Jena Graduates, January 2011

[Torsten]

Hi everybody,

We are looking for an English language trainer for the following job:

location: Jena, Germany
period: Monday, January 3 through to January 14, 2011
time: from 8 am to 4 pm, (8 units 45 minutes each), Monday through Friday
target group: graduates of Jena university
purpose: to prepare them for their first jobs

The group consists of about 10 university graduates with various backgrounds such as sociology, linguistics, biology, IT, history, pschycology. They want gain more self-confidence in giving presentations, conducting job interviews and using English in the workplace.

Please make sure you also read the reports and ideas of the previous Jena University Graduates course.

If you are interested, please contact us here on the forum.

Many thanks,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, talks: Company executive is introducing course participants to their new real estate training program

[Georgeta]

Hi Torsten,

I am very interested in this job and I am also available for the above mentioned period.

Many thanks,

Georgeta

[Kayan]

hi,

I'm also very interested and I'm also available during this period. And I like working with young people, and have lodging near Jena, which would be an advantage on my view.

[Roberto]

Hi Torsten,

thanks for your invitation. I am also available for this period. I have been working with similar groups of university graduates, particularly in Leipzig/Halle and Merseburg/Zeitz/Gera etc. in addition to other courses given in West-Germany. To my mind it is quite interesting and rewarding to teach or guide a team of goal-oriented professionals. Thanks for the helpful handouts too. I had a look at the reports that I read with pleasure.

Regards and have a nice week!

Roberto
_________________
Graduate Management Admission Test
GMAT Preparation & GMAT Vocabulary
Learn more about: Roberto Enrique Steffens Villarreal

[Torsten]

Dear Georgeta, Kayan and Roberto, thank you very much for responding so quickly. We are now in the process of creating the plans for the two weeks. Please use the materials I have shared with you and I will get back to you regarding the schedule.

Best regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, talks: Supermarket employee is informing customers on the latest food specials

[Georgeta]

Dear Torsten,

Thanks a lot for the handouts and all the material you shared. I am studying them right now and I think they are absolutely great.

Best wishes,

Georgeta

[Absolutejason]

Hi Torsten,

Thanks for the invite! Could you send me the handouts please?

Best,

Jason

[Joneiche]

Torsten,

I am available to teach the graduates in Jena from the 4th of January through the 9th. I have classes in Leipzig that begin on the 10th.

I think I have a lot to offer these students and look forward to any opportunity.

Thanks,

Jon

[Torsten]

Dear Jon, thank you very much for the interesting meeting. Please check your Gmail account for the handouts/materials/files. As for the TEFL Online course, here is the link again: TEFL Online course

More soon,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: You haven't registered for the conference yet, have you?

[Georgeta]

Day 1/ 10,Jena, January 3rd, 2011

Hello Torsten and Jon!

The new group consists of 12 students, 6 women and 6 men. They are very cooperative and willing to improve their English skills. IBS changed the reporting policy and, this morning I received a copy of the Soll sheet and an IST sheet which needs to be filled out by hand at the end of each day.
Due to the fact that we couldn't use the computers today, I needed to modify the initial plan.
Here is a brief summary of today's activity:
- I introduced myself and the English Team.
- Using the form for the 'Getting to know each other' activity, the students gathered information about each other and introduced their pair to the group
-The NATO alphabet was used for spelling last names
- We started a list with the students' name and the reason they want to improve their English
- Most of them are willing to relocate either to another city or another country in case a job opportunity occurs
- I used a PP presentation (which I shared with you)in order to give them a clear picture of the course content and its objectives. (I had a hard time because the projector refused to cooperate and Herr Walter is on holiday, but in the end we managed).
-I introduced the 30/ 30 Challenge after we did the reading activity 'Why do I want to learn English?'
-HW: write a diary entry and present your media library.
-Assessment test ( again difficulties with the listening part).
-Dictogloss activity ( Communication)
-The CV writing and PP presentation preparation was postponed (tomorrow we have access to the computers)
-Instead, we did the application process activity and discussed the importance of self-assessment.
- The students familiarized themselves with the English reader( overview of verb tenses, list of irregular verbs)

More info tomorrow. Jon, please let me know when is the best time for you to have a short Skype meeting. Either tomorrow night or on Wednesday.

Many thanks,

Georgeta

[/list]

[Joneiche]

Georgeta,

I sent you an email about the Skype meeting. I am somewhat available tonight or most of the day tomorrow. Thanks and will talk with you later

[Torsten]

Good evening Georgeta and Jon. Thank you very much for your update, Georgeta. It's great to hear the group has a 50/50 female/male ratio and it's an even number because this will help with with the pair and role play activities.

If possible, please also incorporate some basic phonetics exercises. These could include an introduction to the English sound system as well as some pronunciation training. Jon, you might want to use some of the techniques you applied with your music students.

I wish you both a successful week. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: Should I leave a voice mail if Ms. Dawkins is not there?

[Georgeta]

Day 2/ 10, Jena, January 4th, 2011

Hi Torsten and Jon!

We reviewed the previous day activities.

After I explained the Pecha Kucha method, the students (in pairs) started working on their presentations. They had to include the following information:

name and location of the company
type of business/ company's history
services / products
structure, number of employees, job openings (including the application procedure), position applied for

Job descriptions were printed out.
Using the peer evaluation sheets, the other pairs assessed each presentation.

The students familiarized themselves with the Europass CV and Language Passport. They were asked yesterday to bring their 'Lebenslauf' and we worked on transferring the information in the new form. Each student was coached individually. The Europass CVs were printed out and the students have a copy in their portfolio.

Cover letters (format). How the valediction depends on the salutation. Each student prepared a personalized cover letter and saved a copy in the portfolio. Some sent the new CV and the cover letter to companies they already wanted to apply to but they didn't have the documents in English. It was good to see their motivation and seriousness.

Job interview (listening exercises, role-play). Professional profile. I introduced the 'elevator pitch' and we'll continue from here tomorrow.

As Torsten suggested, I will insert more phonetics exercises.

Thanks Jon for the Skype call.

I wish you both a nice evening.

Georgeta

[Georgeta]

Day 3/ 10,Jena, January 5th, 2011

Hi Torsten and Jon!

We continued 'The elevator pitch' activity after one of the students summed-up yesterday's activity. Both listening activities were very successful and the students did a good job on solving the tasks. Different approaches on how to craft an effective elevator pitch speech were compared and analyzed.

Individually, the students crafted their own elevator speech, then, in pairs, they listened and timed each other. We used the outcomes of this activity for a role-play (cold calling a company).

Business letters: after the warm-up, students received handouts and analyzed the features of a business letter, identified the mistakes in a letter written in a rush, and, in groups, they sent and received letters of complaint to each other.

Making decisions: role-play on adopting English as the corporate language.

Teamwork: group discussion, listening activity, story re-telling.

The German Labour market (read and analyzed) and used as a starting point for the next activity: looking at the statistics, in which part of Germany would you advise someone to start looking for a job?

First each student added his/her piece of advice on a sheet of paper, then it was read aloud and the list was enriched with DO's and DON'Ts.

Past Tense and Present Perfect: overview and exercises in the English Reader.

I didn't manage to do the Going the Extra Mile activity, but I will do it on Monday.

I look forward to reading Jon's post tomorrow night and I wish him a successful and pleasant day in Jena.

Good night and a great Thursday to both of you.

Georgeta

[Torsten]

Good morning Georgeta, I've just read your reports and they look great. Thank you very much for doing such an excellent job and I also look forward to Jon's posts and to sharing my ideas with you next week.

Best regards
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: Shouldn't Mr. Cobb be here by now?