Clean Words

wash with soap and water
wipe with a damp cloth
brush with a brush to remove the dirt 
polish by rubbing with a cloth
scrub by rubbing hard
sweep with a broom
mop with water and a mop (a tool with a long handle)
vacuum also hoover British English with a machine that sucks up dust
disinfect using chemicals to kill germs
cleanse to clean your skin using a special cream
rinse to put water on to remove dirt or soap
dust to remove dust, for example with a cloth

New Words

mountain bike [countable]

a strong bicycle with a lot of gears and wide tyres, specially designed for riding up hills and on rough ground

 

 

 

cru‧ci‧fix [countable]

a cross with a figure of Christ on it
crucifix  and cross jewelry

 

 

 

 

 

 

peb‧ble [countable]

a small smooth stone found especially on a beach or on the bottom of a river:

The beach was covered with smooth white pebbles.

—pebbly  adjective:

a pebbly beach

not be the only pebble on the beach (idiom) to not be the only person who is important in a situation or in a group Laura always expects to get her own way. It's time she learned that she's not the only pebble on the beach.

 

dom‧i‧no plural dominoes

1 [countable]one of a set of small flat pieces of wood, plastic etc, with different numbers of spots, used for playing a game

2 dominoes [uncountable]

the game played using dominoes

3 domino effect

a situation in which one event or action causes several other things to happen one after the other

Talking about Parties

“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.” birthday party - a party held on the anniversary of someone's birth children's party - a party for children fancy-dress (UK) or costume party (US) - a party where people wear clothes that make them look like someone or something else farewell party – leaving party, going-away party dinner party - a small sometimes formal party where a meal is eaten bachelor party - a party for a man who is going to get married, to which only his male friends are invited cocktail party - a formal party with alcoholic drinks, usually in the early evening dinner party - a formal evening meal to which a small number of people are invited garden party or (US - also known as a lawn party) - a formal party that happens outside in the afternoon, often in a large private garden hen night or hen party (in the UK) - a party for women only, usually one held for a woman before she is married housewarming (party) - a party which you give when you move into a new house party animal - someone who enjoys parties and party activities very much and goes to as many as possible party favour - small presents given to guests, usually children, at a party party pooper - someone who spoils other people's enjoyment by disapproving or not taking part in a particular activity slumber party or sleepover - an overnight party in which guests, usually girls, wear nightclothes, socialize, and spend the night at a friend's home tea party - an occasion when people meet in the afternoon to drink tea and eat a small amount of food life and soul of the party - someone who is energetic and amusing and at the centre of activity during social occasions costume party or masquerade - a party of guests wearing costumes and masks office party - an event held by corporations or businesses often either at the site of the business or in high class venues New Year's Party – a party usually hosted in a person's house on New Year's Eve to celebrate the changing of the calendar reception - a formal party of people; as after a wedding open house - an informal party of people with hospitality for all comers potluck - a meal at which each guest brings food that is then shared by all wedding party - a party of people at a wedding reunion - a party of former associates who have come together again Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in boldface in the text. A birthday party is a celebration that occurs to celebrate the birth of the person being honoured. The birthday party is the most celebrated event in the world. While a child's party is usually at home and consists of soft drinks and sweet food as well as savoury, adults' often take place in clubs with a buffet of savoury food and alcohol. In the United States, birthday parties are often accompanied by colourful decorations. A traditional birthday cake is often served with candles that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. This wish is usually kept secret, and represents some desire for the time between the current birthday and the next. A birthday party may even be an event planned carefully through a special agency or through a party service.

Confusing words

Read the task below and click on a link which you think is the correct answer. BRING UP and the noun UPBRINGING are mostly used for the moral and social training that children receive at home Examples: He was brought up by his grandparents. Their kids were brought up to respect authority. Their daughter is very badly brought up – always screaming and fighting. EDUCATE and EDUCATION are used for the intellectual and cultural training that people get at school and university Examples: How much does it cost to educate a child privately? It's important for children to get a good education. Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school. - Albert Einstein

Talking about Christmas

Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas allowance - Christmas bonus Christmas cake - a rich fruitcake (usually covered with icing and marzipan) and eaten at Christmas Christmas card - a greetings card that people send to friends and family at Christmas Christmas carol - a song whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general Christmas cracker - consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper (making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper). It is pulled by two people and much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a small bang Christmas Day - a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, 25 December Christmas Eve - the day before Christmas Christmas holidays - the holiday period for about a week before and after Christmas Day Christmas present - a present given at Christmas time Christmas stocking - a large sock which children leave out when they go to bed on Christmas Eve so that it can be filled with small presents Christmas pudding - plum pudding: a rich steamed or boiled pudding that resembles cake Christmas rose - European evergreen plant with white or purplish rose like winter-blooming flowers Christmas shopping - buying Christmas presents Christmas tree - an evergreen or artificial tree decorated, as with lights and ornaments, during the Christmas season Father Christmas - chiefly British - - Santa Claus Christmas tree ball - Christmas ball ornament white Christmas - a Christmas when it snows Merry Christmas! - said at Christmas to wish people a pleasant Christmas period Some expressions containing the word Christmas: Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas! When do you break up for Christmas? at Christmas for Christmas Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in boldface in the text. Each of our employees who have been with our firm for a period of six months or more receives a Christmas bonus. The Christmas Cake as we know it today comes from two customs which became one around 1870 in Victorian England. Originally there was a porridge, the origins of which go back to the beginnings of Christianity. Then there was a fine cake made with the finest milled wheat flour, this was baked only in the Great Houses, as not many people had ovens back in the 14th century. Many businesses, particularly smaller local businesses, send Christmas cards to the people on their customer lists, as a way to develop general goodwill and reinforce social networks. Christmas carols can be sung by individual singers, but are also often sung by larger groups, including professionally trained choirs. Many Christians traditionally celebrate a midnight mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, which is held in churches throughout the world, marking the beginning of Christmas Day. Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day in Britain. It has its origins in England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving a lot of dried fruit. The Christmas tree is normally an evergreen tree that is brought in the house or used in the open and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas.

Interview Questions

A list of tried and tested questions.

1. Warm-up Questions 2. Work History 3. Job Performance 4. Education 5. Career Goals 6. Self-Assessment

7. Creativity 8. Decisiveness 9. Range of Interests 10. Motivation 11. Work Standards 12. Leadership

13. Oral Presentation Skills 14. Written Communication Skills 15. Flexibility 16. Stress Tolerance 17. Stability & Maturity 18. Interest in Self Development

1. Warm-up Questions

• What made you apply for this position?
• How did you hear about this job opening?
• Briefly, would you summarize your work history & education for me?

2. Work History

• What special aspects of your work experience have prepared you for this job?
• Can you describe for me one or two of your most important accomplishments?
• How much supervision have you typically received in your previous job?
• Describe for me one or two of the biggest disappointments in your work history?
• Why are you leaving your present job? (or, Why did you leave your last job?)
• What is important to you in a company? What things do you look for in an organization?

3. Job Performance

• Everyone has strengths & weaknesses as workers. What are your strong points for this job?
• What areas would you say need improving?
• How did your supervisor on your most recent job evaluate your job performance? What were some of the good points & bad points of that rating?
• When you have been told, or discovered for yourself, a problem in your job performance, what have you typically done? Can you give me an example?
• Do you prefer working alone or in groups?
• What kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with? Why?
• Starting with your last job, tell me about any of your achievements that were recognized by your superiors.
• Can you give me an example of your ability to manage or supervise others?
• What are some things you would like to avoid in a job? Why?
• In your previous job what kind of pressures did you encounter?
• What would you say is the most important thing you are looking for in a job?
• What are some of the things on your job you feel you have done particularly well or in which you have achieved the greatest success? Why do you feel this way?
• What were some of the things about your last job that you found most difficult to do?
• What are some of the problems you encounter in doing your job? Which one frustrates you the most? What do you usually do about it?
• What are some things you particularly liked about your last job?
• Do you consider your progress on the job representative of your ability? Why?
• How do you feel about the way you & others in the department were managed by your supervisor?
• If I were to ask your present (most recent) employer about your ability as a____________________, what would he/she say?

4. Education

• What special aspects of your education or training have prepared you for this job?
• What courses in school have been of most help in doing your job?

5. Career Goals

• What is your long-term employment or career objective?
• What kind of job do you see yourself holding five years from now?
• What do you feel you need to develop in terms of skill & knowledge in order to be ready for that opportunity?
• Why might you be successful in such a job?
• How does this job fit in with your overall career goals?
• Who or what in your life would you say influenced you most with your career objectives?
• Can you pinpoint any specific things in your past experience that affected your present career objectives?
• What would you most like to accomplish if you had this job?
• What might make you leave this job?

6. Self-Assessment

• What kind of things do you feel most confident in doing?
• Can you describe for me a difficult obstacle you have had to overcome? How did you handle it? How do you feel this experience affected your personality or ability?
• How would you describe yourself as a person?
• What do you think are the most important characteristics & abilities a person must possess to become a successful ( )? How do you rate yourself in these areas?
• Do you consider yourself a self-starter? If so, explain why ( and give examples)
• What do you consider to be your greatest achievements to date? Why?
• What things give you the greatest satisfaction at work?
• What things frustrate you the most? How do you usually cope with them?

7. Creativity

• In your work experience, what have you done that you consider truly creative?
• Can you think of a problem you have encountered when the old solutions didn't work & when you came up with new solutions?
• Of your creative accomplishments big or small, at work or home, what gave you the most satisfaction?
• What kind of problems have people recently called on you to solve? Tell me what you have devised.

8. Decisiveness

• Do you consider yourself to be thoughtful, analytical or do you usually make up your mind fast? Give an example. (Watch time taken to respond)
• What was your most difficult decision in the last six months? What made it difficult?
• The last time you did not know what decision to make, what did you do?
• How do you go about making an important decision affecting your career?
• What was the last major problem that you were confronted with? What action did you take on it?

9. Range of Interests

• What organizations do you belong to?
• Tell me specifically what you do in the civic activities in which you participate. (Leading questions in selected areas. i.e. sports, economics, current events, finance.)
• How do you keep up with what's going on in your company / your industry/ your profession?

10. Motivation

• What is your professional goal?
• Can you give me examples of experience on the job that you felt were satisfying?
• Do you have a long & short-term plan for your department? Is it realistic?
• Did you achieve it last year?
• Describe how you determine what constitutes top priorities in the performance of your job.

11. Work Standards

• What are your standards of success in your job?
• In your position, how would you define doing a good job? On what basis was your definition determined?
• When judging the performance of your subordinate, what factors or characteristics are most important to you?

12. Leadership

• In your present job what approach do you take to get your people together to establish a common approach to a problem?
• What approach do you take in getting your people to accept your ideas or department goals?
• What specifically do you do to set an example for your employees?
• How frequently do you meet with your immediate subordinates as a group?
• What sort of leader do your people feel you are? Are you satisfied?
• How do you get people who do not want to work together to establish a common approach to a problem?
• If you do not have much time & they hold seriously differing views, what would be your approach?
• How would you describe your basic leadership style? Give specific examples of how you practice this?
• Do you feel you work more effectively on a one to one basis or in a group situation?
• Have you ever led a task force or committee or any group who doesn't report to you, but from whom you have to get work? How did you do it? What were the satisfactions & disappointments? How would you handle the job differently?

13. Oral Presentation Skills

• Have you ever done any public or group speaking? Recently? Why? How did it go?
• Have you made any individual presentations recently? How did you prepare?

14. Written Communication Skills

• Would you rather write a report or give a verbal report? Why?
• What kind of writing have you done? For a group? For an individual?
• What is the extent of your participation in major reports that have to be written?

15. Flexibility

• What was the most important idea or suggestion you received recently from your employees? What happened as a result?
• What do you think about the continuous changes in company operating policies & procedures?
• How effective has your company been in adapting its policies to fit a changing environment?
• What was the most significant change made in your company in the last six months which directly affected you, & how successfully do you think you implemented this change?

16. Stress Tolerance

• Do you feel pressure in your job? Tell me about it.
• What has been the highest pressure situation you have been under in recent years? How did you cope with it?

17. Stability & Maturity

• Describe your most significant success & failure in the last two years.
• What do you like to do best?
• What do you like to do least?
• What in your last review did your supervisor suggest needed improvement?
• What have you done about it?

18. Interest in Self Development

• What has been the most important person or event in your own self development?
• How much of your education did you earn?
• What kind of books & other publications do you read?
• Have you taken a management development course?
• How are you helping your subordinates develop themselves?