How Non-Native Business Writing Courses Help Global Employees Succeed

How Non-Native Business Writing Courses Help Global Employees Succeed Many companies have invested in a global workforce, drawing new strength and innovation from diverse international employees. However, for those who do not speak English as a first language, it can be difficult to meet the strict writing requirements of the modern English workplace. Non-native business writing courses tailored specifically for global professionals can help companies get the polished writing they need and help employees gain the confidence and skills to meet their individual business goals. Non-Native Writers are a Growing Part of Today's Workforce The Bureau of Labor Statisticsnotes that in 2012 foreign-born workers made up over 16% of the US workforce with that number steadily increasing since 1996. The largest non-native group was Hispanic men, making up close to 48% of foreign-born workers. While the weekly earnings of non-native employees were statistically less than their native-born counterparts, the survey also showed that educational attainment directly increased earning power.A recent study by Wharton management professor Laura Huang found "a widespread bias in the business community against non-native English speakers: Entrepreneurs with non-native accents, she notes, are significantly less likely to receive new-venture funding, and job candidates with non-native accents are also less likely to be recommended for management positions. Foreign-born workers need to invest in strong communication skills in both speaking and writing to overcome these prejudices in the modern workplace. What Problems do Non-Native Writers Face? While native writers develop an ear for their own language, for non-native writers it can be difficult to adapt to the unique structures and complexities of formal English. The most common struggle is in understanding the subtleties of English grammar. Many native speakers instinctively understand grammatical rules but are unable to communicate the reasons behind them to employees. Practice and study using real business documents as examples are necessarily to learn both basic and complex grammatical structures. One-on-one instruction can be especially helpful in identifying individual weaknesses. Other cultures often have different standards and techniques for handling logic and evidence in business writing, so explaining and understanding the expected standards of American business writing is essential. Do I Really Need to Improve My Writing to Succeed? For many, the talents of an employee are a stronger selling point than their writing skills. On the surface, who cares if an engineer can write a cohesive memo as long as they can design a functional product? However, businesses have quickly realized that communication skills, in any field, are essential to the success of both the employee and the company. Companies both in the US and around the world are increasingly conducting business in English. As theHarvard Business Review reported, the use of English can be a controversial decision, noting that employees "may feel at a disadvantage if their English isn’t as good as others’, team dynamics and performance can suffer, and national pride can get in the way. But to survive and thrive in a global economy, companies must overcome language barriers- and English will almost always be the common ground, at least for now." However through directed education and practice, all employees can learn to utilize English as another skill to add their already diverse talents to help themselves and their company succeed. How Can Personal Instruction Provide Targeted Improvement? Treating all non-native writers the same is neither helpful nor productive. Different cultures and languages face varied and unique challenges and a one-size-fits-all education can leave costly gaps in knowledge. Learning in the workplace can be a high-stakes endeavor with mistakes in a memo or proposal causing headaches for both employee and employer (and in the worst case scenario can lead to legal or financial problems for the company). Non-native writers can feel extreme pressure to perform when only writing for the business environment. Writing for an instructor, however, provides safety and supportthat focuses on improvement rather than simply results. Instructors can provide a detailed plan to follow in a structured writing course and can improve writing with targeted feedback tailored to the writer's specific needs. Please contact us for help finding a generalbusiness writing courseor non-native business writing course for yourself or your non-native employees. We're here to help.

French Surname Meanings and Origins

French Surname Meanings and Origins Coming from the medieval French word surnom translating as above-or-over name, surnames or descriptive names trace their use in France back to 11th century when it first became necessary to add a second name to distinguish between individuals with the same given name. The custom of using surnames did not become common for several centuries, however. Most French surnames can be traced back to one of these four types: 1) Patronymic Matronymic Surnames Based on a parent’s name, patronyms and matronyms are the most common method French last names were constructed. Patronymic surnames are based on the fathers name and matronymic surnames on the mothers name. The mothers name was usually used only when the fathers name was unknown. Patronymic and matronymic surnames in France were formed in several different ways. The typical form of attaching a prefix or suffix that means son of (e.g., de, des, du, lu,  or  the Norman fitz) to a given name was less common in France that in many European countries, but still prevalent. Examples include Jean de Gaulle, meaning John, son of Gaulle, or Tomas FitzRobert, or Tomas, son of Robert. Suffixes meaning little son of (-eau, -elet, -elin, elle, elet, etc.) may have also been used. The majority of French patronymic and matronymic surnames have no identifying prefix, however, being direct derivations of the parents given name, such as August Landry, for August, son of Landri, or Tomas Robert, for Tomas, son of Robert. 2) Occupational Surnames Also very common among French surnames, occupational last names are based on the person’s job or trade, such as Pierre Boulanger [baker], or Pierre, the baker. Several common occupations found prevalently as French surnames include Berger (shepherd), Bisset (weaver), Boucher (butcher), Caron (cartwright), Charpentier (carpenter), Fabron (blacksmith), Fournier (baker), Gagne (farmer),  Lefebvre (craftsman or blacksmith), Marchand (merchant) and  Pelletier (fur trader). 3) Descriptive Surnames Based on a unique quality of the individual, descriptive French surnames often developed from nicknames or pet names, such as Jacques Legrand, for Jacques, the big.Other common examples include Petit (small), LeBlanc (blonde hair or fair complexion), Brun (brown hair or  dark complexion), and Roux (red hair or ruddy complexion). 4) Geographical Surnames Geographical or habitational French surnames are based on a person’s residence, often a former residence (e.g., Yvonne Marseille means Yvonne from the village of Marseille). They may also describe the individuals specific location within a village or town, such as Michel Là ©glise (church), who lived  next to the church.  The prefixes de, des, du, and le which translate as of may also be found used in geographical French surnames.   Alias Surnames or Dit Names In some areas of France, a second surname may have been adopted to distinguish between different branches of the same family, especially when the families remained in the same town for generations. These alias surnames can often be found preceded by the word dit. Sometimes an individual even adopted the dit name as the family name and dropped the original surname. This practice was most common in France among soldiers and sailors. Germanic Origins of French Names As so many French surnames are derived from first names, it is important to know that many common French first names have Germanic origins, coming into fashion during German invasions into France. Therefore, having a name with Germanic origins does not necessarily mean that you have German ancestors! Official Name Changes in France Beginning in 1474, anyone who wished to change his name was required to get permission from the King. These official name changes can be found indexed in: L Archiviste Jà ©rà ´me. Dictionnaire des changements de noms de 1803–1956 (Dictionary of changed names from 1803 to 1956). Paris: Librairie Francaise, 1974.   Meanings Origins of Common French Surnames 1. MARTIN 26. DUPONT 2. BERNARD 27. LAMBERT 3. DUBOIS 28. BONNET 4. THOMAS 29. FRANCOIS 5. ROBERT 30. MARTINEZ 6. RICHARD 31. LEGRAND 7. PETIT 32. GARNIER 8. DURAND 33. FAURE 9. LEROY 34. ROUSSEAU 10. MOREAU 35. BLANC 11. SIMON 36. GUERIN 12. LAURENT 37. MULLER 13. LEFEBVRE 38. HENRY 14. MICHEL 39. ROUSSEL 15. GARCIA 40. NICOLAS 16. DAVID 41. PERRIN 17. BERTRAND 42. MORIN 18. ROUX 43. MATHIEU 19. VINCENT 44. CLEMENT 20. FOURNIER 45. GAUTHIER 21. MOREL 46. DUMONT 22. GIRARD 47. LOPEZ 23. ANDRE 48. FONTAINE 24. LEFEVRE 49. CHEVALIER 25. MERCIER 50. ROBIN

The first machine age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The first machine age - Essay Example In addition, the development of the printing press technology meant that the public had a variety of sources to get information from, apart from the church – all these changes brought a lot of inspiration especially on the arena of aesthetic (Banham, 1980). Just like the Machine Age, the architects and other designers had an assortment of materials to choose from, unlike in the ancient times when this was limited. Designers started to adopt things that they could call their own, and this led to the development of various artistic movements such as purism, Nouveau, De Stijl, Constructivism, Bauhaus, and Scandinavian. All these movements brought about a lot of impacts on different fields of visual worlds including architecture, furniture, graphic designs, art, life style, and so on (Banham, 1980). This paper will briefly discuss each of these movements and then delve into some of the symbolic examples from these movements, which have made a key impact on different kinds of conte mporary designs. Purism Purism was an alternative of Cubism, and was an inspiration of mechanization. During the machine age, two French artists (Amedee Ozenfant [1886-1966] and Edouard Jeanneret [1886-1965]) provided a response to the fascination and perplexity of pure functionality. The two artists expressed their belief in the significance of artistic rigour, impersonality and precision under the label of Purism. The two French artists who were later known as Le Corbusier sought a more rational elucidation of Cubism, beyond its symbolic and literary baggage and decorative or dynamic motivation. The aim of purist theory was to reinstate painting to an archaic purity in which case representation would be logical, geometrical and patently obvious. The aesthetic of industrial technology and machines was used to model this ideal of essentiality and efficiency in art, which Le Corbusier suggested as a possible repertory of plastic forms (Matteson Art, n.d). : Figure 1: Le Corbusier,  oil on canvas,  1926 The major objective of their work was to provide an illustration of collective values such as asceticism, order and lucidity. Part of their manifesto stated that the utmost pleasure of the human spirit was the recognition of order and the utmost fulfillment of humans was to be experienced in assisting in production, or being an essential part of this order. As shown in figure 1, their paintings were somewhat completely still life representations of domestic components including pipes, jugs, and glasses. Evidently described against a straightforward perspectives level surface, their works complied with a ‘a general grammar of sensibility’ that standardized creative relationships, simplified forms, and drew away emotivity and accident in replacement with chromatic fields and a synthesis of lines. In October 1920, Le Corbusier together with the poet Paul Dermee introduced a review in order to publish their purist and rational principles. This led to publishing of L'Esprit Nouveau magazine for 5 years on a regular basis, until 1925. This publication, perhaps, succeeded in making an original contribution to the avant-garde European movements, which worked better than the earlier repetitive paintings that were produced by Le Corbusier (Marshall, 2008). Art Nouveau Art Nouveau was a movement that was associated with decorative architecture and arts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe. This movement, which

Writing with Semantic Argument or Statistics Essay

Writing with Semantic Argument or Statistics - Essay Example Never mind the content, TV cartoons are the cheaper alternative to hiring a baby-sitter and is the safest way to keep even a hyperactive toddler distracted. Or so parents generally believed. But this rather cavalier attitude parents have towards their very young children watching TV cartoons – of any and all sorts – have pediatric experts worried; studies have shown that TV cartoons may be to blame about the increasingly antisocial tendencies of children even at a young age, attitudes that they may carry with them into adulthood. Could TV cartoons really be as bad an influence? One way to determine the influence of TV cartoons is to look at the statistics. TV sets may be the most common feature among American households; about 99% percent of homes are not without their own TV sets as television programming are the cheapest and most convenient way to be entertained and informed. The average child watches up to two hours of TV cartoons each day (Center for Communication and Social Policy, University of California, Santa Barbara [UCSB], 1998) and some even as much as 28 hours of cartoons each week (Beresin, n.d.). But what is more alarming about this fact is not the quantity of TV time but the quality of the program. Studies revealed that shows that target the very young audiences contain twice as many violent acts as other programs; furthermore, Saturday morning cartoons have been recorded to contain as much as 20 to 25 violent incidents per hour compared to 3 to 5 violent incidents found in prime-time TV (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 1995). Not all TV cartoons feature this rather stunning amount of violence. A recent study conducted to determine the effects of violence in media on children’s anti-social behavior was conducted by Drs. Christakis and Zimmerman in 2007. They classified TV programs that target the young audiences into three categories: violent programming,

Importance of College Essay Example for Free

Importance of College Essay When I think of my college search, I think of a lot of stress and a lot of time. It was a very stressful time in my life and put a lot of pressure on me to get into a good school. Education is the most important part of one’s life. Not everyone goes to college right after high school, and college is not intended for everyone. For example, some people decide to work right after high school rather than go straight into college. College is quite expensive, and some may even say it is hard. However, college is not a bad thing. It has many good qualities. For instance, college is a time where students can venture out and meet new people. I knew without a college degree I would probably be going nowhere in my life. So, I decided to go to college. There were many reasons backing my decision to go to college: I wanted to make a better life for myself. I waneted to find a job where I would not be living paycheck to paycheck, like my parents have had to. I wanted to encounter things that I never realized could even exist, and to take classes taught by passionate instructors. But most of all, I wanted to prove that I could be successful. I did not do the whole high school experience thing at all. During my four years in high school, I was antisocial, and spent most of my time at home. But now that I am in college, I can experience so many things that I skipped out in in high school. It was a huge dream of mine to have friends, to be social, and to really be a teenager (or a young adult). I am hoping by being in college, I will be able to experience that. Being at such a young age, I literally hold my future in my own two hands, just as my other peers do. What I decided to do now with my life is what will affect my future, my familys future, and the outcome of my life. Without a good head start on life, I dont see any possible way for me to truly succeed. This can be compared to how one would construct a building. If you build a foundation out of sand and sticks, and try to build a skyscraper, the entire structure will topple. But, if you start with a solid foundation, such as cement, you can build a mighty tower. In the same sense, should I make something of myself while I am young, I will be able to continuously flourish throughout my lifetime. If I am able to do that, then I will have succeeded in my own eyes. After high school, many people do not consider going to college. But not going to college was not an option for me. My parents never went to college, and watching them struggle to make ends meet was awful. I just knew that I did not want to be in their situation.. Therefore, I do not want to live my life, paycheck to paycheck, and worrying about whether or not I am going to have enough money to pay to keep a roof over my head. The reason for going to college is that I wanted to have a better life. Not everyone can go to college to better themselves, but I am lucky, and truly blessed that I am getting a opportunity to better myself. In fact, college is extremely important to me. I am the first one in my immediate family to go to college so it is a big deal to everyone that I not just go, but to also graduate. Being in college, and getting a degree in whatever my heart desires, will open up so many doors for me. It would help me get a job that I not only like, but one that I look forward to going to everyday, and one that will make me feel like I am actually accomplishing something with my life. College is going to be a great thing for me, not just because it says â€Å"Oh look at me, I went to college†, but because I am doing something to make myself become a better person. My dream for my life in the next ten years is simple; to be happy and successful. I’m sure there are a lot of people who want to be successful in their life, but I don’t need to be making tons of money to be happy. I want to be happy with my job/career, and be able to support my family and I. My family had a big part in my choice of going to this school in particular. I didn’t have any ideas of what I wanted to do with my life or what kind of job I wanted. That was my major reason for coming to college; to figure out my life for the future. I would want my peers and teacher to remember me how I am today. I like to believe I am a nice, outgoing, and very open person. Someone you could come to for help and be able to talk to, or someone to make you laugh when you need a laugh. I was raised to treat everybody with respect and kindness, and I want to be remembered in that way. For people who have already finished high school, one of the choices they will have to make is whether to continue to higher education, which means going to college, or to start working and planning their life right away. Different people will have different choices of their own, but for me, I think there are a couple of reasons why I should attend college. I decided to go to college to get a bachelor’s degree in restaraunt management. A college degree will make me more competitive in the job market, and give me a better opportunity to receive a higher paying job. In order to maintain and promote your position at a company, you must have the knowledge and experiences that come from attending college. A person with a bachelor’s degree will earn, on average, almost twice as much as workers with a high school diploma. People with a master’s degree can earn up to $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate. And those who attend a two year college are able to earn up to $250,000 more than someone who does not. Going to college not only helps me better my life, but it also gives me a wider range of job opportunites. In todays society, more and more jobs are requiring that you have more than just a high school education. Attending college will help me gain skills that I will use in the workplace. In the past, workers were required to do very simple tasks which didnt require complicated skills. but, a`s time passed, these kinds of simple tasks have been replaced by machines. Therefore, large corporations and even small  companies want a person who is capable of completing somewhat more sophisticated jobs, the skills for which can be obtained from a college education. Also, taking college courses in English will help me improve my reading and writing skills, which are essential for any job. So, college is the best place to increase my knowledge and skills before I move on to the real world. College is important to me. I am the 1st one in my immediate family to go to college so it’s a big deal to everyone. So far, I love college, it has been a great thing for me, and I know in the end, it will really pay off, and turn me into someone that I want to be.

My Life Beyond the Pale Essay -- Personal Narrative essay about myself

My Life Beyond the Pale "Beyond the pale" was a phrase first used by the English Crown of the 1300's to describe the Irish countryside outside of Dublin's borders, i.e., English control. Even before then, and since, the Irish have continually struggled to define for themselves a cohesive national identity outside of that which was determined for them by colonists, or perhaps nowadays, tourists like myself. Therefore, a cautionary note: this brief essay contains no deep, penetrating insights into the Irish psyche, no judgments as to the wisdom of constitutionalized Catholicism, World War II isolationism, or the perpetuation of Yeats-ish, green-rolling, fairy-mounded myths. Irish identity cannot, I believe, be found at the bottom of any foam-ringed pint, nor may it be found in the all-too-commonly-evoked literary trinity of abusive father, alcoholic mother, and tuberculosis-inclined child. And despite the insistence of economists, both Irish and otherwise, it will not be found in the workings of a booming "Ce ltic Tiger" economy, with the (albeit historical) shift from a country of emigration to one of immigration. Ireland has found its current definition under the auspicious flag of the Tourist Industry, a change that would likely make Yeats shudder, as his oft-valorized four green fields are first leveled, paved, and finally given new shape as the grounds for a shopping mall. South of the Lif... ... boat ride, and I noticed an Italian couple sitting nearby, both neatly dressed, with lovely leather sandals and gold jewelry. At fast I wondered what they saw in their surroundings. They appeared quite comfortable. I looked around again. There was a certain beauty in the mix of rust and faded paint, the apparent lack of function, an atmosphere beyond something, if not the Pale itself. The feeling of exile that occurs as a result of traveling abroad is a unique form, self-imposed and wary of cliches. Remember that James Joyce was only able to write "The Dead" after leaving Dublin. Though I may not have returned with a brilliant novella of my own, this new sense of wonderment is, I believe, a nearly even trade.

Play and Game Essay

According to Merriam Webster â€Å"a hobby is a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation†. Most of us have hobby because having a specific interest on something facilitates a balance between our physical and mental state. They can be either physical activities or mental activities. For me, cricket is my hobby because it has become part of my life. I often engage in playing both at the club level and for recreation. Cricket is a team sport for two teams of eleven players each. The objective of each team is to score more runs than the other team and to completely dismiss the other team. I enjoy this game because it’s fun and exciting, it has enabled me to adopt the teambuilding skills in my everyday life and it gives me an opportunity to be a role model to younger cricketers. The game of cricket evokes many emotions, mostly because of the fun and excitement involved. Cricket is played at a professional level all over the world. I regularly go the various ovals to follow my favourite team, and avidly watch the game on television. The sheer pleasure of winning a game and exhilaration of conquering this game of high and difficult technique brings nothing but delight to me. During a match we not only have to contend with the rules of the game, but also have to contend with different playing conditions that can have a dramatic affect on the game. The nail biting ending where your team mates are depending on you to score the winning runs of a game all contribute to this game being truly gratifying to me. In the end we all know how fun it is to smash the ball down the ground or to rip off the middle stump of the batsman. Another reason I enjoy playing cricket is for the teambuilding aspect. I learnt teambuilding, discipline as well as teamwork through playing cricket. The game is very challenging in some regard and it required teamwork to win a game. When playing cricket, one has to be cognizant of what your teammates are doing because each player is dependent on each other. Thus good communication skills are mandatory. This sport also filters into my everyday life as it translates into how I address work related issues as well. It has allowed me to have self regulating strategies, identify and utilize strengths of co-workers in completing projects and practice effective collaboration with team members. True role models and mentors are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. I believe through this game I can impact on younger minds and facilitate me being a mentor and role model. Recently I was been privileged to be the coach and mentor of a cricket camp. The positive influences I was able to instill to this young group will definitely redound to their benefit. To be able to promote the vitality and passion of this game and impart what role sport can play in our life was very rewarding to me. It was an invaluable avenue for me to develop as a coach, to share my knowledge and skills and be able to mold younger minds. In summary, cricket is my favourite hobby as there is no end to the element of surprise the game gives and benefits I gain from playing. As far as I can remember cricket has always been my favourite past time and part of my life. The pleasure of watching and playing is truly amazing. It’s a hot topic in many social circles because of the thrills and anticipation of the game. Likewise one also benefits from playing as it promotes and facilitates teambuilding. The camaraderie it fosters between team members is additionally rewarding. What is truly gratifying however, it allows me to be a role model and mentor to others as it allows me to convey what role cricket plays in my life and share my knowledge. In a few words, it has contributed to me physically and mentally as it helps me relax, keep fit and relieve stress. Bibliography James, C. L. R. (1963). Beyond a Boundary. London: Stanley Paul/Hutchinson Merriam Webster (n. d. ) Hobby Retrieved October 20th, 2011 from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/hobby.