LANGUAGES INSTITUTE

ENGLISH LEVEL V WORKSHOP

Professor’s name: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________

Student’s name: _____________________________________________ Group: ___________

1. WARM-UP ACTIVITY (10 minutes)

2. Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP8tTGfm4jU

3. What was Sheldon doing?
4. What were some of the questions asked?
5. Was any job assigned to him? Why?
Funny video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z14p9Lo7NSs Typical questions and non-typical answer

2. GROUP DISCUSSION (5 minutes)

In groups of 3, answer the following questions:

1. Have you ever been interviewed for job or school admission process? How was it?
2. What questions are normally asked?
3. What types of tests are usually required during the recruitment process?

3. READING ACTIVITY (20 minutes)

Scan the text and answer the questions below

The Job Interview

Susan was looking for a job for a very long time. Finally, after many months of
sending lots CVs a letter was sent to her. The letter Susan received said: “We want
to interview you. You need to take a psychometric test, too”. Last year, more than
70% of the companies used these tests for potential employees. Susan had applied
for the job of assistant in the Public Relations department of one of those
companies.

On the day of the interview, she arrived early and she was taken upstairs to the
office where she had to take the test. Susan respected the short time limit set for
the test. She ended up choosing, as quickly as she could, the adjectives that better
described her at work. However, she had a difficult time with the test and she
didn’t fill out all the answers.

One week later, a letter with a copy of her profile analysis was sent by the company
and she found out that she was turned down for the job. Susan disagreed with the results as she was described
as an ambitious and impatient person. She refused to give up and she called a psychologist friend and asked for
an explanation. After talking to her, Susan sent a polite disagreement letter to the company. The company
answer back apologizing.

Susan was asked to take a longer and more detailed psychometric test and to keep on with the recruitment
process. This time she didn’t run out of time and the results she got were more realistic and accurate. The
position as Public Relations assistant was given to her and they understood that a 10-minute test is not enough
to give all the necessary information about a job candidate.
Reading comprehension questions

Scan the text and answer the following questions

1. In the reading, which of the following IS NOT mentioned for psychometric tests?
a) Are used by more than 70% of companies to test potential employees.
b) Gives important information about a potential employee.
c) Have time limits for the potential employees to answer.
d) Are done always by the psychologist of companies.

2. What was the time limit for the first test? ___________________________________________

3. What did Susan do first after receiving the rejection letter?

a) She chose adjectives that best described her at work.
b) She included a copy of her profile analysis.
c) She phoned a friend that is a psychologist for a clarification.
d) She sent a polite disagreement letter to the company.

4. What did the results say about Susan? ______________________________________________

5. What was the difference between the first and the second psychometric test?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

6. Susan got the job. True____ or False_____

4. VOCABULARY PHRASAL VERBS (20 minutes)

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and preposition, a verb and an adverb, or a verb with both an
adverb and a preposition. A phrasal verb has a meaning which is different from the original verb. That's
what makes them fun, but confusing. You may need to try to guess the meaning from the context, or, look it up
in a dictionary. Phrasal verbs are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. (The more formal a
conversation or text, the fewer phrasal verbs are found.)

Examples
 look up – consult a reference book (look a word up in a dictionary)
 look for – seek (look for her ring)
 look forward – anticipate with pleasure (look forward to meeting someone.

Activity 4.1: Look for phrasal verbs in the job interview reading and write them in the boxes below.
Activity 4. 2: Match the phrasal verbs with the definitions.

Activity 4. 3: Complete the sentences with the appropriate form of the verbs from the boxes. There is an extra
word you don’t need.

give up build up fill out hand in end up

1. When looking for the first job, it is crucial that people are persistent and don’t __________________.
2. Some people _______________ or send out around 200 CVs before getting a job.
3. Additional to your CV, there are some companies that require for you to_______________ an application.
4. ____________________ your confidence before facing a job interview.

5. LANGUAGE IN USE PASSIVE VOICE

TV series examples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzeI93MszMk

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. This one is not important or not known; however, who
or what is performing the action.

Example: English is spoken in class. (Passive voice present)

An email was sent this morning. (Passive voice past)
Activity 5.1: Look for sentences in passive voice used in the reading “the job interview”.

Always use verb to be according to the tense and the past participle form of the main verb!!!
Example 1: Active: Marc writes a letter (present simple)
Passive: A letter is written by Marc (passive- present simple)
Example 2: Active: Marc wrote a letter (past simple)
Passive: A letter was written by Marc (passive- past simple)
Activity 5.2: Complete the table with missing verbs in past and past participle

Present form Past form Past Participle Present form Past form Past Participle
form form
Respect Keep
Send Throw
Call Break
Use Pay
Give Get
Choose Find
Reject Run
Write Wake

Activity 5.3: Change the following sentences into passive voice in present tense:

1.-Susan respects the time limit.

____________________________________________________________________________________

2.-Susan sends a polite disagreement letter.

____________________________________________________________________________________

3.-She calls some psychologist friends.

____________________________________________________________________________________

4. 70% of companies in the United States use psychometric tests for potential employees.
____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Psychometric tests give important information on potential employees.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 5.4: Complete the following sentences using the verbs from the box into passive voice in past tense.

choose reject write use

a. A resignation letter by John to his boss, when he decided to quit the job.

b. The best candidate by Human Resources for the sales position.

c. The dress code by employees who don’t like the idea of someone telling them
what to wear.

d. Psychometric tests by psychologists to analyze potential employees.

Further practice: If you want more practice on Passive Voice, check out these links:
goo.gl/K65cmw goo.gl/oRxyFf