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Company Information

by Michael G. Hines

You have decided on being an ESL/EFL teacher so you are off on the job hunt. Aside from the obvious considerations such as what country to work in and what training/qualifications to obtain; there are other things a teachers should consider when looking at potential job offers.

There are many factors a teacher considers which will affect whether they accept a position. The most obvious factor would be the content of the position. What is the school asking of you as a teacher? You must ask yourself if the job is interesting and fits into your career plans as a teacher. The person you will be working for is also an important consideration so you must take the time to talk to them either via email or phone. It would also be beneficial to ask to speak to other teachers from the school to find out their impressions. Knowing what the job is and whom you will be working with are the first step in deciding whether to pursue it further.

Some may say that the most important consideration would be salary and benefits but these should be a secondary consideration to what you want to do and who you will be working with. Regardless of the salary paid, most people will not stay at a position where they feel unsatisfied or have no growth. In addition, the people you work with or for have an enormous impact on your job satisfaction. However, when considering salary and benefits, do not focus as much on the starting salary but rather on the potential for growth and increases. Does the school have growth potential for you as a professional? Do they spell out cost-of-living increases and meritorious raises? Benefits are other areas that can supplement a position where the starting salary is not as good as you would have wished. Get a list of benefits from the company and formulate any questions you may have regarding them so that you can better discuss the position with management and other teachers at the school.

Full Article >>>

Living Billboards Not Legal?

A company that is putting advertising blankets on roadside sheep faces a $60,000 fine - but said it's the mayor of a small town nearby who should feel sheepish for trying to ban the ad campaign.

The hotel chain began a humorous campaign covering sheep with hotel blankets with the hotel logo along highways. But when the mayor noticed the advertisements, he said they broke a law against advertising along highways.

The hotel Director said the company would respond by increasing the number of sheep it uses near the highway to 60 and changing the statement on their blankets to "Thank You, Mr. Mayor”.

The farmers were being paid $18-$25 per sheep per month to wear the advertisements.

The mayor threatened the company with a $25,000 fine. When the hotel’s executive, with annual sales of $86 million, said it did not mind paying, the mayor increased the fine if the signs were not removed.

"It's very creative and we're absolutely not cranky about this, but it has been our policy for years that we don't want advertisements along our roads," the mayor said.

The mayor complained that the hotels were undermining the authority of local laws and has started legal action against the company.
The mayor wondered if cows and horses were next.

The hotel chain plans to distribute free horse blankets to 700 people in the nearby town bearing the company's logo if it loses the case.

He estimated that 80 per cent of the town would be willing to use the blankets and back the company, rather than the mayor.

The hotel Director wants to see if the mayor will write a threatening letter to a 16-year-old girl I know who wants to put our blanket on her horse. He wants to see whether he's willing to fight with every one of his citizens that disagrees with him.

Vocabulary List

Ad campaign - advertising campaign: an organized program of advertisements
Authority - The power to enforce laws, command
Cranky – a bad temper
Distribute – to give out or deliver
Fine – penalty fee
Logo – symbol or trademark of a company
Policy - A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business
Respond – reply or react
Roadside – beside the road
Threatened – to threaten – to say you intent to harm or damage

Idioms

Feel sheepish – to feel guilty or ashamed i.e. like a sheep.
Undermining - To weaken by wearing away a base or foundation

Listening Comprehension Exercise.

Read the news story above and have students fill in the blanks

1. A _______________ that is putting advertising blankets on roadside _______________ faces a $60,000 fine - but said it's the mayor of a small town nearby who should feel sheepish for trying to ban the ad campaign.

2. The _______________ chain began a _______________ campaign covering sheep with hotel blankets with the hotel logo along highways. But when the mayor noticed the advertisements, he said they broke a _______________ against advertising along highways.

3. The hotel Director said the company would respond by increasing the _______________ of sheep it uses near the highway to 60 and changing the _______________ on their blankets to "Thank You, Mr. Mayor”.

4. The _______________ were being paid $18-$25 per sheep per month to wear the _______________.

5. The mayor threatened the company with a $25,000 _______________. When the hotel’s executive, with annual ______________ of $86 million, said it did not mind paying, the mayor increased the fine if the signs were not removed.

6. "Its very _______________ and we're absolutely not cranky about this, but it has been our policy for years that we don't want advertisements along our roads," the mayor said.

7. The mayor complained that the hotels were undermining the authority of _______________ laws and he had started _______________ against the company.

8. The mayor wondered if cows and _______________ were next.

9. The hotel chain plans to _______________ free horse blankets to 700 people in the nearby town bearing the company's logo if it loses the case.

10. He _______________ that 80 per cent of the town would be willing to use the blankets and back the company, rather than the mayor.

11. The hotel Director wants to see if the mayor will write a threatening _______________ to a 16-year-old girl I know who wants to put our blanket on her horse. He wants to see whether he's willing to fight with every one of his _______________ that disagrees with him on this.

Listening Comprehension Answers:

company, sheep, mayor
hotel, humorous, law
number, statement
farmer, advertisements
fine, sales
creative
local, legal action
horses
distribute
estimated
letter, citizens

Warm up Discussions

In your pair or group, decide which of the topics below is the most interesting. Chat about the topics you liked, and knew about, then chat about the ones you didn’t like or know about. Change topics and partners often.

1. Advertising on Living Animals: In pairs or groups talk about using animals for advertising purposes. Think about how logos and animals have been used in the past, and extend how animals might play a part in advertising in the future. Share your answers with your partner or other group. Switch partners.

2. You are the mayor of a small town. You have learned that a local hotel is putting blankets on farm animals that graze along highways. There is a by-law against advertising along highways. What would you do? What’s good about the sheep wearing the blankets? Are there any expenses involved? What are the benefits and problems? Ask questions that other mayors with would ask.

3. Talk about different times that you were bothered by the amount of advertisements in nature, or along highways. What bothered you about it? What would be different without the advertisements?

This is the first half of one ESL debate.
Visit out site for more debates >>>

Welcome to our new ESL JOBS section which has proved to be very popular with our subscribers. Below are jobs posted on July 4/06. For updates every day, please visit our website for daily updates.

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This Newsletter is brought to you by Learning English with Laughter Ltd.!
http://www.efl-esl.com The author can be contacted at:
brian@efl-esl.com or by visiting:http://www.efl-esl.com/contact.htm
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