

To tempt -

Leisure -


To target -

Fare -

To adjust -

To pass on costs -

Soaring -

A demand slowdown -

Revenues -

To scour -

To shave pounds off -

Annual expenditure -

Zuid-Afrika wil de WK-geest vasthouden

English? Dutch

- vasthouden

- buitenlandse pers

- indrukwekkend

- omschrijven

- eensluidend

- gemeenschappelijk

- de mond snoeren

- gelden voor

- ontbreken

- ongekend

- vergelijkbaar

- overheid

- samenwerking

- gezondheidszorg


- de handel

- investeringen

- waardigheid

- openbaar vervoer

- de mouwen opstropen

- ten goede komen aan

- stakingen

- terreurdreiging

- opiniestuk

- van advies voorzien

- van de wijs brengen

- onterecht

English as a national foreign language

English Dutch?

A purpose -

Associate (adj) -

To approve -

Distinctly -

Urban -

Resistance -

To remain -

Lingua franca -

A toehold -

To establish -

Settlements -


Exposure -

Gradually -

A link -

De facto -

Expansion -

Journals -

Indispensable -

Prevailing -

To comprehend -

Virtually -

Broadcasting -

The end


reader up to scratch

Documents