Teaching Matters: Explaining the concept of skill in relation to the workplace
“In business for yourself, not by yourself.” ~Ray Kroc (1902-1984), McDonald’s founder How do people get jobs in the United States? Internship season is almost upon us, and finding work is not always an easy thing – particularly in an uncertain economy. Many ESL students may be from countries where people are employed through families, political parties or...
Read MoreResources: Dissecting an Advertisement
“If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.” ~Dr. Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990), Canadian-American educator When looking for a job, it’s important to assess what employers really want from potential hires. This is a crucial step in drafting tailored resumes, or resumes targeted at a specific employment opportunity. Sometimes, however,...
Read MoreResources: 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 helpful links we’ve found in the past for teachers and students alike to encourage networking and a better sense of...
Read MorePracticing Interview Skills, Staging a Mock Job Interview and Self Evaluation
Finding work is not always an easy thing, particularly in an uncertain economy such as that of the United States. But how does one get a job? Research, self-nomination, and persistence are common paths that lead to job interviews. Our students, naturally, find the prospect of interviewing for a competitive job an intimidating prospect. We can reduce their justified anxiety by teaching a...
Read MoreEnglish language learners should beware of saying ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’
Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a popular indie band, but “Yeah, yeah, yeah” is a problematic response to job interview questions. “In common use almost every word has many shades of meaning, and therefore needs to be interpreted by the context.” -Alfred Marshall (1842-1924), British economist Television personalities, celebrities, and basketball players often respond to questions...
Read MoreInformational Interviews Help ESOL Students Succeed and Connect to Jobs
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you will probably end up somewhere else.” – Dr. Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990), Canadian-American educator How do you find good jobs in a bad economy? What job search technique is widely taught and practiced at elite private universities, but seldom used at community colleges, adult schools, and high schools? Why do I consider...
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