Describe a person you know who speaks a foreign language well.

You should say:

• who this person is
• what language(s) they know
• what he/she uses this language (or, these languages) for
• and explain why you think they (he/she) learned it well.

In this case, I would like to talk about myself. I consider myself a forever language learner. It all started when I first began taking Spanish classes when I was 19 years old. Actually, I had always thought of languages as a foreign language code that I would never be able to master. However, I proved myself wrong, now seeing that I have a knack for (have a special talent for) languages. I’m now proficient in Vietnamese, Mandarin, English, and Portuguese!

First and foremost, I decided to learn these languages out of interest. Second of all, they benefit my future, creating a window of opportunity (more opportunities). Speaking of Spanish in particular, I chose to pursue it because there is a large Latin American community in my city. Since I work in Marketing, it is extremely valuable to be able to reach a wider scope (range) of people. Other than just boosting my career, I simply enjoy the sound of the language! Lastly, I’ve always been attracted to Latino men so I wanted to able to communicate with them!

First of all, I learned this language well because I’ve always been dedicated to practicing. Furthermore, since I had the opportunity to go abroad (to another country) to Argentina and Costa Rica, I was able to put what I’ve studied to use. Immersing yourself in the country is extremely beneficial. From this, I picked up countless local slangs and improved my pronunciation and speaking skills. For the times I haven’t been abroad, I’ve always practiced at home and found language exchange groups to keep up my skill. All in all, it just takes practice!

Part 3

Is learning a new language important?

I would definitely say so. I feel that we better ourselves through each language we learn. For example, there is concrete evidence that language strengthens our cognitive (brain) abilities and problem-solving. Since I began my language studies, I feel that my memory has become much stronger and that I’m able to solve puzzles better. Furthermore, I’ve gained a greater understanding of my own native language! Second of all, language creates countless more opportunities for work and travel! Especially with English and Spanish, we can travel to a wide range of countries. By being able to expand your customer base, you can achieve more business success. Furthermore, through languages, you can discover a new culture, which makes you more open-minded, tolerant, empathetic, adaptable, among other things.

What benefits for one’s career does knowledge of foreign languages bring?

Endless! In this globalizing world, it’s becoming a necessity to know at least one foreign language. Needless to say, English is the language of the world, so this is the most important one to learn to be able to communicate with the entire world. Behind these, I would say that Spanish and Mandarin are extremely useful, as well. By being able to communicate with more of the world’s population, you create opportunities to expand your business. On the other hand, since languages are proven to increase your cognitive functions and puzzle-solving skills, one who speaks more than one language may have stronger problem-solving skills in their career. Furthermore, since many

language learners have lived or spent time abroad, they tend to be more adaptable and culturally understanding. All in all, it’s just a win-win (double benefit) to study other languages.

Who do you think learns a language faster, children or adults?

Definitely children! Since children’s brains are like sponges, absorbing new information, they undoubtedly pick up (learn) languages much faster. Furthermore, children’s memories are much sharper, so it is easier for them to remember new vocabulary. On the other hand, adults are more concrete in their native language and the world they’ve built from it, so they tend to be less open to accepting another language. Children, on the other hand, can play games or watch cartoons in another language from a young age and pick up the language without even realizing it. The only advantage that adults have is that their behaviour doesn’t stand in the way of their language learning, they are more motivated to learn, and that they are more likely to review and study at home. Furthermore, they pay for the classes, so they are much more invested (care about what they’re doing)!

Describe a person who has interesting ideas or opinions.

 You should say:

• Who the person is
• How you know the person
• What interesting ideas the person has
• And explain why you think the ideas interesting

I’m going to talk about my friend, Elliott, who is a natural (good at) at languages and always has a lot of interesting ideas when it comes to language learning and teaching. He is a fellow teacher at my workplace, so I feel I know him well enough to speak about him. First of all, he is fluent in THREE foreign languages, English, Chinese and Japanese, in addition to his mother tongue. So you can imagine, as a language teacher, he really stands out from the others. I feel that he has a special empathy for language learners. Although he has a knack (a talent) for languages, he knows that others struggle with them, so he always tries to come up with (invent) new methods to help language learners improve faster and achieve better results. In addition to imparting (communicating) knowledge, he always creates a fun atmosphere. For example, at the start of each class, he would have all the students stand up and play some warm-up games instead of going straight into doing routine teaching stuff. Some of the games are even invented by himself and I must say they are all well thought out (well-planned). I learn a lot from observing his classes and look forward to working more with him in the future. I’m really interested in learning more about how to make language learning fun.

Part 3

What kinds of ideas are respected in your country?

That’s a tough question, but I’d definitely say any ideas that are groundbreaking (new) or revolutionary are very valued in my country. For example, we really respect people like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, who changed the future through technology. Furthermore, people who are forward thinkers are respected in today’s society, such as those who search for solutions to violence or support the gay rights movement. Lastly, people really respect those who have innovative business ideas, which improve the country’s economy. Actually, that might be the most respected one. All in all, we like those who are unconventional (unordinary) thinkers.

When do children start to have their own ideas?

They say that 7 is the “age of reason” (when kids know right from wrong), so I believe this is when it all begins, even if in small ways. I think this is the age where children begin to recognize their individuality and separateness from their parents. However, children tend to follow the belief system of their parents up to their teen years, when they start the rebellious years. Thinking back, I remember I started to question my parent’s religion and political ideas when I was around 15, leading me to break off (separate) from them. So, all in all, by the time you are 18, most teens know who they really are.

Where do these ideas come from?

The family is definitely the first foundation of how we shape our ideas. Apart from this, I would say teachers have the second-largest influence. Following this, what kids hear in school, from their friends, what they watch on TV, and so on start to shape their way of thinking. Lastly, we start to break away (separate) from our family’s ideas and create our own ideas based on our life experiences.

Describe a singer that you like.

 You should say:

• Who the person is
• How you know the person What songs the singer sings
• And explain why you like the person

I would like to talk about one of my favourite singers, Sam Smith. He is a British singer and songwriter who has become popular in my lifetime. He is famed for his mellifluous (containing flow) voice and quality of his song lyrics, which are often romantic and soulful. Thinking back, I remember the first song I heard from him was “Latch”, circa 2013. I remember my roommate was playing it in her car and I asked who the singer was and decided to look him up. Ever since that day, I just fell in love with him. He constantly has new hits out on the pop radio stations! His songs are just super catchy (something you remember). I would consider his music to be a mix of soul and pop. I think he started as a soul singer, but his music has transformed into being more of a pop genre. I really like his music because there is always a good beat to it, and the lyrics speak to me on a deep level, causing me to feel emotional and identify with the current dilemmas(problems) I’m facing. I like that some of his songs are more for dancing, while others are more deep and romantic. All in all, he is extremely talented and has a wide range. Sam Smith has a voice that really leaves a mark on you (impressive). I just love him!

Part 3

What kinds of music are popular in your country?

A wide range! Nowadays with youngsters, EDM music is all the rage (popular). Besides that, pop music, hip hop, alternative, and country are types of music that you hear most often on the radio. For example, my parents’ generations still stick with their southern rock style of music, such as ACDC. Of all the music from the past, 80’s American music seems to be played on the radio the most often.

Do singers make lots of money?

Of course! Singers are some of the richest people in the world. However, I imagine that their pay may be cut due to the increase in Youtube, Spotify, Pandora, and the like instead of buying the records at stores. However, our generation idolizes (worships) celebrities, so they make incomparable profits from their social media posts, concerts, and just pure talent.

What do you think makes a song become popular?

Definitely by how catchy it is, for one. Also, how well the artist markets themselves. If they constantly get their songs into the Top 40, their songs will be heard by the entire world. Lastly, of course, the artist needs to talented and have something that makes their songs stand out (be unique) from the others, such as by having a lovely voice, good beat, etc.

Describe a time when someone didn’t tell you the whole truth about something

You should say:

• when this happened
• what the situation was
• who you were with
• and why the person didn’t tell the whole truth

I’m going to tell you about a time I was really upset about someone lying to me. As I whole-heartedly value the truth, I feel very disappointed when I find out that someone has lied to me, especially when it’s someone close to me. So, I’ll share this situation with you.

I had just started dating a new guy and felt that I really liked him. I was 24 at the time, and he had said that he was 30. He appeared to be a bit older than that, so I tried to clarify his age twice, which he insisted was exactly 30. So, I decided to believe him. I was chatting with his best friend one day who was 32, and he

made a comment saying that he was younger than Manny, which I was confused about at first. Later that day, I called Manny out (confronted) about that over text, in which after several lies finally confessed that he was actually 33 years old. I knew it wasn’t the most terrible lie someone could tell, but I felt that my trust in him was tested. I thought, “if someone lies about simple personal details, what else do they lie about?”

He never stated his intentions about his lie, but I would imagine that maybe he felt he was too old for me. I guess that he was afraid to lose me if I knew he was 33, which wasn’t a problem for me. Furthermore, maybe he was struggling with accepting his age himself, so he wanted to keep believing that he was 30. I’m sure it was related to his insecurities one way or another. Anyway, whatever his reasons were, I decided to give him another chance although I wasn’t happy that he was dishonest.

Describe a person who helps others in his spare time.

 You should say:

• who he or she is
• what he or she always does to help others
• why he or she always helps others
• and explain how you feel about this person

I would like to talk about my co-worker, John, who is always willing to go the extra mile (do extra) for others. As teachers, we constantly have a lot to do outside of the classroom. However, John utilizes his free time to be of service to others. For example, he sends his students extra materials every single day, always stays overtime to assist other co-workers and even stops by work outside of work hours to bring us snacks. Whenever an emergency situation arises (comes up), he is always the first one to lend a hand (help).

I believe he does this because he is a man of faith (religious). Besides this, I think that people improve their well-being when they dedicate themselves to others. To him, it is no sweat to be of service to others- it’s simply a joy.

I truly value John, as he is a rare breed. In this day and age, it’s uncommon to find someone who simply wants to do good without ulterior motives (other interests). I can say with full confidence that John isn’t looking for anything in return. All in all, John is just an excellent human being.

Describe a time you taught something new to a younger person

You should say:

• when it happened
• who and what you taught
• why you taught this person
• and how you felt about the teaching

Well, since I’m a teacher, I teach new things to younger people on a daily basis. However, I will highlight one experience, in particular, that was really rewarding (gave me a personal benefit) to me. This would be when I taught a 4-year-old student how to hold a pencil correctly and begin to write her first letters.

Thinking back, this was about 2 years ago now. I usually teach high-school-aged kids, but at this particular time, I decided to take on a summer school program with 4-5-year-old students. This girl who I taught to write was 4 years old, while the others were 5 years old, already having experience in kindergarten. I planned a lesson on the alphabet, assuming that all of them had previous knowledge of this. However, I had to sit beside the 4-year-old girl to further assist her as she didn’t have previous knowledge of this. We started off by holding the pencil together to form the letters, followed by me slowly easing (taking off easily) my hand off of it. I stayed beside her until she was able to write out her first letters. I’ll never forget the excited look on her face when she finally got the hang of it! As the class progressed, she was easily able to keep up (stay at the same speed as) with the 5 years old.

This was an extremely rewarding experience for me; I was just so excited. Since I had never experienced teaching a child a basic skill, it was really special to me. It made me start to think about raising my own family one day, especially standing beside my children at their milestones (big life events). I had never thought about how exciting it must be to be a parent! All in all, it was an emotional moment for me.

Describe a time you heard someone you didn’t know talking on the phone in a public place.

You should say:

• when and where it was what the call was about
• what you were doing at that time
• and explain how you felt about it

Well, I’m almost never into eavesdropping (secretly listening) to other people’s personal conversations, but it’s bound to happen nowadays where people never disconnect from their phones. In particular, I would like to share a situation with you when I overheard a lucky conversation. Well, here it goes: Last month, I was travelling from Orlando to Miami by train. The person who sat next to me had the appearance of a sharp (elegant) businessman. After 10 minutes, his phone suddenly rang. As soon as he picked it up, he started

speaking loudly which left me no choice but to me shift my attention to his conversation, even though I was reading a book. He introduced himself as an employment agency agent, and I imagined on the other side there was maybe a youngster who wanted the job. As I had just finished college and was looking for a job, I couldn’t take my ear away from his conversation, even knowing how rude it may come across (seem).

He was talking about online jobs such as a content writer, editor, data entry and so on. Along with this he also told the person the name of one or two websites. with the help of these websites, individuals get a job that is relevant for them. Unfortunately, I did not catch (hear) the name of the websites he mentioned.

So, I decided to be brave. As soon as he hung up, I introduced myself and apologized for eavesdropping. I asked if he could repeat the website for the online jobs. Luckily, he was a very kind person. He accepted my apology and told me the name of the website. In addition to it, he also gave me his business card and told me to give him a call if I had any questions or concerns. So that was the time when I heard someone over the phone. I felt so happy to come across an opportunity like this- sometimes it pays off (has benefit) to be nosey (interested in the lives of others)!

PART3

Why do you think some people talk aloud on public transport?

It is quite understandable as to why some have to resort to loud talking in places which they are supposed to speak softly or remain in silence. Take me as an example, while sitting on the bus, especially during peak time, when it is packed in like sardines and there is not even room to swing a cat, it is normal that people would have a chit chat with their friends sitting next to them, or do some work like answering phone calls from their boss or partners. It’s nothing but a mess, so people have to raise their voice so that their counterparts can get the hang of what they are talking about.

Should people be banned from talking aloud in public places?

Currently, there’s no rule which prohibits people from talking out loud in public places. But I guess there shouldn’t be one, as it seems out of the question to carry out such a law. As I have mentioned, there are not too many times when people make a racket, only when it’s jam-packed and there is a need to talk out loud to attract others’ attention. Besides, every person has a different character, which means some are born talkative, while others would love to remain silent, so I reckon education should take priority rather than establishing rules and regulations.

Is it bad to talk on the phone in public places?

It is not totally gross o talk on the phone in public places as the need to reach others via phone is a basic one. Having said that, t’s well-advised to keep the conversations concise and to the point instead of going round-about or sharing private information publicly like that. Also, it’s not socially unacceptable if people keep their voice down a bit, speaking in a way that both the caller and the recipient can understand each other.

Describe a friend or a person who encouraged you to achieve a goal.

You should say:

• Who this person is
• What this person encourage you to do What this person has help
• And explain why this encouragement help you to achieve the goal

I’m going to talk about a friend and ex-coworker of mine named Billy. He has been a friend of mine for years now, and is always a shoulder to lean on (someone you can rely on). He has always been there for me through thick and thin (good and bad times), and I don’t know where I would be today without him. Let me tell you more.

I’ve always dreamt of being an entrepreneur but was unsure of myself before. I first met Billy at the International School I used to work for before. We were both teachers and hating our lives working under someone. So, one day we got together and started sharing ideas about starting our own language school. I’m good with people and thinking of creative ideas, while Billy is more apt to deal with numbers and the business side of things. He encouraged me to fulfill my dreams and put my creative ideas to test, while I encouraged him to put his number and business skills to use. He would tell me that my ideas could change the world, which made me feel on top of the world. I needed someone to believe in me to this degree (to this extent), as I didn’t feel that my ideas were good enough to start my own business before. Through mutual encouragement, we ended up where we are today.

We have now owned our own school for 3 years and counting! We have had success because we always build each other up and focus on our strengths rather than our weaknesses. By helping one another, we both felt enough confidence to achieve our dreams. We certainly make a great team!

Describe something a child did that made you laugh.

 You should say:

• who the child was
• how old he or she was
• what he or she did
• and explain why it made you laugh.

Often, children say and do the craziest things, as they lack the filter that adults have! It leads to lots of laughter. So, let me tell you about this child, Peter, who really made me laugh.

He the child of one of my co-workers. It was Peter’s 3rd birthday party last week and I attended his birthday party. As I know Peter is a very active, rambunctious (naughty) child, I thought a water gun would be a suitable gift for him. So, I presented it to him and he was ecstatic (excited)!

Peter sees many television shows and knows that guns are used to shoot. So, he immediately started playing with the gun. He refilled the gun with water and pointed it to the guests and shot them with water! He wanted to have fun and did so. But finally, when the water ran out (emptied) and his parents did not allow him to refill with water, he shot them.

When he shot his dad, the dad fell on the ground. When he shot his mother, she also fell in the ground as if she died. He was surprised. He could not decide what to do. So, he shot himself and fell beside his mother until they stopped pretending to be dead.

The entire event was hilarious (really funny), and all of the guests were roaring in laughter. In fact, the kid was highly clever and his gestures made me laugh. He was confused what to do when he shot his parents. So, finding no other options left,  he killed himself.  In  fact,  it  proves  his  guilt  but  the representation of the situation was really interesting that everyone could not stop laughing with this scenario. Despite the issue being a serious one, it was a kind of comical event. So, I laughed with my whole heart. In fact, it was the rapid decision making skill of the child and the implementation of the decision without any hesitation was the key element of the genuine laughter.

Describe a person you wanted to be similar to when you were growing up

You should say:

• who this person was
• when you first met the person
• what the person did
• and you would like to become this person

Today I’ll tell you about how I used to want to be like my sister when I was younger. She was always the popular, scholarly type, while I was sort of the unfocused, social outcast (unpopular) type. I always struggled with my weight when I was younger even though I ate pretty healthily, whereas my sister always had a perfect, thin physique (fitness) even while eating junk food constantly. I’ll explain it more in-depth.

My sister is 2 years older than me, and we grew up together. She was always at the top of her class, even though she studied very little. I remember her saying that she would forget to study, but still get nearly 100% on her exams,

even through her college years. Moreover, she had a natural athletic ability with very little effort. She could take up a new sport and be good at it at the drop of a hat! I envied her swimming and basketball skills, especially. Apart from this, she was the thin, pretty blonde girl that everyone wanted to be friends with, although she didn’t have to put effort into being nice to people. Another thing I looked up to her for was that it was easy for her to speak her mind. When I was younger especially, I always found it difficult to speak up even when I was being treated unfairly.

Reflecting back, I think what I most wished to inherit from her was her ability to do everything at ease. It seems like I always had to put more effort into school to get good grades, be fit, have friends, etc, so I wished those things could come easier. I especially wished I had her athletic ability, as I would like to do more physical activity. Furthermore, I wish I didn’t have to spend countless hours studying and even meeting with a tutor to get good grades. However, as I’ve gotten older, I realize that we cannot compare ourselves to other people because we all have different strengths and weaknesses. Still, I admire her for her abilities as well as her outspokenness.

Describe a time you taught an older person something new

You should say:

• Who you taught What you taught
• Why you taught this person
• And explain how you felt about it

Every day we meet such persons who teach us a lot of things, and sometimes we even get the pleasure of teaching them something ourselves. We may assume that the old hold all the wisdom, but actually we young people Such a situation that recently occurred in my life when I was sitting at home minding my own business (doing nothing) when suddenly someone knocked on the door of our house. When I opened it I found my neighbour Mr Peters, who has been working as a government employee was standing near the doorsteps of our home. He told me that he needed urgent help I readily (immediately) asked what the matter was.

He told me that he wanted to send an important excel file to an officer of his office department. But, because he wasn’t proficient in Excel, he couldn’t fill in the data as required by the officer. However, because he knew that I have been studying in a college where I have to use a Ms office to complete my assignments. He came straight (directly) to me.

I asked him to come in and sit at ease (relaxed). I took my laptop and opened a new excel sheet and started typing the information and applying the formula. It took about one and a quarter hours to complete the file. Not only did I fill out (complete) the data, but also taught Mr Peters about the easiest tricks to use this software.

Learning this new skill, Mr Peters became very happy and relaxed. Because of this, I felt the same way. I felt excited to be able to share my skills with him to make his life easier. He is a very kind person who would bend over backwards (help) for others, so I like to treat him with such respect. All in all, I felt I did a good deed (action) by being of service to him.

Part 3

Is it easy for old people to use new technology?

For the most part, no. For young people, technology is something that we grew up with. However, for the elderly, it is a whole new challenge for them. Actually, it must be like learning a whole new language for them. As I work with many elderly people, I often see their frustration about this topic. When I put myself in their shoes (imagine from their perspective), I would imagine that I feel the same.

Why do some old people refuse to use new technology?

In many cases, the elderly can become quite stubborn (not wanting to change). For example, they have lots of wisdom and experience, so it’s hard for them to admit that they have difficulty with something that comes so easily to the younger generation. Furthermore, some simply don’t trust in technology and think that life was better than the old school (traditional) way.

Describe a female leader you would like to meet

You should say:

• Who she is
• What she does
• What she is like
• And explain why you would like to meet her

As leadership only used to be a male domain (area), I am excited to see women in positions of power nowadays. Although my country hasn’t yet had a female president, I would like to talk about our former first lady (wife of the president), Michelle Obama. Along with this, she is also the first African- American first lady, which is something I am really thrilled to see, as well. She has always been a woman I look up to (honour)!

In the USA, being the first lady is a very important position. Michelle’s duties included being the hostess of the first lady, as well as organizing and attending official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of, the president. Along with this, she was formerly a lawyer, as well as a university administrator and writer. With all this said, she is a very bright and respectable woman. As an educator myself, I have a profound (deep) respect for those in the education field.

Although I don’t know her, she seemed very bubbly (social) and vivacious (energetic). Along with this, she and her family are known to be very elegant and well-spoken (speaks well with others). Because of all of this that I’ve mentioned, it would be a great honour to meet her. I would love to have a coffee and ask for life advice with her. Of course, I would have to take a picture with her for social media!

Part 3:

What is gender inequality in the workplace?

It means that people aren’t treated equally based on gender. Traditionally, the man earns more money than a woman and aren’t able to move up in position, also known as the glass ceiling. In my country, the woman earns about .80 cents to the man’s dollar for doing the exact same workload. Apart from just the pay, women are often perceived as unable to control their emotions, which prevents them from being in a leadership position. I’m so happy to see this changing!

What are the causes of gender inequality in the workplace?

Long-held beliefs, society, misconceptions, our upbringing, religion, among other things. It’s something that has been ingrained (put) in our minds for a long time. As we are now in a time when women are getting into positions of power, we can see that it has nothing to do with ability. I hope that people continue to develop their way of thinking about this matter. I’m a firm believer that women are just as capable as a man, whether it’s an office job or physical labour.

Do women have more responsibility for taking care of children?

Nowadays, it really depends. Perhaps it used to be that way since women tend to have a more maternal and nurturing (caring) instinct, but I see this starting to change. For example, I know of plenty stay at home dads and moms who go to work all day. However, I still see that traditionally the woman stays home with the children more than a man.

Describe a teenager you know

You should say:

• Who she/he is
• What she/he looks like
• How you got to know him or her Why do you like him/her
• And explain how you feel about him or her

I’m going to tell you about a family friend of ours named Edward. He is 16 years old and bright (clever; intelligent) as can be. We have known him ever since he was 6 years old, and I’ve enjoyed watching him transform into the young man he is today. Nowadays, he’s even taller than me! I would say he’s almost 6 feet tall. He has a dark complexion and nearly black hair, now cut into one of the trendy styles with one side of it shaved. He’s blossoming into (changing into; like a flower) a handsome fellow (another word for boy or man).

Well, although there was a 10 year age gap in between his mother and my mother, they immediately hit it off (liked each other immediately) when they starting work at a real estate agency together 10 years ago. Their friendship continued to grow within the office until they decided to open their own brokerage (real estate company) about 4 years later. So, our families have grown close over the years. We often have meals together, visit each other during the holidays, and even vacation together some years.

I really care for Edward because he has always been an honest, polite kid and a joy to be around. He isn’t like the typical rebellious teenager who feels they are too cool for everything and everyone around them. He always greets me with a hug and shows me a lot of respect. For this reason, I have really taken a liking to him. On another note, he is extremely hard-working and intelligent. We often get into deep conversations about the underlying(hidden) meanings of popular music hits or the history of the world- we both share a love of history. Although I’m 10 years older, I feel that Edward and I can still be friends. I cherish (deeply appreciate) him and always wish him the best. All in all, he is like a little brother to me.

Describe a time you gave advice to others.

 You should say:

• who you gave the advice to
• what advice you gave
• why this person needed your advice
• and explain how useful the advice was

I tend to have close relationships with my friends and am always eager (ready) to help them out. I have this friend in particular who I’ve grown up with (known since childhood); we’re pretty close. I will tell you about some serious career advice I gave him recently. Well, here’s some background:

Last year he was working at an international company and doing quite well, so he was offered a big promotion to become a manager. However, he had also been looking for opportunities to study abroad and had recently received an offer from a prestigious university around the same time he got the job offer.

It was a scholarship that would cover all expenses, including tuition and accommodation, an enviable package. So, he was really in a pickle (in a difficult situation) over what to do. It was tough for him to decide whether to pursue his career or his education. So, we met up to discuss this.

When he asked for my advice, I told him that if he wanted to be successful in his field, he needed to possess excellent qualifications. If he didn’t, there would be a limit to how far he could reach. Although this promotion may look good now, there may be a small window (limits) for growth. After this advice, he decided to take my advice and is now studying at Yale. All in all, he saw that pursuing his education would pay off (benefit) more in the future.

Describe a piece of advice you received on your subjects or work

You should say:

• What it was
• Who you received it from
• What you did after receiving it
• And how you felt about it

Well, getting feedback about our performance is simply part of life, whether it be positive or negative. I always thought I was doing all the right things at my job, but the assessment day came and turned out (result) that I wasn’t performing up to par (up to standards). I noticed that since my manager called me to his office and told me to close the door. “I hope this is not that serious” I said, and then he responded “we need to talk”. At that very moment, I realized I was doing something wrong at work. My manager started to talk to me about my performance and it was all good but the delivery time of the financial charts was not ideal. He gave me a piece of great advice on how I should manage all the workload I had in order to be able to deliver the financial reports on time.

As soon as I left his office, I went to my desk and started to put into practice all the valuable information he gave me. After a month of doing what he recommended to me, I could clearly see the results about, I was improving at my job. I felt very relieved to be able to deliver all the financial reports on the time request or even faster than they asked me to. Thanks to his advice I was able to improve. All in all, negative feedback leads us to improvement!

Part 3

Is it better to get advice from a friend or from a family member?

I have to say that all of it depends on the experience each person has. This means if my friend has more knowledge about finance than my family, of course, I will ask my friend about it. On the other hand, sometimes I avoid asking family for advice because they can be harsh and judgmental, while friends tend to be more understanding. So, what I’m saying is it depends on the relationships that each person has with family/friends.

What would you say are the characteristics of a good adviser?

A good adviser must be a neutral person and being able to look at the problem and solve it in the best possible way without hesitation. Furthermore, they shouldn’t let their own bias (preference) creep into (come into) an objective situation. So, with this said, sometimes family and friends aren’t the best people to ask for advice

Should people make their own work and career decisions, or is it a good idea to ask for advice about this?

It is always a good idea to ask for advice but let that be just a piece of advice because we are the only ones who can decide about our own future. So with this said, we can’t rely too heavily on the voice of others. We shouldn’t let their words dictate (control) our lives, as we are the only people who have truly lived in our own shoes (in our own situation or position).

Describe a time that you visited a friend

 You should say:

• Who you visited
• What you did
• Why you visited him or her
• And explain how you felt about it

 I’m going to tell you about a special trip I embarked (went) on to see a friend of mine. In October of last year, I went to visit my best friends Michael, who moved to Colorado Springs just a few months before a visit. Visiting Michael was the best excuse to visit a city I always wanted to visit but also visit a dear friend. Let me tell you about this once in a lifetime experience.

Colorado Springs is a well-known city for its hot springs, those are wonderful natural hot water springs, ideal for a relaxing afternoon. Besides these, there are snow-capped mountains lining the skyline, and endless forests to discover. We spent the weekend snow-shoeing (hiking with special snowshoes) and relaxing at night with a nice hot spring bath. This entire adventure started as soon as I set foot out of the airport there!

I felt over the moon (extremely happy) being with him and remembering all the adventures we had when we were kids, plus the relaxing moments at the springs, there’s nothing else you can ask for in your life. This was really just the right way to make up for a lost time (catch up) with him. All in all, it was a subliminal experience.

Part 3

Do you think that it is becoming more difficult to make friends?

Lately, it is becoming more difficult to make friends and this is caused by social media, even though technology is supposed to connect us in an easier way, makes is harder to connect face to face. With this said, I feel we are becoming less social, so it’s more challenging to strike up (start) a conversation with a stranger. Although we can stay in better touch with our old friends due to social media, all in all, it has made making lasting friendships harder.

What do you think of making friends on the internet?

Making friends online could both, good and bad. It all depends on the luck you have and what web pages or apps you use to make friends. For example, when I moved to a new city, I used MeetUp, which led me to find free yoga classes with some of the best people I could ever dream of. So, it can be a hit or miss (a success or a failure).

How do people in your country make friends these days?

People in my country prefer the old fashioned way to make friends, they prefer to gather together at public places and start talking to each other, this helps to break the ice (feel comfortable) easier. Since technology isn’t as widespread in my hometown as in the big cities, we still place value on face-to-face communication. Moreover, since my hometown is one of the safest in the country, it also makes it easier to strike up conversations with strangers since we can most likely trust them.

Why is it hard to maintain friendships for some people?

Nowadays is harder to maintain friendships because people have a lot of acquaintances (people you are friendly with), but not really real friends. They are friends of the moment or opportunity but not friends for life. Furthermore, people change as they get older, so it’s hard for the friendship to stay the same. Lastly, since the work culture is intense in my country, people simply don’t have much time to keep in touch (stay in contact).

Describe someone you would like to study or work with

You should say:

• who this person is
• how long you have known this person
• what you have done together
• and why you would like to study or work with this person

I’m going to tell you about my friend Veronica. She is the type of friend that you know always has good intentions (kind, means well) and would never do anything to hurt you. Furthermore, she is extremely loyal, understanding, and down to earth (not thinking she is better than others). Even though she is a highly educated and intelligent person, she would never use these qualities to be condescending to another person.

We first met back in 2016 in a month-long, intensive Spanish class in Cusco, Peru. The nature of our class there was very open, causing us to share private details about our lives and even embarrassing stories, so this made it easier to get closer as a class. We spent 7 hours a day together in that class, along with about 10 others, so I would say we got to know each other very well. When we broke into (divided) groups, we would often work together which always went well. I felt that she was always a helpful classmate, never one to make you feel dumb for not knowing an answer. After the class, we remained close friends throughout our entire year in Cusco. During that entire time, she never did anything that rubbed me the wrong way (to make me angry).

With all this said, this is why I would enjoy studying or working with Veronica. I feel that she would always remain sincere, regardless of any cutthroat (bad intentions) workplace environment or competitive or prestigious (of high class) academia. Furthermore, I feel that she would always be there to help me out, and I would never worry that she would be conniving. Lastly, I see that she is a hard-working, dedicated person, so that would make her an even better candidate. Since we already have some experience as classmates and even more as friends, this is why I chose to talk about her.