English 1.4 lesson 5

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Lesson 5 English 1.4

Language skills

Feedback on the summary of the article

Preparation for the cover letter

Language skills - word formation

• increase vocabulary
• increase versatility - being able to vary your sentence structure 

Word formation

First, establish what the grammatical function is:

• someone/something: a noun
• do/go/think: a verb

if you can think 'someone' or 'something' in the gap for the word formation, you need a noun.

if you can think a verb like 'do/think/go' in the gap for the word formation, you need a verb

noun

verb

adjective

adverb

says something about a verb​, and adjective or a clause

determine whether it is singular or plural​

says something about a noun​

pay attention to tense & form​

Word formation 

prefix: letters used before a word to make it e.g. negative

Which prefix was used to make injustice a negative?

Note in word formation

Sometimes, the opposite is needed! 

anti-  and non- can be used, as well as:

Nouns:

• in: injustice
• dis: disinfectant
• de: decriminalisation

Adjectives

in / il / ir / im : inconsistent, illogical, irreparable, imprenetable

un: unworthy

dis : disobedient

Opposite - verbs

• dis : disrespect
• disrespect (noun); disrespectful
• mis: misinterpret
• misinterpretation
• un : undo
• undoing
• de : deregulate
• deregulation

Note: nouns derived from verbs will use the same prefix for the opposite meaning

Scan a text

• Before you start, scan the whole text
• Please go to p. 45 of your Market Leader book 

You need the general drift to be clear to you!

Apply word formation

Market Leader Advanced, p. 45, ex. H

60 seconds:

First scan the text in one minute

Gap 1

Note: do not use capital letters, unless a word needs to have one.

gap 2

gap 3

gap 4

gap 5

gap 6

gap 7

gap 8

gap 9

gap 10

many mistakes?

many mistakes in your word formations? 

revise this exercise at home!

Feedback

Breakout rooms

Use the feedback form (see Teams/Files/English):

'peer feedback on ass 7 summary of article'

Language skills - linkers

In breakout rooms, rewrite the following sentences.

One person will fill in the answer for the whole group.

Tip: someone in your group who thinks they're weak at English?

Let this person give the answer!

Rewrite using the words in brackets

1. Even though attrition rates are high, call centres are expected to grow. (despite)
2. Staff morale is relatively good, even though they have to deal with a lot of abusive calls. (despite)
3. He decided to hand in his notice in spite of having been promised promotion. (even though)
4. Employee loyalty was good, although working conditions were appalling. (in spite of)
5. Although the company has a formal grievance procedure, staff hardly ever voice their complaints. (even though)

Note that these sentences are correct. This is a training in versatility; being able to vary your structures.

Even though attrition rates are high, call centres are expected to grow. (despite)

Despite high attrition rates, call centres are expected to grow.

Staff morale is relatively good, even though they have to deal with a lot of abusive calls. (despite)

Despite having to deal with a lot of abusive calls, staff morale is relatively good.

He decided to hand in his notice in spite of having been promised promotion. (even though)

Even though he had been promised promotion, he decided to hand in his notice.

Employee loyalty was good, although working conditions were appalling. (in spite of)

In spite of appalling working conditions, employee loyalty was good.

Although the company has a formal grievance procedure, staff hardly ever voice their complaints. (even though)

Staff hardly ever voice their complaints, even though the company has a formal grievance procedure.

A letter of interest

Enquire after openings for:

• jobs
• internships
• projects
• etc.

Letter of interest

What is a letter of interest?

Go to breakout rooms or work alone

Read pp. 15-16 of the syllabus

5 minutes

which skills would you mention in a letter of interest?

which qualifications would you mention in a letter of interest?

is there anything about your work experience that you would like to point out?

Note

• concise
• great opening
• follow-up
• formal language

Find the chunks

In breakout rooms

• go to the sample letter
• find useful chunks

a chunk is an element that you can use to build a sentence, a text, a letter....

Europe vs the States

Notes on the sample letter:

• In Europe, you spell Mr Smith and Ms Smith, so without the dot!
• Note that Miss and Mrs are of the past: it shouldn't concern you whether or not a woman is married
• Note that in Europe, the most common salutation is "kind regards" if you do not know or have a formal relation with the addressee

Note

Chunks are useful, but be aware that everybody knows them!

Too many of them, and your letter is no more than one long platitude

Homework

Write the letter of interest

Note: it will be assessed from the greeting up to and including the salutation, but finding a company/institution to address it to will help the quality of your letter!