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 learners, immigrants, a… The post Worksheet: Imperatives vs Polite Requests in the...
Read MoreTeaching 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 learners. A broad consensus … The post Teaching Matters: Introducing...
Read MoreRiding Life’s Waves: Confronting Procrastination – The Surfer’s Way
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” – Hillel the Elder (110 BC-10 AD), Jewish religious leader Why do we procrastinate? Whether the tasks be large or small, it’s all too easy to put off unpleasant tasks – and even easier to keep letting things pile up. Yet, In ‘The Unexpected Antidote to...
Read MoreJob Interviews: How to Answer Authentically to the Toughest Questions
“Strong waves make strong sailors.” – English proverb Why do so many hiring managers ask open-ended questions in job interviews? What possibilities – and perils – do these questions present? How can job-seekers prepare for ten tough, yet common, interview questions? When answering seemingly broad interview questions, it’s often difficult to know where to...
Read MoreJob Interviews: Why Authentic Conversation is Key to Success
“Hiring is a manager’s most important job.” – Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005), American management consultant and author How do many job seekers self-sabotage during interviews? What qualities often make a successful job interview? Liz Ryan, founder and CEO of Human Workplace, has conducted many an interview. In ‘The Startling Truth About Hiring Decisions’, she...
Read MoreSharing is Caring: Substituting Connectivity for Communication
“Technology is a word that describes something that doesn’t work yet.” –Douglas Adams (1952-2001), English author and satirist Is the cult of oversharing online preventing us from establishing genuine connections? Do we expect more from our phones than our neighbors? Is this natural or healthy? “I share, therefore I am” Many believe relying on instant...
Read More
