Study newsletter 2016, week 23 Content Language level Page Phrase of the week I just don t get it All levels 1 Mind map TV All levels 2 Czenglish Current vs. actual Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 3 Business Writing Phrasal verbs (III) Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 4-5 Test Reflexive pronouns Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 6 Phrase of the week I just don t get it We use this expression to say that we can't understand the reason for something. You can use this phrase in language. Spoken Informal Example 1 A: Honza should be here by now. It s seven o clock. We re going to miss the start. B: I just don t get it. He told me he really wanted to come. Example 2 A: Pavla has decided not to do the exam. B: I just don t get it. She s the best student. She could pass it any time. 1
Mind map Learning new vocabulary in the most effective way Vyzkoušejte si interaktivní Mindmapy zde: http://www.jazykovka.info/studujeme-jazyky/mindmap/television/ Klikejte na slova, uslyšíte jednotlivá slovíčka namluvená rodilým mluvčím. Slovíčka Slovo Transmit Advertisement Broadcast Licence Soap opera Sitcom News Entertainment Watch TV Public television Význam slova vysílat reklama přenos licence telenovela sitcom zprávy zábava dívat se na televizi veřejnoprávní televize 2
Czenglish WRONG: RIGHT: What's the latest news? Please tell me about the actual situation. What's the latest news? Please tell me about the current situation. Current and actual are confused a lot, and understandably so. The word aktuální in Czech means current. But there is a big difference. Current is something that is now, a word that describes an up-to-date situation. So if you look outside, you can say the current temperature is warm. You could also say, "I don t have a boyfriend at the moment so my current relationship status is single." Actual means real. So, for example, you could say, "I met a woman who told me she was 25 years old, but I found out later that her actual age was 35!" A: What s the current exchange rate from Czech crowns to British Sterling? B: 35 Czech crowns to 1.That's the actual, official rate but the currency offices in the centre of Prague will give you a completely different rate! 3
Business Writing Phrasal Verbs (III) Again, as promised in my last post, here are some more useful phrasal verbs. Phrasal Verb Definition Example To hand (something) out To distribute I ll handout a copy of the presentation during the meeting. To hang on To wait a short time Hang on a second. I ll be right there. To keep (something) up To continue We need to keep up our efforts to boost the sales figures. To let (someone) down To disappoint The suppliers let us down by not delivering the agreed quantities. To look into To investigate A team has been set up to look into the declining sales figures. To look out for To be careful and take notice Given our recent drop in sales, we need to look out for new opportunities in the market. To pass (something) out To pass (something) up To distribute ( see also to hand something out) To decline (usually something positive) I ll pass out a copy of the presentation after the meeting. Don t pass up on this great opportunity. The sale ends tomorrow. To put (something) off To postpone The company has put off introducing the revised pricing structure until the next quarter. To run into (someone/something) To meet someone/something unexpectedly I hope we don t run into any problems with the project schedule. To send (something) back To return The new equipment isn t working correctly. We ll have to send it back. 4
To set (something) up To organise, to arrange Please set up a conference call with the Polish office to discuss the quarterly sales figures. To shop around To compare prices The company needs to shop around to make sure that it gets the best possible deal on the new printers. To sort (something) out To resolve a problem This report isn t clear. We need to get together and sort out exactly what we want it to say. To take (something) back To return an item If the customer is not happy with the printer performance, we need to take it back and offer them an alternative. To think (something) over To consider I d like you to think over the various options and we ll make a decision at tomorrow s meeting. To turn (something) down To reject, to refuse We presented the agreed position at the negotiations, but the other side turned them down. To try (something) out To test We will be installing the new printers and trying them out over the next couple of days. To use (something) up To finish the supply We ve used up our annual training budget, so we need to be creative about how we fund training over the next two months. That s it for phrasal verbs for now. They are often used in emails between colleagues, or with customers with whom we have a strong relationship, to avoid being overly formal when we write. Happy writing. 5
DALICE TROST, původem z Austrálie, je absolventkou magisterského studia managementu lidských zdrojů na University of Canberra v Austrálii. Lektorka je držitelkou certifikátu TEFL opravňující k výuce cizích jazyků. V rámci své profesní praxe zastávala vysoké manažerské pozice jako personalistka, senior supervizorka, HR manažerka, a to mimo jiné ve společnostech v Dubaji a Austrálii. Aktivně se věnuje publikační práci v oboru vzdělávání a anglického jazyka. Lektorka je autorkou knihy, ze které čerpáme tyto tipy: Business Writing-A Tip a Day for 30 Days 6
TEST: Reflexive pronouns Clarke had a great holiday. She enjoyed...(1). It's not my fault. You can't blame...(2). What I did was very wrong. I'm ashamed of...(3). We've got a problem. I hope you can help...(4). 'Can I take another cookie?' 'Of course. Help...(5)!' Take some money with...(6) in case you need it. Don't worry about Leslie and me. We can look after...(7). I gave them a key to our house so that they could let...(8) in. When they come to visit us, they always bring their hamster with...(9). Let's paint the house...(10) It will be much cheaper. 1. A her B herself 2. A me B myself 3. A me B myself 4. A us B ourselves 5. A you B yourself 6. A you B yourself 7. A us B ourselves 8. A them B themselves 9. A them B themselves 10. A us B ourselves Správné odpovědi se dozvíte ihned po dokončení on-line testu zde: http://www.jazykovka.info/studujeme-jazyky/minitest/reflexive-pronouns/ Správné odpovědi z minulého týdne (Choose the correct form of the verb): 1A, 2C, 3D, 4A, 5B, 6D, 7C, 8C, 9B, 10D 7