In order to get familiar with the Canadian workplace, there are a lot of things we need to consider. 

Here is a list of business idioms that are taken from this website. http://www.businessenglishresources.com/31-2/student-section/business-vocabulary/most-common-business-idioms/

Please go over them and try to understand each one’s meaning and then follow the tasks below.

Task one: 

Pick five to six of the following idioms and use them in sentences of your own.

1,a tough break:  

 I have gone through many difficulties in my life, I'd like to regard as a tough break being an opportunity to learn more experience, and try my best to change it to big break.

2.back to square one: 

 She has spent 2 months to figure out the answer of that question. She felt very depressed when she was back to square one.

3.ahead of curve: 

I hope I can stay ahead of curve when I have been studying  and working hard.

4.at stake:

I felt nervous about getting this report from my doctor. There was a lot at stake.

5.behind someone's back:
I didn't think it would be fair to go behind someone's back and talk something, so I'd like to confront someone directly.

Task two:

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.

Take three:

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

Task 1:

Sort the following skills into two categories as soft or hard skills. Write SS for soft skills and HS for hard skills:

1. Patience     SS
2. Proficiency in a foreign language  HS
3. Leadership Skills  SS
4. Persuasion   SS
5. A degree or certificate  HS
6. Typing speed  HS
7. Time Management  SS
8. Machine operation  HS
9. Teamwork  SS
10. Computer programming   HS
11. Communication  SS
12. Flexibility  SS
13. Motivation  SS

Task 2:

Now click on this link and decide which of these skills are soft and which are hard skills. 

When searching for a job, it is useful to be able to describe your skills. Job skills are often described in two categories: hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills are those you learn through on-the-job or institutional training. These include skills specific to a particular occupation, such as those involved in planning and teaching for teachers, or the ability to use specialized tools for a dental technician.
Soft skills are those that can be used in any occupation. These skills are often called transferable skills because you can transfer them from one job to another. Often, these are the skills that you use and develop in everyday situations, not necessarily in relation to work. Soft skills include organizational and team work skills, as well as qualities such as initiative and attention to detail.

A soft skill can be used in any job. A hard skill is learned for particular jobs. Being able to work well with others is a soft skill. A teacher who knows how to plan a lesson has a hard skill.
Indicate whether the following are hard or soft skills:

pay attention to detail - soft skill	able to use dental technician tools - hard skill
write a computer program - hard skill	problem-solving - soft skill
do research on the Internet - soft skill	repair a car - hard skill
communicate effectively - soft skill	install carpeting - hard skill
resolving conflict - soft skill	facilitate meetings - soft skill
build a fence - hard skill	make contributions in meetings - soft skill
operate a cash register - hard skill	make decisions - soft skill
design a bridge - hard skill	landscape a yard - hard skill
maintain small talk - soft skill	wait on tables in a restaurant - hard skill
write an email or business letter- soft skill	nurse patients in a hospital - hard skill

Task 3: 

Think of two or more of your hard skills and soft skills, then write them down, and provide one example for each skill as how you have demonstrated this skill on the job.

Hard skills:  teaching and Art painting skills        make crafts    design    creation

Soft skills:  take care of the kids    resolving conflict and problem solving    be responsible for the kids  communication skill   do research on the internet  

I have more than 20 years teaching work experience. I can make many kinds of art paintings, such as, sketch, oil painting, water color, gouache, printed painting, Chinese painting , Chinese calligraphy, different crafts...etc. I can design and create artworks. I'd like to blend and practice creative and artistic teaching methods in my teaching.

I always put my passions to elaborately prepare my teaching plans, and do research on the internet to make all teaching plans juicy. 

I can take care of the students with patience and encouragement. I am a problem solver in classes. 

I can do well in communication with parents.

I love my students , I am always responsible for them with my sincere heart.

Task 1:

Essential Skills refer to the nine skills and abilities that are essential to success in Canadian occupations. The Government of Canada has compiled detailed lists, called Essential Skills Profiles (ESPs), of how workers in hundreds of jobs use these nine skills.

Write down next to each skill which one best describes you better:  expert - good - intermediate - beginner -  no knowledge

Nine Essential Skills:

• Reading Text intermediate in English

• Document Use Good

• Numeracy intermediate

• Writing intermediate in English

• Oral Communication  intermediate in English

• Work with Others  Good team woker

• Thinking Skills intermediate

• Computer Use  Good

• Continuous Learning Good 

Task 2:

Complete an Essential Skills self-assessment:

Strengths: I am confident that I can ...

be a good team player to work with others.

be a fast learner on continuous learning

Weaknesses: I feel I struggle with …

physically demanding job.

Areas for Improvement: I would like to improve my ability to/on …

we will have an information session on Self-Care in Stressful Times and here is some vocabulary for tomorrow’s presentation. Look at the list and find the meaning of any unfamiliar word. Then, use each one in sentence of your own.

Word	Sentence
Stress	Iwas always under the stress at the beginning time as a new immigrant.
Distress	I appreciate the distresses I went through because it made me be strong.
Mental Health	I always care about the mental health of kids.
Depression	I once felt depression when I met marriage problem.
Mood	I hope my baby can always in good mood in her life.
Self-care	I think my kid needs to learn how to practice her self-care skills.
Equity and Equality	I think that it should be advocated  the equity and equality in this society.
Diversity	I always put a great diversity of methods into my teaching plans.
Culture	I hope my baby can learn more Chinese Culture.
Migration	The date of  migration was on January  2012 that I landed in Canada.
Discrimination	I think it is unfair about racial discrimination.
Mutli-tasking	I'd like to practice mutli-tasking on my work.
Pressure	I can work under any pressure.
Myth	I liked myth novels when I was young girl.
Fact	I believe that Fact speak louder than eloquence.
Breathe	I love my baby as long as I breathe.
Concept	I like the central concept of the film named ' Brave Heart'.
Managing Stress
Stress out
Stressor	I can be a stressor when I met the emergencies.
Physical reaction	I had physical reaction when I drove as new driver.
Emotional reaction
Behavioral reaction
Hormone
Coping skills	I need develop my coping skills in workplace.
Socially acceptable
Socially unacceptable
Social
Stereotype	I like to break through the stereotypes in outdated teaching methods.
Prejudice
Humour
Situation
Avoid
Alter
Adapt
Accept
Support system
Attitude
Hobby
Pledge
Promise
Handouts
Purpose
Embrace
Warm
Feeling grounded
Relaxed
Adapted
Circle
Feelings
Meditation
Yoga
Mindfulness
Low mood
Sadness
Frustration
Hopelessness
Helplessness
Anxiety
Anxious
Sleepless
Anger
Spiritual
Environmental
Occupational
Employment
Housing
Financial
Social
Economical
Racism/Race
Religion
Gender
Ethnicity
Geographical

Task 1:

Read the following adjectives for emotions and identify which words describe a positive, neutral or negative feeling. If necessary, look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary. Some words may fit into more than one category.

• ambivalent • discouraged • overwhelmed

• annoyed • embarrassed • regretful

• anxious • enthusiastic • relieved

• apprehensive • frustrated • shocked

• concerned • furious • thrilled

• content • grateful • uneasy

• defensive • grieving • vulnerable

• determined • miserable • wary

• disappointed • optimistic • upset

Task 2:

The list above contains adjectives to describe emotions. Where possible, change them into nouns. Then, choose five of the emotions from the list above. For each emotion, describe a situation you have experienced that made you feel this way.

word	noun	Identify emotion
ambivalent	ambivalence	neutral
discouraged	discouragement	negative
overwhelmed	overwhelmedness	neutral
embarrassed	embarrassment	neutral
annoyed	annoyance	negative
regretful	regretfulness	neutral
anxious	anxiety	positive
enthusiastic	enthusiasm	negative
relieved	relief	positive
apprehensive	apprehension	positive
frustrated	frustration	negative
shocked	shock	neutral
concerned	concern	positive
furious	furiousness	negative
thrilled	thrill	positive
content	content	positive
grateful	gratefulness	positive
uneasy	uneasiness	negative
defensive	defensiveness	neutral
grieving	grievance	negative
vulnerable	vulnerability	negative
determined	determinacy	positive
miserable	miserableness	negative
wary	wariness	neutral
disappointed	disappointment	negative
optimistic	optimism	positive
upset	upset	negative

1, I'm grateful to Hala because she teaches us with her all heart.
2, My baby felt content when I play with her.
3, Although mathematics always makes me uneasy, but I still need insist on learning it to improve my skills.
4, I was very wary when I prepared the interviews that I experienced.
5, I always put enthusiasm into my work because I am workaholic.

Task 3:

Listen to three short dialogues. Complete the chart to identify each situation, the relationship between speakers, and their emotional states. What helped you to identify each speaker’s emotions (e.g., tone, phrases)?

	Situation	Relationship between speakers	Speakers’ emotions