Appendix 1: Answer Keys
Focus questions
9.
| Part of feedback that discusses what needs to be improved | |
|---|---|
| Feedback 1 | It appears that there are a few issues with spelling and grammar. Could we look at the report again before forwarding it? |
| Feedback 2 | Let us look at these two sentences here. Do you think they support the main idea in your topic sentence? It’s always a good idea to read your sentences carefully to check if they are all connected to the main idea. This way you will have a really good paragraph. |
| Indirect language | Direct language |
|---|---|
| It’s always a good idea toread your sentences carefully to check if they are all connected to the main idea. | You should read your sentences carefully to check if they are all connected to the main idea. |
| Could welook at the report again before forwarding it? | Make sure you correct all the errors before forwarding the document. |
After you read
Comprehension
- b
- a
| Main employability skills discussed | What the skill means | One way to demonstrate the skill at work |
| 1. Adaptability | Ability to be flexible and open to change | The examples given are examples of changes and not examples of demonstrating the skill. However, you can infer the following:
|
| 2. Taking initiative | Going beyond just doing your job or Doing things without being told |
|
| 3. Being a good team player | Ability to work well in groups |
|
- c
- c
- b
a) confidence
b) adaptability
c) changes
d) taking initiative
e) knowledge and skills
f) unconfident people
Vocabulary
Meaning
| Word/phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| foundation | a base or support on which something stands |
| inevitable | cannot be avoided |
| opportunity | chance |
| gap | a space where something is missing |
| individuality | the quality that makes a person different from others |
| perspective | a way of thinking about and understanding something |
| critical | expressing disapproval about something |
| rapport | a friendly relationship |
- 1. b
2. a
3. b
4. a
5. a
Form
| Verb | Noun | Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| confidence | confident | |
| adapt | adaptability | adaptable |
| develop | development | |
| responsibility | responsible | |
| communicate | communication | communicative |
| employ | employers/ employability | employable |
- When Ivana first came to Canada, she wanted to start working as soon as possible. However, she quickly realized that getting a job in her field required more than just her qualifications. She discussed this with her friend. Her friend introduced her to a document called “Employability Skills 2000+” and advised her to set herself some goals. She read this document very carefully. She understood that she needed to develop some of her soft skills. This would help her get a job more easily because she would be more employable in Canada with better soft skills. For example, she needed to work on her communicative abilities to be able to express her ideas more clearly. She believed in herself and was very confident that she would be able to adapt to life in Canada very soon. Ivana found an entry-level job in her field in six months. Now, eight years later, she has a job with a lot of responsibility in the same company. She is very happy with her success.
Reading progress check
Comprehension
- b
- c
- b
- a
- c
- a) your mistakes
b) co-workers and supervisors
Vocabulary
| Word/phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| reliable | able to be trusted and depended on |
| flexible | able to adapt to something new |
| diversity | the state of having a variety of people from different cultures in a group or organization |
| self-conscious | uncomfortably nervous about what people think about you |
| contribute | to give something to help another person or group |
| interact | to talk or do things with other people |
| journal | a daily personal record of events |
After you listen
Excerpt 1: Comprehension
- b
- c
- a
- b
- a
- c
- c
Excerpt 2: Comprehension
- b
- a
- a
- c
- a
- b
- a
Listening progress check: After you listen
Comprehension
- a
- On Friday/Friday
- b
- b
- a
- b
Vocabulary
| Word/phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| stressed out | anxious and worried |
| turn | the opportunity to do something in a certain order |
| legal | relating to the law |
| increment | an increase in wages or salary |
| bonus | an amount paid above the usual salary or wage |
| have an issue with | have a problem with |
| sensitive | aware of and understanding the feelings of others |
| consider | to think about carefully before deciding |
The paragraph
1.
a) I had a lovely day yesterday. When I got up, it was warm and bright First, I had my shower and breakfast. At around ten, I drove to a nearby park and walked for an hour. After my walk, I sat by the river for some time to rest. I admired how beautiful everything looked. When I got back to my car, I heard someone shout my name. It was my friend, Tara. I was very happy to see her and invited her home. We chatted for hours and cooked dinner together. We enjoyed the dinner on my deck and watched the beautiful sunset. After Tara left, I read for a while. I fell asleep with a smile on my face. It was a lazy but beautiful day.
Irrelevant sentence:
There were some empty cans floating in the water.
b)
My friend Igor learned about safety the hard Two months ago, he was working on a machine. He had on his safety boots and gloves, but he did not have on his safety glasses. Suddenly, a small piece of plastic hit him in his left eye. He was in a lot of pain. A co-worker called 911. A short while later, an ambulance arrived and the paramedics took him to the hospital. The doctors worked hard to save his eye but were not successful. Igor lost the sight in his left eye. The terrible experience taught him to always follow safety procedures and requirements carefully.
Irrelevant sentence:
The machine was new and shiny.
Editing a paragraph
I worked very hard to improve my writing skills on my own. First, I wrote a minimum of 150 words in my journal every day. I wrote about my day or something special I did or saw. I also wrote a summary of two short newspaper articles twice a week. In addition, I used the audio from the listening exercises in my e-textbook as dictation exercises. This helped me improve my spelling and my punctuation. I asked my instructor for the scripts so I could check my work. Finally, I worked on my weakest point, prepositions. Twice a week, I got two copies of the same free newspaper. I chose an article. In one newspaper, I deleted the prepositions in the article. The next day, I wrote in all the prepositions and then compared them with the same article in the other copy of the newspaper. All this was a lot of work, but I write much better now.
Pronunciation
Task 2
Learn new skills /and improve your knowledge./ Keep a workplace journal./ Log your successes /and your challenges./ Reflect on the challenges/ so that you can set self-development goals./A workplace journal / will help you with your performance review / and your goal setting./ Speak up at meetings/ and offer suggestions./ Your co- workers/ and supervisor/ may not take your suggestions,/ but they will appreciate your input. / If you are self-conscious/ or shy at meetings,/ take your focus away from yourself/ and concentrate/ instead on the topic /and discussion./ Use your knowledge/ and skills/ to solve problems/ and make decisions./
