I hadn't been to the USA since...

overall idea

bridge

to stay tuned in

giving and receiving feedback

not only giving but also receiving feedback, because it's an opportunity to continue learning

my company takes account of it

Before my holidays, I had to answer a questionnaire, fill in a form

advisor company -- third-party company

they give you a score

below certain levels of expectations

in the highest frame of scores

self-demanding

perfectionistic

a perfectionist

on time

they explained every topic I had been evaluated for in detail

discuss this further

off the mark

feedback on my performance

terms/periods of work

at the end of every quarter

follow-ups

arranges/schedules a meeting

take measurements

debris

If we hadn't moved in

they would have never finished the house

way past the deadline

way past due time

the blueprints of the house

got too confident about

I would not recommend them to anyone

it spoils people

digital nomad visa

it is a way for young people to work

they are not in charge of a family

don't have any responsibilities

nothing related to housework

they have availability to work without any other responsibilities

they're alone all the time

meet new friends

loneliness

positive feelings they can build/develop/experience

at first everything new is ideal

constantly seeking adventure //

weather conditions - luggage - time travelling

airports

Either and neither are used to refer to two different things or choices. Either is used before the first of two or more options or to indicate a link with another statement. Either can also indicate one or the other of two people or things.

Neither is used before the first of two options to signal that they are untrue or won’t occur. It can also be used to emphasize a negative statement. Additionally, neither means “not one or the other of two people or things.”

Either and neither pronunciation

There are different ways to pronounce these words. In American English, either is pronounced with a long e sound, as in ee-ther. In British English, either is pronounced with a long i sound instead, as in i-ther. The same differences apply when you’re pronouncing neither stateside as opposed to across the pond.

When to use either vs. neither

Knowing how to choose between these words can be confusing, especially because both can be used as an adverb, a conjunction, a determiner, or a pronoun.

As an adverb:

Either as an adverb is used to show a similarity or link.

I don’t like chocolate ice cream either.

Neither as an adverb is used before the first of two choices to indicate that they are untrue or didn’t happen.

We can neither confirm nor deny the allegations.

As a conjunction:

When used as a conjunction, either is used with or to indicate choices or possibilities. It can also be used to suggest that there is more than one possibility or comparison.

I would love to go to either the concert or the party tomorrow night.

Neither as a conjunction is used with nor to mean that something is not true about two or more things, actions, or people. Another way of saying this is that it is used conjunctionally to negate another statement.

Neither the concert nor the party interests me.

As a determiner:

Either is used as a determiner to mean “one or the other of two people or things”; it also can mean “each of two.”

The fireflies didn’t come out on either night.

There were sequins on either end of the mural.

Neither is used as a determiner to mean “not one or the other.”

Neither argument is convincing.

As a pronoun:

Either as a pronoun means “one or the other.” It is common for the pronoun either to be used when referring to one of two options or when talking about a positive outcome or choice.

You can take either route to get to the park.

When used as a pronoun, neither means “not one or the other” or “not either.”

He couldn’t choose between the routes, so he took neither.

Tip for remembering when to use either vs. neither

If you’re still struggling to choose between either versus neither, there’s one simple tip that will resolve any confusion.

N = negative

Neither always denotes an exclusively negative usage or tone—which is easy to remember since it starts with the letter n, just like the word negative.

Examples of either

Conjunction: The tiles come in either green or blue.

Adverb: I can’t go. I’m grounded, and I don’t like dances either.

Pronoun: We have to get the cotton candy if either of us goes to the fair.

Determiner: There are wildflowers on either side of the stream.

Examples of neither

Conjunction: Neither the cat nor the dog noticed the mouse.

Adverb: I will eat neither green eggs nor ham.

Determiner: Neither team won; it was a tie.

Pronoun: Zeke picked two bunches of flowers, neither of which lived past Sunday.

First of all, I do agree with Claire and Kelly´s opinion. In my point of view, If the government wanted to attract me to the rural area, first, they also give benefits related with accommodation and low taxes. Also, it is really important to have access to public transportation to go to the city. In this way, I could live in the peace of the rural and enjoy some time going to the city, visiting museums or going to a good restaurant.

under / from my point of view

they should

spend leisure time

bad - good - pretty - nice

remarkable

Overall, to finish off, Finally

As a conclusion

Essentially, in essence,

Saving commuting time

to commute

commuting

the commute to work (noun)

By saving commuting time,

I could find a good balance between the rural and the urban landscapes or sites

Public transportation should be free for people who work in the city centre.

-it is really difficult to circulate around / drive around this area in the city.

-in addition, there are lots of cyclists and motorcyclists who contribute to the amount of traffic.

-avoid getting stuck in traffic.

I do agree with Paul´s comments and I believe that public transportation should be free for people who work in the city Centre. It is really difficult to drive around this area in the city. In addition, there are lots of cyclists and motorcyclists who contribute to the amount of traffic and consequently they contribute on getting stuck. Not only we´d avoid accidents but also we´d get

not only would we avoid accidents, but also we would get / manage to achieve a green space for work

a greener space for work

2 conversations

5-6 questions each time

LECTURES

a) find out one important detail during the first minute

b) specify the main idea (teacher explains at least two ways to approach the topic).

c) What the teacher wants students to know. There will always be something specific, something that the professor wants students to leave with class with, a highlight on the topic of the lesson.

CONVERSATION

a) the student's confusion/inquiry/issue

b) the teacher's/tutor/campus worker answers

c) the student's final insight or feelings about the solutions provided.

• While I appreciate the points mentioned by both STUDENT 1 and STUDENT 2, I think that…

• [elaborate on your idea for a few sentences]

• Remember that [elaborate on your point], so [elaborate on your point].

• Some people may feel that [mention a potential challenge], but [respond to this challenge].

The age-sex structure determines the potential for reproduction, and therefore population growth, based on the balance of males and females of child-bearing age within a population. Thus, the age-sex structure has social policy implications.

For instance, a population with a high proportion of elderly citizens needs to consider its government-funded pension schemes and health care systems carefully.

Conversely, a demographic with a greater percentage of young children should ensure that its educational funding and child welfare policies are implemented efficaciously.

Accordingly, as the composition of a population changes over time, the government may need to re-evaluate its funding priorities

Just to fill you in on some background,...

I'll return to this point later.

I've divided my talk up into 3 sections. First of all... After that... I'll conclude with some comments...

I'd like to start with...

One of the key points will be...

So, the opposite of commuting, really.

It is expected / It is anticipated/ing... I

t's going to be about...

I don't know if you're familiar with this term... to put it another way, ...

we need to ask ourselves: is this a good thing? and for whom?

Moving on now to look at how...

One of the possible consequences will be... I'll suggest to explain what I mean by... so for example...

turning to the next point...,

As I said earlier, it's predicted that...

I'll say more about X in a moment...

just to digress for a second...

It points to the fact that...

The flip side to all this... however,...

this brings me to the last point.

The focus seems to be on... to make a distinct choice...

we anticipate that this trend will only increase...

and this is my main point...

to sum up, it would be wise to consider.... will surely become a key priority...

I'll be happy to take any questions now.

such as, like

as a matter of fact

in fact, actually

First of all,

First and foremost

In the first place

Firstly, To start with

In the second place, Secondly

And last but not least

Finally

in conclusion

in general

to sum up

to conclude

in short

Model Answer 2:

Oh, that's a great topic, and I feel fortunate to be allowed to talk about an experience when I was a member of a team. Today, I'd like to share an experience from my university days when I was a member of an academic research team. This team comprised diverse individuals with distinct expertise, all working towards a common goal.

Our team was a research unit within the university's environmental science department. Comprising researchers, postgraduate students, and even a few undergraduates like myself, the team aimed to investigate the impact of urbanization on local biodiversity. The team's diversity was its strength, as it brought together individuals with backgrounds in biology, ecology, geography, and environmental policy.

As an undergraduate member, my role was primarily to assist in data collection, literature reviews, and basic analysis. While I didn't possess the depth of knowledge that some senior researchers had, my fresh perspective and enthusiasm injected a sense of curiosity into the team. I actively participated in field surveys, and data entry, and collaborated on research papers under the guidance of more experienced team members.

Being part of this research team was immensely beneficial for my academic and professional growth. I had the opportunity to learn from seasoned researchers, gaining practical insights into the intricacies of environmental research. Collaborating on projects and publications expanded my knowledge base and refined my research skills. Moreover, the experience allowed me to build a professional network that proved invaluable when pursuing further studies and career opportunities.

I try to maximize work, this is what I've learnt these years. I'm aiming to prioritize work, setting goals and doing what's most convenient and efficient.

I don't know if I've told you, but last month they decided to give a car to employees who travel. Either they paid expenses or paid an amount of money to cover those expenses. The expenditure related to the car is on them.

transferring ownership of the car. It's an important earning.

emergency fund

it's a bold move

it's the very first time this company has made this decision.

against all odds

have they granted this benefit to everyone? Has this benefit been granted / extended to every employee in the company?

They've prioritized employees in the sales team / the area of commerce

A colleague of his recommended him to this club, because they were looking for a goalkeeper.

The president of the club called him and that was it.

They decided to have him sign a contract

they're playing a specific tournament and it lasts two months.

if he proves himself and plays well, they will probably offer him a better contract.

reserve goalkeeper

reserve player

he's been playing professionally since forever

transport, accommodation and salary

benefits covered

They never thought about the effort Ezequiel has put in, until now. It didn't matter what happened to their players.

Some players move here because the representatives pay some money to lock in their place at the match.

to find a good place to build in a hotel.

he was around the city centre, finding the best place in terms of landscape, but also near to facilities, restaurant, different main buildings where business people stay at.

Maybe he found out about the weather conditions when arriving there.

The most iconic places (landmarks) in Poland, understand the culture, the people who visit this type of country.

customs

Maybe he was there, trying to understand the legal terms for hiring employees.

There are four of us in the BS AS team. Please be more considerate to us next time.

The workload during the second half of the year will be heavy. We're having events throughout September, October and November.

I planned to go on vacation in September/October, as I always do./ I intended to go on holiday around September/October, like I always do.

Adelaide

Melbourne

It's got a breathtaking scene. More a ski resort rather than a business hotel. Not the ideal location, not the closest to the airport.

(Yeah, I take your point).

Is this a serious contender or not?

I'm happy to do a bit more research into the area, but I can't promise anything. Work force?

I could see some communication issues

It would be more difficult if these kind of cases happened at night, when I'm cooking, or preparing my bag for the following day or doing housework.

I'm not online/ on call

It's not a normal thing to occur at night. Maybe a doctor has a moment to revise all the stuff in their bag, and maybe that is the sole moment they have to check in with me.

On Saturdays, I'd normally be relaxed at home, having all the time for them.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/

Only after I set everything in order could I go to bed, turn on the TV, watch for a bit and sleep

I'm not as petty or obsessed over where to put a pencil, for example. But overall, I can't leave the washing up unfinished/pending.

sleep like a log

to be out like a light

we had to sort groceries, set the place ready, clean up, and do some house work

My family would normally leave at 5pm, because they live quite far and they don't want to catch the highway at rush hour

windscreen

wiper

it was expected to rain during the day

the forecast announced rain in the afternoon

My agenda is overfilled

overbooked

too much hustle for such a short trip

it's not proper rest

I had been studying at this institute for many years, told them I took the TOEFL this year, and I really don't want to relive the same experience once again.

Pearson (Language learning company)

I could study with regularity // create consistency

I was one of many people who started taking classes online

I was partaking one of the pilot courses

It was a milestone in my studies.

He longed for that / he yearns for recognition

-maintain an advantage over: stay ahead (of)/ stay ahead of the game / stay ahead of the competition

-defend yourself against: stand up to (detailed analysis, scrutiny)

-think of: come up with (new ideas, solutions to help)

-do something actively: get out there and do it! / get out there and ask customers directly

We spent it at my sister's house, with my mother. It was a really good moment. I hadn't seen either my mom or my sister in a month. It's quite impossible at the moment to arrange a get together.

It's busy the whole year, but the busyness increases with the hot weather

it's difficult to get there in less than an hour. It's easier for me to get there rather than having them over.

A bus was out of order in the middle of the highway and behind it a long line of cars and vehicles.

It was heavily congested.

he was repeating to me

face serious competition / they are attracted to more prestigious // increase the initial package we're offering. / interruptions in salaries: // there seems to be a feeling - interrupted by Rachel

We need to make all necessary arrangements for the Congress in Buenos Aires.

make room for

We also need to make room for the materials that we're presenting.

make room in your agendas?

We'll have to make some room in our agendas in advance.

make a success of

We need to make a success of this congress, because it's the last one of the year.

it's the last in the year

make a habit of

Don't make a habit of copying and pasting the same message in every conversation / in every interaction

it will be a disaster/ an accident waiting to happen

deeply ashamed

highly controversial

utterly stupid

highly successful

ridiculously easy

deeply concerned

Correct answers:

ridiculously cheap

bitterly disappointing

strongly/deeply/bitterly opposed

utterly ridiculous

I would recommend watching the second half.

Units to study: 37-48-50-51-53-55

Optional: 36-44-45-56-57