JOB WANTED

To hunt for job is not an easy task to new graduates especially that the world is experiencing global crisis now. Unemployment is rampant in all countries. Some people find jobs using the internet, some find in newspapers and some do a bit odd things to get the attention of potential employers. An example is a picture below with a caption from yahoonews.com.


Jobless university graduate David Rowe wears a sandwich board advertising his search for employment as he walks along Fleet Street in central London, September 22, 2009. In a pinstripe suit, silk tie and with polished brogues, Rowe appears the epitome of a successful London city worker, except for one glaring difference - he's wearing a sandwich board that says "JOB WANTED".

Source: www.yahoonews.com. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty. September 22, 2009.

Let's study:

Vocabulary:
epitome = typical example (She's an epitome of elegance.)

rampant = happening without control (Swine flu was rampant in Mexico.)

brogues = regional accent (He has polished brogues.)


Discussion:
What is your dream job?

Are there many good job vacancies for you in your country?

Does everyone have equal job opportunities in your country?

Give 3 jobs:
= which you think are the best jobs in the world
= which you think are the worst jobs in the world


^_^

Let's talk...

What springs to your mind when you hear the word 'marriage'?

Would you like a husband or wife older, younger or the same age as you?

Do you think a married couple with a very big age gap would last long?

Do you think it's ok to divorce?

Here in our country, Philippines, divorce does not exist. Divorce is illegal. So, it is wise to choose a partner whom you'll forever deal with. Difficult, isn't it? But, that's our law.

On the other hand, how would you react if a 107-year-old woman is looking for a hubby again?

Let's read the offbeat news below.

107-year-old Malaysian woman seeks 23rd hubby

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – A 107-year-old Malaysian woman says she is ready to marry for the 23rd time because she fears her current drug addict husband might leave her for a younger woman, a report said Monday.

Wook Kundor made headlines four years ago when she married Muhammad Noor Che Musa, a man 70 years her junior in northern Terengganu state, with pictures of the couple's wedding splashed across regional newspapers.

But Wook is now looking for new love as she fears that Muhammad, 37, who is undergoing voluntary drug rehabilitation treatment in the capital Kuala Lumpur, will leave her once the programme ends, she told the Star newspaper.

"Lately, there is this kind of insecurity in me," the paper quoted her as saying, showing a photograph of the smiling, wrinkled-faced centenarian wearing a Muslim headscarf.

"I realise that I am an aged woman. I don't have the body nor am I a young woman who can attract anyone."

"My intention to remarry is to fill my forlornness and nothing more than that," she said, adding that she felt lonely without her husband by her side to celebrate the coming Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr next week.

Wook said she planned to visit Muhammad on the second day of Eid if her neighbours were willing to drive her to the capital.

Muhammad, who was a lodger in Wook's house, had previously said it was "God's will" that the couple fell in love.

Source: www.yahoonews.com. "107-year-old Malaysian woman seeks 23rd hubby". AFP. September 14, 2009.

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An act of kindness ^-^

Reading news is helpful in improving one's English skills especially with vocabulary. Today, let's study the news below about showing an act of kindness to other people.


"Putpockets" give a little extra cash

LONDON (Reuters) – Visitors to London always have to be on the look out for pickpockets, but now there's another, more positive phenomenon on the loose -- putpockets.
Aware that people are suffering in the economic crisis, 20 former pickpockets have turned over a new leaf and are now trawling London's tourist sites slipping money back into unsuspecting pockets.
Anything from 5 pounds ($8) to 20 pound notes is being surreptitiously deposited in unguarded pockets or open handbags in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and other busy spots.
The initiative, which runs until the end of August in London before being rolled out countrywide, is being funded by a broadbrand provider, which says it wants to brighten up people's lives in unusual ways.
"It feels good to give something back for a change -- and Britons certainly need it in the current economic climate," said Chris Fitch, a former pickpocket who now heads TalkTalk's putpocketing initiative.
"Every time I put money back in someone's pocket, I feel less guilty about the fact I spent many years taking it out."
London's police have been briefed about the plan, which will see at least 100,000 pounds given away.

(Reporting by Luke Baker; Editing by Kate Kelland)

Source: www.yahoonews.com. '"Putpockets" give a little extra cash'. Reuters. August 19, 2009.


Let's study:

Vocabulary:
putpocketing / putpockets = opposite of pick-pocketing; placing something which you own into another person's possession, for entertainment or charitable manner.

pickpocketing / pickpockets = one who steals from pockets of another person in public places

on the loose = at large; able to act freely

turned over a new leaf = to change one's attitude for the better

trawling / trawl = go around


Practice: Fill the sentences with the correct word using the vocabularies above.
1. Amanda likes ______________ around the park.

2. Be careful! The pickpocketers are _________________ these days.

3. Samantha achieved her New Year's Resolution. She has __________________.

4. Her wallet was lost. _______________ is really common in their place.

5. The organization has good plans for their people. They will do ________________ starting tomorrow and they'll make sure that this will be unnoticed.


Discussion:
1. What is your opinion about the 'putpocketing'?

2. Do you think this kind of act is helpful?

3. Is pickpocketing or putpocketing common in your place?

4. What will you do if you experienced pickpocketing and putpocketing?

^-^

Watch out for typos!!!

In the past post, I have introduced ways how to learn the English language. One of them is reading English books, newspapers or magazines.

I love reading and that hobby helped me improve a lot on my English skills. In reading, you’ll be able to acquire more knowledge as well as new English words which you can use in the future.

Whenever I read news, I usually look up to interesting or funny news first before proceeding to more serious topics. Why? Interesting or odd news gets my attention and it would help me engage more on reading English news. It is very important to engage yourself in to something you like rather than something which isn’t exciting.

Let’s read the interesting news I found a while ago.



SINGLE SPELLING MISTAKE CAN DERAIL JOB APPLICATION

TORONTO (Reuters) – Typing mistakes in a job application can kill a would-be employee's chance of landing a job as employers bet that a sloppy resume means the applicant will do a sloppy job.

A telephone survey of 100 senior Canadian executives showed that more than a fifth of executives said a single typo on a resume or cover letter could cost a potential employee a job, while 28 percent said two mistakes would kill their chances.

The survey, published on Tuesday, was carried out by online job search firm Accountemps.

"The resume is an applicant's first chance to impress the hiring manager," said Kathryn Bolt, president of Accountemps' Canadian operations. "Mistakes on one's application materials may prompt employers to assume there also will be mistakes made on the job."

But 19 percent of the executives said they would still consider an applicant with four or more typos on their resume.

Common mistakes include: "Dear Sir or Madman", "I'm attacking my resume for you to review", "Following is a grief overview of my skills" and "Have a keen eye for derail.”


Source: www.yahoonews.com. “Single spelling mistake can derail job application.” Reuters. July 15, 2009. July 19, 2009.



Vocabulary:
derail = ruin
***[Her resume derailed her chance to get the job.]
sloppy = carelessly or not done well
***[He was fired because of his sloppy presentation.]
typo = typographical error or printing error
***[He found many typos in her application form.]



What do you think should be the correct spelling of these typos?
1. "Dear Sir or Madman"
2. "I'm attacking my resume for you to review"
3. "Following is a grief overview of my skills"
4. "Have a keen eye for derail.”




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Answers:
1. Dear Sir or Madam
2. I’m attaching my resume for you to review
3. Following is a brief overview of my skills
4. Have a keen eye for detail
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As you can see, a single mistake will completely change the meaning as well as the reader’s view. So when you write an application, presentation or whatever writing piece it is, be sure to check or read again.




Tell me:

Do you think application letters or resumes are important when applying for a job? Why?

Do you have any unforgettable experience during a job interview concerning your resume?

^_^