Business English Bedanext lesson 4

• English
• HBO
• Studiejaar 3

Business English Bedanext, lesson 4

Self-evaluation

Your letter of application

Paragraph 1

Make clear to the reader what position/type of job this letter is for.

Assess yourself

When responding to an advert:

• Is it clear in paragraph 1 which position you are applying for? Note: in larger companies, be very precise about the details.

When sending an open application:

• Is it clear in paragraph 1 what type of position you are interested in?

Paragraph 2

Who are you?

Which qualities do you possess that are relevant to the position, or relevant for an employer?

Note: do not just claim, give proof, too!

Example of proof:
Co-workers know me to be ...., because I break down the essence of a problem easily.

1. helpful
2. sociable
3. analytical
4. eloquent

Note

Note that the vocabulary of the descriptive adjective (analytical) and of the proof (break down the essence of a problem easily) is varied. 

"I am helpful because I help people" does not quite cut it....

Also, the quality is linked to something that is important to the employer; someone who can analyse problems.

Assess yourself

Mark where you mention qualities you possess:

• are they relevant to the position (or for an employer)?
  
• did you give proof?
• are they grouped within the same paragraph?

Wie ben jij?

• Schrijf op in het Nederlands welke persoonskenmerken/karaktereigenschappen jij bezit.
• Gebruik zelfstandige naamwoorden en bijvoeglijke naamwoorden.
• Het moet passen bij een omschrijving van jou als professional, niet als privépersoon.
• Help elkaar!

Vocabulary

Do you know all these words in English?

Paragraph 1 & 2 recap

Now your employer knows what you want and what kind of person you are.

Up for the tricky part for starters: your experience!

Assess yourself

• Did you mention your work experience?
• Did you mention other important extracurricular activities?

Note: make sure that this information is also in one paragraph!

Remember the basic structure?

past - present - future

Paragraph 4 is for the future: what do you expect from the receiver?

Assignment

If necessary, restructure your letter, so that it follows the structure just discussed.

Grammar

Quiz on the tenses

Note: do not use contractions

Only use capital letters where needed

So far, there .....(be) no bidders yet for the car I put up for sale last week.

............(you+go) to Saint Tropez with your parents last summer?

Did you know that King Henry VIII ......(marry) four times?

.....(you + visit) your parents recently? I think I spot those lovely biscuits your father always bakes.

What .....(you+do) all morning? Honestly, nothing seems to be finished.

.....(I+ not + finish) reading the book that you lent me, but I do like it very much.

Inversion

Stressing important sentence parts can be done using inversion. Sentences like 

"Little did I know that he would leave without putting in any work." 

"Hardly had I left, when the trouble started."

"Not only am I late, but I have also forgotten my laptop."

Little did I know that he would leave without putting in any work.

Hardly had I left, when the trouble started.

Not only am I late, but I have also forgotten my laptop.

inversion

normal order

I did not know that he was a compulsive liar.
Little ......

Write down the whole sentence!

She does not know what surprises we have in store for her.
Little.....

I have not encountered such dedicated and honest leaders anywhere else.
Nowhere.....

I have not said anything to damage his reputation.
Never......

He uttered those words, and immediately all the newspapers published them.
No sooner ........than........

I can speak French fluently, and I can write it well, too.
Not only ......but.......

I finished the project on time, and I also complied with all requirements.
Not only ..... but.....

Homework

Revise what you have learnt in class today.

Prepare a presentation for next class. See next slide for requirements.

Presentation

Topic: your own choice

• Advice: choose a topic not too far from yor professional interests, so that you prepare for the final presentation

Audience: fellow students (young professionals) + teacher

• Tone of voice therefore professional

Visuals obligatory (can be a PowerPoint, a moodboard, an infographic, etc.)

Duration: 60 seconds

Structure: introduction, body of text, conclusion - questions at the end