BUSINESS ENGLISH

Intermediate

LC1 (1)
Tell me about your
educational background

- Link videos
1. Slide 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=war-NPh9zCk
2. Slide 12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bXpKMS_1Yc
3. Slide 13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E0GHnDuC_A
4. Slide 14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jomkLmR5h2M
Get to know

3 things about me 3 things about you

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 obtain
degree
certificate
graduate
?????

Tell me about
your
educational
background?

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Example of a good CV Find the correct definitions for these words
1. graduate from
a. complete school or university
b. enroll in a school or a university

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 2. Finance

a. a subject about how to manage people
2019 - 2020 enrolled in a Master's degree b. a subject about how to manage money
program in Finance
3. GPA
a. grade-point average: the average score of
2019 obtained CFA certificate a student in a period
b. guarantee-pass average: the average score
2012 - 2015 graduated from Trinity University that a student needs to get at least to pass a
Major: Finance; GPA: 3.6 course

4. obtain
a. stop studying but have your name or
results recorded so that you can study again
in the future
b. to get something by working for it
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*Answer key: 1-a; 2-b; 3-a; 4-b

Explanation
• graduate /ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/ (+ from) (v): to complete school, or university successfully
• Finance /ˈfaɪ.næns/ (n): the study of the way money is used and managed in the economy
• GPA - grade-point average: the average of a student's scores for a particular period, usually
on a scale of 1 to 4.0, with 4.0 being the best
- 2018: the candidate obtained CFA certificate → T gives word definitions:
• obtain /əbˈteɪn/ (v): to get something

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Example of a good CV

Find the correct definitions for these

words:

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 5. certificate

a. a receipt that you've paid for a
2019 - 2020 enrolled in a Master's degree course
program in Finance b. a document that recognises you've
passed an exam
2019 obtained CFA certificate
6. enroll
a. go to a school or university
2012 - 2015 graduated from Trinity University b. join a party
Major: Finance; GPA: 3.6
7. master's degree
a. a course you take after university
b. a course you take before university

*Answer key: 5-b; 6-a; 7-a

Explanation:
• certificate /səˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ (n): the qualification that you receive when you are successful in an
exam → CFA certificate: this person has completed the CFA program. (CFA - Chartered
Financial Analyst is to measure and certify someone is qualified to be a financial analysts.)
- 2019: he attended a Master's degree program but retained in 2020
• enroll /ɪnˈroʊl/ (v): to officially be on the list of a course of study at a school -> to study
• master's degree: an advanced college or university degree

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New words

1. vocational school (n) 2. bachelor's degree (n)

3. economics (n) 4. Business Administration (n)

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 An Educational Background

Read and complete the educational background for a CV, using the given words. Some blanks have been
completed for you!
certificate

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Business

Management
2020 obtained CFA (8) ..................
(7) ..................
GPA

2019 studied a (5) .................'s course in (6) Economics

................ master

bachelor
2017 (1) .......................... University of Leeds
Bachelor Economics
(2) .....................'s degree in (3) .................... ;
(4) .....................: 3.9/ 4.0 obtain

graduate from

*Answer key
1 - graduated from - hint: University of leads
3 - Business Management - hint: in -> name of a major
4 - GPA - hint:
5 - master - hint: after bachelor's degree -> master's degree
8 - certificate - hint: collocation: obtain + certificate

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 Past simple to talk about educational background

Normal verbs 'To-be' verb

(+)
• Regular verbs: S + V-ed (+) S + was/ were

• Irregular verbs: S + past forms of (-) S + wasn't/ weren't/ was not/

irregular verbs were not

(-) S + didn't + V (?) Was/ were + S + ... ?

(?) Did + S + V?

Challenge: Look at the formulas of past simple and the example sentences. Decide which
type of verbs is in each sentence: regular verb, irregular verb or 'to-be' verb.

1. I went to the University of Leeds.

2. I graduated from the University of Leeds.
3. I was a student in the University of Leeds.
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*Answer key:
1 - irregular verb
2 - regular verb
3 - 'to-be' verb
 My educational background

Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense to complete the candidate's answer

Interviewer: Tell me about your educational background.

Candidate: ................................... (1 - go) to the University of Leeds . I majored in Economics and graduated in 2017.

After I ……………................. (2 - obtain) my bachelor's degree, I …………….............. (3 - decide) to continue my

education with a master's course in Business Administration and completed it in 2019. I ............................... (4 - be)

glad I did it because economics ................................ (5 - give) me a general understanding of how the economies

work but my MBA .................................. (6 - help) me realize that being a manager would be a very interesting

challenge!

*Answer key:
1 went
2 obtained
3 decided
4 was
5 gave
6 helped

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Can you talk about your educational background?
1. graduated from
2. majored in
3. attended

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 4. obtained

5. retained
……………….….. ………………………………………….. 6. master's degree
7. bachelor's degree
……………….….. …………………………………………..
8. vocational school

……………….….. ………………………………………….. 9. certificate

10. Finance
……………….….. …………………………………………..
11. Economics
12. Business Administration
13. GPA

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 TOEIC Listening - Part 1

You will hear three statements

about a picture. When you hear the
statements, you must select the
one statement that best describes
what you see in the picture.
The statements will not be shown
on the screen and will be spoken
only one time.

A.
B.
C.
D.

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Answer key: B

Tapescript:
A. The man completed writing a CV.
B. The man is reading a CV.
C. The woman has received many CVs for the position.
D. The man has finished marking his students' essays.

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 TOEIC Listening - Part 2

You will be asked to answer one

question. When you hear the
statement, you must select the
best response to the question.
The statement will not be shown
on the screen and will be spoken
only one time.

A.
B.
C.

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Answer key: A

Tapescript:
Why didn't Sue get the job?
A. Because her qualifications don't match with the job's requirement.
B. She has obtained both an MBA and a CFA .
C. I wish Sue didn't decide to drop out of school to start working so early.
D. She had to quit her job to take care of a sick family member.

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 TOEIC Listening - Part 3
You will hear a conversation between two people. You will be asked to answer two questions. When you
hear the conversation, you must select the best response to the question. The conversation will not be
shown on the screen and will be spoken only one time.

1. Where is the conversation most likely taking place?

(A) In a job interview
(B) In a TV show
(C) In the street
(D) In a scholarship interview

2. How did the man gain experience in digital marketing?

(A) By working part-time as a digital marketer
(B) By joining group projects and internship programs
(C) By making marketing plans for his own company
(D) By talking to his professors and friends about marketing

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Answer key:

1. A is correct - 'Do you think what you studied at university is useful for this job?' &
'Have you had any experience with a digital marketing campaign?' are questions
usually asked in job interviews.
B, C & D are wrong - People don't ask the two above questions in a TV show, in the
street or a scholarship interview.
2. B is correct - Evidence in the recording: 'I've participated in a total of 10 different
campaigns so far. These came from through both group projects and internship
programs provided by the university before I graduated. '
A, C & D are wrong - not mentioned.

Tapescript:
F1: Do you think what you studied at university is useful for this job?
M1: Yes, definitely! I spent two semesters studying about digital advertising. I believe the
knowledge is suitable for the digital marketing executive vacancy at your company.
F1: Right. Have you had any experience with a digital marketing campaign?
M1: Oh, yes. I've participated in a total of 10 different campaigns so far. These came from
through both group projects and internship programs provided by the university before I
graduated.

Female 2:

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1. Where is the conversation most likely taking place?
2. How did the man gain experience in digital marketing?
 TOEIC Listening - Part 4

You will hear a talk given by a single speaker. You will be asked to answer two questions. When you
hear the talk, you must select the best response to the questions. The talk will not be shown on the
screen and will be spoken only one time.

1. According to the speaker, when did she start her own business?
(A) She was a university student.
(B) She graduated from university.
(C) She was a high school student.
(D) She worked for a food company.

2.When did the speaker start working part-time in a food company?

(A) In her first year of university.
(B) In her second year of university.
(C) In her final year of university.
(D) After her graduation.

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Answer key: 1-C; 2-B

Tapescript:
F: Oh, why did I decided to study Business Management? Since I was a high school
student, I had started my own food business. I mean...at the time it was only a small online
store. However, it was the start of everything. I knew since then I had a passion for business
and having my own company. Unfortunately, I got too busy preparing for the entrance exam to
university and had to shut it down. In my second year of university, I worked part-time in a
big food company for a year before I decided to stop to focus on my education. Working and
studying at the same time totally wore me out and my scores got really bad. I wasn't proud of it
but I did manage to graduate with a distinction in the end.
Male voice:
1. According to the speaker, when did she start her own business?
2. When did the speaker start working part-time in a food company?

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 A word or a phrase is missing in each of the sentences below.
TOEIC Reading - Part 5
Select the best answer to complete the sentence.

1. John decided to pursue a .............. in Finance after he completed his undergraduate course.
(A) bachelor's degree
(B) master's degree
(C) vocational school
(D) certificate

2. Only applicants who .............. from universities and institutes in Finance will be considered for this position.
(A) went
(B) go
(C) graduate
(D) graduated

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Answer key:

1. B - master's degree: higher education after undergraduate course

A - wrong: bachelor's degree = undergraduate course
C & D - wrong: irrelevant
2. D - graduated (+from) : past event → past simple
A & B: wrong collocations
C: wrong tense

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TOEIC Speaking
Work experience
In this part of the test, CURRICULUM • 6/2019 - 2020: Financial Manager, Silas Corp, London
you will answer three VITAE • 2017 - 5/2019: Senior Financial Specialist, Silas Corp,
questions based on the London
information provided. • 2014 - 2016: Financial Specialist, Innovation Arch,
You will have 30 seconds Lancaster
to read the information
Educational background
before the questions
begin. No additional • 2017 - 3/2019: MBA in Finance, London Business School,
preparation time is London
provided. You will have • 2016: CFA Certificate
15 seconds to respond to • 2011 - 2014: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Lancaster
questions 1 and 2, and Name: University (Distinction)
30 seconds to respond to Christopher Hall
question 3. Referral
Available upon request
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TOEIC Speaking
Work experience
1. What bachelor's degree did
CURRICULUM
you obtain? • 6/2019 - 2020: Financial Manager, Silas Corp,
VITAE
2. What is your highest London
qualification? • 2017 - 5/2019: Senior Financial Specialist, Silas
3. What qualification did you Corp, London
get just before becoming a • 2014 - 2016: Financial Specialist, Innovation Arch,
Financial Manager? Lancaster

Speaking checklist Educational background

☐ provide enough and correct
• 2017 - 3/2019: MBA in Finance, London Business
information
School, London
☐ use vocabulary and
Name: • 2016: CFA Certificate
structures learnt
Christopher Hall • 2011 - 2014: Bachelor's degree in Finance,
☐ have good control of
Lancaster University (Distinction)
grammar and pronunciation
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*Sample answer:
1. I graduated from Lancaster University with distinction and I majored in Finance.
2. My highest qualification is MBA in Finance. I took the course at London Business School.
3. Before becoming a Financial Manager at Silas Corp, I obtained the MBA in Finance in
March of 2019.
Reflect!

In this lesson, I have learnt

☐ vocabulary to talk about educational background
☐ structures to talk about educational background
☐ what to say when talking about educational background

and I have also practiced

☐ listening, reading & speaking skills in a TOEIC test

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 GOODBYE!

Homework assignment

Speaking Practice 1