FIVE STEPS TO WRITING BUSINESS DOCUMENTS

 The writing exercise requires scrutiny and specific formats; as a rule have as purpose: precision and clarity, simplicity in reading is a highly valued element as this leads to the completion of reading a text in full. Writing is a complex activity whose abilities develop over time.

Within the broad field of writing, there is the drafting of business documents, its structure deals with linear schemes, omits all ambiguity and is intended to communicate to a recipient aspects concerning companies. Here precision is a vital requirement; its methodology involves the mastery of formulations to meet concrete goals.

There are numerous business documents in corporations, their list competes to a separate writing, however here are some examples: speeches, reports, worksheets, applications, campaigns, minutes, agreements, fax, letters to various recipients, proposals, Contracts, manuals, etc.

Here are 5 basic tips for writing business texts:

1. Know the type of document that is requested. The employer usually assumes that the worker knows what each type of file is about and how it is written; the writing of professional texts is learned from academic training, however can be forgotten by the disuse. To remember it is necessary to first look for the definition, a suitable format and finally stick to the style demanded.

2. Know the structure of each institution. In business texts, innovation is often not permissible, it is necessary to stick to the formats, to place the institutional seals where they should go, even if there is doubt about their form, it is necessary to consult it before acting unilaterally. It is valid to make suggestions but do not lose sight that every company has a work inertia to be respected.

3. Absolute domain of the word processor. It is necessary to be trained about the multiple options offered by writing programs, their design is made to simplify their use, however their ignorance propitiates that we have elementary errors in the time of writing and give a specific form; There are forums where it is possible to resolve doubts, in addition to using the help icon of our own processor.

4. Originality. Appealing creativity in a business text is an intricate task, however the reader will appreciate it; The use of forms is not something old fashioned but is an element that will give character and formality to our writing.

5. Review and correct. Time is sometimes an enemy in corporations, however we have to take time to read aloud our writing and ask others to read it, in this way if there are errors in the writing, confusion in the times Verbal or syntax errors, can easily be corrected. It is better to deliver a well-made document with delay, than an incorrect one right away.

Writing correctly is an exercise that is useful for a lifetime, do not neglect eventually the possibility of entering a workshop of reading and writing, regardless of the career that has been studied, what will be added to the learning process.

LEARN TO SPEAK EXCELLENT SPANISH WITH 6 ENTERTAINING METHODS

As the saying goes, el español tiene un color muy especial (Spanish is unique indeed)!

Spanish comes in many shapes and sizes.

Spoken in over 25 countries globally, there are more than 100+ ways to speak if you take into account regional accents, slang, pronunciation and intonation.

So, surely you’ve heard someone say to you, “¿Me entiendes?” (do you understand me?) during conversation. And surely, at some point, your answer to that question has been, “ehh…no, perdón.” (Um…no, sorry).

There is much debate in linguistic circles on what constitutes neutral Spanish. Currently, Spanish has roughly 400 million speakers in the Americas and 44 million in Spain, so there are quite a few differences to think about when considering what neutral Spanish might sound like.

Many learners agree that natives of Peru and Colombia speak the most clearly, while others say that the accent from Valladolid, Spain is “real” Spanish. When it comes to who speaks the proper language, there is really no such thing as authentic or fake, as all variations of Spanish are equally valid.

With that said, in the context of this great variety, it’s a good idea to learn to recognize a variety of ways of speaking and accents in order to master spoken Spanish!
 

Pick Your Spoken Spanish

Castilian and Latin American Spoken Spanish

Castilian Spanish (CS): CS is the general version Spanish spoken in Spain. General because from South to North there is as much linguistic variety as there are Spaniards in Spain. Many comment that spoken CS has a higher velocity (speed) and more difficult pronunciation than other Spanish varieties, but this all depends on context and speaker.

Latin American Spanish (LAS): LAS is the general version of Spanish spoken in Latin America, this is also very general because there are intonation and accent differences between Mexican, Chilean and Bolivian Spanish. Remember, this is a big continent! All in all, many learners comment that spoken LAS has a more comfortable speed and pronunciation, but remember that the context and the speaker matter here too.

For our purposes, be sure to keep in mind these 2 important elements in spoken CS and LAS:

1. Mind Your Cs and Zs: In spoken CS the letters c and z are pronounced with a bit of a lisp, similar to the sound we make when pronouncing “th” in the word “the.” In spoken LAS, the letters z, c and s are pronounced exactly the same.

2. Use of Vosotros vs Ustedes: For plural informal you form remember that vosotros is exclusively used in CS whereas ustedes is exclusively used in LAS. It’s very rare to hear either or in the opposite region, unless a speaker is adapting their speech to a Latin American or Spanish visitor. The only exception is in the Spanish Canary Islands, where ustedes is used instead of vosotros by Canarians.

To get quick a sense of the spoken differences, check out this short clip that explores Spanish movie dubs in LAS and CS. Write down your impressions and thoughts in your Spanish journal on the spoken differences according to how you hear them. If you’re a beginner, they might sound exactly the same. If you’re intermediate to advanced, you’ll likely notice the two elements mentioned above.

Generally, U.S. learners opt for LAS because it’s the standard taught in high school, college and also the most widely spoken form of Spanish in the Spanish-speaking world in sheer numbers.

Despite CS being spoken by 44 million compared to LAS by 400 million, it’s still widely used as voice-overs in documentaries, dubbing in movies and also International Spanish News stations. So make sure to listen to audio in both spoken varieties as this is excellent training for your ears.

Spoken Spanish, the Real Challenge

For spoken Spanish, your real challenge is to match written word with sound, until it becomes intuitive and reproducible in speech. You literally need to train your ears! Sounds easy but this takes a lot of practice, dedication and training.

Remember, matching written word to sound is the trick to master spoken Spanish in any and all of its linguistic varieties. Once you become an advanced learner, you’ll easily tell the difference between spoken Spanish varieties and will be able to communicate in a nice and neutral Spanish.

Through extensive listening combined with travels you may even get to the point where you pinpoint the country or exact city the speaker is from, and olé to you if you do (cheers to you)!

In the meantime, let’s look at some ways you can train your ears and improve your spoken Spanish starting today!

 

Train Your Ears, Your Guide to Learn Spoken Spanish

 

1. Listen to News in Slow Spanish

Listening to the news in Spanish can be overwhelming—it’s fast-paced, packed with information and your brain gets overloaded quickly. Lucky for you, there’s an alternative: listening to the news a little bit slower. This is a wonderful method to train your ears and get you informed on world events in a relaxed and slower-paced environment. But where to find slowed-down news for learners?

The platform News in Slow Spanish provides news podcasts and corresponding transcripts for news stories from Latin America. The podcasts are intentionally slow to get your ears used to sounds and the accompanying transcripts provide excellent vocabulary and word-to-sound recognition for your learning. You can download the app on your cell phone at iTunes or Google Play, to take it with you anywhere you go!

 

2. Listen to Spanish Recordings at Various Speeds

Finding songs, podcasts, news broadcasts and audio recordings a bit too fast? Remember how your mom said not to play with your food? Well, there’s no reason for you not to play with your language learning!

Compile your favorite Spanish songs and challenging audios into one big playlist. Start listening to them at different speeds using both Audacity and VideoLan to do so.

It’s simple, download the audio in mp3 and adjust recordings as you wish. Experiment from slow, medium to fast speeds, pitches and intonations, increasing and decreasing as you see fit in order to adjust to your level and listening comfort zones.

 

3. Specialized Podcasts with Written Transcripts

Use websites that offer quality podcasts with written transcripts. For example, you could try the audio features on FluentU Spanish, which play the captions in English and Spanish on your screen as you listen (but don’t worry if you prefer to fly solo or only have Spanish subtitles by your side, you can toggle the subtitles on and off at will).

Start off by first printing out the transcripts then listen to the podcast audio a few times, making sure to follow along on your transcript with a pen or highlighter to catch those tricky words and pronunciation. Check out SpanishPod101 by Innovative Language for free quality podcasts on a variety of subjects with transcripts, flashcards, videos and a handy app!

 

4. Watch Movies with Spanish Subtitles, Consistently

This tip makes it on lists over and over again for a reason—because it really, truly works. But the trick here is consistency—not just watching randomly or sporadically. Aim to watch a new movie in Spanish once a week, or try watching your favorite movies in English dubbed into Spanish with subtitles every now and then.

Consistency really is the key to make sure the word and sound connection is activated in your head at least once a week, if not more!

Want some recommendations from yours truly? For LAS, watch “También la lluvia” (Even the Rain) and for CS watch “Mar Adentro” (The Sea Inside), both available on Netflix with the subtitle option. If you’re a beginner, stick to watching the same movie a couple times within the same month!

 

5. Pair Audiobooks with Physical Books

By this I mean that you should listen to audiobooks while you read them in Spanish.

It’s easier than it sounds! Check out Audible for a wide variety of Spanish audiobooks, from both Latin America and Spain. If your pockets allow you, try to buy your book on Amazon.es to have the physical book out while you listen to the audiobook recording. Having physical pages in front of you keeps you focused, on-task and also reinforces sound-word recognition.

 

6. Immerse Yourself in Spoken Spanish with FluentU

FluentU is actually a pretty sweet resource to use for Spoken Spanish. That’s because FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. The diversity of authentic content here is perfect for exposing yourself to a variety of Spanish.

Oh, and you can use the active learning tools found in FluentU’s learn mode. The interactive captions, multimedia flashcards and vocabulary lists will all give you the opportunity to really practice and reinforce the language you’ve learned from your chosen videos.

There you have it, now pull those tangled ear buds out of your desk and stick to the 6 methods above to master spoken Spanish. Whatever your level, you’ll surely get quick results—not to mention compliments—on your improved Spanish from teachers and friends!

¡Hasta la próxima, amigos! (Until next time, friends!)

10 AMAZING BENEFITS OF BEING BILINGUAL

What are The Benefits of Being Bilingual

There has been a lot of research on bilingualism over the years. Many studies have found so many benefits of being bilingual or being able to speak more than one language. A trait that was once considered a hindrance, has now proved to have so many advantages for both children and adults.

Here are 10 amazing benefits of being 

bilingual: Make sure you check out the Infographic at the end of the page!

1. Being bilingual has positive effects on the brain

Studies show that being bilingual has many cognitive benefits. According to research, speaking a second language can mean that you have a better attention span and can multi-task better than monolinguals. This is because being bilingual means you are constantly switching from one language to the other. Numerous other studies suggest that bilingualism can also reduce the risk of having a stroke.

Cognitive benefits effect both bilingual kids and bilingual adults. Children as young as seven months who are exposed to more than one language tend to adjust better to changes in the environment. For older bilinguals, there tends to be less cognitive decline.

 

2. Bilingualism gives you the educational advantage

Many of the cognitive benefits mentioned above can also mean that bilinguals have an advantage at school or further education. Many studies show that those who speak a second language are more likely to be less distracted and more focused on tasks.

Even bilingual children who are educated in their second language, have actually been seen to outperform monolingual students in their native language.

The recent Millennum Cohort Study found many educational benefits for bilingual children. Their research showed that even though children who are educated in their second language may initially lag behind around three, four and five years old, they soon catch up and outperform their peers by age seven.

 

3. Languages are highly valued in the workplace

Speaking a second language has numerous employment benefits. Being bilingual means that there are more job opportunities depending on which languages you speak. Communication in the workplace is important, and more companies, especially those with international offices, are considering bilingualism a high priority.

Fast growing fields such as tourism, journalism and translation put great value on bilingual employees. Additional languages on the resume could have your application moved to the top of the pile and give you a better chance at getting the job, even if you aren’t as qualified as another monolingual applicant.

 

4. Being Bilingual has been linked to health benefits

There have been many studies proving that being bilingual can benefit ones health. Researches recently found that there is growing evidence to suggest that bilingualism can delay the onset of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease for example. Other benefits of being bilingual include things such as a faster stroke recovery, lower stress levels, and delay many effects of old to name a few.

 

5. Speaking more than one language makes you more open minded

Have you ever heard the bilingual quote“To have another language is to possess a second soul” by Charlemagne? One of the benefits of being bilingual can mean that you see the world in different ways. Some even say that speaking two different languages can sometimes feel like having two different personalities.

Bilinguals are used to constant change. This means that they are usually less effected by changes in the environment, and more open minded to new things and new experiences, because they have more than one view of the world already.

 

6. Speaking a foreign language can be highly beneficial when you travel

Of course you can get around many countries without speaking the language. However, think of how much more you can experience if you speak the local language of the place you are visiting. No need for a phrase book or a translation app on the phone. Being able to communicate with the locals and immerse yourself in the language and culture can make your travel experience so much more enjoyable.

 

7. Being Bilingual opens up new social opportunities

Bilinguals can make friends in more than one language meaning more opportunities to meet new people, and enjoy different hobbies and activities. Being able to communicate with people from other cultures is a huge social advantage and can open up so many more doors in life.

 

8. Knowing more than one language helps you to learn additional languages

An amazing benefit of being bilingual is that you can learn additional languagesmore easily that monolinguals. This is because language skills reinforce each other. So if you have learned a second language already, then learning a third means transferring those skills over.

 

9. Being bilingual means you can raise bilingual kids

What better advantage, than being able to pass on your languages to your own children so they can reap the benefits of being bilingual too! Give your children the best start in life and raise them bilingual from birth. Your bilingual kids can then have bilingual kids of their own and languages can be passed on through generations.

 

10. You are not the minority if you are bilingual

One of the biggest misconceptions is that bilingualism is a rare phenomenon. But, in fact being bilingual means you are NOT the minority.  More than half the world speaks more than one language on a daily basis. In many countries around the world, bilingualism is actually considered the norm, and I’m sure it won’t be long until the rest of the world catches on. Everyone should have the chance to learn a second language and reap the benefits of being bilingual.

IMPORTANCE OF FEEDBACK IN ASSESSMENT

Feedback is an important part of the assessment process. It has a significant effect on student learning and has been described as “the most powerful single moderator that enhances achievement” (Hattie, 1999).

In this video (2:58) Nalini Pather speaks about the importance of providing feedback to students right from the beginning of the course.

The main objectives of feedback are to:

• justify to students how their mark or grade was derived
• identify and reward specific qualities in student work
• guide students on what steps to take to improve
• motivate them to act on their assessment
• develop their capability to monitor, evaluate and regulate their own learning (Nicol, 2010).

To benefit student learning, feedback needs to be:

Constructive: As well as highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of a given piece of work, it should set out ways in which the student can improve the work. For the student, it:

• encourages them to think critically about their work and to reflect on what they need to do to improve it
• helps them see their learning in new ways and gain increased satisfaction from it
• helps promote dialogue between staff and students.

Timely: Give feedback while the assessed work is still fresh in a student’s mind, before the student moves on to subsequent tasks.

Meaningful: It should target individual needs, be linked to specific assessment criteria, and be received by a student in time to benefit subsequent work. Effective feedback:

• guides students to adapt and adjust their learning strategies
• guides teachers to adapt and adjust teaching to accommodate students’ learning needs
• guides students to become independent and self-reflective learners, and better critics of their own work
• stimulates reflection, interaction and dialogue about learning improvement
• is constructive, so that students feel encouraged and motivated to improve
• has consequences, so that it engages students by requiring them to attend to the feedback as part of the assessment
• is efficient, so that staff can manage it effectively.

Feedback is valuable when it is received, understood and acted on. How students analyse, discuss and act on feedback is as important as the quality of the feedback itself (Nicol, 2010). Through the interaction students have with feedback, they come to understand how to develop their learning.

Academics in context

Information about the academic staff in this video and their professional contexts may be found in the Academics in context document.

Want to know more?

If you would like to more about this topic on the importance of feedback in assessment there are additional resources listed in the Want to know more.pdf for this step.

CAN SPEAKING TWO LANGUAGES INCREASE YOUR JOB PROSPECTS?

There is stiff competition in the job market these days. Having a skill that allows you to stand apart is a great benefit. One such resume plus is knowing a second language. If you've spoken a second language from a young age or learned another language for travel or personal interest, you may not realize the advantages of bilingualism in the workplace.

The great news is that in addition to knowing a second language for conversing in your personal life, there are many bilingual benefits in the job market. Here are some of the advantages you might not have thought about.

Better Chance of Landing a Job

With so much business being conducted online, many companies now serve a global market. As such, it's a great benefit for many businesses to hire employees who speak more than one language. The more of their customers you can communicate with, the more of an asset you are to them. If a job opening comes down to candidates of equal experience and education, but one is fluent in more than one language it's most likely the bilingual applicant that's getting the position.

Even as early in the hiring process as when you submit your resume, being bilingual makes an impression. As stated on Knowing a second language makes your resume stand out and can boost you to the top of the interview list with potential employers.

You Can Earn More Money

When you're bilingual your earning potential can go up if you are asked to act as a translator or interpreter on the job. Language differentials typically range between 5 and 20 percent per hour more than the base rate . If employees who speak the necessary language(s) are hard to come by at your place of employment, you'll likely earn a higher percentage in these instances than if there are several employees available who can translate.

Extra Job Opportunities

If you've ever thought about switching gears with your career or have wanted to pick up a second job, then knowing a second language might help . There are plenty of exciting jobs that can really only be tackled by those who speak another language.Some examples of jobs for bilinguals are translator, interpreter, language teacher, and tour guide. Having an extra language under your belt opens up some doors you may never have considered.

Increased Brain Power

Beyond the obvious bilingual benefits of being able to communicate with more people, being bilingual actually means you have some other distinct assets to offer the business world. According to NYTimes.com , “Scientists have begun to show that the advantages of bilingualism are even more fundamental than being able to converse with a wider range of people. Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter. It can have a profound effect on your brain, improving cognitive skills not related to language and even shielding against dementia in old age.”

Studies have shown that even when a bilingual is speaking just one language, his/her brain has both language systems activated. This pushes the brain to work through this unique conflict, therefore increasing brain power. In fact, bilinguals are thought to be more proficient at working through certain mental puzzles because of this. As you would expect, having employees who are expert problem solvers is always highly coveted.

Boosted Creativity

Not only do bilinguals think smarter, they also appear to think more creatively than those who only speak one language. In fact, a study conducted in 2012 showed that bilingual children were both better problem solvers and creative thinkers. Bilingualism can improve a speaker's mind, both when they are young and old. It encourages them to see the world in a different light, and understand cultures in a way which just reading a book could never accomplish. With this in mind, it's no surprise that the range of jobs for bilinguals is vast.

So, if you're already bilingual you're ahead of the game as far as employment goes. For those who seek to improve their employability by adding a second language there are certain languages that seem to be more highly coveted in the job market. Bilingualism in the workplace is advantageous, but according to Investopedia.com , if you speak Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, American Sign Language, Russian, German, or Portuguese you'll likely have even more of an edge in the workplace.

Tomado de: https://www.uei.edu/blog/can-speaking-two-languages-increase-your-job-prospects