7/05/2012

Will import curbs revive Argentina's economy?



BEFORE YOU WATCH
Focus on Vocabulary

1.   How would you say the following in English? Make a wild guess.

Estatizar una empresa
Trabar las importaciones
Trabas a las importacions
Empezar acción legal
Esta movida
Pagar un precio alto
Estimular la economía local
Justificar la adquisición
Expropiarse de una empresa
Perderse inversiones extranjeras
El camino a seguir 
Importaciones por el valor de M600$

2.   Join with arrows and check your predictions

GROUP 1
1.    Adopt                                      a. legal proceedings at the WTO
2.    Restrict                                   b. on foreign investment
3.    Stimulate                                c. the domestic economy
4.    Nationalize/ seize                  d. the takeover
5.    Start                                        e. sovereignty
6.    Pay                                          f. a heavy price
7.    These moves                         g. have angered/ Incensed the EU
8.    Miss out                                  h. a Spanish owned oil company
9.    Justify                                      i. protectionist trade policies
10.  Recover                                 j .imports

GROUP 2
1.    Oil                                              a. attitude
2.    Import                                        b. crisis
3.    Unapologetic                            c. forward
4.    Free market                             d. curbs
5.    The way                                    e. fundamentalist

AFTER YOU WATCH

Watch the introduction and answer the following questions using the collocations above (until 1’ 23’’)

1.   What does the reporter say about Argentina concerning imports?
2.   What’s the aim of this move?
3.   How has the EU reacted toward the seizure of YPF?
4.   What do the critics argue?
5.   How does the government disregard the critics?
6.   What’s the government’s attitude according to the presenter?
7.   How does CFK justify the takeover?

Listen again and fill in the blanks

If you’re on the L_________________ for an IPhone or a pair of Nike trainers in Buenos Aires today, you might be out of L________________.
Supplies are low after the Argentinean government   R____________ Imports
The aim is to stimulate the D________________ economy.
Last month, President Cristina Kirchner’s government N________________ the country’s biggest oil company YPF, which had been owned by the Spanish company Repsol.
These M_______________ have angered the EU which started legal P________________ at the WTO on Friday. The EU argues that Argentina’s restrictions have already affected imports W______________over $600m and domestic critics argue the country will pay a H____________________price by M_____________ out on foreign investment.
But the government is unapologetic arguing that they seized YF to avoid an oil C___________________ with ministers dismissing critics as free market fundamentalists.


Is protectionism the way forward for Argentina amidst slow economic growth?

You’ll watch 3 people expressing their opinions. Watch and take notes.


ALDO CALIARI:

DIEGO GUELAR:

ALEX GIBSON:

Listen to the definition of "import curbs" and fill in the blanks.

IMPORT CURBS= The government requires all importers to obtain L__________________ that are not automatically R____________________ for products ranging from cars to electronics, and since February every import transaction has to be P______________________ and P______________________. The import substitution rule requires foreign companies to produce goods D_______________________ or lose market access, and all importers are required to balance imports with exports.

Focus on Vocabulary

  1. Join with arrows and summarize what the speakers above say using as many as the collocations below.

  1. To embark                           a. at his/ her word
  2. Have the right                    b. the balance
  3. Make sure                           c. great/ some pains to do sth
  4. Take                                      d. something for granted
  5. Renew                                  e. to regulate foreign investment
  6. Register/ approve             f. on a policy of protectionist import duties/ on a new project
  7. Exert                                     g. an import transaction
  8. Take somebody                h. a licence/ a visa/ a passport
  9. Tip                                         i. the domestic interests align with the foreign ones
  10. Go to                                     j. control over how the country makes money

The seizure of YPF
Summarize each speaker’s opinion. You can use the words in the box.

Aldo:
Outrage              uproar              NATURAL RESOURCES          IN THE HANDS
IMPLEMENT A PRACTICE                     TREASURY                      CONTRIBUTION                        TAXING                 IMPLEMENT ROYALTIES                       FOREIGN OPERATED RESOURCE                    RALLY  AROUND (sb)                 SOURCE OF INCOME                DRAMATIC SITUATION                            BE DEPRIVED OF 

Diego:

IMPOSE a TARIFF on sth                 Take protectionist measures
overseas investment                    LACK OF confidence/ credibility
WORSEN                 SERIOUS DOMESTIC PROBLEM                  AT THIS MOMENT

Axel:

Needlessly complicated                        KEY POINT                              CONTROVERSIAL
PUT CRONIES IN POWER


Policies  
Who expresses the following ideas  Put A (Aldo) D (Diego) A (Axel)

  1. Nationalistic policies are popular everywhere.
  2. Nationalism isn’t the most accurate term to use in this case.
  3. I don’t want to dodge the question.
  4. More isn’t necessarily better.
  5. The downside of all this is missed investment opportunities.
  6. Argentina is falling behind Chile or Brazil.
  7. You have to participate in the global economy to
  8. Axel Kicillof  and Miguel Galuccio  are new  stars but they will be short-lived.
  9. Isolation is a very serious mistake.
  10. It’s very simplistic to say that countries like Venezuela or Ecuador are doing badly   because they don’t side with the US.
  11. Unfortunately, we are repeating the same phenomenon.
  12. Underdeveloped countries have to be more clumsy to undertake these protections.
  13. These policies are trying to revert what has been done for many years.
  14. It’s not a bad idea to bet on the domestic market.
  15. Cristina will not succumb to pressure.

Go back to exercise 1 and translate the terms again. Any difference? 

DISCUSS (use the new vocab)

1. What's your take on all this? Do you side with any of the speakers? Why?
2.  What impact do you think these import curbs will have on our country?
3.  Do you think these new policies are the way forward? Why? Why not?


WRITING TASK (use the new vocab)

Imagine you work in the Argentine branch of an American company that imports most of its products and sells them locally. Imports have been curbed overnight and your company has been badly affected.
Your boss in the US has asked you to write a report giving him an overview of the situation, explaining how these measure have affected your company  and suggesting a workaround.

Write a report to him/ her.

Divide your report into:

1. Introduction  (aim of the report)
2. Background
3. Findings
4. Recommendations
5. Conclusion (optional)

The following link may help you:
http://www.google.com.ar/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22useful%20phrases%22%20to%20write%20a%20%22business%20report%22&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CFgQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewomaninchina.com%2F09_Business%2520Reports_Handout_NEM.doc&ei=lND1T8mLOezp0QHnxIj9Bg&usg=AFQjCNFG8AcAMZKCAyGaTix5OlvhQseA1w&cad=rja

6/24/2012

How lucky are you?


Thanks a million Desiree Dodds for sharing this video session!!!




BEFORE YOU WATCH

Discuss

·        Do you believe in luck?
·        Is luck something that happens or something we create?
·        Do you consider yourself lucky or unlucky?
·        Do your students believe in the law of attraction?
·        Have you ever carried a lucky charm? When? Why?

Join with arrows

1.    Experience               a. a positive mindset
2.   Make                       b. prepared to work hard
3.   Tend                        c. good/ ill fortune
4.   Adopt                       d. on destiny/ fate
5.   Be                            e. to be fatalistic/ resilient
6.   Rely                         f. the most of an opportunity


Watch the complete interview first

AFTER YOU WATCH

Listening for main ideas

·        Were any of the ideas you’ve just discussed mentioned in the interview?
·        What point does Professor Richard Wiseman try to make? How far do you agree?

Listening for details

A. True or false?

1.    According to Wiseman the issue of “luck” is central to our lives.
2.   The Aimhigher survey has revealed that 82% of the people regard themselves as lucky.
3.   According to Wiseman, people who consider themselves lucky bounce back more easily after having a bad experience.
4.   According to Wiseman people who believe they are going to fail see no point in making an effort.
5.   People with a positive mindset see more pathways to success.


B.   Listen to the 3 students again – join the student with what he/she said.

·        student 1:
·        student  2:
·        student 3:
 
a-  If  I want something, I go for it.
b-  It all comes down to hard work.
c-  You have to push for things . You have to further your ambitions by being proactive.

C.   Listen and complete

Wiseman says that the goal of AIMHIGHER is to  __________   ________ the barrier of a fatalistic mindset.


FOCUS ON VOCABULARY
English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

Read the following English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions from the links below. Choose 5 and provide examples that are relevant to you.
Best of luck!


4/20/2012

Prenuptial Agreements


  • Look at the picture above. What do you expect this video session to be about?

Discuss before you watch

-         What do you understand by “prenups”?
-         Is there any advantage to signing a prenup? What about the disadvantages?
-         Would you sign a prenup? Why? Why not?

Watch an answer


1.      Who are Bethany and Scott Palmer?
2.      What does Scott say about people’s attitude towards “prenups”?
3.      How should you get the conversation started according to Bethany?
4.      What are some of the reasons to have a prenup according to Bethany?
5.      Why is timing so important when it comes to doing a prenup?
6.      What questions should couples grapple with before you decide to sign the prenup?
7.      Are prenups for everyone of for the rich?
8.      What tips does Bethany give about prenups? What for?
9.      How can you avoid “hard feelings” about prenups?



Focus on language
Collocations: join with arrows and say how these collocations are used in the video
VERBS
           
1.      Exchange                                                    your financial future
2.      Address/ approach/ bring up                          to divorce
3.      Protect                                                        engaged/ married/ divorced/ some things in place
4.      Lead                                                           a relationship
5.      Lay out                                                       an issue
6.      Put something                                             everything on the table
7.      Get                                                             a prenup
8.      Grapple                                                      on the back burner
9.      Strengthen/ weaken                                     vows
10.  Sign                                                           with a problem

Adjectives

1.      Newly                                                      business/ home
2.      A sensitive                                                way to do sth
3.      A family                                                   issue
4.      A surefire                                                 weds
5.      A key                                                       topic


Discuss after you watch



1.     Is there any issue mentioned you hadn’t thought of before watching?

2.     How would you react/ would you have reacted if your fiancé/ fiancée asked you/ had asked you to sign a prenup?

3.     How would you suggest approaching the issue with your fiancé/ fiancée?

4.     Do you agree that people’s attitude toward prenups has changed lately?

5.     Do you think prenups will become more and more common with the passing of time or the other way about?

2/03/2012

Walt Disney


Before you match 
 
  • Have you ever been to Disney World?
  • If so, when did you go? Who with? If not, would you go there if you had the chance? Why? Why not?
  • What do you know about Walt Disney?

WATCH FOR MAIN IDEAS
http://youtu.be/zIA8aKZkR7Y
 
Part 1: An overview of Walt Disney World
Where can you find the following? Join with arrows

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Spaceship Earth                                                                                          Animal Kingdom
The Castle                                                                                                  Epcot
The Lights, Motors, Action!                                                                       The Magic Kingdom
Expedition Everest                                                                                      MGM
The complex tunnels

Part 2: Walt Disney: the man.
Say if the following statements are True or false. Account for your answer.

  1. Walter Elias Disney was born in 1010.
  2. He spent his youth in California.
  3. Ever since he was young he wanted to set up his own Hollywood studio.
  4. His brother Roy was in charge of running the business.
  5. Steamboat Willie was Walter’s first feature length film.

Part 4: Disneyland
Watch and answer thr following questions

  1. Why did he decide to build the world’s first theme park?
  2. Where and when was Disneyland set up?
  3. How was the park designed?
  4. What happened on Inauguration Day?
  5. What broke the Disneyland’s magic according to Disney?
  6. Why did he choose Orlando to build Disneyworld? Why did he keep everyone in the dark at first?
  7. Why was his dream put on hold?
  8. What happened in 1966? Why was it such a heavy blow to the Disney Company?
  9. Who made the decision to move ahead with Disneyworld?
  10. Who did he hire and why?