Globalization ...

English Club “Discovery”

 Activity 1. Read it carefully and think about it a second or two. Do you have the following situations in your life?

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

Activity 2. How do you understand the meaning of the words “nodders” and “shakers”? When do you feel yourself as a “nodder” or a “shaker”?

Discussion: Globalization

What does globalization mean to you? With your partner brainstorm all the words and phrases you associate with globalization.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalization? Look at the following words and phrases, and then write them in the correct column below.

Multi-ethnic/ multi-cultural society, fast food/fizzy drinks,

globally popular films and songs, English as a global language,

multi-national corporations, changes in national identity (changes of traditions and customs), industrial development, global market, international trade agreements, ecological problems

Advantages

Disadvantages

3. Do you agree that globalization leads to poverty? There are some statements: in order to reduce poverty people in poor countries should have fewer children. What do you think about it?
4. Do you think that globalization leads to disasters? (sunken vessels, earthquakes).

Read the following questions and use them to start a conversation with your partner. For each question consider the following points:

food family traditions music education clothes travel trade communication etc.

1. How has globalization affected your country?
2. How has globalization affected you personally?
3. Do you think that globalization will affect you more or less in the future?
4. In what ways do you think globalization will benefit the world in the future?
5. Who do you think benefits most/least from globalization? Why?

Hot Tips on Resume Writing

On 8, May 2011 it was the next session of a project “Management, Marketing, Tourism and More…” designed  and managed by the American PC Volunteers for students of Trade and Economics University at Vinnytsia Information Resource Center “Window on America’. This activity, called “Hot Tips on Resume Writing”, was led by Jim Buel and Laura Bestor, PC Volunteers in our city. Among the questions the following were discussed: What is a resume anyway? What should the resume content be about? What’s the fastest way to improve a resume? What is the most common resume mistake made by job hunters?’. The students got an experience on “what is the first step in writing a resume”, “what if you don’t have any experience in the kind of work you want to do”, ‘what the best way to impress an employer”, etc. They presented their own resumes with its analysis having written them before starting as volunteers in Ukraine.

Advertisement. Best Practice of American Ad Companies

If you were a participant of “Discovery” Club at Vinnytsia Information Center “Window on America”, you could discuss the topic “Advertisement. Best Practice of American Ad Companies” on 7, May 2011.

The members of the Club were proposed to discuss some questions on this topic. The leader of the Club made a Pecha Kukha presentation “Controversial Advertisement of the 21st century. American Practice in Ads” that was interesting, presenting some facts on marketing of the USA. Among the participants there were teachers, students, and the retired who expressed their thoughts on the following topic actively (7).

Controversial advertising in the 21st century

Aim: to show people how adverts can be interesting, shocking and sometimes offensive. Usually, people take adverts as something boring and annoying because adverts are everywhere. In metro, on the bus and train stations, on the motorways, restaurants, cinemas, schools and on television. Adverts are aimed to persuade people to buy a specific product. But they can also alert people of diseases, protections and other catastrophes such as terrorism or racism. MTV and United Colors of Benetton are famous of doing controversial adverts which tries to address people of particular problem. MTV is doing adverts alerting young people of AIDS and crossing the streets safely and United Colors of Benetton address to problem of racism. Other advertisement campaigns, mainly in the clothing industry and cosmetics are also contoversial, very often with sexual undertone.

Activity 1. Using your notes and any additional ideas, prepare a two-minute talk with your partner. Then present your talk to the rest of us:

1. What do you consider makes a good advertisement? (Make notes of your ideas)

* concept

* medium

* approach

2. How far do you agree that TV advertisements are better than the actual programmes? What is the difference between television programmes and good advertisements?

• originality and creativity
• words and music
• setting and locations

3. How do you perceive advertisers and advertisements? Are your attitude towards ads is generally positive or negative? What evidence can you give for your own attitude?

• Scrupulous, meticulous, exacting, professional, stimulating to ccaptivate viewers, outrageous (very shocking)?

4. What constraints do advertisers have to take into account when making advertisements?

5. Do you have your favourite advertisement? Why do you choose it from other ones?

6. Coca Cola ad is very popular in all the world. It is asked more than 524 million times a day in more than 80 languages. What do you think about its global presence?

7. Have you ever seen controversial advertising? Do you think that this campaign is successful?

ACTIVITY 2. Imagine you are asked to make an ad. What product or service can you choose? What about a slogan?

ACTIVITY 3. RXV, a major electronics company, has decided to advertise its latest digital camera. It has asked several advertising agencies to submit proposals for a campaign. What are your proposals?

Controvercial Ad

The advertising philosophy of United Colors of Benetton

    Benetton became a global force in just a few years—the United Colors concept spread from encompassing the different races to the ideas of tolerance, peace and respect for diversity.

    Many ads from the period were an expression of this process. One represented religious and political conflict (the Palestinian and the Israeli). Another depicted religious and sexual conflict (a priest kissing a nun), and yet another portrayed moral conflict (the stereotypes of good and evil, symbolized by an angel and evil.

Interview Skills

On 7, May 2011 the Information Center “Window on America” united all the participants of a project “Management. Marketing. Tourism” discussing the topic “Interview Skills”. The members of this session considered how well equipped they were before an interview to have the best chance of searching their future role. The American Volunteers Laura M. Bestor and Jim Buel shared their experience in this sphere giving some advice for job seekers. This interactive session, called “Program for New Business Leaders”, was organized for assistant professors, instructors and students of Trade and Economics University. But among all the participants there were some representatives of small business who found it useful because of having an experience of making some interviews with their workers (7).

 At the end of this activity it was organized a quiz “Interview Questions” having in a practice Mock Interview. It lasted 15 min replicating a real life situation. It was monitored by other attendees of this interactive communication. Feedback from other participants followed – ‘what went well; what could be done better’. Only constructive criticism welcomed.

The American Volunteers resumed their own experience working at various companies.

American and Ukrainian Celebrations. Mother's Day and More...

Introductions

Question for Groups

•   For you, what is the perfect party? How many people should be there? Where should it be held? What kind of music or activities should there be?

Discussion Question:

1.  Did you see television coverage of Americans celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden? Is it ever okay to celebrate when someone dies? How do you think America should remember this event?

2.  How do you celebrate Victory Day? How do you think that this event should be remembered by Ukrainian people?

3.   Chernobyl Remembrance Day was a few weeks ago. What do you remember about the time when this tragedy happened? How should Ukraine remember this disaster?

4.  Do you think that the Chernobyl Zone should be a tourist site? Would you want to go there as a tourist?

5.  Tomorrow is Mother's Day in the United States. Do you think there should be a special holiday for Mothers in Ukraine as well?

The Power of One

Do you believe that one person can change the whole world? If you can say “yes”, you have a chance to discuss this topic “The Power of One” on Thursday, May 5 with other participants of English Speaking Club?

Introductions

Question for Groups

• 

  At what age do you think that a person becomes an adult? Maybe at 18 years old or 21 years old? How can you know if you are an adult or not?
  
  Topic for Discussion: The Power of One

1. Do you think that one person has the power to change the world? How? What are some examples of people who have changed the world?
2. 

   Do you have an example of one person who changed your life for the better? How did they do it?

“God granted me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.

3. What do you think of this quote? Are you able to do this in your life?
4. 

   What are the things that we cannot change? What are the things we can change?

Group Contest

Imagine that you had to create a project to make our city better… but that you would not be given any money to do the project. Create an interesting, creative project that can be done without money.

Saturday, May 7 – 10-30 Library

Tuesday, May 10 – 17-45 Library (Beginners and Intermediate)

Thursday, May 12 – 17-30 Library. 

On the Map of North America