Tuesday, February 23,2016

Task one:

In order to get familiar with the Canadian workplace, there are a lot of things we need to consider. Click on this link and follow the instructions given. 

1. change jobs--I have to change my job right now.
2. commute to work--My husband commutes to work everyday.
3. draw up plans--I asked my daughter to draw up her plan before she left. 
4. fill out paperwork--I got headache when I had  to fill out paperwork.
5. get a promotion--Everyone wants to get a promotion soon.
6. get a raise--
7. get fired
8. give a presentation
9. go home
10. go on a business trip
11. go on vacation
12. go out to lunch
13. go to a meeting
14. go to work
15. make copies
16. meet with a client
17. quit your job
18. send a fax
19. take a day off
20. write a proposal
21. write a report

Task two:

Here is a list of business idioms that are taken from this website. Please go over them and try to understand each one’s meaning and then follow the tasks below.
Pick five to six of the following idioms and use them in sentences of your own.

at stake

My parents didn't agree with my idea because there are a lot at stake. 

back to square one

After we arrived the Canada, we known everything had to go back to square one.

go down the drain

My father told us everything will be go down the drain if we immigrate.

hands are tied

Our hands are tied in this situation.

on your toes

Stay on your toes. 

see eye to eye

Though we don't see eye to eye, my husband always back me up.

Take three:

Compose a short story about any event/meeting that has happened to you at your previous workplace. Use at least five to six from these idioms n your story.

Request two from your peers to check and edit your work before you publish it on your blog.

I used to work in a hospital in China.  Everyone knows that the hospital is open 24/7 and believes we are all the white collar workers. The hospital I worked in is the biggest and the most famous one in my home town, so people think that there may be some negotiation under the table if some grads enroll us.   Most of hospitals in China rely on the word of mouth to appeal new customers.  

time's up

"Time's up" means that the time for something or someone has ended.

I think his time's up as the CEO. They're going to replace him as soon as they find a suitable candidate.

touch base

To "touch base¨ means to make contact with someone.

Let me make a few phone calls to try to get an answer to your question. I'll touch base with you later today.

twist someone's arm

To "twist someone's arm" means to persuade or convince someone to do something that he or she does not want to do.

The owner thought the advertising budget was a little high. We had to twist his arm to get him to agree to it.

under the table

Something done secretly (and usually illegally) in the business world is done "under the table."

To avoid paying taxes, they paid some of their employees under the table.

up in the air

If something is undecided, it is "up in the air."

We're looking for a test market right now, but nothing has been decided yet. Everything's still up in the air.

uphill battle

Something that is difficult to achieve because of obstacles and difficulties is an ¨uphill battle.¨

Winning the election is going to be an uphill battle. He doesn't have a lot of support at the moment.

upper hand

If someone has an advantage over someone else, he or she has the "upper hand."

He was more experienced and well respected, so he had the upper hand in the argument.

white collar

A ¨white collar worker¨ is someone who works in an office (customer service, management, sales, etc.) The opposite of a white collar worker is a ¨blue collar worker.¨ A blue collar worker is someone who works with his or her hands (manufacturing, construction, maintenance, etc.) ¨White collar¨ (and ¨blue collar¨can also be used to describe a job, position, or place.

There are mostly manufacturing positions here. There aren't a lot of white-collar jobs here.

win-win situation

A "win-win situation" is a situation where everyone involved gains something.

We were happy to get the contract, and they were happy to get such a good price. It was a win-win situation.

word of mouth

If something spreads by "word of mouth," people hear about it by informal conversation with friends, family members, acquaintances, etc.

A lot of local restaurants rely on word of mouth to get new customers.

writing on the wall

The "writing on the wall" refers to the evidence and clues that something (usually negative) is going to happen.

I'm going to get my resume ready. I can see the writing on the wall.

yes man

A ¨yes man¨ is someone who always agrees with his or her superiors.

The company isn't looking to hire someone who is going to try to make a lot of changes. They're basically just looking for a yes man.