Unit 6

Raising Economic Success

1

task 1

Let's tell stories :)

task 2

Did you notice how the singer used a variety of grammar structures to tell Ricky's story? Most of them were in the past.

Ricky was a young boy, he had a heart of stone

Lived 9 to 5 and he worked his fingers to the bone

Just barely got out of school, came from the edge of town

Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down, oh no

You will also tell stories. But first, let's review how to do it. Watch the video below.

Task 3

task 4

Let's learn Ricky's story. Read the following except.

Adapted from https://www.songfacts.com/facts/skid-row/18-and-life

Skid Row guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo wrote this song after reading in a local newspaper about an 18-year-old boy who shot his friend by accident. He thought the gun wasn't loaded, and eventually ended up in prison for life.

Ricky, the iconic character from the song, would now be up for parole, considering that alcohol was a contributing factor to his crime, assuming he expressed remorse for his actions and demonstrated an ability to lead a normal life outside of prison.

Do you know of any song which tell an interesting story of something that really happened? Work in individually. Choose a song like this and prepare a little speech about it. Remember to pay special attention to the proper pronuciation of -ed endings.

You will tell your stories during your speaking section of the class :)

Task 5

Do you know of any song which tells an interesting story of something that really happened? Choose a song like this and prepare a little speech about it. Remember to pay special attention to the proper pronuciation of -ed endings. Use as many discourse markers as possible.

task 6

Probably you know how to use comparatives and superlatives pretty well. However, I would like you to have the following information handy, in case that you need it as a reference.

Comparing and contrasting information is an advanced skill, so it is a very good idea to work on it. Watch the videos below and pay careful attention to the way we can compare and contrast.

Task 7

Task 8

Intensifiers and Mitigators

As a matter of fact, Intensifiers and Mitigators (or Amplifiers and Downtoners) are a type of adverbs that help us elevate or decrease the impact of an adjective, regardless their form. It could be an adjective in its simple form or in its comparative and superlative form.

This pizza is really cheap!

This pizza is a lot cheaper than that one!

Intersifiers and mitigators are a great way to make a description richer. For instance, it is not the same to say that someone is smart, than to say that someone is incredibly smart, than to say that someone is relatively smart, is it?

Click on the icon on your left and learn more about this absolutely useful topic :)

task 9

Speaking 1

task 10

Speaking 2

task 11

Work in groups. Choose one of the following situations. Do an online investigation about their similiarities and differences. Present the result of your investigation to the rest of the class. Remember not to read and to establish eye contact with your audience.

Studying in class VS studying online
Instagram VS Facebook
State universities VS Private universities
Meat eaters VS vegetarians
Real world VS Virtual world

Raising Economic Success

Intro

Task 12

How to give a speech according to Forbes...

(Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle. )

Let's Talk...

Work in pairs

Describe a successful person.
Is your idea of success the same as your parents’ idea of success?
Do you think people focus too much on appearing to be successful?
Why is money the most common way of judging success?
Can money buy happiness?

Give your classmates a little speech based on the questions you just answered in groups.

task 13

A University Degree

task 14

Job Hunting

Let's talk...

Do you agree or disagree with these statements? Support your opinions on facts or examples.

A university degree is necessary to get a good job.
Experience is more valuable than a university diploma in many careers.
People should choose a major based on job opportunities, not personal interests.
Student loans are worth it if they help you earn a degree.
A university education helps people grow as individuals, not just as workers.
Today, too many people go to university.
Online degrees are just as good as traditional university degrees.
In some fields, university is more important than ever.
People without degrees often face unfair judgment.
Success in life depends more on skills than on education.

TASK 15

WHAT MODERN WORKSPACES LOOK LIKE – FACEBOOK LONDON

Adapted from https://eslbrains.com

a) How many people work in the Facebook London office?

b) What are two facilities located in the reception area?

c) Why is the ceiling in the Facebook office unfinished?

d) What are the rooms on the second floor named after?

e) How do Facebook employees determine who can use the sleep pods?

f) What types of food facilities are there in the Facebook London office?

TASK 16

How to lead a Successful Global Team

a) What do the British say about the French?

b) What do Indians say about the French?

c) What do Americans say about Malaysians?

d) What do Malaysians say about Americans?

e) What do Mexicans say about the Dutch?

"Globalization has led to the rapid connection of internationally based employees from all levels of multinational companies. Where once an employee might have been expected to primarily collaborate with colleagues from his own country, today many people are part of global networks connected with people scattered around the world. Yet most managers have little understanding of how local culture impacts global interaction. Even those who are culturally informed, travel extensively, and have lived abroad often have few strategies for dealing with the cross-cultural complexity that affects their team’s day-to-day effectiveness."

Task 17

"I've got a theory: if you love your workspace, you'll love your work a little more."

~ Cynthia Rowley, American fashion designer

"I prefer a cluttered workspace."

~ Julianna Baggott, American novelist

"I like to come into my workspace and feel it’s a living environment and not frozen, which is why I often change or add to the pictures on the wall."

~ Sadie Jones, English writer

“The natural world is full of curves, color and complexity. And bringing all this into the workplace can have a big impact on our behavior and our mood”

~ Rohan Silva, a co-working space company founder