Thursday, November 7, 2013

[Grammar] Cause - effect relationship

CAUSE


1. BECAUSE
- Because I was sleep, I went to bed early last night.
- I went to bed early last night because I was sleep.
2. SINCE
- Since he wasn't feeling well, he decided to stay home and not go to work.
3. NOW WHAT
Now what the project is finished, I'm going to rest a few days and then take a trip. (" Now that": for present and future situations)
4. AS
As she had too much to do, she called up a friend and asked him if he could lend a hand.
5. FOR
Many of us because stressed, for we constantly work late at night.
6. BECAUSE OF
Because of a great number of urgent work, we never seem to have enough time.
7. DUE TO
Due to the amount of work, we are always under pressure.
8. OWING TO
Universal Games is considered the biggest owing to the large number of its staff.
9. ON ACCOUNT OF
On account of the number of its staff members, Universal Games is considered the biggest game cooperation in the world.

EFFECT


1. SO
We have more work than we can handle, so many of us feel stressed.
2. THEREFORE
We often come home late from work; therefore, we have little time for our family.
3. THUS
The deadlines here are very tight; thus, strictly following the timeline is number one in our company.
4. AS A RESULT
We completed our project a week ahead of time. As a result, we are allowed a week off.
5. AS A CONSEQUENCE
Time has been coming late for more than a month. As a consequence, he was given a verbal reminder.





Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

[Business Email] Cause, effect, contrast

Write an email to colleague or business contact describing the cause and effect of some changes in your business.


  1. An email to business contact, a colleague or your line manager explaining the reasons for some changes in your business. Ideas: Changes in the market; changes in your product range; changes in the economic or social context; Changes in your Organisation.
  2. An Email that follows up the one you wrote for unit 22, adding some reasons and results.
  3. An email to a colleague in another department using the information below:
(Cause -> Effect, Effect <- Cause)
  • New markets in central Europe -> increase in sales
  • This increase in sale <- new offices in Warsaw and Budapest
  • Poland particularly strong market <- We bought a local company there 3 years ago.
  • Advertising campaign -> greater brand awareness
  • Need improve distribution channels -> negotiate with a supermarket chain
  • Petra should be responsible for this negotiation <- her good local knowledge
Answer

EMAIL 1

EMAIL 2

EMAIL 3
  • Need improve distribution channels -> negotiate with a supermarket chain


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

[Writing]Being Indirect and Polite

a.    An email to a colleague who is a member of your team. Tell them that the market report they wrote arrived late, is difficult to understand, and does not contain the information that you need.

From
To
Date
7 Oct 2013
Subject
Re: Market report

Hello Nam

Thanks for your market report but it’s a little bit later than I expected. As planned, the report should reach me on 4 Oct 2013

Besides, I need to tell you that this report is quite difficult to understand and missing some needed information such as analyzing about market share, revenue, and competitors.

Please re-check and send me the updated one which includes above information by the end of day.

Thanks,
Kachusa


b.    And email to a colleague asking for a favor. You are abroad and need some information from your office. You want them to find it and send it to you
From
To
Date
7 Oct 2013
Subject
Need help about DLC upload tool

Hello Khang,

Hope you are doing well.
I’m in Lao for business trip and I’m working on World at arms (WAA) Games to add new features for its new version. But unlucky, when I tried to upload the DLC package into database I was forbidden because my account has not been authorized.

As I know you are predecessor of WAA, and you have a lot experience about DLC uploading process. Can you share me some information about DLC upload such as:
  •                Who can it contact to ask for uploading permission?
  •                The steps to upload in gold server.
  •              And I heard that there are some dangerous if I make mistakes while uploading. Can          you please share me what things I need to be careful to avoid mistakes?


Thanks and looking forward your reply soon,
Kachusa
c.    An email to an important customer. Tell them that their latest order is going to be shipped later than usual, and they made a mistake in their last invoice to you.
To
Date
7 Oct 2013
Subject
Re: Order No333 – Shipment late

Dear Mohamed,

I’m writing with regard to Order No333.
I’m still waiting for the above order but it seems it is going to be shipped later than usual.

In addition, there is an issue is found in the last invoice – The name of my company is missing letter “f”. It should be “Gameloft”

This is particularly inconvenient for me as I need the delivery by 10 Oct. I wonder if you could contact the forwarders to find out what happened and inform me immediately.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Your sincerely,
Kachusa

Monday, October 28, 2013

[Writing]Negotiating a Project

EMAIL 1

You work for a large company that needs to employ a freelancer or small company for a specific job. Write to the freelancer/ Small company about the job.
Prepare the situation using the questions below. The information can be real or imaginary.

  • What is your company's business? What products/services do you offer?
  • What job or project needs a freelancer or small company? Ideas: an IT project; Auditing your books; some training for your staffs; a legal service; a design service.
  • Who are you going to write to?
  • How did you get their contact information? Ideas: the Internet; recommendation from a colleague.
  • What exactly do you want this freelancer/small company to do?
  • What do you need to know in terms of charges, availability etc.?
  • Do you have any specific questions to ask them about this Job/project. Ideas: Some specialist knowledge that they have.


Answer:

From     : lan.huynhthi@gameloft.com
To         : chicken-company@cc.com
Subject : Need 3D artist Team

Dear Chicken's fellows,

I'm writing from Gameloft company and we are looking for a 3D artist team to out source Graphics part of our new game.
I have been introduced you by my colleague (Mr Duck) that you are working on 3D model with 3D max and unity Tool. As a result, I would like to invite you cooperate with us on new project.

What you will do:
- Build up 100 3D Models of Dragon based on our design. Dragon design will be sent after contract signed.
- Duration: 3 months, from 1 Nov 2013 to 31 January 2014

Terms of charges:
- The data package will be separated in 3 sub-packages (Detailed about each package will be included in Dragon Design) and End of each month, you need to provide us 1 sub-package.
-  Salary will be paid in 3 terms.

If you like to take on this challenge and be a part of our project, please send us your background and sample product.

Thanks a lot
Lan

Sunday, October 27, 2013

[Grammar]Maybe or May be

When you will use Maybe and when you will use may be?

Meaning:

  • Maybe = perhaps (Có thể)
  • may be = might be = is possibly (có khả năng)


Example:


  • Our boss was sick yesterday so he may be absent from work today. Maybe our meeting will be postponed until he comes back.
  • He may be creative or maybe he just crazy.

To be more detailed:

MAYBE

Maybe is an adverb that means perhaps.

  • Maybe it will stop raining soon. = Perhaps it will stop raining soon.
  • A: I thought Suzy would be here by now. B: Maybe she forgot.


MAY BE

May is a model verb which indicates possibility.

He may be lost = It is possible that he is lost.
This may be the best website = This is possibly the best website.

After may be we usually have and adjective, a noun or a verb (in ING form)

  • He may be crazy. (may be + adjective)
  • He may be a genius. (may be + article + noun)
  • He may be trying too hard (May be + verb ING form)


Remember that May is similar to Might.


  • He may be late = He might be late
  • Maybe you have a better explanation than this.

Monday, October 21, 2013

[Writing] Business Email Exercise

Usage of common phrase in business email


Apologizing: We would like to offer our sincere apologies for our mistake.
Attachments: Please find the document attached
Clarifications: There several points we don't quite understand; we feel there may have been misunderstanding between us
Closing: We look forward to receiving your reply; Regards, Joe Blunt
Complaints: We are very surprised and disappointed by this.
Congratulations: We would like to congratulate you on your recent good news.
Meeting: Would Tuesday 26 October be convenient for you? ; Would it be possible to postpone the meeting until next week?
Openings: We are waiting to inquire about...; I am writing on behalf of...
Orders: Re oder no. XJ 8103; Goods shipped today
Payments: We have not yet received payment for order no.XJ 8103. Could you please attend to this matter as soon as possible.
Requests: We would be very grateful if you could send us your catalogue and current price list.
Suggestions: Another option would be to...
Thanks: We would just like to express our gratitude for all your help in this matter.


[Vocabulary] Phrasal Verbs with GET

Below we have a list of Phrasal verbs that begin with GET and then an explanation of each one with some examples



  • Get across
  • Get along
  • Get on with
  • Get around
  • Get at
  • Get away
  • Get Down
  • Get down to
  • Get over
  1. Get across
    • to communicate
    • to make someone understand something. (Especially if the details are too difficult to understand or if the person being explained to understands poorly).
      • Although I couldn't speak the language, I managed to get my meaning across when necessary.
      • Your meaning didn't really get across.
  2. Get along - Get on with (Get on is used more in Britain)
    • to have a good/friendly relationship with someone
      • Even though there are six of them sharing the house , they all get on well with each other.
      • He doesn't get along well with his mother-in-law
      • Our new boss is very easy to get on with.
  3. Get around
    • To become known. To spread or circulate. If news or information gets around, people tell other people, so that soon many people know about it.
      • It's a small place, so news and gossip get around pretty quickly.
      • The news of his arrest got around quickly.
      • New soon got around the Matthew was back in town.
    • To find a way of avoiding a difficult or unpleasant situation, so that you don't have to deal with it.
      • There is no way of getting around it - you are going to have to tell her the truth.
      • Isn't there any way getting around the regulations?
  4. Get at
    • To reach, to access to something.
      • The cupboard is to high for me to get at.
      • The report is locked in the cabinet and I can't get at them.
    • To suggest something indirectly, to imply. (used only in the continuous tense)
      • What exactly are you getting at? (= trying to say, suggest)
  5. Get away
    • To go way from someone or something
      • Get away from me!
      • Get away from that cake!
      • It's was so busy that Francisca could get away from the phone all day.
    • to escape from someone who are chasing you.
      • They tried to get away from the police but thy weren't quick enough.
    • to have a holiday
      • We hope to get away for the couple of weeks around Christmas.
  6. Get Down
    • To cause someone to be depressed
      • This weather is getting me down.
      • Don'r let these problems get you down to much.
  7. Get down to
    • To reach the point of dealing with something.
    • to begin to work on something seriously. To give serious attention to something.
    • To finally start doing something, after you have been avoiding it or after something has prevented you from doing it.
      • Now, let's get down to business.
      • It's time I got down to some serious work.
  8. Get over
    • To recover from something or return to you usual state of health or happiness.
      • I thought he would never get over he illness.
      • It look her a long time to get over their separation.
      • He never got over the shock of losing his wife.
    • To overcome o deal with or gain control of something.
      • She can't get over her shyness.
  9. Can't get over
    • To be amazed or surprised by something.
      • I can't get over how much your kids have grown.

Source: http://www.vocabulary.cl/Advanced/Phrasal_Verbs/GET.htm

[Grammar]Like vs. As

Differentiate LIKE and AS

LIKE

The structure of the sentence is usually: VERB + LIKE + NOUN/PRONOUN

  • He speaks like a native speaker
  • She looks like a supermodel.
AS


The structure of the sentence is usually: AS + SUBJECT + VERB


  • Nobody sings as she does.
  • They went to the party as they were


It is very common in American English to use LIKE instead of AS. However, it is generally considered informal to use in this way.


  • We play football like champions do.


Another use of AS is to say what the role/function of person/thing is

  • He started work as a carpenter.
  • She used the tapestry as a decoration in her living room


LIKE vs. AS

Be careful, in similar sentences that use LIKE and AS, the meaning of each sentence are very different.  For example:

  • As your boss, I must warn your to be careful. (I'm your boss.)
  • Like your boss, I must warn you to be careful. (I am not your boss, but he/she and I have similar attitudes.)


AS IF

In English we also use as if to make comparisons. However, it has a few distinct characteristics to its use:

  1. The verb after AS IF is always in the past subjunctive, no matter what tense the sentence is.
  2. If the verb BE directly follow AS IF, we use were for all personal pronouns.


    • He looks as if he knew the answer.

(The verb looks indicates this sentence is in the present - the the verb after AS IF - Knew - is in the past subjunctive).

  • She walks as if she were a supermodel.

(The verb after AS IF - be - has been changed to were and not was).

  • He boarded the air plane as if he were a seasoned traveler.
  • He spends money as if he owned a bank.

Source: http://www.grammar.cl/Notes/Like_vs_As.htm