Are you ready for the summer?

4IW - Homework for Wednesday, March 25

Follow the directions at this link:  http://ennsvalleyenglish.blogspot.co.at/2014/11/5-iw-homework-for-wednesday-december-3.html

Only the due date has changed:  March 25

Here's a recent video with Hunter CEO, James Seuss
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/b/8d432562-79d6-49f8-a637-b9cb444d6f17

4IW - Homework for Wednesday, March 4

Watch

The Apprentice UK 2014 Series 10 Episode 12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW_wthkeZQE

In episode 12, only five candidates are left defending their own business plans - The young entrepreneurs are hunting for an investment of Lord Sugar in their business.

Lord Sugar and his round of experts evaluate the business proposals of the five candidates, dump three proposals and leave two candidates in the process.

Explain for what reasons the candidates proceed/are fired.

To assist with this assignment, consult the article of Carl Carabelli,  ”How to Evaluate Business Proposals”.

Do the assignment in pairs and submit it by March 5th, 2015.

Be aware that the papers will be graded. Copying from classmates, the book, or the Internet does not pay!  Submit your own individual work output!

Good Luck!

Prof. Fuchs and Prof. Sandrock

How to Evaluate Business Proposals

By Carl Carabelli, eHow Contributor  - last reviewed September 02, 2014, http://www.ehow.com/how_7520879_evaluate-business-proposals.html

Presentation Guidelines

EXPECTATIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS

WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS? – Presentations demonstrate your ability to research a topic in English, to organize the information, and to communicate the information clearly to your classmates. Moreover, it demonstrates your ability to speak English fluidly.  Mistakes are o.k.!  Just make sure people can understand what you are saying.

DO YOUR RESEARCH IN ENGLISH – Don’t try to research your topic in German and translate it into English.  That’s an extra step and will make your preparation too long.

SUBMIT AN OUTLINE FOR REVIEW – at least two weeks before your presentation, present an outline to the teacher for feedback.  The outline should be detailed and reflect the structure and content of your presentation.  You should also list the sources you used in constructing the presentation.

SPEAK FREELY – Don’t read or memorize your presentation.  You may have a notecard with keywords to remind you what you want to say. Remember Bela Lugosi as Dracula. 

BE PREPARED! -  Know your topic backwards and forwards so that you can speak freely and answer questions.  Look up words you don’t know or use an easier word for your audience.  Double-check pronunciation. 

VISUAL AIDS – Powerpoints should be used as a visual aid to help your audience understand what you are talking about.  Pictures, labels, graphs, keywords are all good things. Do not put large chunks of text on a Powerpoint slide that you intend to read.  Also, do not use long videos to substitute for your presentation

HANDOUTS - Handouts are a good idea to help your audience remember your topic and to give them ideas for further research.  You may include an outline of your talk and your sources.

REMEMBER THE BASICS – Use good eye contact with members of your audience.  Don’t dress down the day of your presentation.  Modulate your voice so your audience doesn’t lose interest.  Don’t be too relaxed or stiff.  It’s always a good idea to interact with your visual aids and with your audience.

NO EXCUSES – I’ve heard them all:  “I forgot my presentation” “I accidentally erased my power point” “I didn’t know it was today” “I had a test in another class” “My dog ate my USB stick”  If you are absent the day of your presentation or if you defer your presentation , you may or may not have the chance to make it up.  The presentation counts as Mitarbeit, so the important thing is to give it – a zero is worse than a 51%!

IN THE END, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE – I don’t care how brilliant your slide show is.  I care about whether you are speaking English from the heart.

Academic Integrity

Before you turn in an assignment, go through this checklist.  If it is not your own work, don't hand it in.  This wastes your time, the teacher's time and leads to unhappiness all the way around.

*   Is your text your own work? Have confidence in yourself that with a little practice, you, too, CAN ACTUALLY WRITE ENGLISH!
*   Did you copy it from the Internet? (if the answer is 'yeah, but I changed a few words' or 'yeah, but it was a German text and I ran it through Google Translate' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!).
*   Did you copy it out of the book?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but I rearranged a few words and left some stuff out' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you copy it from a classmate?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but she's in the other group' then it is NOT your own work. Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you run a German text through Google Translate?

*   Did you copy a classmate's computer file and print it out with your name?

4IW - Homework for Wednesday, January 28

Finance - Sources of finance                          http://www.bized.co.uk

Questions - Case study - Biz Training

Scenario 1:

Biz Training Inc. is considering buying a new online learning system to enable them to deliver the training they do for their corporate clients. They are looking at three different systems and the cost of each system is as follows:

System A	System B	System C
$120,000	$100,000	$85,000

Scenario 2:

Biz Training is contemplating relocating to new premises. Two possible sites are available with slightly different features and aspects. The re-location will help them to be able to meet clients' needs more effectively.

Location A:
Investment required for the move = $10 million

Location B:
Investment required for the move = $8 million

Biz Training is a small corporation formed ten years ago by a group of five professors. The five are the main shareholders but there is also a shareholder who was a local businessperson who initially approached two of the five to run a training course for her company.

In each scenario, evaluate the sources of finance that might be available to Biz Training to carry out the projects outlined. (20 Points)

In doing this you need to be thinking of what types of finance may be available and what the appropriateness of the finance available might be. Some of the points available are going to be for knowledge - i.e. for you recognizing the range of finance sources available, some will be for application - how well you link the knowledge of sources of finance to the actual scenario and case study given; some will be for analysis - being able to break down the issues into key features and to identify the impact of these points and the remainder will be for making a judgment about what, in the light of your analysis, would be an appropriate source of finance in each case, from the variety you have looked at, and why this is the most appropriate.

Remember, that there is no right answer to this type of question. You will need to try to present a balanced account of the sources of finance and how appropriate they are to this type of company.

Work out a written report in pairs and submit it by January 28^th, 2015.

Be aware of that the paper will be graded. Copying from classmates, the book or the Internet does not pay!  Submit your own individual work output!

Good Luck!

Prof. Fuchs and Prof. Sandrock

HELPFUL LINKS

Internal vs. External Funding http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/usbank/business/finance/sources/theories1.htm
Which is the best funding source?  http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/usbank/business/finance/sources/theories2.htm
Angel Investor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_investor
Crowdfunding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdfunding

ADDITIONAL WEBSITES
Crowdfunding von Sunny Bag, Graz,  auch Berechnungsbeispiel
ansehen https://www.greenrocket.com
The ultimate iPhone protective case with a secure and hidden wallet at the touch of a button. iPhone 5S, 5C, 5.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects 
Crowfunding für Projekte von Kulturinstitutionen
http://www.startnext.at/Blog/Blog-Detailseite/b/Crowdfunding-fuer-Projekte-von-Kulturinstitutionen-566

What kind of learner are you?

This test is in German, with results in German.  Note what kind of learner you are (visual, auditory, kinetic) and pay attention to the learning hints!

Veritas Lerntypen - http://www.veritas.at/sbo/extproj/Lerntypentest/lerntypentest.php

Post your results in the comments with your initials and class:  Visual, JS, 5C

Terrible Twins and Triplets of Grammar - Part I

THE / A / AN

THE is a definite article and refers to something specific.
 I saw THE moon last night.

A is an indefinite article. It refers to something general, not specific.
N.B.: use A before a CONSONANT
I saw a star in the sky.

AN is an indefinite article. It refers to something general, not specific
N.B. use AN before a VOWEL (a, e, i, o, u)
I saw AN asteroid in the sky.

BIG IMPORTANT DETAIL!
If the vowel sounds like a Y or a W, use A.
He is a one-trick pony. (one = won)
He wears a uniform. (uniform = you-niform)

THIS / THAT / THESE / THOSE

THIS is a singular demonstrative pronoun. It refers to something close at hand.

This pen is running out of ink.

THESE is a plural demonstrative pronoun, referring to things close at hand.
These high heels are killing me!

THAT is a singular demonstrative pronoun.  It refers to something comparatively far away.
That car over there is burning a lot of oil.

THOSE is a plural demonstrative pronoun, referring to things comparatively far away-Those trees over there are birch trees.

YOUR vs. YOU’RE

YOUR is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to you”
Your mother wears army boots!

YOU’RE is a contraction of “you are”
You’re the love of my life.

HOW DO YOU CONSOLE AN ENGLISH TEACHER?  THERE, THEIR, THEY’RE

THERE is adverb of place.  Answers the question where?
I live there (in that place).

THEIR is possessive pronoun meaning "belonging to them"
That's their house. They live there.

THEY'RE is a contraction for THEY ARE.
They're waiting for us at the movie theater.

ITS vs. IT’S

ITS is the possessive pronoun “belonging to it”
The jury has reached its decision.

IT’S is the contraction of “it is” or “it has”
It’s past my bedtime.

TO/TWO/TOO

TO is a preposition indicating place to which.
I am going to the store.

TO can also be used to indicate an infinitive verb.
I have to buy ice cream.

TWO is a number
There were two ducks swimming on the lake.

TOO can be an adverb meaning also (auch)
I am going to the Maturaball too!

TOO can also be an adverb meaning excessively
 I am too tired to watch the movie.

FUN vs. FUNNY

FUNNY is an adjective to describe a person or thing that makes you laugh.
A comedian is funny.  He tells funny jokes.
(Note:  funny can also be an adjective meaning “strange”.  The gym has a funny smell.)

FUN is an adjective or a noun.

As a noun, it means enjoyment. (Spass)
We had a lot of fun at the amusement park.

As an adjective it means “bringing enjoyment”
The amusement park was fun. We’ll have to come back sometime!

LIFE vs. LIVE

LIFE is a noun meaning “das Leben”
“Life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” – Ferris Bueller

LIVE (short i) is a verb (zu leben, zu wohnen)

I live in Austria.

LIVE (long i) as an adjective means “alive, in the flesh” (lebend).
We always use LIVE bait when fishing.

DIE/DEAD/DEATH

DIE is a verb meaning to lose one’s life (sterben) (die, died, died)
My cat died last night.

DEAD is an adjective meaning not alive (tot)
My cat is dead.

DEATH is a noun meaning the absence of life (der Tod). Sometimes personified.
I’m very depressed since the death of my cat.
Death waits for no man,

OWLS SAY WHO, NOT WHICH WITCH.

WHO is a question word, asking about a person.
Who drank my Coke?

WHO can also be a relative pronoun, referring to a person.
The woman (the one) who drank my Coke was wearing lipstick.

WHICH is a question word, which asks about a specific thing.
Which dress do you like best?

WHICH can also be a relative pronoun, referring to a thing.
The car which we rented was a Maserati.

WITCH is a noun that means “Hexe” in German. Don’t confuse it with WHICH.

4IW - Homework for Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Setting up a business and drawing up a business plan

 
THE SET UP:  You and your partner want to set up a little business in high end home fragrances.  Your products are fragrance candles and fragrance dispensers, etc.

THE TASK:  Draw up a business plan for your home fragrance idea.

OR

If you have your own convincing business idea for which you would like to draw up a business plan, feel free to do so instead of using the business idea "Home Fragrances" (do a product, NOT a full business).

For defining the structure of your business plan you might find the file “MULÖbusinessplan” at L:/Fuchs/the apprentice helpful. Furthermore you can access the file “MuULÖbusinessplan” via the blog of Prof. Sandrock.

Work out a business plan in pairs and submit it by January 7, 2015.

Be aware that the business plan will be graded.  Copying from classmates does not pay!  Submit your own individual business idea!

For inspiration, watch Episode 3 of "The Apprentice" UK 2014, Series 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T24cjNvrTg

Good Luck!  

Prof. Fuchs and Prof. Sandrock

4IW - Homework for Wednesday, November 19

LINK to Episode 3, Season 10 of The Apprentice: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T24cjNvrTg