ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

Teacher: Kathy Reina

UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTEROCT- NOV 2015

Celia Moreno Rodríguez

Political VocabularyPOLITICAL VOCABULARY MEANING

A throwback A person or a thing having the characteristics of a former time

A toff A rich or upper class person; this word has a negative connotation

Devolution The transfer of power to a lower level

Eurosceptic A person who opposes giving more power to the European Union

A seismic shift A change with highly significant consequences

Political landscape This describes what is happening politically, in a broad sense, across a country

A hardliner A member of a political group who adheres rigidly to a set of ideas or policies.

An anti-monarchist An opponent of the idea of having a Royal family

A firebrand A radical

A spin doctor A spokesperson employed by a political party to give a favourable version of event to the media

GIVING OPINIONS ABOUT ART

Expressions to use when you love a painting……• It really floats my boat• The painting speaks to me / It really speaks to

me• It really strikes a chord with me• It falls into my style of art• It’s music for my soul

GIVING OPINIONS ABOUT ART

Expressions to use when you loathe a painting…• It really leaves me cold• It doesn’t say anything to me• It doesn’t do anything for me• It doesn’t exactly float my boat Expressions to use when neither love nor hate a painting….• I feel ambivalent about it / I’m ambivalent about it• I find it quite insipid

WAYS OF DISAGREEING DIPLOMATICALLY

• I’m not sure about that…• I see what you mean but…• You might be right but….• I’m afraid I disagree..• I see your point but…• Sorry to disagree with you…• Actually, I’m afraid I don’t really agree with

you…

SLANG USED BY CHILDREN IN THE UK

LIKE A BOSS!

THAT’S LEGIT!!

IT WAS EPIC!!

“YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!“

BANTER!

THIS IS SICK!!

HER HOUSE IS SO LUSH!THAT BOY IS SO

FIT!

YOU’RE A COCKY!

TECHNOLOGY TERMS• A selfie sitck: An extendable metal stick that lets you take a

photo of yourself by positioning the camera beyond the normal range of your arm.

• Computer savvy: Someone who has a good knowledge of computers.

• A computer geek/ nerd/ a techie/ a tech-head: Someone who is really interested in computers and is seen by other to be socially inept.

• A silver surfer: An elderly person who is a regular and enthusiastic user of the internet.

• An earworm: a catchy song that continually runs through your mind.

• To photobomb: to spoil a picture by unexpectedly appearing in it as a joke.

• To rip a CD: to copy songs from audio CD to a hard disk.

• An internet troll: someone who upsets people by posting unpleasant messages.

• BTW: By the way• LOL: Laugh out loud• IM me: Instant Message me

PHRASAL VERBS• To be caught out: surprised by a difficult situation.• Tussel over: Strong conflict over something• Grapples with: to try hard to understand something.• Pours over: to try to understand something difficult

( in a text)• Wrestled with: to try hard to deal with a problem /

to try to decide something difficult• To dump/ to chuck someone/ to split up: to finish a

romantic relation.

SELF-CORRECTION SYMBOLS

• Gr: grammar• WO: word order• V: vocabulary• Sp: Spelling• St: Style (formal, informal..)• P: Punctuation

QUESTIONNAIRES

AIMS:• Design a questionnarie about education/

adverts to use on campus.• To practise our speaking and listening skills

with British people.• To evaluate the conversations we have had

and gain help with any language issues.

EDUCATION• Could you tell us 3 characteristics you think a good

teacher should have?• Do you have any special memory from your primary

school?• What was your favourite subject at the school? Why?• What type of school did you go to? Were you happy?• Did you feel a big difference between Primary and

Secondary school?• What are you studying here in the university? Why did

you choose Chichester university?

Most of the students answered a good teacher is someone enthusiastic, motivating, patience, inspirational, good subject knowledge.

Their special memories from the school were special events or celebration days like “Dress up day, Book day…”

And they have chosen Chichester University because of the teachers and the reputation.

ADVERTS ON TV• What do you think is the best advert on Tv now?• Can you tell us about a slogan that stands out or

the most popular?• Is there any advert or slogan closely related to

Bristish culture?• Can you think of a phrase that you use in your

everyday life that comes from an advert?• Can you tell us an advert for teenagers and

another for adults?