donderdag 25 februari 2010

Preparations for the meeting

The Communications Manager:

- I don't really understand why there are so many complaints about the internal communication.
- I think all vital information is published in the magazine, but maybe we have to consider modern means of communication such as intranet and screens on every floor. I also think we have to involve the employees more with the company.

In my opinion we should change the president's picture at the cover, because:

- If we're going to use pictures of employees than they might feel more relevant for the organization.
- We have to make the magazine nicer for employees. We have to make them feel important. How:
* Employees might be more interested in articles about the workers inside instead of news about the company structure and production methods.

- Employees might feel unappreciated if they can't find themselves back in the magazine. They want to read about things which are important to them. They don't really want to read about the production and structure. That's not relevant to them.


By interrupting:
- May I have a word?
- Excuse me for interrupting
- I think/I feel like.

Opinions:
- Do you really think that?
- In my opinion..
- The way I see things

Agreeing:
- I never thought about it that way before
- That's exactly how I feel about it.

Suggesting/ Advising:
- Why don't we?
- We should
- Can't we

- What do you think of
- Do you mean that
- I'm afraid I don't quite understand
- What do you think about this proposal

woensdag 17 februari 2010

Cheap sportpossibilites

Being a student isn't as easy as it always seems. You have to make it through every month with little money. You have to buy food, pay rent and also have fun in weekends. And how will you ever going to pay the sportschool's bill? Yeah, it's hard to be a poor student.

That's why students-sportmembershipcards exist.

Most students like to sport sometimes. Just to stay fit (girls mainly) or to show off for the girls (boys). With this special membershipcard you're able to go to the sportschool every month without paying a lot of money. Just go to the website of the particular sportschool you want to go to or grab a flyer somewhere and inform about the possibilities. Most times you just have to show your studentcard! Sometimes you can save 50% overall..

Next week: Studyweek or Springbreak?

donderdag 11 februari 2010

Blog 2

How to survice public transport

People always complain about the weather, about money and about public transport. Sometimes they're right and something they just need something to complain about. I always think: imagine a world without public transport, then there is no possibility for most students to go to school..

There are many trains, busses and metros in Holland. If you're an student over 18 or if you go to university then you can travel for free. The Dutch government give this students an OV-chip cart. So that's a big plus for us. Secondly, because you have to travel by train or bus all the time, you have the opportunity to make homework during travelling. That means that when you're home you have plenty of time to do other things, nice things. At last, maybe the train do have delay sometimes, well recently there have been lots of delays (because of the snow) but you have to imagine that if you're travelling with a car than you have all those files you have to wait for.

So overall, we - students - can't live without our free, possibility to make homework and quick public transport.

Next week: Cheap sportpossibilities for students

Listening assignment B

1. What is remarkable about the comments and the bloggers of the FED?
- there is a possibilty to place reactions and comments anonymous.

2. The FED opened a blog to create 'buzz'. What is meant by this, in other word, what was the purpose of opening this blog?
- To get the traffic back on the internet.

3. what was the female recruiting manager'g blog mainly about?
- her challenge as being a fulltime mom and a fulltime manager.

4. What was the purpose of her blog?
- Trying to build trust in the organization and especially for people who were afraid of giving reactions.

5. Which words shows that the FED does exercise a form of control on the blogs?
- Anonymous
- Regulated

6. By what kind of people were the very first FED blogs written
- by the senior management

7. Have the blog changed the way that people work for the FED think about the internal communications?
- There has been more engagements

8. What is the latest development in the company as far as media are concerned?
- The video site. A flatscreen in every elevator and soon also on every floor which shows news about the organization.

9. Catherine Cummings says that this medium to communicate with staff is better than the old medium. Which more old-fashioned way of communication with staff does she mention?
- the memo

10. What is the next big thing in social media at the FED?
- They're going to do redesigning in the Chicago FED.

Business letter

Lingua Services Galactic
69 Milk Street
London SW7 6AW
Tel: (056) 334 572
Email: info@linguaservices.com.uk

8 february, 2010

Dreamtime Movies Universal Ltd
54 Oxford Street
Skagnes SK3 4RG

Dear Andrea,

With reference to your letter of 1th february, I'm writing back. I'm very sorry but I can't send you a brochure and pricelist because we got the new ones from 2010 yet. If you can tell me what the four languages are, then I can tell you the prices.

Also I have checked your website. We offer website editing services as well. We offer services like: renewing websites, keeping them up-to-date and giving them complete facelifts. I enclosed a pricelift for the editing services, in case you're interested.

Yours sincerely,

Beau Stolwijk
Marketing manager, beaustolwijk@linguaservices.com.uk, (045) 445 672

woensdag 3 februari 2010

Going out as a real Dutchie!

We - Dutch people - know how to party! Have you ever heard about DJ Tiësto and Armin van Buuren? They're the best DJ's of the world and they're Dutch. And have you ever heard about carnival? The party which they celebrate in Brazil? We know how to carnival as well! If you're an exchange student and you've never been partying in Holland before, then it's a must!

There are all sorts of discotheques and bars in Utrecht, so you can party where-ever and whenever you want. Are you in the mood to drink beer and wine and sing Dutch songs all night? Then you have to go to café's like Café Tropical. But when you're in the mood to dance all night until very early in the morning, then you should try out clubs like Tivoli - which is in the centre of Utrecht. We cater for all tastes!

Don't be afraid of being an outsider! There are lots of exchange students so you're never alone. Despites, students are nice people, they don't mind showing you around!

Next week: How to survive public transport!

Welcome!

Every year students from here and nowhere decide to go study in Utrecht - Holland. Well, I know why! Holland is such an amazing country and Utrecht really is the place to be. But I can understand that it is difficult to settle down in a country which you don't know that well. That's why I write this blog. I want to help exchange students with settling down here.

Every week I'll pick one theme - from going to college in Utrecht to going out in Utrecht - and I'll write about it. I hope it will help you all to feel welcome and home here in Holland.

This week: Going out as a real Dutchie!

Exercises week 1

Listening assignment A

- Howard, can we start on your company's view on the internal Marketing and Communications?
- Chats in the kitchen over a coffee?
- No! How your company presents to it staff or trade to it distributes.
- Do you hold events?
- We've got a staff training room!
- How do, you, for example get your company to embrace a new brand or a new company direction?
- Ah, well well, the ladies ship team they get brave to the weekend retreat like at, like at Blue Mountains.
- And, eh management management they get briefed over dinner at a very fancy 5-starsrestaurant in the city, if you don't mind!
- How do you fire them up?
- Yes, the keywords there were: "Fire up!"
- Well, the powerpoint looks are colourful.
- Animated smilies
- Well, we see them coming into the frontdoor
- They're all on commission
- How important is it to you that your people fully embrace the company's vision, culture and attitude and that the company is committed to ensuring their enthusiasm is maintained?
- Well, that's an HR thing


1A. Rewriting an Email

Hey Rob,

How are you? It's me, Merlin! We met two weeks ago, remember? I was thinking, next week I'll be in London, but I don't know anything about this city at all. Do you like to show me around? I'd love to see some of the monuments in London and afterwards we can go to one of the famous pubs in London. I think it'll be fun to hang out together. So, how about it?

Hope to see you soon, Merlin.


1B. Email

Hello,

Because there have been some complaints about the too casual way we dress during work, we decided to create a dress code. A dress code may sound a bit boring, but that's why we want you to give it a think. A dress code can be nice if we put our own ideas in it.

So what kind of clothes would you like to wear during work? It has to be a bit formal, but not too much. We want a dress code which represent our organization. That means that it has to be decent, but not too stiff. Please send us your ideas before the end of next week and we'll base a dress code on the best and most popular idea. We'll let you know what our results are!

Thank you,

Beau Stolwijk, Communications Manager, (046) 145-889


1c. Memo

To: Management Team

From: The Communications Staff

Date: February 2, 2010

Subject: Super Sports Day

Last meeting we had a discussion about the idea to organize a Super Sports Day for all American and Dutch employees with their family. I really think we should give this plan a change because it will be a great opportunity to bring more harmony in our organization.

* Playing sports is good for teambuilding and to gain trust in each other
* It's a nice way to get to know each other better

We want to organize this Super Sports Day on the 17th of march, which is on a wednesday. We'll play sports like football, soccer and tennis. In the morning there is a possibility of eating breakfast together and at the end of the day we'll barbeque together.

I hope you're all looking forward to a day like this as much as I do. With a bit support of everyone, we'll manage to make this day a success. Please give it a think.

Thank you!