Current projects

[Torsten]

Hi Amy, your crystal ball is right and I've corrected the typo. Many thanks for pointing it out.
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Daniel]

Hi Torsten,

The test looks good so far but there seems to be another mistake and something wrong with the registration of the answers:

Question 10 reads: When it lift truck tips over...

Regarding questions 2 and 6 I ticked the correct answers and was shown I had ticked another one. I repeated the test several times and it said I had ticked FOB and packing.

May be we should exchange one of the lift truck questions for something like:
Fragile goods must be handled with
respect
love
care
sympathy

The students at BZ don't operate lift trucks so this might be more related to them.

Let me know what you think,
Daniel

[Torsten]

Hi Daniel, thanks a lot for your suggestions. I've changed the test and if you have more alternatives for the lift truck questions I'll put them online.
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Daniel]

Hi Torsten,

I've noticed a new mistake in the test: now it says that the correct answer to question no. 1 (the most favourable incoterm for the buyer) is EXW. Actually it's DDU.

For the lift truck questions I think we should put the CDL question back in and exchange it with one of them. It might be better to keep no. 10 (when it tips over....).

I'm checking out some other things to do with them and I'll tell you later this afternoon.

Regards,
Daniel

[Daniel]

Hi Torsten,

Besides the warehouse test there are of course a few general tests from the site that I'm going to do with them. I found some warehouse work videos on youtube including crazy fork-lift operating takes. Unfortunately these warehouse-related online games I had discovered required downloads or didn't seem to be properly working. I'll try some of them again tomorrow while they'll be doing a test or watching a film. In addition I find it a good idea to have them research information on pay, working conditions etc. of warehouse workers in different countries.

[Daniel]

Hi Torsten,

I did the warehouse/logistics test with three of my four groups at BZ and it went quite well. They were happy when they achieved good scores and repeated the test when they weren't satisfied. This goes for the general tests we did as well. It was harder to get them to discussing their mistakes and many of the students sometimes just guessed an answer. It was even harder to get some of them to try the research task which we didn't repeat today due to lack of time. Watching videos was also difficult with the number of persons present because of the bandwidth available.
Regarding a test for a certificate ten questions may be quite few contrary to what I had expected. Ticking answers almost at random allows them to complete the test in five minutes. Let's talk about this some time.
I'll be out of town the week but wish some pleasant holidays to everyone.

Regards,
Daniel

[Daniel]

I'll be out of own the weekend, of course.

[Nomisyar]

Hello Torsten,

I wanted to tell you that Karstdat has been going well. All week we have been focusing on Greetings. The focus has been on what to say to customers as they arrive at the store, and then how to gracefully usher the customers to the register, when they are ready to pay. I created a short 3 page document of common phrases, to use to greet customers. I figurethat after a week of this, we can concentrate on what goes on between "May I help you" and "Thank you, have a nice day".

I also had a thought today during class, that it may be beneficial to create a specialized Forum for your ongoing projects. I noticed that there is already an "English for department store staff" forum, but I was thinking of something more specific, for instance "Karstadt Spring English Training" It would be an area to post Vocab sheets, Questions and answers. I don't know how many of the people of Karstadt would be willing to go online to use it, but in the very least, it would be helpful for trainers who need to split assignments.

I will send you the word document, and a little bit more about this idea in an email.

As for the Karstadt I have been playing the name game, which I have recently found out is of japanese origin, and is called Shiritori I have done this, a couple rounds of the days of the week, and then greetings.

One thing that I think is always important to emphasize with any group is the difference between "say" and "tell", and the use of the word "get" instead of "become". I think in the weeks to come it may also be good to review "bring" and "take" although I haven't noticed any problems with this as of yet.

Thats all, hope all is well here on The Forum.

[Torsten]

Hi Ray,

Thanks a lot for all your ideas regarding the Karstadt project, I'll post mine soon. In the meantime, you might want to take a look at our say vs. tell test. If you like, I can give you the PDF version of our tests so you can use some of them with the Karstadt folks.

Talk to you soon,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Nomisyar]

Hello Torsten,

Karstadt has gone well this week. I have used last week's printout to review greetings so that everyone is familiar with them, and comfortable saying them. The classes involved vocab practice (going around in a circle) and spelling (with a twist: the person following has to spell the word of the previous person before finding a new word beginning with the last letter of their word). We also reviewed counting, prices, and telling time. Next week I want to return the focus to real situations.... the nitty gritty of the sales. I have done some practice this past week, but want to do more of it next week.

I'm not sure what to use for a new handout, except perhaps a revised version of the first one. I can add some vocab, and also vocab from the store directory. I have always been a bit unhappy with the organization of the spreadsheet, but I'm not sure how to fix it. I'll think of something.

Yes, I can meet you next Monday after the class. Also, are you aware that next week at IBS Jena, in addition to Friday, that there is a Thursday session scheduled?

[Hans_Ulrich]

hi dear Colleagues teaching in the VMKB Leipzig Geithainer Strasse 7-9,
before I lost my voice I just started in this course with conditions of delivery and conditions of payment, (INCOTERMS) and with business / commercial letters.
I have distributed some materials concerning this matter.

Please continue here because our young learners have to pass an examination in the "Berufsschule" (theoretical Vocational training centre) in this topic.

This way we can assist them to manage this examination with good results and they will appreciate this.

I wish you good results.
Best regards
Uli

[Daniel]

Hi Torsten,

Here's what I designed as test for the shop-assistants at BZ. We'll be working at the computer next Monday and Friday.

1.) Which of these persons does not work in a shop?
a cashier
a shop-assistant
a window shopper

2.) Which of the folowing is not a good way to greet a customer?
Good afternoon, Sir. May I help you?
Godd morning. What do you want, Madam?
Hello, what can I do for you, Madam?

3.) Excuse me. Could you tell me where the coffee is?
Certainly, it's in the next aisle opposite of the bread.
Certainly, it's in the next aisle opposite from the bread.
Certainly, it's in the next aisle opposite the bread.

4.) Good morning. I need some tissues.
Of course, how many packets would you like?
Of course, how lots of packets would you like?
Of course, how much packets would you like?

5.) If you think this is too big...
we have a littler version too.
we have a more small version too.
we have a smaller version too.

6.) You will find sausages...
by the butcher's next door.
at the butcher's next door.
at the baker's next door.

7.) Which of the following is not a good way to say a product is not there in the shop?
I'm afraid it's currently out of stock.
We don't have this.
I'm sorry. It's not available at the moment.

8.) Excuse me. When will you close today?
We will close 8 o'clock.
We will close to 8 o'clock.
We will close at 8 o'clock.

9.) Would you like to pay cash or ____ credit card?
with
on
by

10.) Thank you, Here is your change and your...
recipe
receipt
recepy

It would be nice if you could put it online if you don't have any objections regarding style and content. If you do just tell me and I'll think of changes tomorrow and/or Saturday when I'll be at home almost all day.

Thanks,
Daniel

[Torsten]

Hi Daniel,

Thanks a lot for your interesting test. I've made some changes which you can see Retail Sales Phrases. In addition, you might want to try at the shops which is a test by Alan.

Talk to you soon,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Daniel]

Hi Torsten,

There seems to be one bug in the sales staff test in question 6 (meat and sausages): answers B and C both say at the butcher's and I was incorrect regardless of which one I selected.
In question 7 there seems to be some kind of typing mistake. Some of the words are connected so it's hard to read.
Apart from this everything was working very well.

Regards,
Daniel

[Torsten]

Hi Daniel,

Thanks a lot for pointing these things out, we've made the changes.
Talk to you soon,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary