dkorolkov y24dkorolkov 20250827 97 2 29 (send the link to your google doc (in edit mode!) icons8-reading-100.png quarterly test Prepare for quarterly test vocab pre teach functional language grammar focus smartphone or tablet device listening Download onto your phone or tablet and listen carefully. todo delete duplicate prior to 20250317 ]]> sbook_plugins/wordlist_generated_from_xml_clog_sbook_for_sbook_session.inc sbook_plugins/payment_history_generated_from_xml_clog_sbook.inc Avito Dmitry Skorolkov dskorolkov@avito.ru 20250721 39 yrs old @wlredeye +7 903 518 01 35 pg 25 The danger of losing touch with reality market_leader_3rd_advanced_students_book_pg24-29_clean_energy_case_study.pdf Scottish accent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4k8dR04TzA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jHfY0dDZxA https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-imposes-sanctions-icc-judges-us-treasury-says-2025-06-05/ https://www.thetoptens.com/nations/most-influential-country-history-world/ Video. Fact check: Are most refugees in Europe of Muslim background? https://www.euronews.com/video/2025/08/15/fact-check-are-the-vast-majority-of-worlds-refugees-of-muslim-background EuroVerify investigates a claim shared by a politician from the far-right Portuguese Chega party, stating that 85% of refugees are of the Muslim faith. A politician from the far-right Portuguese Chega party, which is known for its anti-immigration policies, alleged in a post shared on X that "85% of refugees are Muslim" on 1 August. Chega has previously faced accusations of Islamophobia, with the party's leader André Ventura having called for the "drastic reduction of the Islamic presence in the European Union.” Chega party's lawmaker Pedro Frazão also claimed that "instead of seeking asylum" in other Muslim countries, these individuals "choose to flee to the West." Both claims are difficult to back with data, as there is a lack of precise and up-to-date data cataloguing refugees’ religious affiliation. symbol 00:09 02:00 Read More However, it is evident that wars, economic crises and natural disasters impact the makeup of the global refugee population. ADVERTISEMENT While the United Nations produces a vast amount of data on refugees and forcibly displaced people worldwide, it is heavily reliant on government data. While some countries provide information on refugees' religious affiliations, others do not. Where did refugees come from in 2024? According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the global refugee population, including people in need of international protection, reached nearly 42.7 million in 2024. In addition, there were 73.5 million people displaced within the borders of their own countries (IDPs) and 8.4 million asylum-seekers. How many refugees and forcibly displaced people are there? How many refugees and forcibly displaced people are there? UNCHR Within Europe, Germany was the European country which hosted the most refugees in 2024 — which has been the case since 2015. Research conducted by the German government published in 2021 revealed that between 2013 and 2019, 69.7% of the refugees it hosted were Muslim. However, these figures predate Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, when millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave the country at war. The latest data from the UNHCR showed that in 2024, nearly seven out of 10 of all refugees and people in need of international protection originated from Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Venezuela and Ukraine. The main religion in Syria, Afghanistan and South Sudan is Islam, but in Ukraine and Venezuela, different branches of Christianity are the predominant belief. ADVERTISEMENT Refugees wait in a crowd for transportation after fleeing from the Ukraine and arriving at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, 7 March 2022. Refugees wait in a crowd for transportation after fleeing from the Ukraine and arriving at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, 7 March 2022. AP Photo Given that Ukrainians and Venezuelans made up nearly one-third of all refugees and other people in need of international protection in 2024, it is "unlikely" that 85% of refugees are Muslim, a UN spokesperson told EuroVerify. Although a country may have a Muslim-majority population, this does not mean that all refugees who originate from there are Muslim, and vice versa. In addition, those who nominally belong to an ethnic group associated with Islam might not be actual believers. Muslim-majority nations top the list of host countries Contrary to the claim that refugees of Muslim background predominantly seek refuge in the West, Germany is the only European country which features among the seven countries which have hosted the most asylum seekers since 2015. UNHCR data from 2015 to 2024 UNHCR data from 2015 to 2024 UNHCR Iran and Turkey are the two top countries where the most refugees sought asylum between 2015 and 2024. Meanwhile, four out of the seven nations which hosted the most asylum seekers in this period — Iran, Turkey, Chad and Pakistan — were Muslim-majority countries, which debunks the claim that refugees who identify as Muslim only seek refuge in the West. https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/15/trump-putin-summit-in-alaska-one-meeting-different-goals?utm_source=vuukle&utm_medium=talk_of_town ]]> 20250820 17:05-18:00 1.5 active 'No, No, No!' Margaret Thatcher's Most Iconic Speech - role play By the end of this session you will have studied Christine Lagarde: You Have To Pick Your Fights And Really Persist → watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p1wJhUjINk If time available, practise oral delivery below: icon Perhaps they would agree to a single currency - M.Thatcher zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 162 5 Perhaps they would agree to a single currency - M.Thatcher active wip edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-treadmill-100_white.png Delivering a political speech How would you square your views with those of the opposition in Parliament? visual → watch the video again [03:53-04:32] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmsMNQl7V0 → highlight keywords in bold → mark the text with pauses | → annotate rhetorical questions with (?) → show assertiveness with (!) → practise oral delivery of this extract ]]> Perhaps the labour party would give all those things up easily Perhaps they would agree to a single currency to total abolition of the pound sterling Perhaps being totally incompetent with monetary matters they'd be only too delighted to hand over the full responsibility as they did to the IMF to a central bank. The fact is they have no competence on money no competence on the economy so yes the right honourable gentleman would be glad to hand it all over And what is the point in trying to get elected to Parliament only to hand over your Sterling and to hand over the powers of this house to Europe ]]> Perhaps the labour party would give all those things up easily Perhaps they would agree to a single currency, to total abolition of the pound sterling Perhaps being totally incompetent with monetary matters they'd be only too delighted to hand over the full responsibility as they did to the IMF, to a central bank. The fact is, they have no competence on money, no competence on the economy, so, yes, the right honourable gentleman would be glad to hand it all over And what is the point in trying to get elected to Parliament only to hand over your Sterling, and to hand over the powers of this house to Europe 161 6 Role play wip active role_play pix/icons8-theatre-mask-100_white.png Should our government abide to supranational regulations?
visual
Recycle new expressions and language → express complex political opinions clearly → speak persuasively in the political arena e.g. use rhetorical questions, negative adverbial phrases, be occasionally theatrical → use technical terms related to government and policy e.g. neo-liberalism, supranationality → practise abstract concepts in political philosophy e.g. Thatcherism ]]> You are in favour of a stronger role of the European Union in home affairs. You want your opposition to square with the urge to work together. You will not be accommodating. In the light of world economic pressure ought we not to make alliances with our closest neighbours? Only together can we achieve a cohesive military defence strategy! Haven't we denigrated the dangers of guns vs butter? Yes, we have... You are known to be an iron lady. You are against supranational governance which threatens sovereign interests of your country. Taunt decisions of your opposition in the light of recent political events. We don't want to be denuded of our powers! Would you accept another cabinet's views to prevail over our own insights? Shall we allow bureaucrats to belittle our spirit of innovation and freedom? Shall we? No, we shan't! 160 to wane = to become gradually weaker or less important; (of the moon) to appear slightly smaller each day after being round and full to denude = to make sth bare denigration = action of choosing a person or thing for a particular purpose, or of giving them or it a particular status belittling = making sb or the things that sb does seem unimportant to taunt = to try to make sb angry or upset by saying unkind things about them, laughing at their failures, etc to square (sb/sth) with = to be compatible or fit with something; to induce someone to accept or approve of something 159 20250815 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Should Russians be sanctioned if they don't support their government? | Opportunities for career growth abroad By the end of this session you will have studied Christine Lagarde: You Have To Pick Your Fights And Really Persist → watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p1wJhUjINk If time available, practise oral delivery below: icon Perhaps they would agree to a single currency - M.Thatcher zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 158 1 Should Russians be sanctioned if they don't support their government? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Should Russian citizens who reject the war and have fled be sanctioned along with regime enablers, or treated differently to avoid punishing dissent? ✓ to apply targeted measures against funders, propagandists, and officials while exempting bona fide dissidents ✓ to run case-by-case screening using interviews, open-source checks, and references from trusted organisations ✓ to provide asylum or humanitarian visas for conscientious objectors and activists at risk ✓ to accept documented dissent as grounds for sanction exemptions and travel permissions 〆to use blanket nationality-based bans that ignore individual conduct and trap critics abroad ✓ to guarantee due process with clear criteria, written reasons, and appeal routes individualised sanctions = targeted restrictions placed on specific people or entities based on evidence of wrongdoing, such as financing aggression or spreading state propaganda, rather than on entire populations; they aim to change behaviour without collective punishment, typically covering asset freezes, travel bans, and procurement limits; good practice includes transparent listing criteria, regular reviews, delisting pathways, and coordination with allies to close loopholes while protecting human rights and space for dissent due process = fair and transparent procedures that public authorities must follow when making decisions affecting people’s rights, including clear rules, notice of allegations, access to evidence where safe, a chance to be heard, time to respond, and an independent appeal; in sanctions and migration cases, due process reduces errors, builds trust, and ensures exemptions for those who oppose abuse while keeping pressure on genuine perpetrators How can the European Union help anti-war Russian citizens relocate safely and rebuild their lives in Europe without lowering security standards? ✓ to create fast-track humanitarian and talent visas with security checks completed within set timelines ✓ to recognise qualifications quickly through mutual recognition and provisional licensing to start work sooner ✓ to fund relocation grants, language training, and job-matching with employers needing scarce skills ✓ to partner with universities, labs, and media to host scholars, engineers, and independent journalists at risk ✓ been eased by digital visas and remote onboarding pilots in several member states ✓ to expand community sponsorship so vetted local groups help with housing, mentoring, and integration non-refoulement = a core refugee protection rule that bars states from sending anyone to a place where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or serious harm; it applies regardless of visa status and requires case assessments, access to asylum procedures, and safe alternatives if removal would be dangerous; honouring non-refoulement means offering protection pathways while still running proportionate security screening and fraud checks community sponsorship = a relocation model where vetted local groups, employers, or universities take practical responsibility for welcoming newcomers, including housing, initial costs, mentoring, language support, and social connections; authorities still conduct security checks and grant status, but sponsorship speeds integration, spreads costs, and builds public support by involving communities directly in successful resettlement Which countries are less prone to everyday Russophobia, offering fair treatment to anti-war Russians while keeping solid security checks? ✓ to favour countries with strong anti-discrimination laws and hate-crime reporting, such as germany, portugal, spain, ireland, and canada ✓ to prioritise places with large russian-speaking communities and active civil society support networks, including germany, portugal, spain, armenia, and serbia ✓ to choose hubs with independent media and due-process guarantees for visas and sanctions reviews ✓ to rely on english-friendly metros for smoother daily life and work integration, such as dublin, amsterdam, lisbon, barcelona, and berlin ✓ to check university, tech, and research openness signalled by scholarships and at-risk fellowships ✓ to be buffered by community sponsorship schemes and municipal integration offices in several european cities 〆to assume uniform attitudes across all regions within a country anti-discrimination framework = the set of national and local rules, enforcement bodies, and remedies that protect people from unfair treatment based on nationality, language, ethnicity, or beliefs; a good framework includes clear definitions, accessible complaint channels, trained police and labour inspectors, data on incidents, and real penalties; for newcomers this means practical protection at work, in housing, and in services, plus confidence that authorities will act when abuse occurs community sponsorship = a relocation model where vetted local groups, employers, or universities share responsibility for welcoming newcomers, handling housing, first costs, language support, mentoring, and social links, while the government still does security checks and grants status; this approach speeds integration, spreads costs, and builds public backing by involving neighbours directly in successful resettlement Which destinations best suit well-educated russian white-collar professionals, and why do these locations help careers and families thrive? ✓ to pick germany, ireland, netherlands, portugal, and spain for strong tech, research, and product roles with english-friendly workplaces ✓ to use skills-based routes and talent visas where available, pairing fast decisions with clear salary bands and trusted employer lists ✓ to weigh cost-of-living-to-salary ratios in berlin, lisbon, valencia, and porto for better runway during transition ✓ to target hubs with quick qualification recognition and provisional licensing in regulated fields ✓ to join ecosystems offering grants, incubators, and reallocation packages for engineers, designers, and scientists ✓ been accelerated by remote-first hiring and cross-border payroll platforms since 2020 〆to rely only on crypto-friendly banking without mainstream options skills-based migration = entry systems that prioritise applicants by experience, qualifications, language ability, and job offers rather than by lottery or pure family links; clear points or salary thresholds help candidates plan moves, while trusted sponsor schemes and digital case tracking reduce delays; done well, this model fills real shortages quickly and protects workers by linking permits to rights and pathways to longer-term residence recognition of qualifications = the process that lets professionals use degrees and licences earned abroad without repeating full training; good systems offer provisional licences, bridging courses, exams in multiple languages, and predictable timelines; fast, transparent recognition helps doctors, engineers, teachers, and accountants start work sooner, protects service quality, and prevents underemployment that wastes skills Which non-European countries offer the best relocation prospects for highly skilled Russian professionals, and why are they attractive destinations? ✓ to consider canada, australia, new zealand, singapore, and united arab emirates for clear skills-based immigration and strong job markets ✓ to select canada and australia for transparent points-based systems with pathways to permanent residence ✓ to target singapore and uae for tax advantages, tech hubs, and multinational headquarters ✓ to value new zealand for work-life balance and talent visas tied to in-demand sectors ✓ to seek countries with multicultural cities and low tolerance for discrimination, such as toronto, melbourne, auckland, and dubai ✓ been boosted by post-2020 remote work policies allowing hybrid relocation 〆to depend solely on informal networks without using official skilled migration programmes points-based immigration = a system where applicants earn points for factors like age, education, work experience, language skills, and job offers; those above a set threshold may apply for residence or work permits; transparent criteria let candidates plan ahead, and periodic updates keep the system aligned with labour market needs while maintaining fairness and public confidence multicultural workforce = a labour environment where employees come from diverse national, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; such workplaces benefit from varied perspectives, language skills, and networks, boosting innovation and adaptability; inclusive hiring policies, diversity training, and equal opportunity laws help multicultural teams thrive and reduce barriers for newcomers 157 individualised sanctions = targeted restrictions placed on specific people or entities based on evidence of wrongdoing, such as financing aggression or spreading state propaganda, rather than on entire populations; they aim to change behaviour without collective punishment, typically covering asset freezes, travel bans, and procurement limits; good practice includes transparent listing criteria, regular reviews, delisting pathways, and coordination with allies to close loopholes while protecting human rights and space for dissent due process = fair and transparent procedures that public authorities must follow when making decisions affecting people’s rights, including clear rules, notice of allegations, access to evidence where safe, a chance to be heard, time to respond, and an independent appeal; in sanctions and migration cases, due process reduces errors, builds trust, and ensures exemptions for those who oppose abuse while keeping pressure on genuine perpetrators non-refoulement = a core refugee protection rule that bars states from sending anyone to a place where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or serious harm; it applies regardless of visa status and requires case assessments, access to asylum procedures, and safe alternatives if removal would be dangerous; honouring non-refoulement means offering protection pathways while still running proportionate security screening and fraud checks community sponsorship = a relocation model where vetted local groups, employers, or universities take practical responsibility for welcoming newcomers, including housing, initial costs, mentoring, language support, and social connections; authorities still conduct security checks and grant status, but sponsorship speeds integration, spreads costs, and builds public support by involving communities directly in successful resettlement 156 20250813 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Should Russians be sanctioned if they don't support their government? By the end of this session you will have studied Christine Lagarde: You Have To Pick Your Fights And Really Persist → watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p1wJhUjINk If time available, practise oral delivery below: icon Perhaps they would agree to a single currency - M.Thatcher zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 155 1 Should Russians be sanctioned if they don't support their government? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Should Russian citizens who reject the war and have fled be sanctioned along with regime enablers, or treated differently to avoid punishing dissent? ✓ to apply targeted measures against funders, propagandists, and officials while exempting bona fide dissidents ✓ to run case-by-case screening using interviews, open-source checks, and references from trusted organisations ✓ to provide asylum or humanitarian visas for conscientious objectors and activists at risk ✓ to accept documented dissent as grounds for sanction exemptions and travel permissions 〆to use blanket nationality-based bans that ignore individual conduct and trap critics abroad ✓ to guarantee due process with clear criteria, written reasons, and appeal routes individualised sanctions = targeted restrictions placed on specific people or entities based on evidence of wrongdoing, such as financing aggression or spreading state propaganda, rather than on entire populations; they aim to change behaviour without collective punishment, typically covering asset freezes, travel bans, and procurement limits; good practice includes transparent listing criteria, regular reviews, delisting pathways, and coordination with allies to close loopholes while protecting human rights and space for dissent due process = fair and transparent procedures that public authorities must follow when making decisions affecting people’s rights, including clear rules, notice of allegations, access to evidence where safe, a chance to be heard, time to respond, and an independent appeal; in sanctions and migration cases, due process reduces errors, builds trust, and ensures exemptions for those who oppose abuse while keeping pressure on genuine perpetrators How can the European Union help anti-war Russian citizens relocate safely and rebuild their lives in Europe without lowering security standards? ✓ to create fast-track humanitarian and talent visas with security checks completed within set timelines ✓ to recognise qualifications quickly through mutual recognition and provisional licensing to start work sooner ✓ to fund relocation grants, language training, and job-matching with employers needing scarce skills ✓ to partner with universities, labs, and media to host scholars, engineers, and independent journalists at risk ✓ been eased by digital visas and remote onboarding pilots in several member states ✓ to expand community sponsorship so vetted local groups help with housing, mentoring, and integration non-refoulement = a core refugee protection rule that bars states from sending anyone to a place where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or serious harm; it applies regardless of visa status and requires case assessments, access to asylum procedures, and safe alternatives if removal would be dangerous; honouring non-refoulement means offering protection pathways while still running proportionate security screening and fraud checks community sponsorship = a relocation model where vetted local groups, employers, or universities take practical responsibility for welcoming newcomers, including housing, initial costs, mentoring, language support, and social connections; authorities still conduct security checks and grant status, but sponsorship speeds integration, spreads costs, and builds public support by involving communities directly in successful resettlement Which countries are less prone to everyday Russophobia, offering fair treatment to anti-war Russians while keeping solid security checks? ✓ to favour countries with strong anti-discrimination laws and hate-crime reporting, such as germany, portugal, spain, ireland, and canada ✓ to prioritise places with large russian-speaking communities and active civil society support networks, including germany, portugal, spain, armenia, and serbia ✓ to choose hubs with independent media and due-process guarantees for visas and sanctions reviews ✓ to rely on english-friendly metros for smoother daily life and work integration, such as dublin, amsterdam, lisbon, barcelona, and berlin ✓ to check university, tech, and research openness signalled by scholarships and at-risk fellowships ✓ to be buffered by community sponsorship schemes and municipal integration offices in several european cities 〆to assume uniform attitudes across all regions within a country anti-discrimination framework = the set of national and local rules, enforcement bodies, and remedies that protect people from unfair treatment based on nationality, language, ethnicity, or beliefs; a good framework includes clear definitions, accessible complaint channels, trained police and labour inspectors, data on incidents, and real penalties; for newcomers this means practical protection at work, in housing, and in services, plus confidence that authorities will act when abuse occurs community sponsorship = a relocation model where vetted local groups, employers, or universities share responsibility for welcoming newcomers, handling housing, first costs, language support, mentoring, and social links, while the government still does security checks and grants status; this approach speeds integration, spreads costs, and builds public backing by involving neighbours directly in successful resettlement Which destinations best suit well-educated russian white-collar professionals, and why do these locations help careers and families thrive? ✓ to pick germany, ireland, netherlands, portugal, and spain for strong tech, research, and product roles with english-friendly workplaces ✓ to use skills-based routes and talent visas where available, pairing fast decisions with clear salary bands and trusted employer lists ✓ to weigh cost-of-living-to-salary ratios in berlin, lisbon, valencia, and porto for better runway during transition ✓ to target hubs with quick qualification recognition and provisional licensing in regulated fields ✓ to join ecosystems offering grants, incubators, and reallocation packages for engineers, designers, and scientists ✓ been accelerated by remote-first hiring and cross-border payroll platforms since 2020 〆to rely only on crypto-friendly banking without mainstream options skills-based migration = entry systems that prioritise applicants by experience, qualifications, language ability, and job offers rather than by lottery or pure family links; clear points or salary thresholds help candidates plan moves, while trusted sponsor schemes and digital case tracking reduce delays; done well, this model fills real shortages quickly and protects workers by linking permits to rights and pathways to longer-term residence recognition of qualifications = the process that lets professionals use degrees and licences earned abroad without repeating full training; good systems offer provisional licences, bridging courses, exams in multiple languages, and predictable timelines; fast, transparent recognition helps doctors, engineers, teachers, and accountants start work sooner, protects service quality, and prevents underemployment that wastes skills Which non-European countries offer the best relocation prospects for highly skilled Russian professionals, and why are they attractive destinations? ✓ to consider canada, australia, new zealand, singapore, and united arab emirates for clear skills-based immigration and strong job markets ✓ to select canada and australia for transparent points-based systems with pathways to permanent residence ✓ to target singapore and uae for tax advantages, tech hubs, and multinational headquarters ✓ to value new zealand for work-life balance and talent visas tied to in-demand sectors ✓ to seek countries with multicultural cities and low tolerance for discrimination, such as toronto, melbourne, auckland, and dubai ✓ been boosted by post-2020 remote work policies allowing hybrid relocation 〆to depend solely on informal networks without using official skilled migration programmes points-based immigration = a system where applicants earn points for factors like age, education, work experience, language skills, and job offers; those above a set threshold may apply for residence or work permits; transparent criteria let candidates plan ahead, and periodic updates keep the system aligned with labour market needs while maintaining fairness and public confidence multicultural workforce = a labour environment where employees come from diverse national, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; such workplaces benefit from varied perspectives, language skills, and networks, boosting innovation and adaptability; inclusive hiring policies, diversity training, and equal opportunity laws help multicultural teams thrive and reduce barriers for newcomers 154 individualised sanctions = targeted restrictions placed on specific people or entities based on evidence of wrongdoing, such as financing aggression or spreading state propaganda, rather than on entire populations; they aim to change behaviour without collective punishment, typically covering asset freezes, travel bans, and procurement limits; good practice includes transparent listing criteria, regular reviews, delisting pathways, and coordination with allies to close loopholes while protecting human rights and space for dissent due process = fair and transparent procedures that public authorities must follow when making decisions affecting people’s rights, including clear rules, notice of allegations, access to evidence where safe, a chance to be heard, time to respond, and an independent appeal; in sanctions and migration cases, due process reduces errors, builds trust, and ensures exemptions for those who oppose abuse while keeping pressure on genuine perpetrators non-refoulement = a core refugee protection rule that bars states from sending anyone to a place where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or serious harm; it applies regardless of visa status and requires case assessments, access to asylum procedures, and safe alternatives if removal would be dangerous; honouring non-refoulement means offering protection pathways while still running proportionate security screening and fraud checks community sponsorship = a relocation model where vetted local groups, employers, or universities take practical responsibility for welcoming newcomers, including housing, initial costs, mentoring, language support, and social connections; authorities still conduct security checks and grant status, but sponsorship speeds integration, spreads costs, and builds public support by involving communities directly in successful resettlement 153 20250811 18:35-19:30 1.5 active 'No, No, No!' Margaret Thatcher's Most Iconic Speech By the end of this session you will have studied 'No, No, No!' Margaret Thatcher's Most Iconic Speech → watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmsMNQl7V0 zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 152 1 Warmer active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-cafe-100_white.png If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman! I stand before you tonight in my red chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up, my fair hair gently waved…the Iron Lady of the Western World! Me? A cold war warrior? Well, yes—if that is how they wish to interpret my defence of values and freedoms fundamental to our way of life. speech at Finchley, 31 January 1976
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→ answer the questions]]> If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman ]]> ✓ a woman gets the job done ✓ more accommodating, less confronting approach to mitigate disagreements = gender role stereotype Love her or loathe her at least you knew where you stood with her! Do you agree with this opinion about Margaret Thatcher? Is it positive to call a spade a spade if you're into politics? ]]> ✓ may have been opinionated 〆less sugarcoating than U. von der Leyen → sometimes need to be able to beat about the bush to call a spade a spade = to call a person or thing a name that is true but not polite; to speak bluntly Oxford Reference - Margaret Thatcher 1925–2013 British Conservative stateswoman; Prime Minister, 1979–90 ]]> 151 2 A Facts and figures about Margaret Thatcher (1/2) wip quiz matching pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png M.Thatcher was the first woman to lead a major political party in the UK. {T} M.Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the {~19th =20th ~21st} century. M.Thatcher implemented policies that came to be known as {~post-liberalism # Thatcherism, but also akin to neo-liberalism =Thatcherism ~neo-conservatism}. M.Thatcher was dubbed the "Iron Lady" by a {~French ~German =Soviet #### a journalist from the Soviet defence ministry newspaper Red Star accused her of trying to revive the cold war} journalist. Her nickname became associated with her {=uncompromising ~pro-European ~pro-Russian} politics and leadership style. 150 2 B Target reading (true/false) wip quiz matching pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png M.Thatcher reversed {=high inflation ~individual liberty} prior to an oncoming recession. Her policies emphasised {=greater individual liberty ~high inflation}. M.Thatcher {~fought against =pushed for} privatisation of state-owned companies. M.Thatcher reduced the power and influence of {~the House of Lords =trade unions}. Her popularity in her first years in office {=waned amid ~was invigorated by} the recession and rising unemployment. 149 3 Target vocabulary wip quiz matching pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png 148 4 'No, No, No!' Margaret Thatcher's Most Iconic Speech active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-movie-100_white.png How diplomatic is it to repeat assertively 'No, no, no'? Why would you do that? 'No, No, No!' Margaret Thatcher's Most Iconic Speech
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The year is 1990 and Margaret Thatcher is about to stand in Parliament and make one of her most iconic speeches. The Prime Minister had just returned from an European summit in Rome where commissioner Jacques Delores had proposed further European integration. Mrs Thatcher responded - 'No, no, no.' Whilst that line has become iconic, Professor Richard Whitman explains how Thatcher's view on Europe was actually a fascinating journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmsMNQl7V0 → watch the video → answer the questions]]> Chapters: 0:00 - 1:43 - Introduction 1:44 - 3:55 - Margaret Thatcher Vs Neil Kinnock 3:55 - 5:44 - Margaret Thatcher & The EU 5:44 - 7:13 - Why The Speech Is So Memorable 7:13 - 7:34 - No, No, No 7:34 - 9:07 - The Legacy Of The Speech no no no I mean it is a piece of sort of masterful theater it is our purpose to retain the power and influence of this house there is a line between her bruised speech between the no no no in Parliament and brexit and not to Denude it of many of the powers she was talking to and taunting the party opposite for the sake of agreeing for the sake of being little sir Echo and saying me too talking to the outside world I do not want the commission to increase its po against it house she was talking to her own back benches to say that this is my view on Europe um you've got to live with [Music] this so the year's 1990 uh Margaret thater is coming to the House of Commons to report back from a meeting that she's just had with her fellow European leaders uh and she does what has ended up being one of the most dramatic moments I think uh of a prime minister in our recent political history which is setting a very clear uh agenda for how she sees uh the relationship between the UK and Europe and what we all know now is that in many ways this is the start of the Final Act for her as prime minister the EU was sort of gearing up to have a a a conversation or rather to set in process uh two conversations one on political union for the EU and the other for what became economic and monetary Union uh and that was something that the British government and thater in particular was not comfortable with all they do is to Margaret Thatcher Vs Neil Kinnock strand Britain in some European second division without the influence over change that we need the industrial and financial opportunity that we need and indeed without the real sovereignty that we need yeah first Mr Speaker it is our purpose to retain the power and influence of this house and not to Denude it of many of the powers I wonder what the right honorable gentleman's policy is in view of some of the things he said would he have agreed to a commitment to extend the community's powers to other supplementary sectors of economic integration without having any definition of what they are would he because you would have thought he would from what he said one of them was that the commission wants to extend extend its powers and confidence into the area of Health we said no we weren't going to agree to those things and what he says he sounded as if he would for the sake of agreeing for the sake of being little sir Eko and saying me too one of the things I really like about the speech uh is the way that she uh she looks at the opposition the way that she taunts the opposition the way that she sets up a very very different view of how a government uh wants to treat the European issue from the way that Neil kinck and the labor party wanted to and why I think that's particularly cutting is not that long before Labor was committed to the idea of leaving uh the uh the European community and so you know she you know is in a way as a subtext I think sort of reminding uh the labor party that they are very very wobbly uh on the question uh of Europe and she does it I think in a in a an absolutely superb way I mean it is a master class in how to sort of hold Parliament inth and also to deliver a really uh effective and and very very cutting message perhaps the labor party would give all those things up easily Margaret Thatcher & The EU perhaps they would agree to a sing sing Le currency to Total abolition of the pound sterling perhaps being totally incompetent with monetary matters they'd be only too delighted to hand over the full responsibility as they did to the IMF to a central bank the fact is they have no competence on money no competence on the economy so yes the right honorable gentleman would be glad to hand it all over and what is the point in trying to get elected to Parliament only to hand over your Sterling and to hand over the powers of this house to Europe Margaret hatch had a really interesting political Journey on Europe because she campaigned uh for or she was in favor of Britain joining uh the then European economic Community she campaigned in the 1975 referendum it will be a splendid and decisive yes for Britain in Europe but she had a very different idea as to how Europe's individual states should fit together and as we know I mean she was a very strong believer in British national identity uh a particular conception of Britain's place in the world and all of those things for her were odds with the idea of building up as she saw it uh a European uh superstate so yes she was a pro- European but she had a very very different vision of Europe uh from other uh European political leaders there is a line between her Bru speech between the no no no in Parliament and brexit because you know British politicians uh and members of the public just took a different view of what kind of Europe they wanted and so she really is uh the the originator I think uh of the brexit Why The Speech Is So Memorable process to um to uh commissioner Leon Britain he is of course a member of the commission he is a loyal member of the commission yes the commission does want to increase its powers yes it is a non-elected body and I do not want the commission to increase its powers against this house so of course we are differing I think what makes it so memorable is prime ministers are not that categorical normally um I mean if you look at the delivery of the speech uh if you look at her body language if you look at the intonation I mean it is a piece of sort of masterful theater I mean it's sort of you know in that Arena you know in the House of Commons which is you know theatrical which is a stage I mean she was bringing everything into play in terms of making the point that she wanted to make and it wasn't a position that she could Retreat from so she was talking to the outside world you know she was talking to other European leaders and and drawing what were was for her uh you know a very clear and unambiguous Red Line she was talking to and taunting the party opposite you know the labor party the shadow uh opposition front bench led by Neil kinck and I think she was talking to her own back bench as well as members of her cabinet on the front benches to say that you know basically this is my view on Europe um you've got to live with this uh or or not and obviously the party in the end decided not to of course the chairman or No, No, No the president of the commission Mr delore said at press conference the other day that he wanted the European Parliament to be the Democratic body of the community he wanted the commission to be the executive and he wanted the Council of ministers to be the Senate no no no unfortunately her you know vision of 9:07 - The Legacy Of The Speech Europe and her vision of the European community and how it could develop was really at odds with many people in her party I mean after she made that no no no statement in the House of Commons her Deputy Prime Minister resigned you know there was a leadership contest um and uh she lost the Premiership so you know she was obviously a conviction politician on something that she felt so strongly about she was very unlikely to be equivocal um but ultimately I think she found it impossible to square her view of how Britain should fit into Europe with what at that time was the view that prevailed within our cabinet uh and I think within the party at large but you know in a way it's a sort of Back to the Future in that her idea of Europe and her idea of Britain's relationship with Europe is ended up being the predominant view with the within the conservative party now uh so in a way you know it's a curious Legacy you know she lost the Premiership but in a way she sort of captured uh the hearts and minds of members of the conservative party uh and that's why we've ended up with a relationship that we have between the UK and the European union now First, Mr Speaker, it is our purpose to retain the power and influence of this house and not to denude it of many of the powers [02:02-02:14] → how strong is her stance? → what does it mean? ]]> ✓ assertive stance = not allow Brussels to become a European superstate to denude = to make sth bare Would he have agreed to a commitment to extend the community's powers to other supplementary sectors of economic integration without having any definition of what they are? [02:20-02:32] → what orating technique is used? → what is being suggested? ]]> ✓ rhetorical question = yielding arguably unlimited power One of them was that the commission wants to extend its powers and confidence into the area of Health. We said no, we weren't going to agree to those things, and what he says, he sounded as if he would, for the sake of agreeing, for the sake of being little sir Echo, and saying me too. [02:37-02:53] → how is voice modulation employed? → what is being underpinned? ]]> ✓ reported speech ✓ denigration ✓ belittling → to taunt the opposition ! the labour party had previously suggested they wanted to leave the European Community = inconsistent stance → wobbly political integrity denigration = action of choosing a person or thing for a particular purpose, or of giving them or it a particular status belittling = making sb or the things that sb does seem unimportant to taunt = to try to make sb angry or upset by saying unkind things about them, laughing at their failures, etc 147 5 Perhaps they would agree to a single currency - M.Thatcher active wip edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-treadmill-100_white.png Delivering a political speech How would you square your views with those of the opposition in Parliament? visual → watch the video again [03:53-04:32] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmsMNQl7V0 → highlight keywords in bold → mark the text with pauses | → annotate rhetorical questions with (?) → show assertiveness with (!) → practise oral delivery of this extract ]]> Perhaps the labour party would give all those things up easily Perhaps they would agree to a single currency to total abolition of the pound sterling Perhaps being totally incompetent with monetary matters they'd be only too delighted to hand over the full responsibility as they did to the IMF to a central bank. The fact is they have no competence on money no competence on the economy so yes the right honourable gentleman would be glad to hand it all over And what is the point in trying to get elected to Parliament only to hand over your Sterling and to hand over the powers of this house to Europe ]]> Perhaps the labour party would give all those things up easily Perhaps they would agree to a single currency, to total abolition of the pound sterling Perhaps being totally incompetent with monetary matters they'd be only too delighted to hand over the full responsibility as they did to the IMF, to a central bank. The fact is, they have no competence on money, no competence on the economy, so, yes, the right honourable gentleman would be glad to hand it all over And what is the point in trying to get elected to Parliament only to hand over your Sterling, and to hand over the powers of this house to Europe 146 6 Role play wip active role_play pix/icons8-theatre-mask-100_white.png Should our government abide to supranational regulations?
visual
Recycle new expressions and language → express complex political opinions clearly → speak persuasively in the political arena e.g. use rhetorical questions, negative adverbial phrases, be occasionally theatrical → use technical terms related to government and policy e.g. neo-liberalism, supranationality → practise abstract concepts in political philosophy e.g. Thatcherism ]]> You are in favour of a stronger role of the European Union in home affairs. You want your opposition to square with the urge to work together. You will not be accommodating. In the light of world economic pressure ought we not to make alliances with our closest neighbours? Only together can we achieve a cohesive military defence strategy! Haven't we denigrated the dangers of guns vs butter? Yes, we have... You are known to be an iron lady. You are against supranational governance which threatens sovereign interests of your country. Taunt decisions of your opposition in the light of recent political events. We don't want to be denuded of our powers! Would you accept another cabinet's views to prevail over our own insights? Shall we allow bureaucrats to belittle our spirit of innovation and freedom? Shall we? No, we shan't! 145 to wane = to become gradually weaker or less important; (of the moon) to appear slightly smaller each day after being round and full to denude = to make sth bare denigration = action of choosing a person or thing for a particular purpose, or of giving them or it a particular status belittling = making sb or the things that sb does seem unimportant to taunt = to try to make sb angry or upset by saying unkind things about them, laughing at their failures, etc to square (sb/sth) with = to be compatible or fit with something; to induce someone to accept or approve of something 144 20250807 15:05-16:00 1.5 active What makes a country influential around the world? By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 143 1 What makes a country influential around the world? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png and ending with where each trio of question, answer and hint is between tags . Embed each question between tags . Embed each answer between tags . Embed each keyword between tags ]]> What makes a country truly influential on the world stage beyond just wealth or military power? ✓ building soft power through culture and education ✓ shaping global standards in technology and trade ✓ leading international initiatives and peace missions ✓ investing in sustainable development abroad ✓ hosting major diplomatic events and global forums ✓ promoting inclusive and stable governance models ✓ creating influential media and information platforms 〆relying solely on economic dominance or coercion soft power = ability to influence others through appeal and attraction rather than force, often using culture, education, or values global standards = internationally accepted norms or practices that shape how things are produced, measured, or evaluated across borders Why do some countries attract more talented people than others, and how can they keep that edge? ✓ offering world-class education and research hubs ✓ ensuring work visa clarity and legal transparency ✓ supporting fast-track residency for high-skill workers ✓ providing quality of life in urban and rural areas ✓ fostering innovation ecosystems with strong mentorship ✓ promoting work-life balance and healthcare benefits 〆creating barriers to foreign credential recognition 〆limiting international networking or exchange programmes innovation ecosystem = supportive environment where entrepreneurs, researchers, companies and governments collaborate to develop new ideas and technologies credential recognition = process of validating qualifications from another country so a person can work or study without repeating training What guarantees must a country provide to make entrepreneurs feel confident about investing time and money there? ✓ protecting intellectual property and patent rights ✓ guaranteeing transparent and fair legal processes ✓ providing stable taxation and investment rules ✓ offering access to international markets and trade ✓ ensuring bankable infrastructure and digital access ✓ supporting startup-friendly funding mechanisms ✓ offering dispute resolution through independent bodies 〆exposing businesses to sudden political risks intellectual property = legal rights that protect inventions, brand names, software, and creative works from unauthorised use or theft bankable infrastructure = reliable systems and structures such as transport, energy and internet that attract investors by reducing business risks 142 soft power = ability to influence others through appeal and attraction rather than force, often using culture, education, or values global standards = internationally accepted norms or practices that shape how things are produced, measured, or evaluated across borders innovation ecosystem = supportive environment where entrepreneurs, researchers, companies and governments collaborate to develop new ideas and technologies credential recognition = process of validating qualifications from another country so a person can work or study without repeating training intellectual property = legal rights that protect inventions, brand names, software, and creative works from unauthorised use or theft bankable infrastructure = reliable systems and structures such as transport, energy and internet that attract investors by reducing business risks 141 20250730 17:05-18:00 1.5 active The human future: A case for optimism By the end of this session you will have studied 'No, No, No!' Margaret Thatcher's Most Iconic Speech → watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmsMNQl7V0 zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 140 The human future: A case for optimism active 1 textbook 139 138 20250728 16:05-17:00 1.5 active How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky By the end of this session you will have studied How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 137 1 How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-movie-100_white.png ✓ if that target language features concepts that don't exist in your mother tongue (...)]]> How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k → watch the video → answer the questions]]> how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think_lera_boroditsky_TED_RKK7wGAYP6k.mp4 So, I'll be speaking to you using language ... because I can. This is one these magical abilities that we humans have. We can transmit really complicated thoughts to one another. So what I'm doing right now is, I'm making sounds with my mouth as I'm exhaling. I'm making tones and hisses and puffs, and those are creating air vibrations in the air. Those air vibrations are traveling to you, they're hitting your eardrums, and then your brain takes those vibrations from your eardrums and transforms them into thoughts. I hope. (Laughter) I hope that's happening. So because of this ability, we humans are able to transmit our ideas across vast reaches of space and time. We're able to transmit knowledge across minds. I can put a bizarre new idea in your mind right now. I could say, "Imagine a jellyfish waltzing in a library while thinking about quantum mechanics." (Laughter) Now, if everything has gone relatively well in your life so far, you probably haven't had that thought before. (Laughter) But now I've just made you think it, through language. Now of course, there isn't just one language in the world, there are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world. And all the languages differ from one another in all kinds of ways. Some languages have different sounds, they have different vocabularies, and they also have different structures -- very importantly, different structures. That begs the question: Does the language we speak shape the way we think? Now, this is an ancient question. People have been speculating about this question forever. Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor, said, "To have a second language is to have a second soul" -- strong statement that language crafts reality. But on the other hand, Shakespeare has Juliet say, "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Well, that suggests that maybe language doesn't craft reality. These arguments have gone back and forth for thousands of years. But until recently, there hasn't been any data to help us decide either way. Recently, in my lab and other labs around the world, we've started doing research, and now we have actual scientific data to weigh in on this question. So let me tell you about some of my favorite examples. I'll start with an example from an Aboriginal community in Australia that I had the chance to work with. These are the Kuuk Thaayorre people. They live in Pormpuraaw at the very west edge of Cape York. What's cool about Kuuk Thaayorre is, in Kuuk Thaayorre, they don't use words like "left" and "right," and instead, everything is in cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. And when I say everything, I really mean everything. You would say something like, "Oh, there's an ant on your southwest leg." Or, "Move your cup to the north-northeast a little bit." In fact, the way that you say "hello" in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say, "Which way are you going?" And the answer should be, "North-northeast in the far distance. How about you?" So imagine as you're walking around your day, every person you greet, you have to report your heading direction. (Laughter) But that would actually get you oriented pretty fast, right? Because you literally couldn't get past "hello," if you didn't know which way you were going. In fact, people who speak languages like this stay oriented really well. They stay oriented better than we used to think humans could. We used to think that humans were worse than other creatures because of some biological excuse: "Oh, we don't have magnets in our beaks or in our scales." No; if your language and your culture trains you to do it, actually, you can do it. There are humans around the world who stay oriented really well. And just to get us in agreement about how different this is from the way we do it, I want you all to close your eyes for a second and point southeast. (Laughter) Keep your eyes closed. Point. OK, so you can open your eyes. I see you guys pointing there, there, there, there, there ... I don't know which way it is myself -- (Laughter) You have not been a lot of help. (Laughter) So let's just say the accuracy in this room was not very high. This is a big difference in cognitive ability across languages, right? Where one group -- very distinguished group like you guys -- doesn't know which way is which, but in another group, I could ask a five-year-old and they would know. (Laughter) There are also really big differences in how people think about time. So here I have pictures of my grandfather at different ages. And if I ask an English speaker to organize time, they might lay it out this way, from left to right. This has to do with writing direction. If you were a speaker of Hebrew or Arabic, you might do it going in the opposite direction, from right to left. But how would the Kuuk Thaayorre, this Aboriginal group I just told you about, do it? They don't use words like "left" and "right." Let me give you hint. When we sat people facing south, they organized time from left to right. When we sat them facing north, they organized time from right to left. When we sat them facing east, time came towards the body. What's the pattern? East to west, right? So for them, time doesn't actually get locked on the body at all, it gets locked on the landscape. So for me, if I'm facing this way, then time goes this way, and if I'm facing this way, then time goes this way. I'm facing this way, time goes this way -- very egocentric of me to have the direction of time chase me around every time I turn my body. For the Kuuk Thaayorre, time is locked on the landscape. It's a dramatically different way of thinking about time. Here's another really smart human trick. Suppose I ask you how many penguins are there. Well, I bet I know how you'd solve that problem if you solved it. You went, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight." You counted them. You named each one with a number, and the last number you said was the number of penguins. This is a little trick that you're taught to use as kids. You learn the number list and you learn how to apply it. A little linguistic trick. Well, some languages don't do this, because some languages don't have exact number words. They're languages that don't have a word like "seven" or a word like "eight." In fact, people who speak these languages don't count, and they have trouble keeping track of exact quantities. So, for example, if I ask you to match this number of penguins to the same number of ducks, you would be able to do that by counting. But folks who don't have that linguistic trick can't do that. Languages also differ in how they divide up the color spectrum -- the visual world. Some languages have lots of words for colors, some have only a couple words, "light" and "dark." And languages differ in where they put boundaries between colors. So, for example, in English, there's a word for blue that covers all of the colors that you can see on the screen, but in Russian, there isn't a single word. Instead, Russian speakers have to differentiate between light blue, "goluboy," and dark blue, "siniy." So Russians have this lifetime of experience of, in language, distinguishing these two colors. When we test people's ability to perceptually discriminate these colors, what we find is that Russian speakers are faster across this linguistic boundary. They're faster to be able to tell the difference between a light and dark blue. And when you look at people's brains as they're looking at colors -- say you have colors shifting slowly from light to dark blue -- the brains of people who use different words for light and dark blue will give a surprised reaction as the colors shift from light to dark, as if, "Ooh, something has categorically changed," whereas the brains of English speakers, for example, that don't make this categorical distinction, don't give that surprise, because nothing is categorically changing. Languages have all kinds of structural quirks. This is one of my favorites. Lots of languages have grammatical gender; every noun gets assigned a gender, often masculine or feminine. And these genders differ across languages. So, for example, the sun is feminine in German but masculine in Spanish, and the moon, the reverse. Could this actually have any consequence for how people think? Do German speakers think of the sun as somehow more female-like, and the moon somehow more male-like? Actually, it turns out that's the case. So if you ask German and Spanish speakers to, say, describe a bridge, like the one here -- "bridge" happens to be grammatically feminine in German, grammatically masculine in Spanish -- German speakers are more likely to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant" and stereotypically feminine words. Whereas Spanish speakers will be more likely to say they're "strong" or "long," these masculine words. (Laughter) Languages also differ in how they describe events, right? You take an event like this, an accident. In English, it's fine to say, "He broke the vase." In a language like Spanish, you might be more likely to say, "The vase broke," or, "The vase broke itself." If it's an accident, you wouldn't say that someone did it. In English, quite weirdly, we can even say things like, "I broke my arm." Now, in lots of languages, you couldn't use that construction unless you are a lunatic and you went out looking to break your arm -- (Laughter) and you succeeded. If it was an accident, you would use a different construction. Now, this has consequences. So, people who speak different languages will pay attention to different things, depending on what their language usually requires them to do. So we show the same accident to English speakers and Spanish speakers, English speakers will remember who did it, because English requires you to say, "He did it; he broke the vase." Whereas Spanish speakers might be less likely to remember who did it if it's an accident, but they're more likely to remember that it was an accident. They're more likely to remember the intention. So, two people watch the same event, witness the same crime, but end up remembering different things about that event. This has implications, of course, for eyewitness testimony. It also has implications for blame and punishment. So if you take English speakers and I just show you someone breaking a vase, and I say, "He broke the vase," as opposed to "The vase broke," even though you can witness it yourself, you can watch the video, you can watch the crime against the vase, you will punish someone more, you will blame someone more if I just said, "He broke it," as opposed to, "It broke." The language guides our reasoning about events. Now, I've given you a few examples of how language can profoundly shape the way we think, and it does so in a variety of ways. So language can have big effects, like we saw with space and time, where people can lay out space and time in completely different coordinate frames from each other. Language can also have really deep effects -- that's what we saw with the case of number. Having count words in your language, having number words, opens up the whole world of mathematics. Of course, if you don't count, you can't do algebra, you can't do any of the things that would be required to build a room like this or make this broadcast, right? This little trick of number words gives you a stepping stone into a whole cognitive realm. Language can also have really early effects, what we saw in the case of color. These are really simple, basic, perceptual decisions. We make thousands of them all the time, and yet, language is getting in there and fussing even with these tiny little perceptual decisions that we make. Language can have really broad effects. So the case of grammatical gender may be a little silly, but at the same time, grammatical gender applies to all nouns. That means language can shape how you're thinking about anything that can be named by a noun. That's a lot of stuff. And finally, I gave you an example of how language can shape things that have personal weight to us -- ideas like blame and punishment or eyewitness memory. These are important things in our daily lives. Now, the beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is. Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 -- there are 7,000 languages spoken around the world. And we can create many more -- languages, of course, are living things, things that we can hone and change to suit our needs. The tragic thing is that we're losing so much of this linguistic diversity all the time. We're losing about one language a week, and by some estimates, half of the world's languages will be gone in the next hundred years. And the even worse news is that right now, almost everything we know about the human mind and human brain is based on studies of usually American English-speaking undergraduates at universities. That excludes almost all humans. Right? So what we know about the human mind is actually incredibly narrow and biased, and our science has to do better. I want to leave you with this final thought. I've told you about how speakers of different languages think differently, but of course, that's not about how people elsewhere think. It's about how you think. It's how the language that you speak shapes the way that you think. And that gives you the opportunity to ask, "Why do I think the way that I do?" "How could I think differently?" And also, "What thoughts do I wish to create?" Thank you very much. (Applause) "Imagine a jellyfish waltzing in a library while thinking about quantum mechanics." [01:05-01:24] ]]> ✓ share new thoughts through language which you had perhaps even never envisaged → the more vocabulary you have the better equipped you are to communicate effectively to envisage = to imagine what will happen in the future "To have a second language is to have a second soul" [01:50-02:00] ]]> ✓ language crafts reality → you are another person when you speak a different language → the more vocabulary you have the more perspectives you may take advantage of to look at things "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." [02:00-02:20] ]]> ✓ perhaps language doesn't craft reality → objective reality should be the same for every person but it is subjective = ageless contradiction What is unusual about the language used by an Aboriginal community in Australia, called Kuuk Thaayorre? [02:45-03:30] "Which way are you going?" answer: North - north east in the far distance ]]> What two conclusions can you draw from the cultural example of language spoken by Kuuk Thaayorre people [03:30-05:51]? (staying oriented [03:48]) (thinking about time [05:10]) ✓ if your language and your culture trains you to do it, you can do it e.g. stay oriented although we have no magnets in our beaks or in our scales ✓ they organize time from east to west = it gets locked on the landscape → no egocentric view (traditionally from left to right or vice versa) ✓ use a more organic approach to time management = less linear & target-oriented? → open to sharing more opportunities than just your own goals ✓ assess your position (as well as perhaps skills) in your environment in real time → anticipate possible obstacles better? What does the quantity of alternative words for different colours & shades suggest? [06:48-07:59] ✓ in English, there's a word for blue that covers all of the colours that you can see ✓ in Russian, there isn't a single word → Russian speakers have to differentiate between light blue, "goluboy," and dark blue, "siniy." → make a categorical distinction = ability to perceptually discriminate colours faster How can gender of nouns differ across cultures? How does this affect the way people think? [08:01-08:58] examples: ✓ the sun is feminine in German but masculine in Spanish ✓ the moon is masculine in German but feminine in Spanish → for German speakers bridges are "beautiful," "elegant" = stereotypically feminine words → for Spanish speakers bridges are "strong" or "long" = more masculine words What examples are given to suggest how differently languages can describe events? [09:02-09:40] ✓ in English: "He broke the vase" ✓ in Spanish: "The vase broke" in English: "I broke my arm." → in many languages = you did it intentionally How will different speakers interpret a same event in different ways? What conclusion can be drawn? [09:42-10:55] ✓ people remember different things about the same event → even eye-witnessing an event may be interpreted differently e.g. English speakers will remember who did it [09:56] → English requires you to say, "He did it; he broke the vase." e.g. Spanish speakers might be less likely to remember who did it if it's an accident → more likely to remember that it was an accident Conclusion [10:44] ✓ you will punish someone more, you will blame someone more if you just said "He broke it" (as opposed to "It broke.") ✓ language guides our reasoning about events What are the risks of losing linguistic diversity? [12:28-12:56] 〆about one language is lost every week 〆half of the world's languages will be gone in the next hundred years according to some estimates 〆almost everything we know about the human mind and human brain is based on studies of usually American English-speaking undergraduates at universities → what we know about the human mind is actually incredibly narrow and biased 136 perpetuation = act of prolonging something to undermine = to make sth, especially sb's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective to reprimand = to tell sb officially that you do not approve of them or their actions construct = idea or a belief that is based on various pieces of evidence which are not always true; contrast between lived reality and the construct held in the mind attuned = familiar with sb/sth so that you can understand or recognize them or it and act in an appropriate way hangover = feeling, custom, habit, etc. that remains from the past, although it is no longer practical or suitable agreeable = pleasant and easy to like 135 so as hard as I expected ]]> 20250723 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Feedback: Will AGI make societies happier? | Understanding migrant exclusion in Europe By the end of this session you will have studied How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 134 1 Will AGI make societies happier? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png and ending with where each trio of question, answer and hint is between tags . Embed each question between tags . Embed each answer between tags . Embed each keyword between tags . ]]> In what ways could AGI contribute to a happier society overall? ✓ increase access to personalized mental health support for all age groups ✓ reduce workload and stress through intelligent task automation ✓ enhance public services through optimized resource allocation ✓ support lifelong learning and skill development with adaptive systems ✓ improve work-life balance by reshaping employment patterns ✓ enable stronger social safety nets using predictive modelling 〆reinforce inequality if benefits unequally distributed 〆reduce human agency without clear ethical frameworks personalized mental health support = tailoring psychological or emotional assistance to individual needs using data-driven insights or AI-based understanding public service optimization = improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of services provided by government or public institutions using intelligent systems What might be the risks of relying on AGI for emotional or social fulfilment? ✓ reduce authentic human interaction by replacing social roles ✓ distort emotional development due to artificial empathy cues ✓ reinforce confirmation bias via curated AI responses ✓ increase loneliness despite constant virtual presence ✓ desensitize individuals to natural human limitations 〆eliminate the need for interpersonal relationships entirely 〆create universal emotional templates that fit all individuals artificial empathy = the simulated ability of machines to recognize and respond to human emotions, often without true understanding or consciousness confirmation bias = tendency to favour information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs or assumptions, often reinforced by algorithmic filtering How could AGI reshape our concepts of work and leisure? ✓ automate repetitive or hazardous jobs across sectors ✓ create new professions centred on human-AI collaboration ✓ enable more flexible, project-based employment systems ✓ expand leisure opportunities through personalized content delivery ✓ redefine productivity through continuous AI-enhanced assistance ✓ support universal basic income by redistributing economic gains 〆eliminate human participation from all economic functions 〆preserve outdated work structures despite automation human-AI collaboration = cooperative interaction between people and intelligent systems to solve problems or accomplish tasks universal basic income = regular, unconditional payment provided to all citizens to cover basic living expenses, potentially supported by AI-driven productivity Could AGI reduce global inequalities, or make them worse? ✓ democratize access to education through multilingual tutoring systems ✓ enhance healthcare delivery in underserved regions ✓ forecast resource distribution needs using real-time data ✓ empower local economies via intelligent micro-financing platforms ✓ support inclusive policymaking by simulating outcomes 〆ensure equal access if governed by profit-driven entities 〆overcome digital divides in remote or impoverished areas digital divide = gap between individuals or communities with access to digital technology and those without inclusive policymaking = designing laws or decisions by considering the needs and voices of diverse or marginalized groups What ethical dilemmas may emerge if AGI begins managing human happiness? ✓ influence emotional states through data-based behavioural nudging ✓ redefine well-being through metrics not aligned with cultural values ✓ compromise autonomy through algorithmic decision-making ✓ manipulate desires to fit predefined happiness models ✓ prioritize collective happiness over individual rights 〆resolve moral uncertainty with universal AI ethics 〆balance emotional health with freedom without bias behavioural nudging = subtly steering people's choices or behaviours using psychological or environmental cues without restricting freedom algorithmic decision-making = using automated systems to make judgements or take actions that impact human lives, often raising accountability concerns In what ways could AGI help individuals live more meaningful lives? ✓ tailor life advice based on individual values and goals ✓ foster lifelong creativity through co-creation tools ✓ guide personal growth using pattern recognition in behaviour ✓ deepen understanding of others through cultural simulation ✓ suggest purpose-driven paths informed by real-time context 〆impose standardized visions of meaning on diverse populations 〆replace inner reflection with automated self-improvement tools co-creation tools = digital or AI-driven platforms that support shared innovation or artistic expression between humans and machines purpose-driven path = life direction centred around meaningful values or contributions rather than material success How might AGI impact mental health across different generations? ✓ detect early signs of distress through behavioural monitoring ✓ offer real-time therapeutic interventions tailored to age groups ✓ reduce stigma by normalizing mental health dialogue through bots ✓ support intergenerational communication via intelligent mediators ✓ encourage emotional resilience through adaptive coping strategies 〆replace human therapists in all scenarios 〆ignore cultural or age-specific sensitivities in diagnostics emotional resilience = the capacity to recover from stress or adversity by managing emotions effectively intelligent mediators = AI systems designed to facilitate conversations or resolve conflicts between people or groups Can AGI redefine our understanding of what happiness really is? ✓ analyse large-scale well-being data to reveal new insights ✓ question materialistic assumptions by modelling emotional impact ✓ simulate alternative lifestyles and their happiness outcomes ✓ test philosophical theories of happiness with real-world metrics ✓ offer pluralistic frameworks for emotional fulfilment 〆replace individual introspection with prescriptive happiness scores 〆reach a universally agreed-upon definition across societies pluralistic frameworks = multiple coexisting approaches that recognize diverse ways of achieving a goal, such as happiness emotional fulfilment = the experience of having one's emotional needs and aspirations satisfied 133 personalized mental health support = tailoring psychological or emotional assistance to individual needs using data-driven insights or AI-based understanding public service optimization = improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of services provided by government or public institutions using intelligent systems artificial empathy = the simulated ability of machines to recognize and respond to human emotions, often without true understanding or consciousness confirmation bias = tendency to favour information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs or assumptions, often reinforced by algorithmic filtering human-AI collaboration = cooperative interaction between people and intelligent systems to solve problems or accomplish tasks universal basic income = regular, unconditional payment provided to all citizens to cover basic living expenses, potentially supported by AI-driven productivity digital divide = gap between individuals or communities with access to digital technology and those without inclusive policymaking = designing laws or decisions by considering the needs and voices of diverse or marginalized groups behavioural nudging = subtly steering people's choices or behaviours using psychological or environmental cues without restricting freedom algorithmic decision-making = using automated systems to make judgements or take actions that impact human lives, often raising accountability concerns co-creation tools = digital or AI-driven platforms that support shared innovation or artistic expression between humans and machines purpose-driven path = life direction centred around meaningful values or contributions rather than material success emotional resilience = the capacity to recover from stress or adversity by managing emotions effectively intelligent mediators = AI systems designed to facilitate conversations or resolve conflicts between people or groups pluralistic frameworks = multiple coexisting approaches that recognize diverse ways of achieving a goal, such as happiness emotional fulfilment = the experience of having one's emotional needs and aspirations satisfied 132 1 Why do many immigrants in Western Europe face persistent challenges such as irregular employment, poor housing, and lack of legal status? active wip edit_short_reading_floating prep_short_reading_floating pix/icons8-reading-100_white.png What are the main factors that prevent undocumented migrants from accessing housing and public services in Western Europe? ✓ lack of residence registration required by local authorities ✓ status as undocumented migrants limits eligibility for services ✓ face housing discrimination from private landlords ✓ depend on informal labour without stable income ✓ exit temporary shelters after asylum procedure ends 〆retain full access to housing and support without documentation 〆receive equal treatment in public housing systems residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit How do asylum procedures and labour policies impact the employment situation of migrants from North Africa and the Middle East? ✓ delay access to legal employment during asylum procedure ✓ enforce hiring policy that favours EU nationals ✓ prevent recognition of foreign qualifications in many fields ✓ limit access to formal employment due to language requirements ✓ push many into informal labour without protections 〆create immediate pathways to formal employment for all migrants 〆recognise all foreign qualifications without additional assessment asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited What are the long-term social and economic consequences of exclusion from formal education and work for immigrants? ✓ reduce chances of upward mobility due to skill gaps ✓ limit access to vocational training programmes ✓ increase dependency on social benefits or charity ✓ isolate individuals in segregated urban areas ✓ raise psychological stress due to economic instability 〆guarantee equal education access regardless of legal status 〆support long-term inclusion without documentation or training upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe ChatGPT 20250721
labour market integration = the process of entering and participating effectively in a country’s workforce through legal, economic and social inclusion qualification recognition = the formal validation of foreign diplomas, certificates or training by host countries to match their employment standards hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited formal employment = legally recognised work that includes contracts, protections and benefits such as insurance or sick leave asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit psychological stress = mental strain or anxiety caused by uncertainty, fear or exclusion from social systems residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights segregated urban areas = neighbourhoods where a single ethnic or socio-economic group predominates, often due to structural inequality housing discrimination = the unfair treatment of individuals in the housing market based on race, nationality or legal status informal labour = employment that is not regulated, taxed or legally protected, often involving precarious working conditions legal regularisation = the process through which undocumented individuals can obtain official legal status under specific conditions vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time housing insecurity = the condition of lacking stable, safe or adequate accommodation, including risk of eviction or homelessness exploitation in informal labour = taking advantage of undocumented or unprotected workers through underpayment, poor conditions or coercion
131 2 From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png and ending with where each trio of question, answer and hint is between tags . Embed each question between tags . Embed each answer between tags . Embed each keyword between tags . Use the questions and answers above to write a summary of no more than 350 words. Don't quote questions literally but do include them in the answers so the reader understands the context. Make sure you use exactly the same keywords as listed in the hints. Suggest 3 titles of no more than 70 words for this text. Ask 3 general questions to check understanding of this text. Suggest answers. Use formatting rules from above. Barriers to Integration: Why Many North African and Middle Eastern Migrants Struggle in Western Europe Legal, Social and Economic Obstacles Facing Undocumented Migrants in the EU From Informal Labour to Housing Insecurity: Understanding Migrant Exclusion in Europe ]]> Why do many immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East struggle to enter the regular labour market in Western Europe? ✓ face language barriers that prevent full participation in the job market ✓ experience discrimination in recruitment based on names or origin ✓ possess qualifications not recognised by EU employers or institutions ✓ lack access to professional networks that support job hunting ✓ encounter bureaucratic delays in obtaining work permits 〆receive sufficient career orientation during asylum or integration procedures 〆gain immediate access to regulated employment sectors labour market integration = the process of entering and participating effectively in a country’s workforce through legal, economic and social inclusion qualification recognition = the formal validation of foreign diplomas, certificates or training by host countries to match their employment standards How do EU regulations affect access to social benefits for new arrivals and undocumented migrants? ✓ allow certain asylum seekers to receive limited housing and subsistence support ✓ restrict access to benefits for undocumented migrants under national welfare laws ✓ require residence registration before obtaining regular social assistance ✓ grant temporary support in reception centres until legal status is resolved ✓ exclude informal workers from unemployment or pension systems 〆provide unconditional benefits regardless of legal status 〆offer long-term financial aid without integration requirements undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights Why do many immigrants end up living in segregated urban areas or ghettos rather than in more mixed neighbourhoods? ✓ settle where affordable housing is concentrated in poor districts ✓ join communities with shared language and culture for survival support ✓ face rejection from private landlords due to bias or legal status ✓ lack financial resources to move to higher-income areas ✓ become isolated due to underfunded public transport or services 〆receive equal access to housing across all districts 〆benefit from large-scale integration housing programmes segregated urban areas = neighbourhoods where a single ethnic or socio-economic group predominates, often due to structural inequality housing discrimination = the unfair treatment of individuals in the housing market based on race, nationality or legal status What are some reasons immigrants end up homeless, despite being in wealthy European countries? ✓ exit state-run reception centres after asylum refusal or delays ✓ lose access to shelters due to legal status or capacity issues ✓ face barriers to signing rental contracts without documentation ✓ rely on overstretched NGOs unable to meet housing demands ✓ fall into informal labour without stable income for rent 〆gain immediate access to public housing on arrival 〆retain social housing once administrative appeals are exhausted housing insecurity = the condition of lacking stable, safe or adequate accommodation, including risk of eviction or homelessness informal labour = employment that is not regulated, taxed or legally protected, often involving precarious working conditions Why do some migrants remain without legal papers for years, even after settling in an EU country? ✓ wait for long asylum procedures with multiple appeals and rejections ✓ face legal loopholes that prevent regularisation despite long-term stay ✓ miss deadlines or requirements due to language or administrative complexity ✓ fear deportation and avoid contact with authorities ✓ depend on informal economies to survive without legal residency 〆receive automatic legalisation after a fixed period 〆access consistent legal aid in navigating residency procedures legal regularisation = the process through which undocumented individuals can obtain official legal status under specific conditions asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status How do labour laws and economic structures in the EU create obstacles for immigrants to find formal employment? ✓ enforce strict entry conditions for jobs requiring contracts or insurance ✓ demand local language proficiency for most skilled positions ✓ leave informal sectors unregulated where many migrants work ✓ prioritise citizens and EU nationals in hiring policies ✓ limit work options during asylum review periods 〆create inclusive pathways for all migrant skill levels 〆encourage fast-track job access for recent arrivals formal employment = legally recognised work that includes contracts, protections and benefits such as insurance or sick leave hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited What are the impacts of education and training access on the long-term inclusion of migrants? ✓ support labour market integration through language and skills training ✓ increase chances of upward mobility with certified education ✓ reduce dependency on social benefits by improving employability ✓ offer vocational alternatives to youth at risk of exclusion ✓ foster inclusion through adult learning in host-country systems 〆ensure immediate diploma recognition across member states 〆guarantee equal education access regardless of status upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions How does the lack of documentation affect the rights and dignity of immigrants in Western Europe? ✓ deny access to healthcare, legal work and stable housing ✓ increase vulnerability to exploitation in informal labour ✓ limit ability to travel, study or open bank accounts ✓ isolate individuals socially and economically ✓ generate psychological stress due to fear of arrest or deportation 〆grant equal rights to undocumented migrants 〆protect workers regardless of legal status in all sectors exploitation in informal labour = taking advantage of undocumented or unprotected workers through underpayment, poor conditions or coercion psychological stress = mental strain or anxiety caused by uncertainty, fear or exclusion from social systems 130 labour market integration = the process of entering and participating effectively in a country’s workforce through legal, economic and social inclusion qualification recognition = the formal validation of foreign diplomas, certificates or training by host countries to match their employment standards hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited formal employment = legally recognised work that includes contracts, protections and benefits such as insurance or sick leave asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit psychological stress = mental strain or anxiety caused by uncertainty, fear or exclusion from social systems residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights segregated urban areas = neighbourhoods where a single ethnic or socio-economic group predominates, often due to structural inequality housing discrimination = the unfair treatment of individuals in the housing market based on race, nationality or legal status informal labour = employment that is not regulated, taxed or legally protected, often involving precarious working conditions legal regularisation = the process through which undocumented individuals can obtain official legal status under specific conditions vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time housing insecurity = the condition of lacking stable, safe or adequate accommodation, including risk of eviction or homelessness exploitation in informal labour = taking advantage of undocumented or unprotected workers through underpayment, poor conditions or coercion 129 20250721 18:05-19:00 1.5 active From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe By the end of this session you will have studied How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 128 1 Why do many immigrants in Western Europe face persistent challenges such as irregular employment, poor housing, and lack of legal status? active wip edit_short_reading_floating prep_short_reading_floating pix/icons8-reading-100_white.png What are the main factors that prevent undocumented migrants from accessing housing and public services in Western Europe? ✓ lack of residence registration required by local authorities ✓ status as undocumented migrants limits eligibility for services ✓ face housing discrimination from private landlords ✓ depend on informal labour without stable income ✓ exit temporary shelters after asylum procedure ends 〆retain full access to housing and support without documentation 〆receive equal treatment in public housing systems residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit How do asylum procedures and labour policies impact the employment situation of migrants from North Africa and the Middle East? ✓ delay access to legal employment during asylum procedure ✓ enforce hiring policy that favours EU nationals ✓ prevent recognition of foreign qualifications in many fields ✓ limit access to formal employment due to language requirements ✓ push many into informal labour without protections 〆create immediate pathways to formal employment for all migrants 〆recognise all foreign qualifications without additional assessment asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited What are the long-term social and economic consequences of exclusion from formal education and work for immigrants? ✓ reduce chances of upward mobility due to skill gaps ✓ limit access to vocational training programmes ✓ increase dependency on social benefits or charity ✓ isolate individuals in segregated urban areas ✓ raise psychological stress due to economic instability 〆guarantee equal education access regardless of legal status 〆support long-term inclusion without documentation or training upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe ChatGPT 20250721
labour market integration = the process of entering and participating effectively in a country’s workforce through legal, economic and social inclusion qualification recognition = the formal validation of foreign diplomas, certificates or training by host countries to match their employment standards hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited formal employment = legally recognised work that includes contracts, protections and benefits such as insurance or sick leave asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit psychological stress = mental strain or anxiety caused by uncertainty, fear or exclusion from social systems residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights segregated urban areas = neighbourhoods where a single ethnic or socio-economic group predominates, often due to structural inequality housing discrimination = the unfair treatment of individuals in the housing market based on race, nationality or legal status informal labour = employment that is not regulated, taxed or legally protected, often involving precarious working conditions legal regularisation = the process through which undocumented individuals can obtain official legal status under specific conditions vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time housing insecurity = the condition of lacking stable, safe or adequate accommodation, including risk of eviction or homelessness exploitation in informal labour = taking advantage of undocumented or unprotected workers through underpayment, poor conditions or coercion
127 2 From informal labour to housing insecurity: understanding migrant exclusion in Europe active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png and ending with where each trio of question, answer and hint is between tags . Embed each question between tags . Embed each answer between tags . Embed each keyword between tags . Use the questions and answers above to write a summary of no more than 350 words. Don't quote questions literally but do include them in the answers so the reader understands the context. Make sure you use exactly the same keywords as listed in the hints. Suggest 3 titles of no more than 70 words for this text. Ask 3 general questions to check understanding of this text. Suggest answers. Use formatting rules from above. Barriers to Integration: Why Many North African and Middle Eastern Migrants Struggle in Western Europe Legal, Social and Economic Obstacles Facing Undocumented Migrants in the EU From Informal Labour to Housing Insecurity: Understanding Migrant Exclusion in Europe ]]> Why do many immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East struggle to enter the regular labour market in Western Europe? ✓ face language barriers that prevent full participation in the job market ✓ experience discrimination in recruitment based on names or origin ✓ possess qualifications not recognised by EU employers or institutions ✓ lack access to professional networks that support job hunting ✓ encounter bureaucratic delays in obtaining work permits 〆receive sufficient career orientation during asylum or integration procedures 〆gain immediate access to regulated employment sectors labour market integration = the process of entering and participating effectively in a country’s workforce through legal, economic and social inclusion qualification recognition = the formal validation of foreign diplomas, certificates or training by host countries to match their employment standards How do EU regulations affect access to social benefits for new arrivals and undocumented migrants? ✓ allow certain asylum seekers to receive limited housing and subsistence support ✓ restrict access to benefits for undocumented migrants under national welfare laws ✓ require residence registration before obtaining regular social assistance ✓ grant temporary support in reception centres until legal status is resolved ✓ exclude informal workers from unemployment or pension systems 〆provide unconditional benefits regardless of legal status 〆offer long-term financial aid without integration requirements undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights Why do many immigrants end up living in segregated urban areas or ghettos rather than in more mixed neighbourhoods? ✓ settle where affordable housing is concentrated in poor districts ✓ join communities with shared language and culture for survival support ✓ face rejection from private landlords due to bias or legal status ✓ lack financial resources to move to higher-income areas ✓ become isolated due to underfunded public transport or services 〆receive equal access to housing across all districts 〆benefit from large-scale integration housing programmes segregated urban areas = neighbourhoods where a single ethnic or socio-economic group predominates, often due to structural inequality housing discrimination = the unfair treatment of individuals in the housing market based on race, nationality or legal status What are some reasons immigrants end up homeless, despite being in wealthy European countries? ✓ exit state-run reception centres after asylum refusal or delays ✓ lose access to shelters due to legal status or capacity issues ✓ face barriers to signing rental contracts without documentation ✓ rely on overstretched NGOs unable to meet housing demands ✓ fall into informal labour without stable income for rent 〆gain immediate access to public housing on arrival 〆retain social housing once administrative appeals are exhausted housing insecurity = the condition of lacking stable, safe or adequate accommodation, including risk of eviction or homelessness informal labour = employment that is not regulated, taxed or legally protected, often involving precarious working conditions Why do some migrants remain without legal papers for years, even after settling in an EU country? ✓ wait for long asylum procedures with multiple appeals and rejections ✓ face legal loopholes that prevent regularisation despite long-term stay ✓ miss deadlines or requirements due to language or administrative complexity ✓ fear deportation and avoid contact with authorities ✓ depend on informal economies to survive without legal residency 〆receive automatic legalisation after a fixed period 〆access consistent legal aid in navigating residency procedures legal regularisation = the process through which undocumented individuals can obtain official legal status under specific conditions asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status How do labour laws and economic structures in the EU create obstacles for immigrants to find formal employment? ✓ enforce strict entry conditions for jobs requiring contracts or insurance ✓ demand local language proficiency for most skilled positions ✓ leave informal sectors unregulated where many migrants work ✓ prioritise citizens and EU nationals in hiring policies ✓ limit work options during asylum review periods 〆create inclusive pathways for all migrant skill levels 〆encourage fast-track job access for recent arrivals formal employment = legally recognised work that includes contracts, protections and benefits such as insurance or sick leave hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited What are the impacts of education and training access on the long-term inclusion of migrants? ✓ support labour market integration through language and skills training ✓ increase chances of upward mobility with certified education ✓ reduce dependency on social benefits by improving employability ✓ offer vocational alternatives to youth at risk of exclusion ✓ foster inclusion through adult learning in host-country systems 〆ensure immediate diploma recognition across member states 〆guarantee equal education access regardless of status upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions How does the lack of documentation affect the rights and dignity of immigrants in Western Europe? ✓ deny access to healthcare, legal work and stable housing ✓ increase vulnerability to exploitation in informal labour ✓ limit ability to travel, study or open bank accounts ✓ isolate individuals socially and economically ✓ generate psychological stress due to fear of arrest or deportation 〆grant equal rights to undocumented migrants 〆protect workers regardless of legal status in all sectors exploitation in informal labour = taking advantage of undocumented or unprotected workers through underpayment, poor conditions or coercion psychological stress = mental strain or anxiety caused by uncertainty, fear or exclusion from social systems 126 labour market integration = the process of entering and participating effectively in a country’s workforce through legal, economic and social inclusion qualification recognition = the formal validation of foreign diplomas, certificates or training by host countries to match their employment standards hiring policy = the rules and practices used by employers or governments to determine who is eligible to be recruited formal employment = legally recognised work that includes contracts, protections and benefits such as insurance or sick leave asylum procedure = the legal process through which a person seeks international protection and is granted refugee or similar status undocumented migrants = individuals residing in a country without legal permission or a valid residence permit psychological stress = mental strain or anxiety caused by uncertainty, fear or exclusion from social systems residence registration = official documentation required by local authorities to access public services and legal residency rights segregated urban areas = neighbourhoods where a single ethnic or socio-economic group predominates, often due to structural inequality housing discrimination = the unfair treatment of individuals in the housing market based on race, nationality or legal status informal labour = employment that is not regulated, taxed or legally protected, often involving precarious working conditions legal regularisation = the process through which undocumented individuals can obtain official legal status under specific conditions vocational training = practical education aimed at preparing individuals for specific trades or professions upward mobility = the ability of individuals or groups to improve their social or economic position over time housing insecurity = the condition of lacking stable, safe or adequate accommodation, including risk of eviction or homelessness exploitation in informal labour = taking advantage of undocumented or unprotected workers through underpayment, poor conditions or coercion 125 20250630 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Will AGI make societies happier? By the end of this session you will have studied How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 124 1 Will AGI make societies happier? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png and ending with where each trio of question, answer and hint is between tags . Embed each question between tags . Embed each answer between tags . Embed each keyword between tags . ]]> In what ways could AGI contribute to a happier society overall? ✓ increase access to personalized mental health support for all age groups ✓ reduce workload and stress through intelligent task automation ✓ enhance public services through optimized resource allocation ✓ support lifelong learning and skill development with adaptive systems ✓ improve work-life balance by reshaping employment patterns ✓ enable stronger social safety nets using predictive modelling 〆reinforce inequality if benefits unequally distributed 〆reduce human agency without clear ethical frameworks personalized mental health support = tailoring psychological or emotional assistance to individual needs using data-driven insights or AI-based understanding public service optimization = improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of services provided by government or public institutions using intelligent systems What might be the risks of relying on AGI for emotional or social fulfilment? ✓ reduce authentic human interaction by replacing social roles ✓ distort emotional development due to artificial empathy cues ✓ reinforce confirmation bias via curated AI responses ✓ increase loneliness despite constant virtual presence ✓ desensitize individuals to natural human limitations 〆eliminate the need for interpersonal relationships entirely 〆create universal emotional templates that fit all individuals artificial empathy = the simulated ability of machines to recognize and respond to human emotions, often without true understanding or consciousness confirmation bias = tendency to favour information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs or assumptions, often reinforced by algorithmic filtering How could AGI reshape our concepts of work and leisure? ✓ automate repetitive or hazardous jobs across sectors ✓ create new professions centred on human-AI collaboration ✓ enable more flexible, project-based employment systems ✓ expand leisure opportunities through personalized content delivery ✓ redefine productivity through continuous AI-enhanced assistance ✓ support universal basic income by redistributing economic gains 〆eliminate human participation from all economic functions 〆preserve outdated work structures despite automation human-AI collaboration = cooperative interaction between people and intelligent systems to solve problems or accomplish tasks universal basic income = regular, unconditional payment provided to all citizens to cover basic living expenses, potentially supported by AI-driven productivity Could AGI reduce global inequalities, or make them worse? ✓ democratize access to education through multilingual tutoring systems ✓ enhance healthcare delivery in underserved regions ✓ forecast resource distribution needs using real-time data ✓ empower local economies via intelligent micro-financing platforms ✓ support inclusive policymaking by simulating outcomes 〆ensure equal access if governed by profit-driven entities 〆overcome digital divides in remote or impoverished areas digital divide = gap between individuals or communities with access to digital technology and those without inclusive policymaking = designing laws or decisions by considering the needs and voices of diverse or marginalized groups What ethical dilemmas may emerge if AGI begins managing human happiness? ✓ influence emotional states through data-based behavioural nudging ✓ redefine well-being through metrics not aligned with cultural values ✓ compromise autonomy through algorithmic decision-making ✓ manipulate desires to fit predefined happiness models ✓ prioritize collective happiness over individual rights 〆resolve moral uncertainty with universal AI ethics 〆balance emotional health with freedom without bias behavioural nudging = subtly steering people's choices or behaviours using psychological or environmental cues without restricting freedom algorithmic decision-making = using automated systems to make judgements or take actions that impact human lives, often raising accountability concerns In what ways could AGI help individuals live more meaningful lives? ✓ tailor life advice based on individual values and goals ✓ foster lifelong creativity through co-creation tools ✓ guide personal growth using pattern recognition in behaviour ✓ deepen understanding of others through cultural simulation ✓ suggest purpose-driven paths informed by real-time context 〆impose standardized visions of meaning on diverse populations 〆replace inner reflection with automated self-improvement tools co-creation tools = digital or AI-driven platforms that support shared innovation or artistic expression between humans and machines purpose-driven path = life direction centred around meaningful values or contributions rather than material success How might AGI impact mental health across different generations? ✓ detect early signs of distress through behavioural monitoring ✓ offer real-time therapeutic interventions tailored to age groups ✓ reduce stigma by normalizing mental health dialogue through bots ✓ support intergenerational communication via intelligent mediators ✓ encourage emotional resilience through adaptive coping strategies 〆replace human therapists in all scenarios 〆ignore cultural or age-specific sensitivities in diagnostics emotional resilience = the capacity to recover from stress or adversity by managing emotions effectively intelligent mediators = AI systems designed to facilitate conversations or resolve conflicts between people or groups Can AGI redefine our understanding of what happiness really is? ✓ analyse large-scale well-being data to reveal new insights ✓ question materialistic assumptions by modelling emotional impact ✓ simulate alternative lifestyles and their happiness outcomes ✓ test philosophical theories of happiness with real-world metrics ✓ offer pluralistic frameworks for emotional fulfilment 〆replace individual introspection with prescriptive happiness scores 〆reach a universally agreed-upon definition across societies pluralistic frameworks = multiple coexisting approaches that recognize diverse ways of achieving a goal, such as happiness emotional fulfilment = the experience of having one's emotional needs and aspirations satisfied 123 personalized mental health support = tailoring psychological or emotional assistance to individual needs using data-driven insights or AI-based understanding public service optimization = improving the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of services provided by government or public institutions using intelligent systems artificial empathy = the simulated ability of machines to recognize and respond to human emotions, often without true understanding or consciousness confirmation bias = tendency to favour information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs or assumptions, often reinforced by algorithmic filtering human-AI collaboration = cooperative interaction between people and intelligent systems to solve problems or accomplish tasks universal basic income = regular, unconditional payment provided to all citizens to cover basic living expenses, potentially supported by AI-driven productivity digital divide = gap between individuals or communities with access to digital technology and those without inclusive policymaking = designing laws or decisions by considering the needs and voices of diverse or marginalized groups behavioural nudging = subtly steering people's choices or behaviours using psychological or environmental cues without restricting freedom algorithmic decision-making = using automated systems to make judgements or take actions that impact human lives, often raising accountability concerns co-creation tools = digital or AI-driven platforms that support shared innovation or artistic expression between humans and machines purpose-driven path = life direction centred around meaningful values or contributions rather than material success emotional resilience = the capacity to recover from stress or adversity by managing emotions effectively intelligent mediators = AI systems designed to facilitate conversations or resolve conflicts between people or groups pluralistic frameworks = multiple coexisting approaches that recognize diverse ways of achieving a goal, such as happiness emotional fulfilment = the experience of having one's emotional needs and aspirations satisfied 122 20250627 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Do we still need religion in the 21 century? By the end of this session you will have studied How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ingenious and how flexible the human mind is," Boroditsky says. "Human minds have invented not one cognitive universe, but 7,000. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 121 1 Do we still need religion in the 21 century? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Should we rely on the Old Testament or Coran to shape today's values? In an era driven by science and technology, what role does religion continue to play in shaping moral values and ethics for individuals and societies? ✓ rooted in centuries-old traditions and teachings ✓ influenced by cultural and social contexts ✓ offering frameworks for distinguishing right from wrong ✓ complemented by secular ethics and legal systems ✓ challenged by scientific explanations of natural phenomena ✓ reinforced through community and ritual practices ✓ adapted to modern societal changes and dilemmas ethics = system of moral principles that governs the behaviour of individuals and groups, often influenced by cultural, religious, or philosophical beliefs, guiding notions of right and wrong secular = not connected with spiritual or religious matters How does religion contribute to community building and social cohesion in increasingly globalised and diverse societies? ✓ fosters a sense of belonging through shared beliefs ✓ facilitates social networks and support systems ✓ promotes collective rituals and celebrations ✓ creates common identity amidst cultural diversity ✓ provides conflict resolution mechanisms ✓ adapts to multicultural environments ✓ sometimes challenged by secular or pluralistic values social cohesion = bonds and connections that bring people together in a community, fostering trust, cooperation, and a shared sense of belonging Can the psychological comfort and hope provided by religion still be essential in addressing modern-day anxieties and existential questions? ✓ offers meaning and purpose in life’s uncertainties ✓ supports mental health through faith and prayer ✓ alleviates fears of death and the unknown ✓ delivers hope during crises and personal struggles ✓ complements by psychological therapies and secular support ✓ maintains relevance despite increasing secularization ✓ adapts to contemporary mental health understandings existential questions = fundamental inquiries about human existence, purpose, and the nature of life, often addressed by philosophy, religion, or personal reflection With the rise of secular humanism, is religion still necessary for providing moral guidance and community, or can secular frameworks fully replace it? ✓ emphasises human reason and ethics without divine authority ✓ creates alternative moral frameworks based on empathy ✓ develops communities around shared human values ✓ challenges religious monopoly on morality ✓ sometimes lacks ritual and spiritual dimensions ✓ coexists with religious traditions in pluralistic societies ✓ encourages critical thinking and inclusivity secular humanism = philosophy that emphasizes human reason, ethics, and justice, rejecting supernatural beliefs and promoting human welfare through rational thought How does religion influence political and cultural identities in the 21st century, and what implications does this have for social harmony? ✓ shapes political ideologies and party platforms ✓ reinforces cultural heritage and traditions ✓ mobilises communities around religious causes ✓ sometimes fuels sectarianism and conflict ✓ influences laws and public policy in various countries ✓ encourages interfaith dialogue and peace-building efforts ✓ affects globalisation and migration dynamics identity politics = political positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which people identify, often including religion, ethnicity, or culture sectarianism = (often disapproving) strong support for one particular religious or political group, especially when this leads to violence between different groups Do advancements in science and technology diminish the need for religious explanations of natural and metaphysical phenomena? ✓ explain natural phenomena through empirical evidence ✓ reduce reliance on supernatural causation ✓ enhance understanding of the universe and life ✓ leave some metaphysical and spiritual questions open ✓ lead to coexistence of scientific and religious world views ✓ prompt reinterpretations of religious texts ✓ foster dialogue between science and faith communities empirical evidence = information acquired by observation or experimentation, forming the basis for scientific knowledge and understanding In what ways might religion still be essential in addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and human rights? ✓ inspires ethical stewardship of the environment ✓ motivates charitable actions and social justice movements ✓ provides moral frameworks supporting human dignity ✓ unites diverse groups around common causes ✓ encourages compassion and altruism ✓ sometimes conflicts with political or economic interests ✓ collaborates with secular organizations for global impact stewardship = responsible management and care of resources, environment, or people, often grounded in ethical or religious principles altruism = fact of caring about the needs and happiness of other people more than your own How do younger generations perceive religion, and does this perception indicate a continuing need or a gradual decline in its societal relevance? ✓ display diverse attitudes from devout to secular ✓ express scepticism towards institutional religion ✓ seek spirituality outside traditional frameworks ✓ value inclusivity and personal meaning ✓ influenced by global connectivity and multiculturalism ✓ reflect changing social norms and priorities ✓ suggest both transformation and continuity of religious roles spirituality = broad concept involving a search for meaning, connection, or transcendence, which may or may not be linked to formal religion devout = believing strongly in a particular religion and obeying its laws and practices 120 ethics = system of moral principles that governs the behaviour of individuals and groups, often influenced by cultural, religious, or philosophical beliefs, guiding notions of right and wrong secular /ˈsekjulə/ = not connected with spiritual or religious matters social cohesion = bonds and connections that bring people together in a community, fostering trust, cooperation, and a shared sense of belonging existential questions = fundamental inquiries about human existence, purpose, and the nature of life, often addressed by philosophy, religion, or personal reflection secular humanism = philosophy that emphasizes human reason, ethics, and justice, rejecting supernatural beliefs and promoting human welfare through rational thought identity politics = political positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which people identify, often including religion, ethnicity, or culture sectarianism = (often disapproving) strong support for one particular religious or political group, especially when this leads to violence between different groups empirical evidence = information acquired by observation or experimentation, forming the basis for scientific knowledge and understanding stewardship = responsible management and care of resources, environment, or people, often grounded in ethical or religious principles altruism = fact of caring about the needs and happiness of other people more than your own spirituality = broad concept involving a search for meaning, connection, or transcendence, which may or may not be linked to formal religion devout /dɪˈvaut/ = believing strongly in a particular religion and obeying its laws and practices 119 20250625 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Pondering People - introduction & technical details By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 118 OBS - feedback active textbook 117 How to choose a microphone? active textbook https://www.akg.com/microphones/condenser-microphones/C1000_S.html Audio frequency bandwidth: 50 to 20000 Hz Equivalent noise level: 21 dB-A Sensitivity: 6 mV/Pa Signal to Noise: 73 dB-A Preattenuation Pad: 10 dB Bass cut filter: 80 Hz Electrical impedance: 200 Ohms Recommended load impedance: 2000 Ohms T / Cl What is self-noise (or equivalent noise level)? https://www.neumann.com/fr-fr/company/neumann-im-homestudio/homestudio-academy/what-is-self-noise-or-equivalent-noise-level/ WHY LOW NOISE IS IMPORTANT Noise can be a burden. While a relatively noisy mic must be placed very close to the source to achieve an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, a low noise mic gives you much greater freedom of placement. Low microphone noise, thus, is more than just a technicality. It is your creative “elbow room”. For condenser microphones, noise is usually specified in terms of “equivalent noise level”. A more common term is “self-noise”, as this is the signal the microphone produces of itself, even when no sound source is present. The proper way to measure self-noise is to put the entire microphone into a soundproof container. However, some manufacturers simply measure the microphone without the capsule. The latter method gives (seemingly!) better figures. Usually, self-noise is given in dB-A. The “A” stands for A-weighting, which is a method to simulate human perception. For instance, we’re much less sensitive to noise in the low frequencies than we are to noise in the mid-band, where the human voice resides. Reputable manufacturers such as Neumann give additional noise figures according to other (stricter) measurement standards, but just about any manufacturer will give A-weighted self-noise, which happens to be the measurement method that results in the lowest figures. WHAT’S A GOOD SELF-NOISE FIGURE? Anything below 10 dB-A is extremely low noise. The exact figure is unimportant, as even a very quiet recording room will contribute quite a bit more ambient noise than 10 dB-A. Typically, extremely low self-noise figures are only found on modern day large diaphragm condenser mics, such as the Neumann TLM 103. 11-15 dB-A is still very good. You may be able to discern some very slight noise in critical applications. But usually, such noise is impossible to hear in the context of the whole mix. 11-15 dB-A is about as low a self-noise figure as you’ll find on a small diaphragm condenser (such as the Neumann KM 184) or an excellent large diaphragm condenser with tube electronics (such as the Neumann M 149 Tube). 16-19 dB-A is good enough for most purposes. You may hear some noise when you record relatively quiet instruments, but it’s usually unobtrusive. 20-23 dB-A is a pretty high self-noise figure for a studio microphone. This is an area where every decibel counts, because we’ve reached a noise level that’s clearly audible. Such noise figures may be acceptable when you record loud sources, but not for anything below speaking level. 24 dB-A and above: Such self-noise figures are unworthy of a studio microphone. Self-noise is rarely specified for dynamic microphones. That’s because their noise performance is largely dependent on the microphone preamp used. As a rule of thumb: Dynamic microphones on an ultra-low noise preamp reach self-noise figures of about 18 dB-A. ]]> 116 Pondering people - coaching & mentoring series active textbook topics subject to changes 20230321 Interviews drills | STAR method vs Minto Pyramid 20220429 Describing success stories with the STAR approach (cont. from previous lesson) (tbc) 20240301 STAR, Minto Pyramid, 1PBL & BLUF 20240517 How can you tease or whet the appetite of a recruiter at a job interview? 20240419 Refining BLUF & Minto Pyramid answers with generative AI (tbc) 20240202 High and low context cultures 20231201 Hofstede cultural dimensions - How to use power distance, restraint & indulgence 20200903 Giving examples of mentorship 20200902 Answering leadership interview questions 20200831 Giving examples of mentorship 20210317 Thinking win/win 20210322 Negotiating within BATNA 20210324 Negotiating objectives 20210329 Making a negotiation plan 20231013 Pondering People series | Questions & answers Episode 5 - Negotiating job offers 20230616 Pondering People series | Cultural misalignment of negotiation expectations 20210331 Stalling for time in a negotiation 20230707 Pondering People series | Questions & answers episode 1 (dry-run) 20210215 Using voice modulation, posture, mannerism in presentations 20210211 Public speaking 20210208 Delivering an elevator pitch 20210204 Supporting your pitch with arguments (scalability, penetration, ROI...) 20210203 Comparing elevator pitches, sales pitches & presentations 20210201 Structuring an elevator pitch 20230306 Making staff feel safe 20231103 Lewis model horizons 20231113 Hofstede cultural dimensions - How to use power distance, restraint & indulgence 20240304 Robert Cialdini's principles of influence 20231016 Mentoring - Q&A session 20230717 Management styles, successful managers 20230728 Dealing with talented volatile managers 20230403 Risk assessment 20230410 Defusing tension todo Corporate anthropology todo Personal / Success stories ]]> 115 Narrative progression active textbook 114 20250616 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Can societies be inoculated to radicalisation & violent extremism? By the end of this session you will have studied Political Correctness Works For No One | Jonathan Kay | TEDxUTSC - 16 Sept 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPdMG3oFGac → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 113 1 Can societies be inoculated to radicalisation & violent extremism? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png The future of humanity is a future of co-existence (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Global Conference on Youth, Peace and Security, Amman, 21-22 August 2015) Drivers of violent extremism, United Nations Development Programme Preventing violent extremism through promoting inclusive development, tolerance and respect for diversity United Nations Development Programme - A development response to addressing radicalisation and violent extremism https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Preventing%20Violent%20Extremism%20by%20Promoting%20Inclusive%20%20Development.pdf → answer the questions]]> What makes a person more susceptible to being radicalised? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/radicalisation ]]> Who is most likely to be radicalised? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09546553.2025.2463591&ved=2ahUKEwj9z_uzrPaNAxWNKBAIHSU-Go0QFnoECCEQAw&usg=AOvVaw2vTAYPbcV70S8Ugz0TN8Ej ]]> What are the steps from radicalization to violent extremism? alienation = state of feeling estranged or separated from one's milieu, work, products of work, or self What are extremist ideologies? https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Preventing%20Violent%20Extremism%20by%20Promoting%20Inclusive%20%20Development.pdf ]]> nihilistic = believing that nothing has any value, especially that religious and moral principles have no value abduction = criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member Can governments be held responsible for fuelling extremism? https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Preventing%20Violent%20Extremism%20by%20Promoting%20Inclusive%20%20Development.pdf ]]> vacuum = situation in which sb/sth is missing or lacking How can you make societies better inoculated against violent extremism? https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/Discussion%20Paper%20-%20Preventing%20Violent%20Extremism%20by%20Promoting%20Inclusive%20%20Development.pdf ]]> to inoculate sb (against sth) = to protect a person or an animal from catching a particular disease by injecting them with a mild form of the disease 112 alienation = state of feeling estranged or separated from one's milieu, work, products of work, or self nihilistic = believing that nothing has any value, especially that religious and moral principles have no value abduction = criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member vacuum = situation in which sb/sth is missing or lacking to inoculate sb (against sth) = to protect a person or an animal from catching a particular disease by injecting them with a mild form of the disease 111 20250606 17:05-18:00 1.5 active How to achieve long lasting peace? By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 110 1 How to achieve long lasting peace? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What are the challenges lying ahead to achieve a ceasefire & building a long-lasting peace? What can we learn from the reconstruction of Germany after WW2? Certainly. Here's a set of bullet points, each composed with only infinitive and/or past participle phrases, modeled after the reconstruction of post-WWII Germany and the peace process in former Yugoslavia to suggest strategies for sustainable peace in Ukraine: Certainly. Below are 7 bullet points proposing steps to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Palestine, each around 120 words and composed using only infinitives (without the particle “to”) and/or past participles: —steps mirrored in the Marshall Plan —steps taken to stabilize postwar Germany —efforts rooted in postwar reconciliation. principles applied in the Dayton Accords. —arrangements seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina. —steps followed under UN and NATO supervision —lessons drawn from the Nuremberg Trials —policies critical to long-term legitimacy —missions led by UNHCR and OSCE. —efforts supported by the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. What measures are the most pressing to begin a peace process? ✓ end hostilities immediately → enforce bilateral ceasefire → withdraw armed forces from civilian zones ✓ guarantee humanitarian access → deploy international monitors → facilitate de-escalation through verified channels 〆don't weaponise food & aid distribution ✓ prevent further civilian casualties → dismantle offensive military capabilities threatening population centres pressing = needing to be dealt with immediately; urgent to dismantle = to end an organization or system gradually in an organized way What are the milestones of a diplomatic end to war? ✓ initiate direct negotiations → include all stakeholders → secure regional guarantees ✓ empower third-party mediators with authority and credibility → formalize ceasefire terms → recognize mutual sovereignty claims & shared grievances → build peace dividends through regional cooperation ✓ identify an impartial country to endorse the role of mediator e.g. initially Turkey, Hungary, the EU, and finally the USA? → only NATO features sufficient deterring power to stop the conflict on the ground 〆Russia is unlikely to trigger a third world war with a nuclear bomb sovereignty = state of being a country with freedom to govern itself grievance (against sb) = something that you think is unfair and that you complain or protest about How are recent conflict zones demilitarized? What would you expect to be carried out in DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration) programmes? ✓ demobilize armed groups → disband extremist formations → collect illicit arms ✓ secure borders → have international peacekeepers deployed and trusted e.g. possible role of European soldiers? → would a mixed army from the UN of Chinese & South American be credible and competent enough? ✓ prioritise civilian safety → retrain security forces → reintegrate and monitor former fighters → de-legitimise violence to disband = to stop sb/sth from operating as a group; to separate or no longer operate as a group What legal measures should be taken to maintain peace once a truce has been reached? ✓ establish rule-of-law institutions → create impartial tribunals & cooperate with international courts → prosecute war crimes 〆would function only if Russia lost the war ✓ acknowledge atrocities & foster reconciliation through truth → hear both victors and victims 〆perhaps able to sentence only officers responsible for crimes against humanity in Bucha ✓ balance amnesty and responsibility → ensure legal accountability → make justice visible → extradite indicted individuals 〆ICC lost credibility by lacking means to implement verdicts rule of law = political and legal ideal that all people and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers, government officials, and judges. It is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Is defined as "the mechanism, process, institution, practice, or norm that supports the equality of all citizens before the law, secures a nonarbitrary form of government, and more generally prevents the arbitrary use of power" reconciliation (between A and B) | (with sb) = end to a disagreement and the start of a good relationship again to extradite = to officially send back sb who has been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country where the crime was committed indicted /,in'daitəd/ = officially charged with a crime What means are necessary to avoid collective punishment? ✓ release political prisoners & POW (prisoners of war) → establish independent human rights inquiries → reduce resentment through justice ✓ have detainees treated humanely → monitor conditions with international oversight → protect civilians from arbitrary detention POW = prisoner of war detainee = person who is kept in prison, usually because of his or her political opinions What ought to be on the political agenda? ✓ align governance with peace objectives → dismantle war economy → enable civilian leadership over armed factions → decentralize governance ✓ support democratic elections → empower local councils → ensure political pluralism ✓ legitimize leadership (earn it - don't impose it) → draft a participatory constitution 〆war is unlikely to end until Putin is perceived as an illegitimate president ✓ engage communities → prioritise inclusion ✓ lead reforms domestically → root corruption out → restore public services ✓ rebuild livelihoods to prevent extremism livelihood = means of earning money in order to live Can a country's values be re-educated to ensure de-nazification or an end to fascism? ✓ use education for reconciliation → reform school curricula → promote civic values ✓ de-programme harmful ideologies → challenge propaganda → cultivate critical thinking → teach historical facts ✓ guarantee media pluralism → have future generations invest in peace → invest in youth programmes pluralism = existence of many different groups of people in one society, for example people of different races or of different political or religious beliefs; belief that it is possible and good for different groups of people to live together in peace in one society critical thinking = process of analysing available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to make sound conclusions or informed choices Can displacement and ethnic cleansing be reversed? How? ✓ support displaced persons → return refugees safely → compensate victims → acknowledge trauma ✓ restore property rights → pursue restitution → rebuild destroyed homes ✓ guarantee access to religious sites cleansing = policy of forcing the people of a particular race or religion to leave an area or a country to pursue = to do sth or try to achieve sth over a period of time Can social cohesion be rebuilt despite harboured resentment? ✓ rebuild multicultural societies → protect minorities & have mixed communities re-established → promote regional dialogue ✓ sustain grass-roots peace → support civil society → empower local NGOs = have trust rebuilt from below ✓ defuse nationalisms → have polarization softened → prevent provocation through binding protocols resentment = feeling of anger or unhappiness about sth that you think is unfair grass roots = ordinary people in society or in an organization, rather than the leaders or people who make decisions How can you manage identity-based tensions in post-war societies? ✓ create power-sharing structures → ensure minority representation → protect language rights → prevent ethnic domination ✓ consider federal models → guarantee local autonomy What role can international stakeholders play in maintaining peace? ✓ negotiate international agreements → ensure all major actors are included → enforce terms through external guarantors → avoid victor’s justice ✓ have military presence legitimized by consensus → have ceasefires respected → have territorial disputes frozen → have mediation led multilaterally ✓ condition support on non-violence → lift economic blockades → reopen crossings under international supervision → restore essential services ✓ link reconstruction to deconfliction mechanisms → provide monitored aid distribution → encourage investment in shared projects What steps should be followed to normalise trade between former countries in conflict? ✓ prioritize shared interests → foster regional cooperation → integrate former enemies → create economic interdependence → normalise trade ✓ strengthen collective security ✓ soften borders through collaboration What macro-economic actions need being implemented to restart the industry? ✓ provide economic aid → rebuild infrastructure → use infrastructure for integration ✓ stabilize currency ✓ link investment to reform What is critical to long-term legitimacy? ✓ reject impunity ✓ dignify victims ✓ document history ✓ counter denial by truth impunity = not being punished for a committing a crime 109 pressing = needing to be dealt with immediately; urgent to dismantle = to end an organization or system gradually in an organized way sovereignty = state of being a country with freedom to govern itself grievance (against sb) = something that you think is unfair and that you complain or protest about to disband = to stop sb/sth from operating as a group; to separate or no longer operate as a group rule of law = political and legal ideal that all people and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers, government officials, and judges. It is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Is defined as "the mechanism, process, institution, practice, or norm that supports the equality of all citizens before the law, secures a nonarbitrary form of government, and more generally prevents the arbitrary use of power" reconciliation (between A and B) | (with sb) = end to a disagreement and the start of a good relationship again to extradite = to officially send back sb who has been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country where the crime was committed indicted /,in'daitəd/ = officially charged with a crime POW = prisoner of war detainee = person who is kept in prison, usually because of his or her political opinions livelihood = means of earning money in order to live pluralism = existence of many different groups of people in one society, for example people of different races or of different political or religious beliefs; belief that it is possible and good for different groups of people to live together in peace in one society critical thinking = process of analysing available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to make sound conclusions or informed choices cleansing = policy of forcing the people of a particular race or religion to leave an area or a country to pursue = to do sth or try to achieve sth over a period of time resentment = feeling of anger or unhappiness about sth that you think is unfair grass roots = ordinary people in society or in an organization, rather than the leaders or people who make decisions impunity = not being punished for a committing a crime 108 20250604 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Political correctness works for no one - Jonathan Kay By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 107 1 Political correctness works for no one - Jonathan Kay 20240110 hw20240117 active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Do you believe political correctness really makes things better? For whom? Political Correctness Works For No One | Jonathan Kay | TEDxUTSC - 16 Sept 2019 Jonathan Kay is the Canadian editor for Quillette.com, a host of the Quillette and Wrongspeak podcasts, a book author and a columnist. His work has appeared recently in the National Post, Washington Post, The Atlantic, CBC.ca, Foreign Affairs and Maclean’s. His books include Among The Truthers(HarperCollins, 2011) and Legacy: How French Canadians Shaped North America (Signal, 2016). He is currently working on two book projects scheduled for publication in 2019. He tweets daily on the news at @jonkay. Jonathan Kay is the Canadian editor for Quillette.com, a host of the Quillette and Wrongspeak podcasts, a book author and a columnist. His work has appeared recently in the National Post, Washington Post, The Atlantic, CBC.ca, Foreign Affairs and Maclean’s. His books include Among The Truthers (HarperCollins, 2011) and Legacy: How French Canadians Shaped North America (Signal, 2016). He is currently working on two book projects scheduled for publication in 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPdMG3oFGac → watch the video → answer the questions ]]> political_correctness_works_for_no_one_jonathan_kay_TEDxUTSC_tPdMG3oFGac.mp4 Introduction my name is Jonathan Kaye I'm the Canadian editor for Colette comm a podcaster a book author many people in the Twitter community have described me as a professional shitty story one of the previous speakers she mentioned about her intersectional nature she talked about going to Starbucks and being the one who had the really really complicated latte I just warned you I'm the guy who goes to the gas station and gets the instant coffee in the microwave so my perspective is a little different but I do want to build bridges my subject is political correctness and I think when people look at someone like me they assume that I'm gonna start my presentation by going through a long angry list of recent episodes and controversies people who got shut up or were censored or were mobbed in some way but I don't want to recite that list of controversies because I think most people in this room already know the episodes I'm talking about they're pretty well covered in the news I also want to make sure that when people watch this video on YouTube which I hope they do in coming years they find it relevant in a way that goes past recent headlines because the problem of political correctness that I'm talking about is a problem that is ageless it's a problem that goes back in fact to ancient times since people have been using words they have been using those words to shut down people who are using words that they don't like some of the foundational and most violent disputes in Islam and Judaism and Christianity involve people trying to dictate what language other people use what languages they use for God or for prayer or for believers or for heretics and many of those discussions that were had many of those arguments and controversies essentially followed the same politically correct pattern that now dictates the arguments we have over land and hashtags and everything else that informs our arguments about this subject I also want to acknowledge the fact that political correctness is a bipartisan phenomenon we typically talk about it these days as problem on the left but you also see it on the right side of the political spectrum if you go on a right-wing Facebook group and you say something nasty about Donald Trump I can guarantee you you will see a politically correct reaction from your audience even if they don't call it political correctness I'd also like to acknowledge that even though political correctness has a negative connotation it starts out with good intentions we all want to live in a society that has less racism and less sexism and less homophobia and transphobia the problem isn't with bad intentions behind political correctness the problem is human nature human beings love power they love the power to shut up other people and they will leverage any rule any law any standard to attain that power and that's how political correctness affects our society it's not just that we can't say a limited range of things we can't resonate with other people on any subject we want to take the subject of today's event we become more passive aggressive we become more aggressive we become more passive aggressive because we are encouraged to feel more pain more emotional discomfort when other people say things that we disagree with then we become more aggressive because we weaponize that pain that we feel we mob people on social media we attack people now it used to be political correctness in the old days when I was younger when I was at college you had to use an intermediary you had to go through government or you had to go through a human rights tribunal to shut somebody down that's not the case anymore you can go directly to Facebook or to Twitter this is one of the ways that political correctness has changed you know when I was younger the dominant metaphor was big brother from Georgia where Orwell's novel 1984 Big Brother but that model doesn't exist anymore the idea of a single authoritarian power shutting people down these days people their censorship the telescreen that existed on the wall in the novel 1984 that telescreen is now in our hands that's how we censor people we don't depend on Big Brother we have become Big Brother now some people may say well that's fine you may call it Big Brother you may call it political correctness but it's about calling people out on racism and sexism online and surely that's a good thing the problem is that the people who suffer most are the smallest fish in the ocean they're the people who don't have any power they're the people who get called out the big players on the other hand someone like for instance Jordan Peterson he doesn't get called out or if he does he has the power to overcome it Jordan Peterson of course is a tenured University of Toronto professor at the school where we're having this event he says politically correct things all the time politically incorrect things all the time but he doesn't suffer much for it in fact his last book sold I think 2 million copies because he has the power to fight back political correctness targets people who can't fight back and this plays out institutionally as well I have experience in journalism on the left and on the right I worked for a progressive liberal magazine and I also worked for a conservative newspaper it was at the left-wing liberal magazine that I saw political correctness was the most acute that's because of the crowdsource nature of political correctness these days it's the people within your own networks who hurt you so if you're a conservative it actually doesn't hurt you that much if you're a conservative the people in your networks don't mind if you say politically incorrect things in fact they're cheerleading you when I worked at that conservative newspaper my most popular columns were the ones denouncing political correctness when I went to that left-wing magazine as I said despite the fact that the actual substance of what I was publishing what I was saying was progressive stuff the people I work with were terrified of saying the wrong thing that's because the people in their social networks were the enforcers of politically correct orthodoxy this is what's different from the old days in the old days you ran afoul of a central authority these days you run afoul of your friends your colleagues your relatives people who have the same opinions as you and who monitor everything you say closely some of the smartest people I worked with in my career were at that left-wing progressive magazine but they were people who were scared to say what they wanted to say because they thought that they were always one hashtag or one syllable one pronoun one mistake away from a career-ending utterance and so they kept their mouth shut whole weeks would go by when they wouldn't say anything on Twitter or Facebook or if they did they talk about their clothes or what they ate meanwhile my conservative friends are jabbering away they don't care that's why if you remember one thing from this presentation please remember this political correctness despite the fact that it's supposed to be a left-wing doctrine hurts people on the Left more than it hurts people on the right because of the crowdsourced nature of its implementation that's why I don't like to talk about scandals that you see in the news that much because the scandals don't tell the whole story you know do I think it's terrible that some conservative professor was shut down on a university campus or someone pulled a fire alarm or ben shapiro was prevented from speaking at berkeley or something like that yeah that's annoying it's not good but the real scandal isn't those isolated scandals the real scandal is everything you don't hear about because people don't speak their mind because they're scared and so no one notices because no one says anything and as I say that hurts people on the left more than hurts people on the right this very week I said I wasn't going to talk a lot about examples but something happened this very week that I thought was highly illustrative it was it involved the children's and young adult author named Ellen oh and I could not think of a more impeccably diverse multicultural ally and advocate and is known in the world of young adult fiction for her advocacy of diversity and even started an organization called we need more diverse books she went on Twitter earlier this week and started calling out peoples that people of color can be racist to which is true and we need people of color to to be more rigorous about their messaging because a lot of them are tone deaf mistake you can imagine how people responded they say tone deaf that's insulting a few hours later she gets back on Twitter and says I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I offended people by saying the word deaf and then at the end she apologizes she says thank you for pointing out my mistake and making me a better person or words to the effect by the way this is how you can always tell if you're in the midst of a politically correct cult if people end by thanking their tormentors for pointing out how horrible they are you know when when the witches thank the witch hunters that's when you know that during a cult and this is a serious problem and as I say it's limiting the range of opinions people hear and in fact it attacks the very premise of this event we're having the idea of resonance resonance works great when you're on the same wavelength with somebody when someone is on a different wavelength the concept of resonance both in physics and in society it becomes more complicated and you need a robust society a robust commitment to freedom of speech so that people who have different wavelengths can communicate with each other and don't shut each other down so what are the solutions I see three solutions oh I see more but I have a limited amount of time the first is we shouldn't be part of the problem it means if we disagree with somebody you hear something you disagree with try not to medicalize it try not to assign psychic pain or emotional discomfort to it without first saying maybe I just disagreed with that it doesn't mean I'm suffering some kind of medical reaction to it now there are some kinds of words and phrases that truly are medically painful in the way they they affect us we all know those those words and phrases I'm not gonna repeat them here in those cases it's fine to say those words hurt me because some words really do hurt I get that but in borderline cases ask yourself is the pain I'm feeling is the discomfort I'm feeling is it authentic or is it a political artifact of the environment in which we live where I am encouraged to experience different kinds of opinions different senses of humor different kinds of communication as authoring as a form of attack on me when it's not sometimes it's just at different wavelengths that happens - so ask yourself that cross examine yourself about your reaction to things the other thing is when somebody does force you to submit to political correctness try to resist but I'm not naive I know that especially for young people it's impossible sometimes sometimes to keep your job or to keep your place in school or to keep yourself you're placing a peer group it's necessary to submit to politically correct regimes but what I would ask is that if you do have to submit destroy the premise of the person who is trying to shut you up say to them look I get it I have to delete the tweet I have to apologize I have to do this I have to go to a diversity class or what not because of what I said fine you have more power than me that's why I'm doing what you want me to do not because I agree with the premise that I caused anybody psychological pain but because you have more power than me I also will tell you that if the roles are reversed in a few years and I have that power over you I will not be using that power in the same way because I want to live in a society where free speech is valued more than the feelings of people who may or may not be offended by what I have to say the third thing I would say my third solution voice your community regardless of whether or not you're offended I happen to be Jewish when I'm online and I see somebody getting called out for saying something that's allegedly anti-semitic bad joke stereotype if I don't think it's anti-semitic I will say so I will jump in and say I'm Jewish I don't find that offensive relax we've all seen Seinfeld we can tell the jokes I tried to use my moral capital as a Jew to say that something isn't anti-semitic if it's not and you can do the same thing with it whether you're gay trans black Jewish not Jewish it doesn't matter voice your community regardless of whether you're offended or not because if we leave the marketplace of ideas to people who are constantly offended and we don't speak up when we're not offending we have no one else to blame but ourselves if the marketplace of ideas is taken over by Big Brother's little minions thank you you What kind of person gets their coffee at a petrol station & warms it up in the microwave? Why does Jonathan introduce himself this way? What bridges does he want to build? [00:30-01:04] He probably does it not to offend a person who works at a petrol station and makes this coffee by saying that the drink is cold. He doesn’t want to make any fuss about it and look like he’s nitpicking < ! - - (Tatiana Bogomolova) - - > ✓ His action of getting coffee at a petrol station and warming it in the microwave may symbolize a practical, no-frills approach to life, which could be perceived as a low-context behavior. It also represents a pragmatic, down-to-earth mindset. His choice of coffee and method of preparation could align with a linear-active mindset, which values efficiency and straightforwardness. It may resonate with cultures that emphasize a focus on indulgence versus restraint, favoring simplicity over extravagance --> ]]> fastidiousness = trait of being meticulous about matters of taste or style Why is the problem of political correctness ageless? [01:31-02:01] ✓ goes back in fact to ancient times since people have been using words ✓ they have been using those words to shut down people who are using words that they don't like 〆political correctness is leveraged to silence opposing viewpoints → maintain existing power structures = arguably synonymous of high uncertainty avoidance = reminiscent of collectivism & restraint rather than more progressive, indulgence oriented individualism ✓ some of the foundational and most violent disputes in Islam and Judaism and Christianity involve people trying to dictate what language other people use what languages they use for God or for prayer or for believers or for heretics = inclination to control language and expression → reduce potential sources of conflict or confusion → high uncertainty avoidance What does he mean by political correctness being a bipartisan phenomenon? [02:21] ✓ problem is on the left but you also see it on the right side of the political spectrum → any political group can demonstrate tendencies to control language → any political group can conform to certain standards in ways that limit open discourse bipartisan /baɪˌpɑ:tɪˈzæn/ = involving two (political) parties Why aren't good intentions just not enough? [02:45] ✓ we all want to live in a society that has less racism and less sexism and less homophobia and transphobia 〆the problem is human nature → human beings love power → they love the power to shut up other people → they will leverage any rule, any law, any standard to attain that power = restraint rather than indulgence Why are we becoming more passive aggressive? [03:42] ✓ we are encouraged to feel more pain, more emotional discomfort when other people say things that we disagree with ✓ we weaponise that pain → individuals avoid direct confrontation → resort instead to passive-aggressive tactics when faced with disagreement or emotional discomfort How was political correctness in the old days, how has it changed now? [04:08-05:16] ✓ the dominant metaphor was Big Brother from George Orwell's novel 1984 Big Brother = idea of a single authoritarian power shutting people down → high uncertainty avoidance, restraint and power distance ✓ we have become Big Brother → nowadays, we can call people out on racism and sexism online = levels of indulgence and uncertainty avoidance have decreased → majority of people are not afraid to take risks and express their opinions mobbing = bullying of an individual by a group, in any context, such as a family, peer group, school, workplace, neighbourhood, community, or online. When it occurs as physical and emotional abuse in the workplace, such as "ganging up" by co-workers, subordinates or superiors, to force someone out of the workplace through rumour, innuendo, intimidation, humiliation, discrediting, and isolation, it is also referred to as malicious, non-sexual, non-racial/racial, general harassment What does Jonathan contest about political correctness? [05:20-06:08] ✓ political correctness targets people who can't fight back 〆big wigs can get away with politically incorrect contents = can afford to do so because of their reputation & their power to fight back big wig = important person Why does political correctness as a left-wing doctrine hurt actually people more on the left than on the right end of the spectrum? [06:24-07:10] ✓ politically correct behaviour is supposed to be a left-wing doctrine → care about the minorities 〆hurts people on the left more than it hurts people on the right → should be extremely careful of every single hashtag/syllable/pronoun e.g. firefighter ← fireman house-maker ← house-wife chalkboard ← blackboard Why are some people terrified of saying the wrong thing? What has changed? [07:11] ✓ people in their social networks are the enforcers of politically correct orthodoxy = different from the old days → in the old days you ran afoul of a central authority → these days you run afoul of your friends, your colleagues, your relatives = people who have the same opinions as you but who monitor everything you say closely 〆always one hashtag, or one syllable, one pronoun, one mistake away from a career-ending utterance = increased awareness and scrutiny of language → unreported cases where individuals self-censor out of fear ✓ political correctness is leveraged to silence opposing viewpoints → maintain existing power structures enforcer = one whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior to run afoul of sth (AmEn) = to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule or sth that people in authority disapprove of What is the real scandal about political correctness? [08:53-09:20] ✓ you don't hear everything because people don't speak their mind ✓ refrain from self-expression = fear of facing backlash → opt to remain silent = self-censorship → no one notices → limiting the range of opinions people hear to undermine = to make sth, especially sb's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective; to make sth weaker at the base, for example by digging under it backlash (~ against | from) = strong negative reaction by a large number of people, for example to sth that has recently changed in society What solutions does Jonathan recommend? What question(s) should one ask themselves? [11:25] → 3 solutions [12:25] [13:00] [14:14] if we disagree with somebody, or you hear something you disagree with → try not to medicalize it [12:25] i.e. not to assign psychic pain or emotional discomfort to it e.g. Is the pain or discomfort I'm feeling authentic or a political artefact of the environment in which we live, where I am encouraged to experience different kinds of opinions? → resist if someone forces you to submit [13:00] → voice your community if you think it's not offending [14:14] artefact = feature not naturally present, introduced during preparation or investigation to go against the grain = to be contrary to the natural inclination or feeling of someone or something to medicalise = to identify a condition as a disease so as to get treatment in order to improve your overall quality of life What conclusions are drawn? Do you agree with them? [15:06] ✓ don't stifle free speech . if we allow the marketplace of ideas to be dominated by easily offended individuals . if we fail to defend our own viewpoints when they are not offensive → we are responsible for any consequences that arise to stifle /'staifəl/ = to prevent sth from happening; to prevent a feeling from being expressed 106 perpetuation = act of prolonging something to undermine = to make sth, especially sb's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective to reprimand = to tell sb officially that you do not approve of them or their actions construct = idea or a belief that is based on various pieces of evidence which are not always true; contrast between lived reality and the construct held in the mind attuned = familiar with sb/sth so that you can understand or recognize them or it and act in an appropriate way hangover = feeling, custom, habit, etc. that remains from the past, although it is no longer practical or suitable agreeable = pleasant and easy to like to brush off = to bar from attention or consideration, to disregard slur = unfair remark about sb/sth that may damage other people's opinion of them supremacy = position in which you have more power, authority or status than anyone else Negro = (old-fashioned, often offensive) member of a race of people with dark skin who originally came from Africa swastika /ˈswɔstɪkə/ = ancient symbol in the form of a cross with its ends bent at an angle of 90 degrees, used in the 20th century as the symbol of the German Nazi party subjugation = forced submission to control by others; oppression micro insult = variety of subtle snubs, conveying a hidden insult to the recipient. Perpetrators are usually unaware they are speaking from bias micro invalidation = communications that negate or nullify the thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of colour snub = action or a comment that is deliberately rude in order to show sb that you do not like or respect them fastidiousness = trait of being meticulous about matters of taste or style mobbing = bullying of an individual by a group, in any context, such as a family, peer group, school, workplace, neighbourhood, community, or online. When it occurs as physical and emotional abuse in the workplace, such as "ganging up" by co-workers, subordinates or superiors, to force someone out of the workplace through rumour, innuendo, intimidation, humiliation, discrediting, and isolation, it is also referred to as malicious, non-sexual, non-racial/racial, general harassment enforcer = one whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior to run afoul of sth (AmEn) = to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule or sth that people in authority disapprove of to undermine = to make sth, especially sb's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective; to make sth weaker at the base, for example by digging under it backlash (~ against | from) = strong negative reaction by a large number of people, for example to sth that has recently changed in society to go against the grain = to be contrary to the natural inclination or feeling of someone or something to medicalise = to identify a condition as a disease so as to get treatment in order to improve your overall quality of life artefact = feature not naturally present, introduced during preparation or investigation to stifle /'staifəl/ = to prevent sth from happening; to prevent a feeling from being expressed 105 20250602 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Micro insults & invalidations, micro assaults By the end of this session you will have studied Political Correctness Works For No One | Jonathan Kay | TEDxUTSC - 16 Sept 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPdMG3oFGac → watch the video zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 104 3 Micro assaults (common racial micro aggressions 1/2) pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png active wip xml_multi_dd_row xml_multi_dd_row xml_multi_dd Does micro racism exist, or is it just another controversial lack of political correctness? Are you com-FOR-TA-ble? What is this ve-GE-TA-ble? iRabbit Indian help desk Sir, did you just head wobble and do the Indian accent? (...) I sense micro racism & nano supremacy in your assertions. video British 🇬🇧or Indian 🇮🇳accent? | iRabbit #4 Moontajska Productions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwRvUCi2s1U Why could this be considered a micro aggression? = remarks and behaviours which might be experienced occasionally and brushed off as ‘rude’ or ‘inconsiderate’ by white people, and are amplified by being a constant part of the affected person’s daily experience → match the micro assaults with the categories → give examples ]]> 30 12 left 1;2;3 4;5 6;7 https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity/students/microaggressions/racial-microaggressions/common-racial-micro-agressions ]]> 103 4 Micro insults & invalidations (common racial micro aggressions 2/2) pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png active wip xml_multi_dd_row xml_multi_dd_row xml_multi_dd Have you ever experienced micro insults, and / or suffered from micro invalidation? = variety of subtle snubs, conveying a hidden insult to the recipient. Perpetrators are usually unaware they are speaking from bias → micro invalidation = communications that negate or nullify the thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of colour → match the micro insults & invalidations with the categories → give examples ]]> 40 20 left 1;2;3;4;5;6 7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14 https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity/students/microaggressions/racial-microaggressions/common-racial-micro-agressions ]]> 102 to brush off = to bar from attention or consideration, to disregard slur = unfair remark about sb/sth that may damage other people's opinion of them supremacy = position in which you have more power, authority or status than anyone else Negro = (old-fashioned, often offensive) member of a race of people with dark skin who originally came from Africa swastika /ˈswɔstɪkə/ = ancient symbol in the form of a cross with its ends bent at an angle of 90 degrees, used in the 20th century as the symbol of the German Nazi party subjugation = forced submission to control by others; oppression micro insult = variety of subtle snubs, conveying a hidden insult to the recipient. Perpetrators are usually unaware they are speaking from bias micro invalidation = communications that negate or nullify the thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of colour Negro = (old-fashioned, often offensive) member of a race of people with dark skin who originally came from Africa snub = action or a comment that is deliberately rude in order to show sb that you do not like or respect them 101 20250530 16:05-17:00 1.5 active British or Indian accent - iRabbit nr4 By tHE END OF this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 100 7 Politically correct language 2/2 pix/icons8-hand-with-pen-100_white.png active wip edit_ol_qa_writing prep_ol_qa_writing edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. man → people He who cannot obey cannot command. He → A person A man's home is his castle. A person's home is their castle. Every man has his hobby horse. Everyone has their hobby horse. hobby horse = (sometimes disapproving) subject that sb feels strongly about and likes to talk about He is happy that thinks himself so. They are happy that think themselves so. ↔ Happy are those who think themselves so. 99 1 Native speakers' dialect active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Can a language be taught without being occasionally politically incorrect? ✓ if native speakers are considered politically neutral in their environment... = reminiscent of a dialect → make sure your register matches the cultural context video British 🇬🇧or Indian 🇮🇳accent? | iRabbit #4 Moontajska Productions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwRvUCi2s1U → watch the video → imagine what viewers may write in the comments → read sample comments → answer the questions]]> british_accent_or_indian_iRabbit_nr4_OwRvUCi2s1U.mp4 What is the Englishman accused of? [01:42] The damn thing doesn't seem to work I'm speaking the Queen's English Don't need your damn course Don't you bloody hell... It's a bloody umbrella 〆wrong behaviour Indian accent nano-supremacy micro-racism The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool... Did you Shakespeare me? ]]> damn = swear word that people use to show that they are annoyed, disappointed, etc bloody = swear word that many people find offensive that is used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement Why do you think Maria has a Soviet Union like accent? [02:15] ✓ caricature of threatening, totalitarian regime "I beg your pardon?" Why does the Englishman ask if Maria is from another planet? [02:23] ]]> ✓ he is not sure he has understood her well & pretends to be very surprised by what she is suggesting ✓ she explains they don't tolerate any racist, sexist, homophobic, white supremacist, neocolonial insinuations on their platform → he thinks this is excessive because he probably doesn't consider himself using such language = fish can't see water Do you think British English will become a dialect one day? Why / why not? ✓ it may have already... ✓ more non native people speak English than natives → approximately 7.8 billion inhabitants ✓ 1.35 billion speak English ~ 360 million people speak English as a first language ! most common first language is Chinese, then Spanish (English = 3rd) ✓ English is by far the most commonly studied Should RP (received pronunciation, aka BBC English) still be the kind of language taught? The truth is this is now reality. I was teaching in a class in a British University (can't name it here, or I will get sued!). It was a post-graduate class, and almost all the students were international, including Chinese, Indians, many East Europeans, Italians, French, German etc. There were just a couple of English students in the class. Every class had a case or exercise, so there was lots of group discussion in the class. Most of the time, students spoke with their respective accents in the class, but everybody understood each other all the time. And then one day, one of the few English students (who were mostly silent) spoke and made his point. Suddenly there was a stunned silence in the class! And I quickly realized this was because not one of the students understood a word of what he spoke (except for the couple of other English students!). This student was from Liverpool. Then one of the international students politely requested him to repeat what he said. Again, none of the students understood him. Then he repeated himself a third time. And then out of sheer frustration, he just said 'oh well, forget it', and gave up! But by then I had picked up what he said, and interpreted what he said for the rest of the class. That scene was remarkable for me. This was a British University sitting in the heart of London, offering a British PG degree. And yet, all the international students could converse and understand each other perfectly in English, except when the actual native English student spoke! That to me suggested English had now truly become an international language, and was no more owned by England! (although England will always get full credit for having created the language). @stephenmani8495 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwRvUCi2s1U ]]> RP (received pronunciation) = approved pronunciation of British English; originally based on the King's English as spoken at public schools and at Oxford and Cambridge Universities (and widely accepted elsewhere in Britain); until recently it was the pronunciation of English used in British broadcasting to converse = to have a conversation with sb stunned silence = silence resulting from such surprise or shock that nobody can think clearly or speak 98 damn = swear word that people use to show that they are annoyed, disappointed, etc bloody = swear word that many people find offensive that is used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement stunned silence = silence resulting from such surprise or shock that nobody can think clearly or speak RP (received pronunciation) = approved pronunciation of British English; originally based on the King's English as spoken at public schools and at Oxford and Cambridge Universities (and widely accepted elsewhere in Britain); until recently it was the pronunciation of English used in British broadcasting to converse = to have a conversation with sb supremacy = position in which you have more power, authority or status than anyone else perpetuation = act of prolonging something to undermine = to make sth, especially sb's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective to reprimand = to tell sb officially that you do not approve of them or their actions construct = idea or a belief that is based on various pieces of evidence which are not always true; contrast between lived reality and the construct held in the mind attuned = familiar with sb/sth so that you can understand or recognize them or it and act in an appropriate way hangover = feeling, custom, habit, etc. that remains from the past, although it is no longer practical or suitable agreeable = pleasant and easy to like to brush off = to bar from attention or consideration, to disregard slur = unfair remark about sb/sth that may damage other people's opinion of them supremacy = position in which you have more power, authority or status than anyone else Negro = (old-fashioned, often offensive) member of a race of people with dark skin who originally came from Africa swastika /ˈswɔstɪkə/ = ancient symbol in the form of a cross with its ends bent at an angle of 90 degrees, used in the 20th century as the symbol of the German Nazi party subjugation = forced submission to control by others; oppression micro insult = variety of subtle snubs, conveying a hidden insult to the recipient. Perpetrators are usually unaware they are speaking from bias micro invalidation = communications that negate or nullify the thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of colour snub = action or a comment that is deliberately rude in order to show sb that you do not like or respect them fastidiousness = trait of being meticulous about matters of taste or style mobbing = bullying of an individual by a group, in any context, such as a family, peer group, school, workplace, neighbourhood, community, or online. When it occurs as physical and emotional abuse in the workplace, such as "ganging up" by co-workers, subordinates or superiors, to force someone out of the workplace through rumour, innuendo, intimidation, humiliation, discrediting, and isolation, it is also referred to as malicious, non-sexual, non-racial/racial, general harassment enforcer = one whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior to run afoul of sth (AmEn) = to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule or sth that people in authority disapprove of to undermine = to make sth, especially sb's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective; to make sth weaker at the base, for example by digging under it backlash (~ against | from) = strong negative reaction by a large number of people, for example to sth that has recently changed in society to go against the grain = to be contrary to the natural inclination or feeling of someone or something to medicalise = to identify a condition as a disease so as to get treatment in order to improve your overall quality of life artefact = feature not naturally present, introduced during preparation or investigation to stifle /'staifəl/ = to prevent sth from happening; to prevent a feeling from being expressed 97 20250528 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Can political measures effectively avoid escalation of a conflict? By tHE END OF this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 96 1 Can political measures effectively avoid escalation of a conflict? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What tools can governments use to defuse tension? Are these reminiscent of a dictatorship in the name of peace? Are international legislatives bodies & sanctions effective? ✓ ICC issued arrest warrants against Putin & Nethanyahu to no avail ✓ plays the role of hurdles to avoid emotionally-based reactions ✓ functions like traffic lights to slow down & de-escalate tensions Should stronger dictatorial countries be allowed to ignore the rule of law? 〆force the law of the jungle 〆set a precedent → ignore social & democratic progress made by various civilisations 〆impose censorship in the name of peace Are military responses proportionate to threats and/or attacks endured? ✓ political manipulation? e.g. Russia's attack on Ukraine vs Israel's attack on Hamas Should the internet be under close scrutiny & censorship of each government? Can it be trusted to provide impartial evidence? 〆increase technological divide e.g. youtube vs rutube → no single truth any more, only different points of view 95 94 20250521 17:05-18:00 1.5 active It's all Greek to me By tHE END OF this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 93 8 It's all Greek to me 20231220 hw20240110 active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png 'I don't know'?
Is it all right to lose face in your culture, or will you pretend you know something at any cost rather than admit you don't?]]> It's All Greek To Me | A Bit Of Fry &Laurie | BBC Comedy Greats A Bit of Fry & Laurie is a British sketch comedy television series written by and starring former Cambridge Footlights members Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, broadcast on both BBC1 and BBC2 between 1989 and 1995. It ran for four series with 26 episodes, including a 36-minute pilot episode in 1987. As in The Two Ronnies, elaborate wordplay and innuendo were staples. It frequently broke the fourth wall; characters would revert to their real-life actors mid-sketch, or the camera would often pan off set into the studio. The show was punctuated with non sequitur vox pops in a similar style to those of Monty Python's Flying Circus, often making irrelevant statements and wordplay. Laurie was also seen playing piano and other instruments and singing comical numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqZZKwCPCj8 → watch the video → answer the questions.]]> This Octopus, what was it called? The Greek waiter: Where was it caught? What a question! In the sea. Hugh Laurie: Yeah... so, that should be OK, Gordon...]]> it_s_all_greek_to_me_a_bit_of_fry_and_laurie_BBC_comedy_greats_PqZZKwCPCj8.mp4 Why does the scene take place in a Greek restaurant (and not Indian for instance)? ✓ pun on words It's all Greek to me = way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written but Hugh Laurie pretends to understand Greek well... That's a typical Londoner's reaction (...) You don't understand the Greek does things at his own tempo. You know, natural rhythms & cycles deep within them. The Yorkshireman in me respects that [00:06-00:13] Why does Hugh Laurie pretend he understands Greek culture? ]]> ✓ wants to show off how well-educated he is ✓ cultural awareness is well-thought of (= long-term orientation, uncertainty avoidance...) It's a bit forward, isn't? All that 'My lovely friends' don't (you think)? Hugh Laurie Ah well, you see, Gordon, he (the Greek waiter) spotted a kindred spirit (in me). [01:22-01:27] Why does Hugh Laurie carry on pretending he & the waiter share some same cultural values?]]> treated with respect - not the average walk-in, quick turn-over merchants [01:34] ]]> kindred spirit = person with similar ideas, opinions, etc Ah, I've had enough, Gordon. I'm gonna have an honest British kebab! [03:58] Why is this last reply amusing?]]> ✓ a kebab is by no means more British than a Greek meal = contradictory behaviour to long-term orientation & uncertainty avoidance observed earlier Can you think of any reasons why this comedy could be considered as not politically correct by today's standards? Why has it - or hasn't it - crossed the border? 〆stereotypical portrait of Greek waiters 〆British condescending approach ✓ collective tolerance towards witty, established comedians? ✓ British laughing at themselves = self-deprecating sense of humour (...) self-deprecating = done in a way that makes your own achievements or abilities seem unimportant; ~ humour can be used as a way to make complaints, express modesty, invoke optimal reactions. It may also be used as a way for individuals to appear more likeable and agreeable 92 hobby horse = (sometimes disapproving) subject that sb feels strongly about and likes to talk about fourth wall (the ~) = performance convention in which an invisible, imaginary wall separates actors from the audience. While the audience can see through this "wall", the convention assumes the actors act as if they cannot. From the 16th century onward, the rise of illusionism in staging practices, which culminated in the realism and naturalism of the theatre of the 19th century, led to the development of the fourth wall concept. innuendo = indirect remark about sb/sth, usually suggesting sth bad or rude non sequitur = statement that does not seem to follow what has just been said in any natural or logical way vox pops (vox populi) = belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people It's all Greek to me = way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written kindred spirit = person with similar ideas, opinions, etc self-deprecating = done in a way that makes your own achievements or abilities seem unimportant; ~ humour can be used as a way to make complaints, express modesty, invoke optimal reactions. It may also be used as a way for individuals to appear more likeable and agreeable 91 20250519 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Could Singapore be your next destination? By tHE END OF this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 90 Singapore active 1 textbook Could Singapore be your next destination? ✓ arguably less of a transition city than Dubai ✓ no Islamic regulations → more tolerant towards ethnic differences? ✓ more multi-cultural? 〆arguably authoritative government In 1867, Singapore came under the direct control of Britain as part of the Straits Settlements. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942 and returned to British control as a Crown colony following Japan's surrender in 1945. Singapore gained self-governance in 1959. After early years of turbulence and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers. As a highly developed country, it has one of the highest PPP-adjusted GDP per capita. It is also identified as a tax haven. Singapore is the only country in Asia with a AAA sovereign credit rating from all major rating agencies. It is a major aviation, financial, and maritime shipping hub and has consistently been ranked as one of the most expensive cities to live in for expatriates and foreign workers. Singapore ranks highly in key social indicators: education, healthcare, quality of life, personal safety, infrastructure, and housing, with a home-ownership rate of 88 percent. Singaporeans enjoy one of the longest life expectancies, fastest Internet connection speeds, lowest infant mortality rates, and lowest levels of corruption in the world. It has the third highest population density of any country, although there are numerous green and recreational spaces as a result of urban planning. With a multicultural population and in recognition of the cultural identities of the major ethnic groups within the nation, Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the common language, with exclusive use in numerous public services. Multi-racialism is enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape national policies. While it is constitutionally a multi-party democracy where free elections are regularly held, it functions as a de facto one-party state, with the People's Action Party (PAP) maintaining continuous political dominance since 1959. The PAP's longstanding control has resulted in limited political pluralism and a highly centralised governance structure over national institutions. The long-standing hegemony of the People's Action Party has led to Singapore being described by academics as an illiberal democracy, or a soft-authoritarian state in which the PAP faces little to no feasible political competition to its rule of the country. The multi-party democratic process of Singapore has been described as "minimal" in comparison to the state's focus on economic development and social order. According to Gordon P. Means, professor emeritus of political science at McMaster University, Singapore reinvented the "benevolent" yet "highly authoritarian" colonial system of governance inherited from Britain rather than forging a full democracy. The fact that "neither the public nor elites had experience with democracy" helped create Singapore's political culture, as dominated by status-focused hierarchies committed to economic development.[154] The legacy of Asian values and the limited political culture within Singapore has led to the country being described as "classic illustration of soft authoritarianism", and "profoundly illiberal". The right to freedom of speech and association is guaranteed by Article 14(1) of the Constitution of Singapore, although there are provisions in the subsequent subsection that regulate them.[165] The government has restricted freedom of speech and freedom of the press as well as some civil and political rights.[166] In 2023, Singapore was ranked 129th out of 180 nations by Reporters Without Borders on the global Press Freedom Index.[167] Freedom House ranks Singapore as "partly free" in its Freedom in the World report,[168][148] and the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Singapore as a "flawed democracy", the second freest rank of four, in its "Democracy Index".[169][170] All public gatherings of five or more people require police permits, and protests may legally be held only at the Speakers' Corner. In 2021, the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index ranked Singapore as 17th overall among the world's 193 countries for adherence to the rule of law. Singapore ranked high on the factors of order and security (#3), absence of corruption (#3), regulatory enforcement (#4), civil justice (#8), and criminal justice (#7), and ranked significantly lower on factors of open government (#34), constraints on government powers (#32), and fundamental rights (#38) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore ]]> 89 illiberal democracy = describes a governing system that hides its non-democratic practices behind formally democratic institutions and procedures. There is a lack of consensus among experts about the exact definition of illiberal democracy, however, it may be used broadly to refer to the notion that some governments attempt to look like democracies while suppressing opposing views.[2] It has been described as the 21st century's vision of fascism; loyal to electoral democracy but taking control of the state for purposes that are largely nationalistic, anti-minority, anti-freedom, and led by strong leaders and their associates soft authoritarianism = concept that appears contradictory, aims to capture the current fuzziness of democracies sliding into authoritarian rule the world over. Formal elections bolster the power of strongmen, majoritarian democracies undermine the rights of minorities, the rule of law is hollowed out using the constitution, and discourses of freedom of expression are deployed to dismantle fundamental human rights; this new type of governance is gaining ground the world over. Poland and Hungary in Europe, but also India, Brazil, and Turkey exemplify this global trend. src: https://up2date.uni-bremen.de/en/article/soft-authoritarianism 88 20250428 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Political correctness across cultures Political correctness in comedies By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 87 5 Politically correct language 1/2 pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png 20231213 hw20231220 active wip xml_multi_dd_row xml_multi_dd_row xml_multi_dd In the European heaven... ✓ policemen are English Why is this politically incorrect? → should be 'police officers are British' Some expressions introduced for political correctness have become part of standard English now. Which do you think is the more politically correct expression? → match the expressions with the categories → look at the key: which expressions do you think sound unnatural or far-fetched? ]]> 40 20 left 1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9 10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18 unmarried mother blacklisted housewife Third World countries bald fireman Black American blackboard deaf single parent banned home-maker developing countries follically challenged firefighter African-American chalkboard hearing-impaired https://purlandtraining.com/2020/08/01/politically-correct-euphemisms/
able-bodied > non-disabled actress > actor Australian Aborigine > Native Australian bald > follically challenged barman > bar attendant bin man > cleanliness technician black bag > bin bag black person > Person of Colour black sheep > pariah blackboard > chalk board blacklisted > banned blind > sight impaired blind drunk > very drunk boring > differently interesting broken home > dysfunctional family brother / sister > sibling chairman > chair Christian name > first name Christmas > Winter Festival / Winterval cleaner > facility manager clumsy > uniquely coordinated confined to a wheelchair > wheelchair user dead > passed away / terminally unavailable deaf > hearing impaired deforestation > forest management diabetic > person with diabetes dinner lady > mealtime supervisor disease > disorder drug addict > person with a chemical dependency drug habit > substance use disorder English > British / UK citizen Eskimo > Inuit fat > overweight / big-boned fireman > firefighter forefathers > ancestors / forebears Frenchman > French person get the sack > be part of a restructuring guys > folks hairdresser > stylist headmaster / headmistress > director homeless > residentially flexible homosexual > same-sex housewife > homemaker / stay-at-home mum husband / wife > spouse / significant other idiot / class clown > behaviourally challenged illegal alien / illegal > undocumented worker Indians > Native Americans job losses > restructuring junkie > person with a drug dependency
juvenile delinquents > children at risk ladies and gentlemen > everybody lost > geographically disorientated male nurse > nurse man in the street > average person man up > be brave manhole > maintenance hole mankind > humankind man-made > synthetic manpower > workforce men / women > people Merry Christmas > Happy Holidays midget / dwarf > little person minority group > numerically challenged group Miss / Mrs > Ms nut > person with a mental health condition Oriental > Asian plastic surgery > cosmetic surgery policeman > police officer poor > marginalised postman / mailman > postal worker / mail carrier prison cell > custody suite problem > opportunity / challenge promiscuous > sexually liberated prostitute > sex worker salesman > salesperson secretary > administrative assistant sex change > sex reassignment surgery (SRS) short > vertically challenged single > flying solo skinny / thin > (very) slim slum > economically deprived area spokesman > spokesperson sportsmanship > fairness steward / stewardess > flight attendant suffers from / victim of… > has… [condition] tax man > tax officer the disabled > disabled people the elderly / old people > senior citizens Third World > Developing Nations to lie > to misspeak / be economical with the truth to man sth > to operate / crew / run sth ugly > unconventional-looking unemployed > involuntarily leisured used (goods) > pre-owned / pre-loved waiter / waitress > server / waiting staff warehouse worker > warehouse operative white European > Caucasian woman priest > priest workman > worker wrong > differently logical
]]> 86 6 Comedy as a cultural gauge active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png To what extent can comedy be representative of a culture?
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Monty Python were a British comedy troupe formed in 1969 consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Their work included live shows, films, albums, books, and musicals; their influence on comedy has been compared to the Beatles' influence on music. Their sketch show has been called "an important moment in the evolution of television comedy". Monty Python's Flying Circus was loosely structured as a sketch show, but its innovative stream-of-consciousness approach and Gilliam's animation skills pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in style and content. Monty Python received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 1988. In 1998, they were awarded the AFI Star Award by the American Film Institute. Holy Grail and Life of Brian are frequently ranked on lists of the greatest comedy films. video Monty Python - International Hairdressers Expedition on Everest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F2SJS6B1wQ → watch the video → answer the questions]]> monty_python_hairdressers_expedition_on_everest_0F2SJS6B1wQ.mp4 What minorities are mocked? ✓ homosexual communities to mock = to laugh at sb/sth in an unkind way, especially by copying what they say or do What kind of people might feel ridiculed by such stereotypical description? ✓ women ✓ active, and yet dandy, men ✓ (Italian) hairdressers ← Mario's salon ✓ Alpinists ✓ sports people to ridicule = to make sb/sth look silly by laughing at them or it in an unkind way dandy = man who cares a lot about his clothes and appearance What cultural dimensions can be elicited from this video? ✓ joy > restraint ✓ neuroticism ✓ short term orientation ✓ femininity > masculinity ✓ little power distance ✓ individualism > collectivism ✓ low uncertainty avoidance to elicit = to draw forth, make evident (what is latent) Could this video be considered offensive by today's standards? Why / why not? ✓ perhaps questioned by LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+ = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (or queer) Why is the term 'hairdresser' offensive? ✓ not politically correct... → use 'stylist' instead political correctness = (sometimes disapproving) the principle of avoiding language and behaviour that may offend particular groups of people 85 follicle = one of the very small holes in the skin which hair grows from euphemism = word or phrase that replaces part of a sentence which is considered offensive or taboo – i.e. that cannot be talked about in “polite” conversation, e.g. 'to spend a penny' means 'to go to the toilet' gauge /ɡeɪdʒ/ = instrument for measuring the amount or level of sth to mock = to laugh at sb/sth in an unkind way, especially by copying what they say or do to ridicule = to make sb/sth look silly by laughing at them or it in an unkind way to elicit = to draw forth, make evident (what is latent) LGBTQ+ = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (or queer) - In use since the late 1980s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for marginalized sexualities and gender identities 84 percept perceive that... LGBTQ+ would be prosecuted persecuted for their views It shows how the language is rich the language is ]]> 20250409 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Political correctness - Blackface minstrelsy By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 83 2 Politically correct minstrels? active wip pix/icons8-cafe-100_white.png edit_ol_qa prep_2columns_2qa prep_ol_qa Should today's minstrels be politically correct? visual aid
A minstrel was an entertainer, initially in medieval Europe. It originally described any type of entertainer such as a musician, juggler, acrobat, singer or fool; later, from the sixteenth century, it came to mean a specialist entertainer who sang songs and played musical instruments. Minstrels performed songs which told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty and high society. As the courts became more sophisticated, minstrels were eventually replaced at court by the troubadours, and many became wandering minstrels, performing in the streets; a decline in their popularity began in the late 15th century. Minstrels fed into later traditions of travelling entertainers, which continued to be moderately strong into the early 20th century, and which has some continuity in the form of today's buskers or street musicians. ]]> Who - in today's society - would play the role of former minstrels? known for his dark comedy and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion and taboo subject matter. Carlin was a frequent performer and guest host on The Tonight Show during the three-decade Johnny Carson era ✓ self-proclaimed influencers starting out on TikTok 〆gain popularity by being vulgar rather than drawing attention to societal & cultural incongruities ]]> incongruity = appearing strange or wrong within a particular situation; unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally happening Did you know that many sketches by Benny Hill can't be found on the internet any more? Any ideas why? visual aid
✓ not politically correct ✓ arguably insulting ]]> What change(s) in cultural values does this suggest? Equity in the name of collectivism or individualism? Restraint or indulgence? ✓ caricaturing Idi Amin was acceptable because he was a dictator ✓ playing this role is not insulting, painting your face black now is → questions equity 〆lost ability to laugh at ourselves? → restraint in the name of collectivism 82 3 Political correctness - Blackface minstrelsy active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-movie-100_white.png Is blackface minstrelsy truly offensive? Is political correctness an indicator of joy or restraint? video Benny Hill - Hot Gossamer (1979) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXHTYsAJ91w → watch the video [01:28-5:14] → imagine what viewers may write in the comments → read sample comments → answer the questions]]> As an African American who adored Benny Hill this doesn't offend me at all this was hilarious to me i still crack up at this sketch 😂😂😂 @byronbenguche I watched Benny Hill, growing up, and nobody even remotely thought that this kind of thing was racist! It was the furthest from our minds! @Mortthemoose ]]> benny_hill_hot_gossamer_1979_zXHTYsAJ91w.mp4 ✓ racism ✓ sexism ✓ shortism = unfair treatment of people who are short (i.e. not tall) sexism = unfair treatment of people, especially women, because of their sex In his career Benny Hill poked fun at a lot of people, professions, and places, himself most of all. I think most of us enjoyed the comedy without giving the social implications people would come up with years later a thought. @donaldmaxie9742 (...) Because, back then, Britain was far less educated, and far more racist, than it became from the ’90s onwards. Racism was still institutionalised and systemic back then. People from all sorts of minority cultures had a fight on their hands just to get recognition. And the face of that racism was the media’s popular entertainment - movies, radio, print media, comics, shows. You would not believe how racist, sexist, ableist and queerphobic the media was, back in the day. And where the media led, the public followed. Benny Hill was not the monster. He was just following the curve. The monster was the TV station which didn’t think twice about blackfacing, or making jokes about gay people, or mothers-in-law or women drivers Alex Greene https://www.quora.com/How-come-Benny-Hill-got-a-pass-for-wearing-blackface-He-possibly-played-all-the-minority-characters-on-his-show]]> ✓ people who grew up with Benny Hill are like fish that don't see water → a caricature depends on its high context environment ✓ today, most viewers will just see people of colour dancing In the 60's, Afro Americans were often considered the best disco dancers & musicians → could be interpreted as paying tribute to their talent Fish can't see water... Do you think this performance could still be broadcast on national Tv nowadays? Why / why not? 〆probably not because politically incorrect ✓ was designed to be offensive ≠ blackface minstrelsy blackface minstrelsy = indigenous American theatrical form that constituted a subgenre of the minstrel show. Intended as comic entertainment, blackface minstrelsy was performed by a group of white minstrels (travelling musicians) with black-painted faces, whose material caricatured the singing and dancing of slaves. The form reached the pinnacle of its popularity between 1850 and 1870, when it enjoyed sizeable audiences in both the United States and Britain. (src: https://www.britannica.com/art/blackface-minstrelsy) What cultural dimension(s) may have changed since this show was recorded? ✓ shift from restraint to joy / indulgence, or the opposite? ✓ shift from masculinity to femininity (...) 81 supremacist = person who believes that their own race is better than others and should be in power 80 20250331 18:05-19:00 1.5 active McDonald’s advertisements in different countries By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 79 1 McDonald’s advertisements in different countries active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png McDonald’s advertisements in different countries Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMLrVP_E-jA → answer the questions ]]> mcdonald_s_ads_different_countries_pMLrVP_E-jA.mp4 What lifestyle (in terms of joy / restraint) is depicted in the USA? ✓ multicultural environment → linear-active communication → low uncertainty avoidance → low power distance ✓ spending time with friends (rather than with family) → individualist culture ✓ active, outdoor lifestyle → short-term orientation → joy (= indulgence) What forms of power distance & uncertainty avoidance are challenged in Taiwan? ✓ almost no dialogue → reactive culture ✓ fear of sexual orientation disclosure + respect for father → high power distance → uncertainty avoidance clash between generations ✓ tolerance to homosexuality → generational shift from distrust to trust → joy (= indulgence) How does McDonald comply with the local power distance & restraint of Arabic cultures? ✓ follow modern life styles → joy (= indulgence) ✓ observe traditions of elder eating first → high power distance → uncertainty avoidance ✓ family gathering → collectivist culture What message (in terms of joy & masculinity - femininity) is conveyed in Denmark? ✓ McDrive as a convenient life style → joy (= indulgence) ✓ unisex because absence of gender related clues → inclusion ✓ broken arm, (too) short arm... → equity → femininity (i.e. no masculine dominance) How are the collectivist & indulgence cultural dimensions suggested in the Indian version? ✓ sharing feelings with family & friends → collectivist culture ✓ (very) emotional display of feelings (when eating spicy McDonald burgers) → multi active ✓ McDonalds observes spicy, Indian eating habits → joy (= indulgence) ✓ musicality → femininity (i.e. no masculine dominance) How would you market & prepare an advert for a Russian audience? ✓ birthday party → collectivist culture ✓ children & families → long-term orientation ✓ happy moment → joy (= indulgence) ← generational shift from restraint cultural habits 78 power distance = strength of social hierarchy; has been defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society. All societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others (https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=orpc pg 8) masculinity-femininity = task-orientation versus person-orientation IDV (individualism-collectivism) = measures the extent to which people look out for each other as a team or look out for themselves as an individual UAI (uncertainty avoidance index) = indicates to what extent nations avoid the unknown; is not the same as risk avoidance: it deals with a society's tolerance for ambiguity. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, and different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict behavioural codes, laws and rules, disapproval of deviant opinions, and a belief in absolute Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it' (https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=orpc pg 10) LTO (long-term orientation) = expresses how societies either prioritize traditions or seek for the modern in their dealings with the present and the future IVR (indulgence vs restraint) = comparison between a country's willingness to wait for long-term benefits by holding off on instant gratification, or preferences to no restraints on enjoying life at the present gender gap = difference in opinions or attitudes between men and women concerning a variety of public and private issues, including political candidates, parties, or programmes supremacist = person who believes that their own race is better than others and should be in power 77 rememberable memorable ]]> 20250326 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Second, third and mixed conditionals By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 76 20200417-2057 Zero, first conditional (real situations) active grammar 75 20210320-0918 Second & third conditional active grammar 74 Conditionals mindmap active textbook conditionals mindmap smartphone or tablet device print Download onto your tablet or print the following pdf. conditionals_mindmap.pdf ]]> 73 20190618-0937 Conditionals active decks deck_of_phrases_conditionals.csv 72 20250324 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Regional sales manager in Baku By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 71 1/3 Regional sales manager in Baku active wip role_play visual aid You are a consultant of Russian ethnicity born in Baku in the Soviet Union with local experience in sales & marketing. → brain-storm possible hurdles you may face with the local sales force e.g. power-distance, masculinity-femininity... ]]> Consultant of Russian ethnicity born in Baku You believe one female director of sales has more potential than others for succeeding in this position although you are aware they have never had a female manager before. Haven't you heard of the country's recent efforts to rejuvenate its traditional image? e.g. Baku hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, the European Grand Prix in 2016, the final of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League I really don't think choosing a female director of sales would be a bad choice if she's competent! Business consultant → disagree with the other consultant → brain-storm possible hurdles a female director of sales may face with the local force I'm afraid power-distance is just too omnipresent in this country! Think about Hofstede's masculinity-femininity... 70 2/3 Regional sales manager in Baku active wip pix/icons8-lecturer-100_white.png prep_2columns_2qa prep_ol_qa visual aid → prepare a 5min presentation to the shareholders to explain your choice → make sure you answer at least the questions below ]]> Introduction
• • •
Why may a person-oriented approach be a better choice?
• • •
How can high-context awareness help a female regional sales manager in this position between Moscow and Baku?
• • •
What steps should the regional sales manager take to counterbalance uncertainty avoidance?
• • •
Conclusion
• • •
]]> supremacist = person who believes that their own race is better than others and should be in power • venture a fresh perspective on new markets in traditional cultures • to think outside the box by offering a woman the opportunity to bring about changes •
• being person-oriented rather than task-oriented (femininity rather than masculinity) may be risky given high uncertainty avoidance... • but could prove more diplomatic when only starting out in new markets with new partners • you don't want to impose your views (and be perceived as a supremacist!...)
• be attentive to what is expected before launching any new strategy • learn 'to read the air' • = high-context skill
• ask a senior person from Baku to introduce him/her to the local team • use senior endorsement to satisfy local power distance & uncertainty avoidance • (...)
• set a precedent by choosing a woman as sales manager • put money where your mouth is • give an example of EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion)
]]> 69 3/3 Regional sales manager in Baku 20231206 hw20231213_n1 active wip pix/icons8-hand-with-pen-100_white.png prep_2columns_2qa prep_ol_qa visual aid → write skills & qualities expected from the ideal candidate to the shareholders → justify your choice (recycle cultural dimensions terminology) ]]> Striking a balance between local UAI (uncertainty avoidance index) and Russian LTO (long term orientation vs short term normative orientation) is essential, indeed (...) → example situation 68 to shortlist (sb/sth for sth) = to put sb/sth on a shortlist for a job, prize, etc to rejuvenate = to make sb/sth look or feel younger or more lively hurdle = obstacle omnipresent = present everywhere power distance = strength of social hierarchy; has been defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society. All societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others (https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=orpc pg 8) masculinity-femininity = task-orientation versus person-orientation IDV (individualism-collectivism) = measures the extent to which people look out for each other as a team or look out for themselves as an individual UAI (uncertainty avoidance index) = indicates to what extent nations avoid the unknown; is not the same as risk avoidance: it deals with a society's tolerance for ambiguity. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, and different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict behavioural codes, laws and rules, disapproval of deviant opinions, and a belief in absolute Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it' (https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=orpc pg 10) LTO (long-term orientation) = expresses how societies either prioritize traditions or seek for the modern in their dealings with the present and the future IVR (indulgence vs restraint) = comparison between a country's willingness to wait for long-term benefits by holding off on instant gratification, or preferences to no restraints on enjoying life at the present gender gap = difference in opinions or attitudes between men and women concerning a variety of public and private issues, including political candidates, parties, or programmes supremacist = person who believes that their own race is better than others and should be in power to put money where your mouth is = to stop just talking about something and to take action EDI = equality, diversity and inclusion 67 20250321 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Women in culture across centuries By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 66 2 Blessed with Masculinity, Dasa Hink active move_html5_video dasa_hink_blessed_with_masculinity_pWWuwllhBL4.mp4 65 2 pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Women in culture across centuries active wip deck_shuffled_lines_halign deck_shuffled_lines_valign How has the role of women changed over the centuries? How representative is it of a country's culture? → watch the video → use the following cultural characteristics to describe the pictures → answer the following questions 1) How do you think these women feel? To what extent are they emancipated in their cultural environment? 2) What is the relationship between the woman posing and the painter / viewer? 3) How has this relationship changed over the centuries (in terms of cultural dimensions)? 4) Whose role would you like to play if you were an actress? Why? ]]>
visual aid
Mona Lisa, 1503 half-length portrait painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, [and] the most parodied work of art in the world."
visual aid
Grande Odalisque, aka Une Odalisque or La Grande Odalisque, 1814 oil painting by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres depicting an odalisque, or concubine. Ingres' contemporaries considered the work to signify Ingres' break from Neoclassicism, indicating a shift toward exotic Romanticism
visual aid
Blessed with Masculinity, Dasa Hink It tells stories from the last couple of years, of failing in life and love and of falling in love. This song was written just before I actually got pregnant. It was the first step towards admitting to myself that this is what I want, which was a hard thing to do. A kind of love song to my partner, and a kind of spiritual hymn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWWuwllhBL4&t=11s https://www.thetemporaldimension.com/dasahink
]]> 64 1/3 Regional sales manager in Baku active wip role_play visual aid You are a consultant of Russian ethnicity born in Baku in the Soviet Union with local experience in sales & marketing. → brain-storm possible hurdles you may face with the local sales force e.g. power-distance, masculinity-femininity... ]]> Consultant of Russian ethnicity born in Baku You believe one female director of sales has more potential than others for succeeding in this position although you are aware they have never had a female manager before. Haven't you heard of the country's recent efforts to rejuvenate its traditional image? e.g. Baku hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, the European Grand Prix in 2016, the final of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League I really don't think choosing a female director of sales would be a bad choice if she's competent! Business consultant → disagree with the other consultant → brain-storm possible hurdles a female director of sales may face with the local force I'm afraid power-distance is just too omnipresent in this country! Think about Hofstede's masculinity-femininity... 63 frugality = prudence in avoiding waste perseverance = quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim in spite of difficulties indulgence = (usually disapproving) the state or act of having or doing whatever you want; the state of allowing sb to have or do whatever they want; something that you allow yourself to have even though it is not essential 62 20250319 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Are senior engineering managers in the red book? By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 61 1 Are SEM likely to be superseded by AI? pix/icons8-hand-with-pen-100_white.png active wip prep_ol_qa edit_ol_qa How do you write a memorable article? Who is a Senior Engineering Manager? → answer the questions ]]> ]]> Are SEM likely to be superseded by AI? ✓ in the red book like animals at risk of distinction 60 59 Despite there being Although there is a lot of information about the CTO role of CTOs in a company If I would work worked on articles for a few monthes months ]]> 20250317 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Long-Form Content Writing Best Practices for B2B Content Marketing By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 58 1 Long-Form Content Writing Best Practices for B2B Content Marketing 20240424 hw20240508 active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Why would long-form contents be more effective than shorter ones? https://www.foleon.com/blog/long-form-content-writing-best-practices → read the article → answer the questions]]> How long is supposed to be a 'long-form' content? What are its advantages? ~ 1000 - 7500 words ✓ gives time and space to deep-dive into specific topics ✓ shows potential customers you are the right brand to choose ✓ features great SEO value SEO (search engine optimisation) = process used to optimize a website's technical configuration, content relevance and link popularity so its pages can become easily findable, more relevant and popular towards user search queries, and as a consequence, search engines rank them better What should story-telling in a long-form encompass to be effective? ✓ create a lasting connection ✓ cover a variety of ideas or concepts behind a specific topic ✓ demonstrate brand expertise → don't come across in an overly salesy manner to encompass = to include a large number or range of things Why is long-form content relevant to B2B marketing? ✓ builds trust and authority ✓ educates readers ✓ provides a single, credible, comprehensive and trustworthy source → less likely to seek information from the competition Why has long-form content got greater SEO value? ✓ gives opportunities for more backlinks → higher SERPS → more high-value traffic e.g. Backlinko’s 2020 SEO research articles over 3,000 words get an average of 77.2% more backlinks than shorter ones ✓ use variations of focus phrase in different, natural contexts → optimize content for both short and long-term keyword variants ✓ increases potential for repurposing content ✓ increases reach ✓ attracts both newbies and people with some knowledge of a subject → include an index at the beginning so readers can jump straight to the parts that interest them the most backlink = reference comparable to a citation. The quantity, quality, and relevance of backlinks for a web page are among the factors that search engines like Google evaluate in order to estimate how important the page is. PageRank calculates the score for each web page based on how all the web pages are connected among themselves, and is one of the variables that Google Search uses to determine how high a web page should go in search results. This weighting of backlinks is analogous to citation analysis of books, scholarly papers, and academic journals SERP (search engine results page) = webpage displayed by a search engine in response to a query by a user. The main component of a SERP is the listing of results that are returned by the search engine in response to a keyword query What stages of the sales funnel does long-term content address? ✓ awareness stage → show you understand their problem → help how to solve it e.g. how-to guides, blogs, eBooks ✓ consideration stage → demonstrate ability to solve the challenge ✓ decision-making → showing how to use & optimize solution in practice e.g. tutorial with multiple choice questions → boost trust e.g. include testimonials & use cases from happy customers funnel = device that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for pouring liquids or powders into a small opening; in marketing: e.g. discovery, interest, appraisal, confirmation What are the best practices when writing long-form contents? ✓ choose a relevant topic → must resonate with target audience → must match on-line format restrictions → conduct keyword research = see what your ideal customer is searching for → consult BuzzSumo → check how to get Google Snippets ✓ monitor competition → ensure topic is original → provide a unique perspective → cultivate brand voice ✓ paragraph thoughts → structure a plan e.g. frame sections around questions ✓ include research from reliable, verified sources e.g. stats, studies, quotes from industry figures, references to other (non-competitor) articles ✓ find a catchy title ✓ end on a high note e.g. CTA snippet = small piece of information or news CTA (Call to action) = marketing term for any text designed to prompt an immediate response or encourage an immediate sale 57 1 Writing an article pix/icons8-hand-with-pen-100_white.png active wip prep_ol_qa edit_ol_qa How do you write a memorable article? Who is a Senior Engineering Manager? → answer the questions ]]> ]]> ✓ engages the reader ✓ digressions help step back to catch the bigger picture and better refocus ✓ divergent thinking can surprise the reader & open new perspectives into the subject matter ✓ whet the appetite & make a memorable impression ✓ show you are probably accessible despite senior position or substantial experience 〆W.Churchill wasn't accessible in spite of his humour ✓ humour is a positive emotion → good start for storytelling to whet the appetite = to increase desire for or interest in sth ✓ break the rules → more memorable metrics = measures of quantitative assessment commonly used for assessing, comparing, and tracking performance or production to alienate = to make sb feel that they do not belong in a particular group Which metaphors & use of language are arguably inappropriate? 〆any excessive metaphors What narrative and/or logical mistakes are present? 〆unclear narrative progression → can it stop at any moment? 〆lack of paragraphing thoughts 〆poor cohesion 56 3 pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png Understanding registers thanks to AI support Use of various registers in writing and copy-writing 20240508 hw20240515 active wip xml_multi_dd_row Are you able to distinguish one register from another? How can this skill help you refine prompts for AI text generation? https://writesonic.com/chat ChatGPT (free but VPN needed) https://chatgpt.com/ → copy-paste AI refined text into DeepL Write for granular changes e.g. double-click on individual words to find synonyms DeepL Write https://www.deepl.com/en/write ]]> 17 6 left Redundancy announcement
I trust this correspondence finds you well. It is with a solemn sense of duty that I write to inform you of a significant organizational decision. Regrettably, due to the current economic situation, it has become necessary to implement workforce changes within our esteemed company.
Effective from next week, it is with deep regret that I announce your redundancy. This decision was reached after careful consideration of various factors impacting the organization's operational requirements and strategic objectives. Invitation for dinner
Hope you're doing well! I wanted to reach out and see if you're up for grabbing dinner together after the conference wraps up tomorrow. I figure it'll be a nice way to unwind and chat about everything we've learned throughout the day.
I heard about this great Italian place just a few blocks from the conference venue that I've been dying to try out. What do you think? If Italian isn't your thing, we can definitely explore other options too!
Let me know if you're interested, and if you have any dietary preferences or restrictions. Looking forward to catching up outside of the conference setting! Invitation to a workshop in sales
It is with great enthusiasm that I extend to you an invitation to participate in a unique and highly esteemed sales training programme.
Given the exceptional nature of this training opportunity, participation is limited to a select group of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, performance, and potential within our sales team. Your inclusion in this esteemed cohort is a testament to your exemplary contributions and commitment to excellence within our organization.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly anticipate your positive response and enthusiastic participation in this transformative training opportunity. Apologies for missing a meeting
I am writing to extend my apologies for my absence at the recent weekly meeting. It appears that I failed to attend as scheduled, and for this oversight, I offer my sincerest regrets.
Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience or disruption my absence may have caused to the proceedings of the meeting. I recognize the value of collective collaboration and communication within our team and acknowledge the importance of my active participation in these forums.
Moving forward, I will take necessary measures to ensure that such oversights do not recur, and I will prioritize my commitments to team engagements with the utmost diligence.
Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding in this matter.
Yours sincerely Post in social media about promotion
With unparalleled elation and boundless gratitude, I stand before you today to share the most exhilarating news of my professional journey thus far! 🚀🌠
It is with profound joy that I announce my promotion to chief supervisor within the esteemed ranks of our company! 🎉💼✨
This elevation represents far more than a mere change in title; it embodies the culmination of relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and unyielding passion in service of our shared mission and vision. 🌟💪 ]]> 1;2 3 4;5 6 7;8;9;10 the following excerpt Show more empathy
in the following excerpt Make less informal, more neutral, and use fewer phrasal verbs
in the following excerpt Make more engaging
the following excerpt Use language for upper intermediate readers
in the following excerpt Make more informal but remain polite
in the following excerpt Make less emphatic
the following excerpt Emphasise achievements
in the following excerpt Emphasise examples
in the following excerpt Use bullet points for a slide
with the following excerpt ]]> Redundancy announcement? Write a very formal letter saying your staff member has been made redundant Invitation for dinner Write an informal e-mail to invite a colleague for dinner after a day at the conference Invitation to a workshop in sales Write a very formal letter to invite staff members to attend a unique & very expensive training in sales Apologies for missing a meeting Write a cold, reserved, unfriendly letter of apology for forgetting to attend a weekly meeting with colleagues Post in social media about promotion Write an emphatic, unduly grand post to announce you have been promoted --> ]]> 55 5A Vocab building active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png How can you communicate effectively without sounding too simple and quickly boring, or the opposite - only addressing the elite? ✓ breakdown sophisticated concepts into short sentences ✓ use acronyms & well-referenced concepts for greater reach ✓ repeat & paraphrase key concepts ✓ sign-post the narrative (explain how you think, where you come from, where you are now, where you're going to) ✓ think with rhetorical questions for headings ✓ paragraph thoughts ✓ use metaphors to trigger target audience imagination (...) → find expressions which don't match register & context → suggest alternative wording and/or constructions ]]> Redundancy announcement I trust this correspondence finds you well. It is with a solemn sense of duty that I write to inform you of a significant organizational decision. Regrettably, due to the current economic situation, it has become necessary to implement workforce changes within our esteemed company. Effective from next week, it is with deep regret that I announce your redundancy. This decision was reached after careful consideration of various factors impacting the organization's operational requirements and strategic objectives. ]]> Redundancy announcement - original I trust this correspondence finds you well hope this message finds you in good health | spirits. It is with a solemn sense of duty that I write to inform you of a significant organizational decision. Regrettably, due to the current economic situation, it has become necessary to implement workforce changes within our esteemed company. Effective from next week, it is with deep regret that I announce your redundancy. This decision was reached after careful consideration of various factors impacting the organization's operational requirements and strategic objectives. Redundancy announcement - refined I hope this message finds you in good health. I am writing with a heavy heart to share an important update regarding our organization. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing economic challenges, we must make some difficult decisions to adapt to the current circumstances. Starting next week, I regret to inform you that your position within our company will be made redundant. This decision was made after thoughtful deliberation, taking into account the organization's operational needs and long-term goals. ]]> Invitation for dinner Hope you're doing well! I wanted to reach out and see if you're up for grabbing dinner together after the conference wraps up tomorrow. I figure it'll be a nice way to unwind and chat about everything we've learned throughout the day. I heard about this great Italian place just a few blocks from the conference venue that I've been dying to try out. What do you think? If Italian isn't your thing, we can definitely explore other options too! Let me know if you're interested, and if you have any dietary preferences or restrictions. Looking forward to catching up outside of the conference setting!]]> Invitation for dinner - original Hope you're doing well! I wanted to reach out and see if you're up for grabbing dinner together after the conference wraps up tomorrow. I figure it'll be a nice way to unwind and chat about everything we've learned throughout the day. I heard about this great Italian place just a few blocks from the conference venue that I've been dying to try out. What do you think? If Italian isn't your thing, we can definitely explore other options too! Let me know if you're interested, and if you have any dietary preferences or restrictions. Looking forward to catching up outside of the conference setting! Invitation for dinner - refined I'd like to invite you to join me for dinner following the conclusion of tomorrow's conference. It would be a wonderful opportunity for us to relax and discuss the insights gained during the day's proceedings. I have recently learned about an excellent Italian restaurant located conveniently close to the conference venue, and I am eager to try it out. However, if Italian cuisine does not suit your preferences, I am more than willing to explore alternative dining options. Please let me know if you would be interested in joining me, and if you have any dietary preferences or restrictions that I should be aware of. I hope we can catch up outside of the conference setting. ]]> Invitation to a workshop in sales It is with great enthusiasm that I extend to you an invitation to participate in a unique and highly esteemed sales training programme. Given the exceptional nature of this training opportunity, participation is limited to a select group of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, performance, and potential within our sales team. Your inclusion in this esteemed cohort is a testament to your exemplary contributions and commitment to excellence within our organization. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly anticipate your positive response and enthusiastic participation in this transformative training opportunity. ]]> Invitation to a workshop in sales - original It is with great enthusiasm that I extend to you an invitation to participate in a unique and highly esteemed sales training programme. Given the exceptional nature of this training opportunity, participation is limited to a select group of individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, performance, and potential within our sales team. Your inclusion in this esteemed cohort is a testament to your exemplary contributions and commitment to excellence within our organization. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I eagerly anticipate your positive response and enthusiastic participation in this transformative training opportunity. Invitation to a workshop in sales - refined I am thrilled to invite you to take part in an exclusive and prestigious sales training programme. This opportunity is reserved for a select group of individuals who have shown outstanding dedication, performance, and potential within our sales team. Your inclusion in this special group is a testament to your exceptional contributions and commitment to excellence within our organization. Your participation in this transformative training opportunity is highly anticipated. Thank you for considering this invitation, and I look forward to your positive response. ]]> 54 5B Vocab building 20240513 hw20240517 active prep_ol_qa edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-dictionary-100_white.png How can you communicate effectively without sounding too simple and quickly boring, or the opposite - only addressing the elite? Apologies for missing a meeting I am writing to extend my apologies for my absence at the recent weekly meeting. It appears that I failed to attend as scheduled, and for this oversight, I offer my sincerest regrets. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience or disruption my absence may have caused to the proceedings of the meeting. I recognize the value of collective collaboration and communication within our team and acknowledge the importance of my active participation in these forums. Moving forward, I will take necessary measures to ensure that such oversights do not recur, and I will prioritize my commitments to team engagements with the utmost diligence. Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding in this matter. Yours sincerely ]]> Apologies for missing a meeting - original I am writing to extend my apologies for my absence at the recent weekly meeting. It appears that I failed to attend as scheduled, and for this oversight, I offer my sincerest regrets. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience or disruption my absence may have caused to the proceedings of the meeting. I recognize the value of collective collaboration and communication within our team and acknowledge the importance of my active participation in these forums. Moving forward, I will take necessary measures to ensure that such oversights do not recur, and I will prioritize my commitments to team engagements with the utmost diligence. Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding in this matter. Yours sincerely Apologies for missing a meeting - refined I'm sorry I missed the recent meeting. It seems I forgot about it, and I feel really bad about it. I'm sorry if my absence caused any problems during the meeting. I know how important it is for all of us to work together and communicate. I'll make sure I don't miss any more meetings in the future, and I'll do my best to be more organized. Sorry again for missing the meeting, and thanks for understanding. Best regards, ]]> Post in social media about promotion With unparalleled elation and boundless gratitude, I stand before you today to share the most exhilarating news of my professional journey thus far! 🚀🌠 It is with profound joy that I announce my promotion to chief supervisor within the esteemed ranks of our company! 🎉💼✨ This elevation represents far more than a mere change in title; it embodies the culmination of relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and unyielding passion in service of our shared mission and vision. 🌟💪 ]]> Post in social media about promotion - original With unparalleled elation and boundless gratitude, I stand before you today to share the most exhilarating news of my professional journey thus far! It is with profound joy that I announce my promotion to chief supervisor within the esteemed ranks of our company! This elevation represents far more than a mere change in title; it embodies the culmination of relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and unyielding passion in service of our shared mission and vision. Post in social media about promotion - refined I am pleased to inform you of my recent promotion to chief supervisor within our company. This advancement signifies more than just a title change; it reflects my ongoing dedication and commitment to our company's mission and vision. ]]> 53 the bee's knees = (informal) an excellent person or thing worth its salt = someone or something deserves respect and is worth its cost or has value SEO (search engine optimisation) = process used to optimize a website's technical configuration, content relevance and link popularity so its pages can become easily findable, more relevant and popular towards user search queries, and as a consequence, search engines rank them better backlink = reference comparable to a citation. The quantity, quality, and relevance of backlinks for a web page are among the factors that search engines like Google evaluate in order to estimate how important the page is. PageRank calculates the score for each web page based on how all the web pages are connected among themselves, and is one of the variables that Google Search uses to determine how high a web page should go in search results. This weighting of backlinks is analogous to citation analysis of books, scholarly papers, and academic journals SERP (search engine results page) = webpage displayed by a search engine in response to a query by a user. The main component of a SERP is the listing of results that are returned by the search engine in response to a keyword query funnel = device that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for pouring liquids or powders into a small opening; in marketing: e.g. discovery, interest, appraisal, confirmation snippet = small piece of information or news CTA (Call to action) = marketing term for any text designed to prompt an immediate response or encourage an immediate sale 52 20250314 16:05-17:00 1.5 active World value surveys By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 51 2 WFS - World Values Survey active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png Is national culture more powerful than regions? Watch the video [18:46-21:25]. → answer the questions video Geert Hofstede - Recent Discoveries about Cultural Differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LBv1wLuY3Ko ]]> geert_hofstede_recent_discoveries_about_cultural_differences_LBv1wLuY3Ko.mp4 What has WVS (World Values Survey) demonstrated [18:46]? ✓ despite differences among regions, regions always tended to look for other regions from the same country [20:32] How do Indonesia & Malaysia confirm the reliability of the cultural model? [20:53-21:25] ✓ same language ✓ similar histories (of colonisation) → Indonesian regions cluster with other Indonesian ones → national culture is more powerful 50 4 Evolutionary theory of emancipation active edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png visual aid
source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505 ]]> https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505 ]]> visual aid
source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505 ]]> https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505 ]]> visual aid
source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505]]> https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505 ]]> What conclusions can you draw? (...) Our analysis collapses Hofstede’s six-dimensional framework to a three-dimensional framework. The (first) Collectivism–Individualism dimension mimics Hofstede’s Individualism dimension. It also correlates with Power Distance, which is not surprising because just as in Hofstede’s original case Individualism and Power Distance form one factor. The second dimension, Duty–Joy, captures Hofstede’s Restraint-Indulgence. The third dimension, Distrust–Trust, is statistically closely related to Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance dimension (...) 1.Cultural change is substantial. Societies have become more individualistic and more joyous. We also observe a change in the direction of less trust and more distrust, but these changes are relatively small compared with the cultural change observed for Individualism and Joy. 2. Cultural differences can be explained by three factors: (a) economic development, (b) generational effects, and (c) a country’s unique geographic location and (political) history. Economic development and generational shifts account for approximately half of the variation in cultural change. As the level of economic development increases, and people experience higher levels of existential security and lives filled with more opportunities, both Individualism and Joy increase. Our analysis suggests that approximately the other half of national cultural differences can be related to each country’s unique geography and history. 3. Collectively, our findings imply that national cultural differences are quite persistent over time. Cultural change seems of absolute nature, and relative country rankings tend to be rather stable. source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022022118798505 ]]> 49 48 20250312 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Rationale for a common military defence policy By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 47 1 Common military defence policy active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What is the rationale behind a common European military defence policy? ✓ cut cost on public procurement ✓ share responsibility for safeguarding territorial integrity ✓ is considered long overdue Is a common military defence policy an effective deterrent? ✓ probably more useful than nuclear heads 〆EU members seem to be divided as to its deployment 〆any European mobilisation & retaliation are unlikely to match Russian war effort Does the EU really need such military force? ✓ the USA have declined to support Ukraine ✓ need to boost credibility in case of retaliation ✓ is a form of reassurance for central European countries who have experienced Soviet occupation first-hand Can Putin be trusted to observe a ceasefire? 〆the Russian government systematically denied allegations in 2014 and 2022 〆most European leaders were taken by surprise though such events had been predicted by various intelligence services → 2 precedents prove Putin cannot be trusted?... 46 45 threat threaten with some new sanctions If we would have had another cold war it would be difficult for... ]]> 20250307 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Communicative challenges & strategies (feedback) By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 44 1 Communicative challenges & strategies Strategies & patterns to communicate & improvise in stressful situations pix/icons8-metronome-filled-100_white.png active xml_multi_dd_row How do you choose your communication strategies? Do they really depend on linguistic skills? 22 14 left public speaking to an unknown audience in a different country
pitching to a panel of tech-savvy experts
reporting to disappointed shareholders
negotiating with a take-it-or-leave-it business partner
]]> 1;2;3 4;5;6 7;8;9 10;11;12;13 public speaking to an unknown audience in a different country breaking the ice with a cross-cultural hook / rhetorical question / surprising fact avoiding being boring or predictable not worrying about linguistic skills pitching to a panel of tech-savvy experts catching interest & convincing without giving away the conclusions too early promising without compromising your credibility dealing with tricky, follow-up questions reporting to disappointed shareholders exposing facts & figures in a succinct, yet unambiguous way hedging & cushioning blows anticipating & improvising answers with story telling patterns (STAR, CARL, Minto Pyramid, BLUF...) negotiating with a take-it-or-leave-it business partner moving past resistance with fact-driven rather than emotion-based arguments assessing your BATNA hiding soft giveaway clues of your real stance (poker face) not allowing your interlocutor(s) to put words in your mouth ]]> 43 succinct = using few words hedging = way of avoiding giving a direct answer or opinion giveaway = something that tells or shows something secret BATNA = in negotiation theory, the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) is the most advantageous alternative course of action a party can take if negotiations fail and an agreement cannot be reached. The BATNA could include diverse situations, such as suspension of negotiations, transition to another negotiating partner, appeal to the court's ruling, the execution of strikes, and the formation of other forms of alliances. BATNA is the key focus and the driving force behind a successful negotiator. A party should generally not accept a worse resolution than its BATNA. Care should be taken, however, to ensure that deals are accurately valued, taking into account all considerations, such as relationship value, time value of money and the likelihood that the other party will live up to their side of the bargain apprehension = anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen uneasiness = feeling of anxiety or discomfort 42 nothing anything It had would have been very difficult to move from one city to another ]]> 20250305 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Reasons behind Trump and Zelensky's shouting match By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 41 1 Reasons behind Trump's and Zelensky's shouting match active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What are the reasons behind Trump and Zelensky's shouting match? Are both parties really striving to end the war? When you invite a partner to negotiations, do you tell them they have no room for manoeuvre? 〆probably not → Trump humiliated Zelensky by insisting the latter had no cards to play with → makes Zelensky feel guilty instead of showing support & empathy 〆Trump seems to have forgotten who is the aggressor and who is the victim → puts unnecessary pressure = Trump is a business person, not a diplomat Why did Trump organise a press conference with Zelensky? ✓ Trump genuinely believed Zelensky would just come & sign the deal ✓ expected the Ukraine ambassador to have briefed Zelensky accordingly 〆didn't plan to destabilise Zelensky in public? = instrumental use of Zelensky to satisfy Trump's ego & pursuit of success stories Why isn't Ukraine in a strong position to bargain? 〆features a rather poor geopolitical track record 〆hasn't succeeded in improving GDP per capita for the past 2 decades 〆crippled by corruption & lack of a political elite → shouldn't have poked the Russian bear by wanting to join the EU & NATO 〆has enjoyed substantial military aid at no cost → should be thankful & not whimsy whimsy = acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgement Who originated a minerals deal? What for? ✓ prospect of a minerals deal proposed by Zelensky in 2024 (part of the victory plan) = offer the US a tangible reason to continue supporting Ukraine ✓ addressed concerns the US support is not unwavering What are the US actually concerned about? 〆China has become the factory of the world 〆Asian-Pacific is the fastest growing region → need to grow American presence to stay in control → war in Ukraine is distracting What is Trump's hidden agenda? = deal on minerals with Ukraine is only an exit strategy ✓ US can't afford to play on 2 boards: Russia & China → cut costs in Ukraine ✓ keep Russia neutral → re-focus resources on China ✓ seeking a deal with Russia is reminiscent of Kissinger's former 'coalition' with China in order to stabilise the power of the Soviet Union → put in place a new 'anti-Kissinger' coalition (i.e. with Russia against China) To what extent does a deal on minerals actually matter to Trump? Why does Zelensky demand more security guarantees? Why do prominent EU figures still support Zelensky? ✓ Zelensky & the EU perhaps understand that in either case the US will withdraw from Ukraine 〆deal on minerals is only a possible exit strategy for Trump i.e. a lesser evil which might ensure a minimum of American presence to secure the region = would be an advantage for the US but is not decisive ✓ the EU will be in hot water trying to support Ukraine without any American help exit strategy = pre-planned means of extricating oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant in hot water = in difficulty What mistakes has Zelensky made? 〆Zelensky thought had room for negotiations 〆gave the impression wants to continue the war (to recover lost territories) 〆suggested the deal was negotiable (part of the victory plan) 〆both parties made mistakes in the meeting protocol 〆absence of an interpreter → gives more time to think → minimises cross-cultural (and generational!) conflicts 〆Zelensky hasn't done his homework, ie prepare better for negotiations (in public) w/ Trump → anticipate Trump's gunboat diplomacy gunboat diplomacy = pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power, implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare should terms not be agreeable to the superior force To what extent is the rule of law important to Europeans? Can it justify prolonging the war? ✓ fighting Russian aggression feels morally justified ✓ addresses disparate concerns Russia may violate neighbouring territorial sovereignty ✓ prolonging the war guarantees public spending on long, overdue common military defence policy (independent of the US) ✓ sets high on the agenda the risk of setting a precedent 〆doesn't reflect the reality that Putin is actually unlikely to annexe more territories, especially of NATO members 〆proves to be a costly form of reassurance for central European member states → preserving the rule of law occurs at the cost of human lives rule of law = political and legal ideal that all people and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers, government officials, and judges. It is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Is defined as "the mechanism, process, institution, practice, or norm that supports the equality of all citizens before the law, secures a nonarbitrary form of government, and more generally prevents the arbitrary use of power" What are Europe's flaws in resolving conflicts? 〆Europe can't reach agreements on negative outcomes → won't put up with poor geopolitical solutions in Ukraine 〆lacks a strong leader = inherently federated 〆lacks military credibility & deterrence flaw = mistake in sth that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly What countries have a vested interest in not ending the war soon? ✓ Russia can afford to continue the war since it has now reoriented its industries to support the military effort 〆may be eager to recover its frozen assets 〆the situation on the front line hasn't really improved ✓ Ukraine wants to recover its territorial integrity ✓ perhaps overestimating support from the EU & the US ✓ the EU doesn't want to set a precedent by acknowledging Russia has annexed territories = Pandora's box ✓ China & India may enjoy cheap oil & gas ✓ the US may take advantage of Russia's economically weaker position to confront only China ✓ act according to the logic of egoism, i.e. seek their own interest and will not subordinate their interest to the interests of other states (see structural realism) vested interest = personal reason for involvement in an undertaking or situation, especially an expectation of financial or other gain Can Putin be trusted not to conquer more territories? ✓ Putin genuinely wanted to join NATO (see Munich conference in 2007) = was the best guarantee of geopolitical stability in the region 〆perhaps at the cost of former Soviet Union states political independence (e.g. Poland, Ukraine)? → was disappointed not to be allowed to join the club → was irritated by NATO's expansion in central European despite promises by the US government ✓ China is now an economic threat to the USA → American bipolar, geopolitical vision of the USA vs Russia has become obsolete ✓ Trump may afford to underestimate Putin's ambitions → the USA now unlikely to wage war in Europe against Russia ✓ from a European standpoint, moral integrity is often more valuable than geopolitical practicality 〆numerous cases of poisoning & sabotage 'highly likely' by Russian intelligence ✓ notorious corruption & allegations of cheating at Olympic Games... ✓ invasion of Ukraine took prominent European leaders by surprise → Europe can't trust Russian partners 〆following American & Russian perspectives, nations only have interests → Russia could seek more territories in the name of a so-called buffer area 40 whimsy = acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgement exit strategy = pre-planned means of extricating oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant in hot water = in difficulty gunboat diplomacy = pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power, implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare should terms not be agreeable to the superior force rule of law = political and legal ideal that all people and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers, government officials, and judges. It is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Is defined as "the mechanism, process, institution, practice, or norm that supports the equality of all citizens before the law, secures a nonarbitrary form of government, and more generally prevents the arbitrary use of power" flaw = mistake in sth that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly vested interest = personal reason for involvement in an undertaking or situation, especially an expectation of financial or other gain 39 to himself ]]> 20250228 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Communicative challenges & strategies By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 38 1 Communicative challenges & strategies Strategies & patterns to communicate & improvise in stressful situations pix/icons8-metronome-filled-100_white.png active xml_multi_dd_row How do you choose your communication strategies? Do they really depend on linguistic skills? 22 14 left public speaking to an unknown audience in a different country
pitching to a panel of tech-savvy experts
reporting to disappointed shareholders
negotiating with a take-it-or-leave-it business partner
]]> 1;2;3 4;5;6 7;8;9 10;11;12;13 public speaking to an unknown audience in a different country breaking the ice with a cross-cultural hook / rhetorical question / surprising fact avoiding being boring or predictable not worrying about linguistic skills pitching to a panel of tech-savvy experts catching interest & convincing without giving away the conclusions too early promising without compromising your credibility dealing with tricky, follow-up questions reporting to disappointed shareholders exposing facts & figures in a succinct, yet unambiguous way hedging & cushioning blows anticipating & improvising answers with story telling patterns (STAR, CARL, Minto Pyramid, BLUF...) negotiating with a take-it-or-leave-it business partner moving past resistance with fact-driven rather than emotion-based arguments assessing your BATNA hiding soft giveaway clues of your real stance (poker face) not allowing your interlocutor(s) to put words in your mouth ]]> 37 succinct = using few words hedging = way of avoiding giving a direct answer or opinion giveaway = something that tells or shows something secret BATNA = in negotiation theory, the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) is the most advantageous alternative course of action a party can take if negotiations fail and an agreement cannot be reached. The BATNA could include diverse situations, such as suspension of negotiations, transition to another negotiating partner, appeal to the court's ruling, the execution of strikes, and the formation of other forms of alliances. BATNA is the key focus and the driving force behind a successful negotiator. A party should generally not accept a worse resolution than its BATNA. Care should be taken, however, to ensure that deals are accurately valued, taking into account all considerations, such as relationship value, time value of money and the likelihood that the other party will live up to their side of the bargain apprehension = anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen uneasiness = feeling of anxiety or discomfort 36 removed lifted It would make the dollar more strong stronger Sometimes you have to express some complex things in a very compressed, tight succinct way Sometimes I feel inconfident not confident Sometimes you feel scary scared ]]> 20250226 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Lewis model horizons | German vs Japanese landscapes By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 35 2 German vs Japanese horizons 20231101 hw20231108 active pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa prep_2columns_2qa edit_2columns_2qa edit_1qa visual aid
]]> Explain what could go wrong on both sides. ✓ use of many adjectives will help low-culture, implicit Germans to describe the big picture that high context, reactive Japanese are more responsive to ✓ use past tense rather than reported speech to communicate on results Suggest how they could avoid misunderstandings. 34 3 Avoiding communication breakdown active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-cafe-100_white.png visual aid ]]> I hear what you say. ✓ I'm afraid I can't agree & would rather not continue this discussion. With the greatest respect. ✓ It doesn't seem to be a very reasonable | sensible idea. That's not bad. ✓ Thumbs up! That is a very brave proposal. ✓ It doesn't sound like a good idea at all. Quite good. ✓ (Perhaps) you should try harder. I would suggest ✓ Please do so, unless you can provide a better solution. Oh, incidentally / By the way ✓ What is important is that... (cleft sentence) I was a bit disappointed that ✓ I'm sorry to say I'm annoyed with... Very interesting. ✓ I don't think it makes sense. ✓ I think you've lost me. I'll bear it in mind. ✓ We probably needn't spend too much time on that. I'm sure it's my fault. ✓ A mistake has been made. ✓ There's a mistake in your solution. ✓ It seems you have omitted some important facts. You must come for dinner. ✓ It's been a pleasure to meet you. I almost agree. ✓ Let's agree to disagree (on that one). I only have a few minor comments. ✓ You'll probably need to rewrite after reading my comments. Could we consider some other options? ✓ I don't think we should stop at that - we must do better. ✓ We should find some alternatives. 33 decision solution to that problem ]]> 20250214 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Prerequisites to growing a business By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 32 1 pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png Prerequisites to growing a business 1/2 active wip xml_multi_dd_row How do you grow a business? What conditions should be met to ensure its viability? 14 12 left 1 2 3 4 5 6 31 2 pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png Prerequisites to growing a business 2/2 active wip xml_multi_dd_row How do you grow a business? What conditions should be met to ensure its viability? 14 11 left 1 2 3 4 5 6 30 3 What makes a market more attractive for businesses? active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What is most conducive to growth and profitability: market size, regulations, tariffs? How does market size affect a business’s potential for growth? A larger market size offers a broader customer base, increasing demand for products or services. It allows businesses to achieve economies of scale, reduce costs per unit, and grow faster. Larger markets also provide opportunities for diversification in terms of target audiences or product lines. Example: The smartphone market's size has led companies like Apple and Samsung to scale operations and innovate continuously. How do regulations impact business profitability? Regulations set the framework for how businesses can operate. In markets with light regulations, businesses often benefit from lower compliance costs and faster growth. In highly regulated markets, however, businesses face higher operational costs but might also gain a competitive advantage by ensuring higher standards. Example: In the U.S., deregulation in energy markets has helped renewable energy companies grow rapidly What role do tariffs play in determining market profitability? Tariffs directly affect the cost of importing or exporting goods. High tariffs increase costs and reduce profit margins, while low tariffs facilitate smoother international trade. Businesses focused on global supply chains or exports may suffer in markets with high tariffs. Example: The U.S.-China trade war resulted in higher tariffs on electronics, raising costs for companies like Huawei and Apple. How do competitive dynamics in a large market influence profitability? While a large market offers potential, it also invites intense competition. Businesses must innovate, differentiate, and improve efficiency to capture market share. Increased competition can erode profit margins if businesses focus too heavily on price. Example: The fast-food industry is large but competitive, with brands like McDonald's constantly innovating to maintain market leadership. What impact do government incentives have on profitability in certain markets? Government incentives, such as tax breaks, grants, and subsidies, can significantly reduce operating costs and improve profitability. A market that provides these incentives becomes more attractive to businesses, particularly startups or those in industries like technology, green energy, or manufacturing. Example: Tesla benefited from government incentives for electric vehicles, helping it scale and dominate the EV market. 29 4 Lead in Choosing the right market for your starting up active edit_ol_qa pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What are the prerequisites to growing a business? Why isn't Russia among the top 10 largest economies in the world? ✓ exported natural resources ✓ oligarchs placed dividends in banks in London (...) Why haven't Western companies relocated their production to Russia although the GDP per capita is equivalent to the Chinese one? ✓ collectivism & work culture in China more disposed to being outsourced for low-skilled manufacturing and division of labour → reminiscent of vassals' behaviour 〆Soviet Union legacy resulted in widespread lack of ownership & accountability → little interest in taking their future in their own hands or being held responsible = unpredictable, unreliable, careless approach to finishing goods ✓ more cultural & economic ties with India To what extent does market size matter when starting up? 28 feudalism /'fyu:də,lizəm/ = term that emerged in the 17th century that has been used to describe economic, legal, political, social, and economic relationships in the European Middle Ages. Used most narrowly to describe relations between lords and vassals that involve the exchange of land for military service. Feudalism in this sense is thought to have emerged in a time of political disorder in the 11th century as a means to restore order, and it was later a key element in the establishment of strong monarchies vassal /ˈvæsəl/ = holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance. Vassals were protected by lords who they had to serve in war 27 20250212 17:05-18:00 1.5 active Economic unions vs large economies By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 26 active textbook What are the risks of sanctions on the banking sector? 25 Economic unions active textbook What makes a market more profitable for growing a business: size, regulations, tariffs on trade? https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/economic-union/ 1. European Union (EU) The European Union is the world’s largest trade bloc. Importing goods and services from more than 100 countries, it is the biggest import market, as well as the biggest exporter in the world. The EU’s common currency is the euro, which is used by its 28 member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The EU countries coordinate their economic policies, laws, and regulations to address economic and financial issues. One of the union’s founding principles is free trade among its members. It is also committed to the liberalization of world trade outside of its borders. 2. CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) aims to create an economic space for competitive goods and services to establish a foundation for growth and development of the Caribbean community. It is an enlarged market that provides better opportunities to sell products and services, increased competitiveness, and improvement of the lives of people. 3. Central American Common Market The Central American Common Market is formed by six countries in Central America. They are Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. 4. Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) Also called the Eurasian Union, EAEU or EEU, the Eurasian Economic Union is a political and economic union of states in central and northern Eurasia. The treaty that established the union was signed in 2014 by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The accession treaty of both Armenia and Kyrgyzstan came into force in the following year. 5. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) consists of all the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, excluding Iraq. The council’s member states include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC was established in 1981. T / Cl Is the EU the biggest market in the world? EU Free Trade Agreements As the largest trading bloc globally, the EU is the primary trading partner for more than 80 countries and is among the most open economies worldwide https://researchfdi.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-eu-single-market/ ]]> 24 Largest economies in the world active textbook What are the largest markets to trade with? https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/top-10-largest-economies-in-the-world/86159/1 
Rank & Country  GDP (USD) 	        2025 Projected Real  	GDP Per Capita 
                                          GDP (% Change)     (Current Prices) (USD)
#1 United States    $30.34 trillion             2.2%            $89.68 thousand
#2 China            $19.53 trillion             4.5%            $13.87 thousand
#3 Germany          $4.92 trillion              0.8%            $57.91 thousand
#4 Japan            $4.39 trillion              1.1%            $35.61 thousand
#5 India            $4.27 trillion              6.5%             $2.94 thousand
#6 United Kingdom   $3.73 trillion              1.5%            $54.28 thousand
#7 France           $3.28 trillion              1.1%            $49.53 thousand
#8 Italy            $2.46 trillion                0.8%          $41.71 thousand
#9 Canada           $2.33 trillion              1.3%            $55.89 thousand
#10 Brazil          $2.31 trillion              2.4%            $10.82 thousand
]]> 23 breach = failure to do sth that must be done by law; action that breaks an agreement to behave in a particular way; break in a relationship between people or countries to underscore = line drawn under a word or phrase for emphasis; to underline fait accompli /ˌfeɪt əˈkɒmpli,ˌfɛt əˈkɒmpli/ = thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it 22 20250210 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Lewis model horizons | American vs French By the end of this session you will have studied Space repetition software (SRS, aka flashcards)
Android phone
AnyMemo (free) It seems to be the only android srs app that can import directly tab separated values in *txt format.  Overview https://anymemo.org

 

iPhone or iPad
Anki the best option (USD 25)
AnkiApp (free)
(need to sync via on-line platform) https://www.ankiapp.com/ If you want to deal with long lists you may also want to install SRS on your computer (it's easier to edit with a keyboard in LibreOffice / Excel than on a mobile phone...). Some software will also only accept importing / syncing in their native format (e.g. apkg for anki)
Windows
  https://apps.ankiweb.net/#windows (free) http://anki.en.softonic.com/ (free)
MacOs
http://ankisrs.net/#download (free) http://anki.en.softonic.com/mac (free)
Linux
http://ankisrs.net/#download (free) zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 21 1 USA vs French horizons active pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa prep_2columns_2qa edit_2columns_2qa edit_1qa visual aid
]]> Explain what could go wrong on both sides. 〆egghead attitude of Americans could put off French academia who traditionally focus more on theoretically knowledge 〆streetwise approach of Americans with real world case studies may contradict rational studying progress & patterns Suggest how they could avoid misunderstandings. ✓ assess at the beginning of a meeting who is senior to avoid lacking respect ✓ respect hierarchical processes ✓ Germans partners should use a STAR approach with their Japanese interlocutors to provide the big picture ✓ the Japanese may want to use the Minto/McKinsey pyramid approach focusing on a Bottom Line Up First approach 20 savoir faire /ˌsæv.wɑːˈfeər/ = ability to do and say the right thing in any social situation roundabout (~ discourse) = not in a simple, direct, or quick way (~ speech) egghead = (informal, disapproving or humorous) a person who is very intelligent and is only interested in studying streetwise = (informal) having the knowledge and experience that is needed to deal with the difficulties and dangers of life in a big city hunch = feeling that sth is true even though you do not have any evidence to prove it haute cuisine /ˌəʊt kwɪˈziːn/ = high-quality cooking following the style of traditional French cuisine mañana (~ mentality, attitude) /mæˈnjɑːnə/ = meaning 'tomorrow' in Spanish, used to talk about someone who seems too relaxed and always delays doing things inguineal hernia = паховая грыжа 19 20250207 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Fish can't see water By the end of this session you will have studied Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 18 1 Fish can't see water 20231025 hw20231101 active edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-cafe-100_white.png Management and the board are often, if not always, blind to their own culture – fish can’t see water – and may not realise derailing cultural dynamics, in time leading to under-performance or, in the worst case, financial disaster. The message of this book is simple: national culture, through its influence on corporate culture, has a powerful but often invisible impact on the success of global companies. Fish Can't See Water: How National Culture can Make or Break Your Corporate Strategy, by Richard D.Lewis & Kai Hammerich - 2013 Watch the video to find out more about the Lewis model. video The Lewis Model https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T98wFx73V0 Answer the questions.]]> visual aid
]]> Fish can't see water in the same way as you can't see your own culture. It is your natural environment that's why we don’t know we are in water, and as a consequence we don’t understand our surroundings. ]]> the_lewis_model_fish_cant_see_water.mp4 the looser model differs from older models in that most cross-cultural misfortune oh the monochromic people who did one thing at a time the pollak like people who tried to do many things at a time and that was about it I felt that one category had been forgotten and that's the Asians who are neither monotonic are polychronic the Lewis model shows three different types of human being we call them linear active multi active and reactive linear active people are Germans and Americans they do one thing at a time they're quite definite they go forward they plan well ahead the job oriented you know multi active people they're people oriented emotional try to do many things at once get excited where he see me it's aliens are a good example and then of course the reactive people are the Asians Chinese Japanese Koreans Vietnamese what do they do they try to make you speak first to establish what your aims and intentions are and that enables them to modify the reply so they don't sound you know too worried about it they accept certain things and and that way and they can create a slightly harmonious response and a harmonious attitude from the beginning when we're doing business with different countries we should ascertain to which cultural category the country belongs you have to study the the category and then respond to that category by adapting to it so your own behavior will have to correspond in a suitable manner to the people you're doing business with What nationalities are typically linear active? What are their characteristics? Germans, Americans(...) Linear-Actives are task-oriented, highly-organized planners, who complete action chains by doing one thing at a time, preferably in accordance with a linear agenda. loquacious = talkative What nationalities are typically multi active? What are their characteristics? Italians Multi-Actives are emotional, loquacious and impulsive people who attach great importance to family, feelings, relationships, people in general. They like to do many things at the same time and are poor followers of agendas. What nationalities are typically reactive? What are their characteristics? Chinese, Japanese, Koreans(...) Reactives are good listeners, who rarely initiate action or discussion, preferring first to listen to and establish the other’s position, then react to it and form their own opinion. 17 2 pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Traits of the 3 Lewis typologies (linear-active, multi-active, reactive) active xml_multi_dd_row 25 20 left visual aid visual aid ]]> 1 2 3 16 3 pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png Adapting your communication style according to the Lewis model active xml_multi_dd_row visual aid
]]> 30 20 left 1;2;3 4;5;6 7;8;9 be concise, precise, and factual avoid interruptions and distractions follow a clear agenda and timeline be friendly, enthusiastic, and empathetic allow for some flexibility and improvisation use stories and examples to illustrate your points be polite, respectful, and humble listen attentively and patiently use indirect and subtle cues to convey your messages 15 4 Pros and cons of the Lewis model (Richard D.Lewis) 20231021-8ach hw20231028-14ach-n1 active edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-hand-with-pen-100_white.png pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What are the pros of this model? The Lewis Model, born in an era of rampant globalisation of business, is particularly appropriate for assessing an individual’s likely performance in a commercial role. The design of the questionnaire is based on business situations. The nomenclature of the typologies is succinct: Linear-active, Multi-active, Reactive. While the three types are distinctive, each possesses behavioural elements from the other two categories. It is a question of which one is dominant. Many individuals deviate from the national type in a work situation e.g. engineers and accountants tend to be Linear, sales people Multi-active, lawyers and doctors Reactive. A Training Officer, on being told that “Candidate A is basically monochronic and low-context but high on uncertainty avoidance, has a tendency towards collectivism and femininity and is past-oriented,” may well ask, “What shall I do with him?” If the description is Linear-active, Multi-active or Reactive, the answer is clear and succinct: The location of each individual shows how close he or she is in behaviour or affinity to different cultures. How does this information help training officers, headhunters or others engaged in the placement of new recruits in the company structure? After assessment, the individual’s cultural profile is pinpointed inside the triangle, showing how close or how far it is to the world’s major cultural groups. It indicates not only how much affinity their behaviour has to that of other countries but also shows their similarity to or deviation from their own national norm, as well as their compatibility with other people tested. This is particularly useful if members of a proposed team are tested simultaneously. What are the cons of this model? The Lewis model has its limitations and criticisms, such as oversimplifying or stereotyping cultures, disregarding individual differences and personal preferences, not reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of cultures and communication, and not accounting for other factors such as power, gender, age, education, religion, etc. It is important to use the Lewis model as a starting point for cross-cultural communication but not as an end point. You should always be open-minded, curious, and respectful of other perspectives and experiences; furthermore, you should seek feedback and clarification when in doubt. 14 monochronic = culture which schedules one event at a time in an orderly fashion polychronic = culture where employees can work on several tasks simultaneously. Individuals thrive on carrying out more than one task at the same time as long as they can be executed together with a natural rhythm Lewis model = born in an era of rampant globalisation of business, is particularly appropriate for assessing an individual’s likely performance in a commercial role. The design of the questionnaire is based on business situations. The nomenclature of the typologies is succinct: Linear-active, Multi-active, Reactive. While the three types are distinctive, each possesses behavioural elements from the other two categories. It is a question of which one is dominant. Many individuals deviate from the national type in a work situation e.g. engineers and accountants tend to be Linear, sales people Multi-active, lawyers and doctors Reactive linear-active culture = culture where you may want to be concise, precise, and factual, avoid interruptions and distractions, and follow a clear agenda and timeline multi-active culture = culture where you may want to be friendly, enthusiastic, and empathetic, allow for some flexibility and improvisation, and use stories and examples to illustrate your points reactive culture = culture where you may want to be polite, respectful, and humble, listen attentively and patiently, and use indirect and subtle cues to convey your messages concise = giving only the information that is necessary and important, using few words loquacious = talkative officialdom = people who are in positions of authority in large organizations when they seem to be more interested in following rules than in being helpful 13 20250203 16:05-17:00 1.5 active Communication breakdown | Pros and cons of the high and low context model By the end of this session you will have studied cancelled 29.01 zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 12 4 Communication breakdown How to avoid and/or mitigate communication breakdowns using the low context and high context culture approaches active pix/icons8-microscope-100_white.png edit_2columns_2qa prep_2columns_2qa edit_1qa How can you use the high context vs low context approach to cultures to avoid a communication breakdown? Explain what went wrong on both sides. Díaz was quite certain Mr Chen had said he was coming. Mr Chen was quite certain he had communicated that he absolutely could not come because he was going to be celebrating his daughter’s birthday with his family. Suggest how the manager could have avoided this misunderstanding. 〆after 15 years in China, Mr Diaz should have taken for granted that using only a low context approach is not the best solution → as a senior manager, Mr Diaz should be held responsible for communicating with his staff members ✓ need to paraphrase to avoid a closed question such as 'Can you join us on Sunday?' e.g. ask about Mr Chen's plans, describe what needs to be done more thoroughly with the client = provide the big picture → don't put Chinese (and more generally Asian) employees in a situation where they can't say no 11 1 Pros and cons of high context and low context culture model (Edward T.Hall) 20231014-6ach hw20231021-8ach-n2 active wip edit_ol_qa prep_ol_qa pix/icons8-hand-with-pen-100_white.png pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png What are the advantages and possible limitations or disadvantages of the high context and low context culture model by Edward T.Hall? . → find examples → search the internet if relevant]]> What are the pros of this model? ✓ popular framework in intercultural-communication studies ✓ help inform and educate individuals on how to better facilitate communication between individuals of different cultural backgrounds ✓ anticipate if a given group is likely to be inclusive enough for outsiders or additional team building is required → more inclusive in low-context ✓ predict how long the decision making process may last & when you still have time to change something → faster in low-context ✓ schedule negotiations with informal meetings before negotiating rather than after (to celebrate) → priority is given to building strong, long-term relationships in high context culture inclusive = including a wide range of people, things, ideas, etc What are the cons of this model? 〆lacks (or has been criticised for lacking) empirical validation 〆cultural context can also shift and evolve e.g. a study has argued that both Japan and Finland (high-context cultures) are becoming lower-context with the increased influence of Western Europe and United States culture 〆might oversimplify cultural differences and ignore other factors that contribute to communication styles, such as individual characteristics and personal experiences of team members 〆could run the risk of prioritizing task-oriented communication or under-estimating the value of relationship-building when dealing with partners from a low-context culture 〆can lead to ethnocentric views that place one communication style above another. Some people may perceive the communication style in their own culture as superior or more effective (ethnocentrism) 〆may emphasise the role of traditions and consequently hinder innovation 〆could underestimate a group's abilities to adapt to change = risk of stereotyping or making assumptions 〆According to Zaidman, Edward T.Halls' model doesn’t explain variations within a culture or variations among cultures. e.g. it fails to distinguish between the high-context communication of a Japanese businessman and the high-context communication of an Indian → see also Stephen B. Ryan criticism for the creation of harmful stereotypes leading to an increase in misunderstandings and miscommunication Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. Albert Einstein 10 So As cold as in Turkey I have never felt in Russia Sometimes you understand what to do to make this product good well ]]> 20250131 15:05-16:00 1.5 active Russian fintechs | Risk of no-confidence if Russian frozen assets reallocated By the end of this session you will have studied cancelled 29.01 zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 9 active textbook Can Europe afford to set a precedent by reallocating Russian frozen assets? 8 precedent = official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later FDI = foreign direct investment 7 20250127 18:05-19:00 1.5 active Can AI replace middle managers and developers? By the end of this session you will have studied Xmas break 23.12 → 13.01.2025 cancelled 22-24.01 ✓ 20250127 cancelled 29.01 rescheduled 31.01 - 15:05-16:00 zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 6 active textbook 5 20250120 17:05-18:00 1.5 active When cultures collide - Lewis model Recent discoveries about cultural differences By the end of this session you will have studied Xmas break 23.12 → 13.01.2025 cancelled 13-15-17.01 ✓ 20250120 cancelled 22-24.01 ✓ 20250127 cancelled 29.01 rescheduled 31.01 - 15:05-16:00 zoom_meeting.png Zoom meeting details Meeting ID: 736 3734 5149 Passcode: VhP32d https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73637345149?pwd=9XbxDC1Zm8liOLa6Q1HQRtaqnUaYQS.1 ]]> 4 3 Beyond Culture - Summary and Review active 20231018 hw20231025_n2 edit_short_reading_floating prep_short_reading_floating edit_reading_floating Why is culture still a divider? → read a summary of the best seller 'Beyond Culture' by Edward T.Hall → answer the questions What are the advantages & disadvantages of using implicit communication? ✓ less attention can be paid to spoken words, which speeds up communication considerably 〆is faster in the moment but much slower to change overall What are the advantages & disadvantages of using explicit communication? ✓ meanings can be changed quickly 〆is slower, requiring more spoken information and longer messages Why is being late to an appointment is much more tolerated in Latin America than it is in the United States? ✓ in Latin America you might need to prioritize an issue. Changing plans last minute, however, is seen as rude in the US and Northern Europe, as people from these cultures expect you to plan your schedule in advance According to the text, how is space perceived in Europe as opposed to Japan? ✓ people from Western cultures tend to associate space with private ownership and personal status. A stranger moving your stuff is just wrong. What example(s) of a country's former social organisation do you know of? ✓ bowing practice in Japan stems from its feudal history What can questioning your own beliefs help you understand? ✓ may help better understand foreign cultures Beyond Culture - summary Beyond Culture - summary Edward T.Hall https://lifeclub.org/books/beyond-culture-edward-hall-review-summary
Beyond Culture Key Idea #1: Your actions and thoughts are shaped by the culture in which you grow up. Human beings are cultural by nature. Regardless of where a person is born and raised, her culture – the ideas, customs and social mores of her community – will inevitably have an effect on the way she acts and thinks throughout her life. ]]> From birth, we begin to learn from the people around us. In this way, a person’s actions are changeable, as they suit the cultural context in which the person exists. Over time, learned actions develop into ingrained habits. Eventually, these habits become second nature, almost automatic. By the time we’ve reached adulthood, these learned actions have become internalized, unconscious behaviours, specific to the culture in which we were raised. A good example of this can be found in the way people greet each other. While the Japanese bow, Inuits rub noses. Such behaviours are taken for granted within each culture and are performed automatically. Both actions, however different, convey respect or gratitude, yet only when performed in the context of each respective culture. Beyond Culture Key Idea #2: You perform learned cultural rituals on a daily basis – often without even realizing it. The sequence of actions that people perform together differs from culture to culture. Settling disputes is one particular practice that is often culturally determined. A person from England or America, for example, might first offer subtle verbal hints that something is wrong. He might then send a message through an emissary, before directly confronting the other party. If none of these actions resolve the dispute, he might resort to legal action.]]> People from Latin America or Mediterranean cultures, on the other hand, see handling disputes much differently. In general, people from these cultures try to avoid confrontation with co-workers or family members unless they feel that they must engage directly. Beyond Culture Key Idea #3: Different cultures have different ways of communicating, and each has its pros and cons. Have you ever struggled to plan an event with people from different cultural backgrounds? This situation isn’t uncommon and results from cultural differences in communication. In short, different cultures have different ways of communicating. Some communicate explicitly while others communicate implicitly. ]]> Cultures that communicate explicitly include those in Germany, Switzerland, the countries of Scandinavia and (although to a lesser extent) the United States. In the context of these cultures, plans are typically set clearly and plainly, using words. The downside of such communication is that a message must contain all the necessary information so there can be communication at all. This can slow things down, as messages are long and complex. Other cultures, however, rely more on implicit communication. This means that a lot of communicated information is embedded in context and the body language of the people involved. In Asian cultures, for example, people are on the lookout for verbal symbols or physical gestures as part of a conversation, and such gestures are easily understood by the group. Using implicit communication means that less attention can be paid to spoken words, which speeds up communication considerably. There are pros and cons, of course, to both styles. Explicit communication is slower, requiring more spoken information and longer messages. But the upside is that meanings can be changed quickly. Implicit communication, in contrast, is faster in the moment but much slower to change overall. Physical gestures, in particular, rely on historical tradition for meaning. Gestures can’t take on new meanings quickly, but spoken language can. If a culture is stable for a long time, people become more able to efficiently communicate, often through developing implicit signs to speed things up. But if a culture is changing rapidly, communication remains explicit, as it allows for more flexible communication. Beyond Culture Key Idea #4: Cultural differences shape the way you walk, and the way you perceive time. In Northern Europe and America, people view time as a straight line, moving forward into the future. Such a view leads people to schedule work hours strictly, setting deadlines for specific tasks. People from cultures in the Middle East and Latin America, in contrast, tend to focus on the present moment. They often prioritize tasks on the fly, based on what is most pressing at that moment. For people in these cultures, time is flexible, and deadlines are seldom hard or fast. Differences in the perception of time can certainly explain many cultural differences. For instance, being late to an appointment is much more tolerated in Latin America than it is in the United States. In Latin America, it is understood that you might need to prioritize an issue that you feel is more pressing than your appointment. Changing plans last minute, however, is seen as rude in the US and Northern Europe, as people from these cultures expect you to plan your schedule in advance. Beyond Culture Key Idea #5: You see the world through the lens of your culture, which can lead to a lot of misunderstanding. Actions deemed “appropriate” are in particular a sensitive area between cultures. You may be startled or even offended by the actions of a person from another culture, especially when the gesture clashes or conflicts with what you see as correct or acceptable. ]]> Japanese hotels offer a useful example. Here it’s common practice for hotel staff to move your luggage to a new room without asking your permission. Staff will do this if your room is needed urgently by another party (for example, a large family). For the Japanese, this is a completely normal practice, and even connotes familiarity and a sense of inclusion for the guest who is being moved. Yet American and European guests, when faced with such a situation, are often shocked and insulted. Why? People from Western cultures tend to associate space with private ownership and personal status. A stranger moving your stuff is just wrong. In Western cultures, children are trained to get ready for the job market, thus schooling is competitive and task-driven. Regular exams measure student achievement and awards are given to those who excel. In contrast, children of Pueblo Indian descent are educated by peers and role models, spending time with them and absorbing their knowledge. This system is informal, and children play more than study before their working lives begin. Pueblo Indians prefer this method, feeling that the Western system is unfair to children and therefore damaging to society. Beyond Culture Key Idea #6: It takes a lot of work to understand another culture, but it’s worth it. Understanding other cultures is difficult, often because it requires knowledge of a culture’s particular historical and social context.]]> In Japan, for example, people are expected to use an appropriate degree of politeness depending on their relationship to a person – whether the person is a superior, a teacher, a friend or family. This practice stems from Japan’s feudal history. Until recently, social standing was determined by a person’s status and wealth. People from lower ranks were required to show respect to people from higher ranks. Today’s degrees of politeness is just one consequence of the country’s former social organization. https://lifeclub.org/books/beyond-culture-edward-hall-review-summary)]]> implicit = suggested without being directly expressed; forming part of sth (although perhaps not directly expressed) explicit = (of a statement or piece of writing) clear and easy to understand mores = traditional customs and codes of behaviour that are typically followed in a place or in a group, but are not codified by law. In other words, mores are the unwritten rules of social behavior, backed by morality (Ritzer, 2007) ingrained = (of a habit, an attitude, etc.) that has existed for a long time and is therefore difficult to change emissary = /ˈemɪsərɪ/ person who is sent to deliver an official message, especially from one country to another, or to perform a special task resort = to make use of sth, especially sth bad, as a means of achieving sth, often because there is no other possible solution embedded = (of feelings) felt very strongly and difficult to change lookout = to watch carefully for sb/sth in order to avoid danger, etc. or in order to find sth you want pressing = needing to be dealt with immediately; urgent startled = excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement connote = to suggest a feeling, an idea, etc. as well as the main meaning role model = person that you admire and try to copy stem = to come from, to originate feudal = connected to the social system in medieval Europe whereby a vassal held land from a superior in exchange for allegiance and service
3 3 pix/icons8-collaboration-100_white.png High context and low context countries active xml_multi_dd_row Are the following countries more high context or low context? 20 16 left 1;2;3;4;5 6;7;8;9 10;11;12;13;14;15;16 17;18;19;20;21;22;23 USA Canada Australia Netherlands Germany Poland Finland Denmark UK Argentina Brazil Spain Italy France Russia Singapore Kenya India Iran Saudi Arabia China Korea Japan visual aid ]]> 2 monochronic = culture which schedules one event at a time in an orderly fashion polychronic = culture where employees can work on several tasks simultaneously. Individuals thrive on carrying out more than one task at the same time as long as they can be executed together with a natural rhythm 1 the early two thousands (OR noughties) This is still exists in some industries ]]>