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22
MAY
2018

Worksheet: Imperatives vs Polite Requests in the Workplace

  “You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are.” —Anna Quindlen (1953-), American Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Style matters – especially when we talk with our co-workers, consumers, patients, and supervisors. English language...
03
APR
2018

Teaching Matters: Introducing Informational Interviews to Your Advanced ESL Class

“You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.” – Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), American author Speaking skills – in particular interview skills – matter. Job interviews – a perennial topic on this blog – are often stressful, especially for English language...
08
JAN
2016
Two businesspeople

Resources: Links for ESL Teachers About Informational Interviews

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” ~Vidal Sassoon (1928-2012), British hairstylist and businessman   Late last year, we published a blog post on mock job interviews and self-evaluation. In connection to that, here are some...
15
DEC
2011

Do Informational Interviews Have a Place in Business English Programs?

Speaking skills – especially in stressful situations – matter. Most quality Business English and VESL (Vocational English as a Second Language) programs provide extensive training and practice  in both short and long job interviews. Job interviews are stressful...
21
JUN
2011

More Links for ESL Teachers About Informational Interviews

Informational interviews have become a common practice among American professionals, but many English language learners remain unfamiliar with this type of networking and job search activity. ESL teachers can create both compelling classroom assignments and provide opportunities...
19
JAN
2010

CATESOL Accepts Presentation on Informational Interviews

"Informational Interviews: A Practical, Illuminating Speaking Assignment" will demonstrate the importance and relevance of this unusual assignment for a wide range of ESL students. Although officially listed for college/university instructors, the long assignment can be adapted...
30
SEP
2008

CATESOL Conference Highlights Practical ESL Teaching Techniques

Are you looking to share practical techniques with your fellow English teachers? What works in your ESL classroom? What tends to work in other ESL classrooms? Why? The Los Angeles Regional CATESOL conference, titled “WWW. What Works and Why” at Biola University on October 25...
23
AUG
2008

Conversation tip #15: Seek to Understand

Seek to Understand Have you ever seen two emotional people talk past each other? Both talk and neither listen. Both want to tell the other, and don’t want to hear – or understand – what the other person is saying. This happens too often in stressful workplaces. Stephen Covey,...
04
AUG
2008

ESL Conversation worksheet: Imperatives vs Polite Requests in the Workplace

Workplace Communication Tip 3: Politely Make Suggestions Style matters – especially when we talk with our co-workers, consumers, patients, and supervisors. English language learners, immigrants, and far too many English speaking workers sometimes forget this basic principle of...