Language Learning History

ReflectionThe work of putting a blog together about my development of speaking and writing English is done. Grades of presentations and memo reports are received, and what rests is the writing of a reflection of this and giving some advice for future IB&M students. First, I want to state I’m glad my blog is finished and that I have found some peers to comment on my posts. Now, what have I learned?

Although this blogging thing is not my cup of tea, I absolutely believe it has contributed to an improvement of my English skills. The writing goes off much more easily than a couple of months ago, my vocabulary has grown rapidly  and my grammar has improved also. This not only counts for informal but also for formal writing, the memo reports are really a good practise for such purposes. For the rest, the feedback helps you to overthink the structure and sentence connection of your text, taking feedback seriously makes the result visible.

My presentation skills have made progress as well. I feel much more comfortable to speak English in front of a class¸ my coherence and fluency improved and I have gained know-how in which way I should deliver my story. Of course, the writing and presentation skills strengthen each other: if I have to do a presentation, my text either story will be of a higher level because my writing skills have improved.  For both practises it is satisfying to see you do make progression.

Advice
What I have to say to future IB&M students: Although you might think it’s stupid and useless to do (business cases, memo reports and presentations for practise)  in the first place, on the long-term you will absolutely see positive results. Don’t fight it, just do it. In the early days I found this difficult as well, but I know better now. Furthermore, I can strongly advice mister Diederen as an English teacher, not for the fact that he reads this and has to grade my blog but for the fact that he’s a really good teacher.  I remember the very first lesson in which I had to found out in the first hour before the break whether he was British or not. It’s not your high school English teacher that speaks to you with a noticeable Dutch accent, it sounds like it’s his native tongue. He also tries very hard to get maximum leverage from you. To conclude, do what you are said and wait, it will undoubtedly pay off!

Thank you for reading my blog!!

Sander Possel

Hazel Press Release

PRESS  RELEASE

December 7, 2011
Groningen,
The Netherlands

Acno™ Crème

We of Hazel Cosmetics are proud to present the launch of a new product that stops acne problems. We introduce to you Acno™ Crème: a  strong skin degreaser that stops acne within a couple of weeks and prevent it from coming back.

Acne vulgaris (acne) is one of the most common skin diseases worldwide and affects more than 50 million people in the United States alone. A person with acne tends to have lower self-esteem and will most likely shy away, especially when people start to stare at their acne-blotched face. Also because of the fact that a lot of people assume it is because of poor hygiene people with acne often suffer from depressive feelings. It is Hazel’s goal to help adolescents by Acno and to contribute to a better quality of life for those individuals.

Hazel´s new Acno Crème forms an invisible seal on the spot leaving it protected until it clears. It is even proven to reduce spot size and redness in just 4 hours. Prevents the spreading of bacteria and stops the producing of sebum. Formulated with gentle microbeads for a mild exfoliation and moisturising agents that leave a soft, hydrated and smooth skin. All dermatological tested.

The product will be first released in Europe in January 2012 and North-America will follow in March. Acno will be sold in tubes of 30 ml for the price of €9,95/$9,95.

www.hazel.com/acno

My, myself and I

I would like to use this post to express myself. Who am I, what am I about? Well, I’ll try to do my best but it’s hard for me to pretend, since I hate blog’s and everything that’s about useless online attention drawing (‘OEEEWWW LOOK AT MEEEEE’)  like everybody does for most of the time. The only reason I’m doing this is because it’s has to be done. However, I will not continue with this negativity, I appreciate it that you found the willingness to read this post and my entire blog (mister Diederen) so I will tell you everything about me, myself and I.

Like you can distract in the previous sentences, in general I’m not a very extravert person who desperately has to inform others about what I’m into, usually I’m just a watcher, reacting to actions and deciding whether I like a person or not.  Yet,  this does not mean I have a shy or timid personality. I like bullshitting and making fun of other people or myself, self-mockery is a character trait that I have and I consider everybody should. Overall, I’m an easy-going and relaxed person. Well... This post is not about going into psychology so I guess we’re done with this part.

What do I do in my daily life? Well of course, going to college and study, at this moment a large part of my daily busines, because the exams are coming again. For the rest, I sport at the Aclo: fitness and sometimes indoor soccer. My biggest hobby is music, listening to hiphop or house music. I also have the intention to learn how to produce, I’m pretty far gone with a track, but unfortunately my Ableton (a music producing program) doesn’t work at the moment. I will pick that up immediately after the exams! Furthermore I have a job, I’m a greengrocer at a supermarket, where I work on Friday and Saturday.

Perhaps listening to hiphop is putted mildly, I’m a real ‘hiphophead’ and I listen to everything of Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Biggie, 2Pac, i.e all the big names. About 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, I must say that I really study them, they inspire me: Dr. Dre because of his perfectionism for producing and 50 Cent because of his entrepreneurship. They’re not just commercial rappers from the past, they do a lot more. To finish this blog message I would like to share a video which gives me the willies and shows what inspires me.  

Good things will come to those who work!

 

Memo Report #2

Leatty Shanghai Construction Project Assessment Report

From:    Sander Possel (head of project management)
To:         Board of Directors of the Chinese contractors
Date:     20 December 2011
Subject: Solution delay project ‘Leatty’

Introduction
On 20 December 2011, we have called a meeting with the developers from Canada and the engineers from Shanghai for the Leatty project, due to problems of the process. The main problem is that the project has been lag behind schedule dramatically. The aim of this session is to make transparent agreements on communication, division of labour and a new process/work schedule, to rectify delays and to make sure we will not waste any more time in the future. CommunicationSince the project is international and  the great distance between the developers (Canada),
architects(Germany), Engineers and us (Shanghai), communication hasn’t passed off very well so far.
According to the architects there is a lack of face-to-face communication, furthermore they prefer to arrange more telecom meetings. However, we have strong objectives about this, we take the view that the discussions during these meetings are endless and stand in the way of progression.

We and the other two parties developed the idea to launch an online forum for this project, where only the supervisors, managers, CEO’s and heads of all parties can post developments of the projects. We are convinced that this is the most clear tool of communication, since there are few expensive calls needed from one continent to another and information can be read by everyone at the same time so there will not occur any more lag. We see this as the best solution for transparent communication to keep all parties abreast of the growth of the project. Our own ICT department will take on the production of the online forum.

Work schedulesIn our meeting the engineers put forward their discomfort with the working hours of the building workers. A daily work schedule from 8.00 AM till 8.00 PM by 100 employees doesn’t result in a more rapid construction of the building, but a decrease in labour productivity and loss of workforce on the long term because of health issues. We can conclude that delay is not only caused by a lack of good communication, but also due to inefficient labour, which we can’t blame the building workers for.
According to the management of the engineers their building workers were exhausted and they found it unacceptable to continue this mode of working.

In a discussion of two hours, we have found agreements on redesigning the work schedules. The proposal is as follows: Working hours will be reduced from twelve to eight hours, to keep up the productivity. Furthermore, we have negotiated about  extra workforce, which was possible. The amount of hundred construction workers will be extend to one hundred fifty. In return, they desired four more supervisors from our side to coordinate and manage the daily process, since the previous situation in this field was not perfect (two supervisors leading hundred building workers).

ConclusionAs the project management team we are deeply satisfied with the results of this meeting, the introduction of the forum will be a good step forward, not only for transparent information sharing but most of all for time management. The work schedules of the building workers are improved in the meaning of maintaining high labour productivity. Altogether, we believe that these measures are the solution to stop lag and to ensure delays won´t occur again.

We hope that these measures will be to your liking and we´re looking forward to see your approval.

Sander Possel
Head of project management

Final presentation Audio Wire

This was the moment, the practising sessions were over and the presentation for a grade that counts for twenty per cent had to be delivered.

The presentation was about Audio Wire,  a headphone company, and we (Rommert Rijpkema, Dion van den Bosch and I) represented consultants that were hired to redesign their website. We had to do the case of Audio Wire weeks before this presentation, so a large part of the preparation was already done. We were the last group to present.

I can say that we did a very good job, our teacher showed a smile on his face and was satisfied 'to close this exam part with a quality presentation'. Our powerpoint slides were clarifying, good-looking and professional (especially the visuals of the 'redesigned website'). Furthermore, our story was solid and thought out very thoroughly. Each of us knew his content by heart, the delivery was clear, well-performed and the contact with the audience was good. On the right you see my presentation feedback of our teacher, you can look at it for all the criteria and my grade, I scored a 7,5 which I'm very pleased with.

Memo Report #1

MEMO REPORT

To:                           Board of directors Stitch Wear
From:                      Sander Possel (Head of Public Relations)
Date:                       24 October 2011
Subject:                   Improvement on the CSR profile

IntroductionOn 24 October, I have called a meeting with the heads of Production (Rommert Rijpkema) and the head Marketing & Sales (Dion van den Bosch) to discuss and come up with improvements on the CSR profile. The main objective is to improve our public image, due to negative publications about child labour.
No child employmentThe first point that had to be made clear at the meeting was that we must assure that we exclude child employment beneath 14 within our company or our suppliers in the future. We of the PR department came up with several ideas which I proposed at this CBR meeting.
We, as PR, considered that this bad publicity is clandestine and that it will effect our turnover in a negative way on the short term, but above all, that it will damage our image, which is a long term effect. Firstly, we suggested to fire the few children under 14 in our Asian manufacturers. Furthermore, communication with these factories, our factories, should be closer, given that such decentralisation mistakes must and absolutely may not occur again. Heads of Marketing & Sales and Production both deeply agreed to this. Rommert Rijpkema, Head of Production, brought in an idea to investigate thoroughly if our (Asian) suppliers also exclude child labour under 14 by frequently visiting them unannounced. I would like to display this proposal, and see how we could work this out.
Changing the public imageWe came up with the idea to sponsor an enormous sport event for the youth in conjunction with a couple of professional teenage athletes. This sponsorship would reflect a young, fresh image and would contradict the stories of child labour because of the collaboration with teenage athletes and a sport event directed to youth. For the rest, Dion van den Bosch, Head of Marketing & Sales suggested to change our firm name into Easy Wear in some countries. This will give us a clean sheet in these countries, and in his opinion, would be the most efficient way  to get rid of the bad image. After a long lasting discussion we all agreed, however it is a radical solution that must be discussed further.

Conclusion
To assure that mistakes and bad publicity of this calibre will never occur again, we must tighten our communication with Asian manufacturers by visiting them frequently. To turn the tide, regarding our public image and losing turnover, we should sponsor youth related events and activities, like an enormous sport event. Furthermore, the proposal to change our name in specific countries is radical, but open for further evaluation.
I hope I have informed you well enough about these potential improvements of our CRS profile.

Sander Possel,
Head of Public Relations

Take a careful look at my first memo report for this course, graded with a proper 6.8.
A memo report is a brief report about a meeting/event. I will explain the proceedings regarding this writing assignment. During the tutorials of the course English, we get a certain business case, which we are expected to execute in groups of four. Each student gets a specific role, a representative of a department, for example: head of the department sales. Together you will discuss the problems of the business case and have to find a solution, afterwards you present the outcomes to the board of this particular company in the form of, exactly, a memo report.  During the discussion of the case you have to take action minutes, which are the essential points that you have made , to help writing your memo report.

In this case we represented the clothing company Stitch Wear. Stitch Wear was struggling with its public image because they were accused of child labour. I played the role of the head of public relationships.

ReflectionThis was my first written memo report, while I didn´t do the practise memo report before this one.
I must say that I´m absolutely content with the result, however, there is enough to improve. The grades are subdivided in several criteria: structure, range (vocabulary), coherence (flow of text) and accuracy (grammar/misspelling). For these parts I scored respectively a 8, 6, 7, 6, with thus an outcome of 6,8 (8+6+7+6=27/4=6,75=6,8).

If you look at my memo report you can count many r’s and a’s, which are range and accuracy errors. Range errors contain most of the time informal or vague words, or words that are not commonly used in this particular context. To pick out some of these mistakes in my report: ‘child employment beneath 14’, ‘beneath’ should be replaced by ‘under’. ‘We came up with the idea’, which is too informal, a good alternative would be: ‘we developed an idea’.
Accuracy errors represent misspelling, grammatical mistakes or dutchisms (Dutch sayings badly translated to English). Some examples from my memo report: ‘it will effect our turnover’ à  ‘it will affect our turnover’. ‘A sport event’ à ‘A sports event’. Also an error that can be placed under the category this-doesn’t-make-sense-in-English: ‘To display this proposal’ . In this case it was my tendency to translate ‘voorleggen’, a dutch verb, which I typed in on mijnwoordenboek.nl and ‘to display’ was one of the translations to English. Unfortunately, I was dead wrong.

If I list all my errors in this memo report, I must conclude that there are many mistakes caused by rushing, not scrutinizing the content a second time. These type of errors can be undone easily and are a good learning for next times. Overall looking, I’m very content with the result and will try my best to improve my writing skills for the next memo report.