TWELFTH POST

In the last class went to teacher, who was the Republic Checks. First she introduced oneself. She described her country, her job, habits, weather, etc.

Later she explained us some words, expressions and details about two videos, which we have to watch. So she helped us, since it was an exam.

The first film was about a terrible holiday, but it was funny. And the second film was about a circus and the planning of circus. The employees spoke about timetable, functions, objectives, etc, to improve the circus.

This class was very interesting and amusing.

ELEVENTH POST

In this class we watched a video. It was about an advert of watch “Rolex”. In the video, the people play golf and they showed their watch. They also spoke about Rolex and its characteristics. This film was a listening, which was an exam.

Later we did exercises of topic 4. It was interesting, because we did it in groups, and so spoke with Erasmus students.

On the other hand, Keith explained the rest of topic “Finance and Accounts”:

• Profit and Loss Account:
• Shows the flow of sales and costs over a period
• Shows the level of profit or loss made
• Balance Sheet:
• Shows what a company owns (assets) and what it owes (liabilities).
• 
  

Finally, Keith commented us like being a good oral presentation. It must have a introducing yourself. And you also must:

o attract and focus the attention of the audience,

o explain the purpose of the talk and what the speaker would like to achieve,

o give an overview of the key points of the talk

TENTH POST

In the last class we did exercises of topic three and four. We did in group, so we can improve our English.

Later, Keith explained the topic “Finance and Accounts”, although he didn’t finish it.

This topic was about:

• COST: Cost can be:
• Fixed Cost (FC): are not influenced by the amount produced but can change in the long run. e.g., equipment
• Variable Cost (VC): vary directly with the amount produced. e.g., raw material costs

After, he commented the formula of cost, like:

• Total Costs (TC) = Fixed Costs (FC) + Variable Costs (VC)

• REVENUE:
• Total Revenue (TR): also known as turnover, sales revenue or ‘sales’
• TR = P x Q, where: P: Price and Q: Quantity Sold.
• PROFIT:
• Profit = TR – TC
• Profit can be:
• Normal Profit: the minimum amount required to keep a business in a particular line of production.
• Abnormal/Supernormal Profit: the amount over and above the amount needed to keep a business in its current line of production.

NINTH POST

The class began with the topic “Pricing strategies”. Keith explained us the mean of penetration pricing; it is: to sell high volumes of products to low price.

After, the students spoke about the mean of market skimming. Finally we said the definition: Market where sell low volumes to high prices.

We were the same with the following words:
- Value pricing: price set in accordance with customer perception about the value of the product/services. Here Keith explicated a example: In the pubs of Benidorm sell more expensive the beer to English person than Spanish person, because the English man has more money.
- Loss leader: Goods/services deliberately sold below cost to encourage sales elsewhere.
- Psychological pricing: 9,99 instead of 10.00
- Price discrimination For example: When you take to train at 10.00, which cost more money than if you take at 11.00
- Tender pricing:
- Going rate
- Etc.

Later, we watched a video, which has 40 mistakes. This was the exam, because we had to correct these mistakes.

Finally, we did the exercises of unit 3.

EIGHTH POST

In this session we watched a film, which was a test. In the film there were workers of the company who were meeting to decide how the shampoo sold. They discussed about the name of shampoo, people who were bound, their competitors, etc.

After that, we answered the questions about the film and one question of phonetic. This was the answers of the exam. And we commented it in groups.

SEVENTH POST

Today for groups, which composed of Spaniard and people of same country; we spoke about how to do business in ours countries. And my partner is Turk.

We are going to doing a project about it (for May), and we will discuss about:
- Country, people and institutions
- Weather, geography and conditions of life
- European Union
- Economy
- Etc.

The objective is: "to do an only document about how to do business in their countries (Turkey)" and we are going to explaining to the rest of class.

Later we did a listening, what was qualified by Keith.

Finally, the teacher explained a topic "Market Research". Keith commented the differences between primary and secondary market research and how primary and secondary market research may be used by a business to help inform its marketing decisions.

SIXTH POST

I didn't go to class that day (20-03-07), because I was ill.

FIFTH POST

Today the Spanish students and Erasmus students did exercises, so we mixed between us.

Later Keith explained the next topic "Decision Making". First he spoke about quantitative factors in decision making, these provide a numerical basis for decision making since it reduces decisions to looking at a monetary value placed on different choices, but such data provides only part of the story.

About qualitative factors, he commented these look to talk account of these other issues that may influence the outcome of a decision.

Finally everybody talked about topic and gave their opinion.

FOURTH POST

First we did exercises of the unit 1 and 2, between Erasmus and Spaniards. We also did a dictation, it was funny.

Later we saw a video about a interview of work, where woman did a bad interview of work, because she didn't speak slowly. She also was nervous and she didn't introduce oneself correctly.

For it, Keith explained like doing the final oral presentation, and he commented that in the presentation is important that:
- The presenter explained things well, and I understood all the main points.
- The presenter used good examples.
- The Conclusion to the presentation was well-structured and reinforced the main points.
- The presenter spoke clearly and at a good speed: not too slowly, not too fast.
- Etc.

THIRD POST

The students and Erasmus did the exercises of the unit 1, so we spoke in English and improved the pronunciation and compression.

Later, Keith explicated the topic "Business Organisation". He spoke about business departments, these are: Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, Research and Development, Production/Operations, Customer Services, Finance and Accounts and Administration and IT. And the teacher also commented theirs objectives and functions. On the other hand, he explained the Organisation Charts, it can be: Hierarchical Structure, Pyramidal Structure, Centralised or Matrix Structure.

Finally, the students talked theirselves about the topic.

SECOND POST

In the second class, in groups of students (Erasmus- Spaniards) translated English words to Spanish words. So, everybody communicated in English, because some Erasmus don't speak Spanish. That way, the Spanish students improve their English.

Then Keith explained second topic "Business ownership: The private sector". He commented about the different forms of business ownership, like: sole traders, partnerships, private limited companies, co-operatives, franchises, charities. And the advantages and disadvantages of different forms of business ownership.

This class was very interesting and entertaining, since some unknown terms was explicated by students. And everybody gave their opinion.

My first post

My name is Noelia Ferrer Pedraza, I am 21 years old and I live in Alcoy. Now I am studying 4º of Business Administration at university (EPSA).

This is my first post, where I am going to describe the first English class.

The name of the teacher is Keith Stuart, and the class started with the description of subject, where the teacher spoke about the subject programme: exams, projects, tutorship, etc. Keith also commented that the students (Erasmus and Spaniards) have to mix between theirselves, in this way everybody will improve their English. So that everybody talked about studies, leisure, countries, etc.

Then the teacher explained the first topic: "the business activity and objectives". He spoke about the business activity, where he said there are four sectors: primary sector, secondary sector, tertiary sector and quaternary sector. He also commented the difference between a public sector organisation and private sector organisation. And objectives of each one. Some objectives of private sector business are profit, survival, share price, image and reputation, etc; and objectives of public sector are access and equality, quality and affordability.

Finally, the students conversed about the topic and we gave our opinion.