Kulturraumbezogene Wirtschaftsthemen, Homework for Thursday, June 22nd

 In advance of our last session, please review your notes/the materials from the semester and bring in any questions you might have. 

Kulturraumbezogene Wirtschaftsthemen, Homework for Tuesday, June 20th

In advance of our session on June 20th, please do to the reading comprehension section (Part One) of the exam that has been uploaded to Ilias (i.e. file "Kulturraumbezogene Wirtschaftsthemen Exam SoSe 2021") and bring your answers to the questions with you to class. 

Kompetenzerweiterung II (Thursday Group), Homework for June 22nd

 In advance of our final session, please:

- have reviewed vocab units 2 and 4 and grammar units 11 and 13. Bring any questions regarding any of the vocab or grammar content as well as any of the accompanying exercises. For extra practice, it would be a good idea to complete reviews 1, 3, 6 and 7, if you haven't done so already. 

- have a look at at least three videos from PBS New Hour's "Brief but Spectacular" series: Brief but Spectacular - YouTube

Kompetenzerweiterung II (Wednesday Group), Homework for June 21st

 For homework, please: 

- review any remaining units/sections from your textbook as well as the rest of your class notes and bring in any questions you have. Consult previous blog posts for links to supplementary exercises. 

- have a look at at least three videos from PBS New Hour's "Brief but Spectacular" series: Brief but Spectacular - YouTube

Kulturraumbezogene Wirtschaftsthemen, Homework for Thursday, June 15th

For homework, please have a look at the following website: Ethical Consumer: the alternative consumer organisation, click on one of the product areas featured in the taupe-colored toolbar at the top of the page (e.g. "energy, fashion and clothing, food and drink, etc.) and click on one of the shopping guides that drops down (e.g. under "energy" one finds "batteries", "boilers", "energy suppliers", etc.). Once you've selected a shopping guide you'd like to read, scroll down on that page to "Our Analysis" and read through the article that follows. While reading, jot down a) three vocabulary items that are new to you, b) two figures/numbers that surprise you, and c) what your biggest take-away from the analysis is. 

Kulturraumstudien USA, Homework for June 19th

In advance of our next session, please review your notes/the slides from this academic year and bring in any questions you have regarding a) the content of the course, b) expectations for the exam, and c) questions regarding the items featured on the exams that have been uploaded to Ilias. 

Optional reading: I've included a folder on Ilias titled "Hauser" that features an essay about the author's experience of 9/11 while in high school. I think it is one of the best accounts of this period and is well worth having a look at, especially if you like creative non-fiction. It does feature some profanity. 

Kompetenzerweiterung II (Monday Group), Homework for June 19th

In advance of our June 19th session, please have reviewed vocab units 2 and 4 and grammar units 11 and 13. Bring any questions regarding any of the vocab or grammar content as well as any of the accompanying exercises. For extra practice, it would be a good idea to complete reviews 1, 3, 6 and 7, if you haven't done so already. 

Please also watch one video from the WIRED 5 levels series and be ready to explain something that you are knowledgable about on at least two different levels in our next session: 5 Levels - YouTube

Here are some additional exercises for specific exam practice:

open CLOZE:
https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/open-cloze/open-cloze-index.htm
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/advanced-open-cloze.php

verb gap fills:
https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/tenses/t114-mixed-tenses.htm
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/verb-tenses.html

verb patterns:
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/verb-patterns-exercises.html

Kompetenzerweiterung II (Wednesday Group), Homework for June 14th

For homework, please review grammar units 21 and 25 and these units' accompanying exercises. It would be a good idea to complete Reviews 11 and 13 and Progress Test 2, if you haven't done so already. (Don't be all or nothing about it: focus on the exercise types that present you with the most difficulty.) 

In addition to this, please watch two videos from the "Millennial Money" playlist featured here and bring in your takeaways in terms of how the person featured manages their money in their respective city: Millennial Money - YouTube

Links of interest (for optimal brownie recipes):

Ingredient Swap - YouTube

Kulturraumbezogene Wirtschaftsthemen, Homework for Tuesday, June 12th

 ***Please be advised that there is no class session on Thursday, June 8th due to the holiday.***

Please watch the following video and answer the questions that follow: How "Dad Shoes" Turned New Balance Into A $5 Billion Brand - YouTube

a) What factors account for New Balance's current success? 

b) How are the phenomena of Crocs' and New Balance's current success similar and how are these phenomena different? 

c) Bring in three numbers related to New Balance that surprised you/you find significant or impressive. 

d) What are your projections for New Balance's performance for the next five years? What data would you rely on to make this forecast?

e) What does Gen Z understand about where the market is headed/current market trends that other generations don't?

Kulturraumstudien USA, Homework for June 12th

It is arguably impossible to understand the modern US political landscape without taking a closer look at Ronald Reagan, the 40th US president. In the Republican Party, his oratorical style is often cited and lauded, with many seeking to emulate his communicative style. (You will most likely hear at least one reference to Ronald Reagan made by Republican candidates for president in this election cycle.) Select one of his speeches given during his two terms as president (1981-1989) and analyse the speech using techniques we have used throughout the academic year (bear in mind that question #12 on the exam will be an analysis of a speech, poem, or letter). I recommend trying to find video footage of the speech to hear it delivered and to get an idea of how Reagan spoke. Bring at least three key pieces of data with you to our next session. (I also recommend looking into who his speech writers were during the time of the speech's delivery.) This link can help: Major Speeches, 1964-1989 | Ronald Reagan (reaganlibrary.gov)

In addition, I'd like you to watch this short, iconic scene of US cinema from the 90s in advance of our next session (it's an intense cross-examination scene between Tom Cruise's and Jack Nicolson's characters, but it tells us a lot about (perceived) political classes in the United States): You Can't Handle the Truth! - A Few Good Men (7/8) Movie CLIP (1992) HD - YouTube

Links of interest: 

Voyager - Greetings on the Golden Record (nasa.gov)

Patton (1/5) Movie CLIP - Americans Love a Winner (1970) HD - YouTube

Kompetenzerweiterung II (Monday Group), Homework for June 12th

For homework, please review Units 7 (passives and causatives) and 9 (modals and semi-modals) in advance of our next class. I recommend doing Review 4 (pp. 68-69) and Review 5 (pp. 84-85) for review.

In addition, please look up a graduation speech/commencement address on YouTube and decide if you agree with its advice. Be able to summarize the speech/address when you come to our next class session.

Here you will find a wealth of word formation and key word transformation exercises. I recommend doing as many as you can before the exam: https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/word-formation/word-formation-index.htm

https://www.englishapple.ru/index.php/exams/cae/reading-and-use-of-english/key-word-transformations

Kulturraumbezogene Wirtschaftsthemen, Homework for Tuesday, June 6th

For homework, please: 

- complete the reading comprehension (i.e. the Economist article) and listening comprehension (i.e. the TED Talk) activities featured in the "Trade" folder on Ilias and bring your answers with you to class.

- do a run-through (out loud!) of your part of your presentation. 

Follow-up questions: 

"Seasonal adjustments" account for variation in data that can be attributed to what is happening during a given period of time or season. The most important month for retail in Western countries is December, but data has to account for the fact that the holiday/Christmas season drives the data we see in that month. Seasonal adjustment has always accounted for weather, for example, but climate change is a growing factor that makes performing these adjustments more difficult. Specifics regarding the statistical procedure can be found here: Seasonal adjustment - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Kompetenzerweiterung II (Thursday Group), Homework for June 15th

 ***Please note that, due to the holiday, there will be no class session on June 8th.***

For homework, please review Units 7 (passives and causatives) and 9 (modals and semi-modals) in advance of our next class. I recommend doing Review 4 (pp. 68-69) and Review 5 (pp. 84-85) for review.

Please also watch one video from the WIRED "5 levels" series and be ready to explain something that you are knowledgable about on at least two different levels in our next session: 5 Levels - YouTube

Here are some additional exercises for specific exam practice:

open CLOZE:
https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/open-cloze/open-cloze-index.htm
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/advanced-open-cloze.php

verb gap fills:
https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/tenses/t114-mixed-tenses.htm
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/verb-tenses.html

verb patterns:

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/verb-patterns-exercises.html