Do Ex 2
placement: act of filling a position. Sp. contratación, colocación
E.g
The agency has made a number of placements this week. Sp. La agencia ha hecho varias contrataciones esta semana.
salient: /ˈseɪliənt/ most important or easy to notice.
E.g.
She pointed out the salient features of the new design.
He summarized the salient points.
The salient point in Mark's speech was his insistence on the need for social change. Sp. El punto destacado del discurso de Mark fue su insistencia en la necesidad de un cambio social.
get/have a/your foot in the door to manage to enter an organization, a field of business, etc. that could bring you success.
E.g. I always wanted to work in TV but it took me two years to get a foot in the door.
get a jump on someone/something (also get the jump on someone/something) to get an advantage over other people by doing something before they do. To gain an advantage, especially by doing something earlier than usual or earlier than someone else. Sp. adelantarse a alguien/adelantar algo.
E.g.
The company is trying to get a jump on their competitors by putting a lot of money into research.
I want to get a jump on my Christmas shopping.
He works on Sunday to get a jump on the week. Sp. Trabaja los domingos para adelantar el trabajo de la semana.
gravity: /ˈɡrævəti/ extreme importance and a cause for worry. Synonym seriousness.
E.g.
I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation.
Punishment varies according to the gravity of the offence.
Script
Extract one
Woman: Mr Deacons, we need to finalise the details for the work placements we’re offering. This being our first foray into the area, I think we should make sure we have all the bases covered.
Man: Which points are still outstanding? I thought we’d agreed on the major issues, the foremost of which was deciding where the applicants would be placed. So, we’ve allocated the divisions that have the capacity and are suitable for incorporating each of them. We’ve also resolved the issue of who would be tasked with mentoring them while they’re with us and we’ve set the timescale for each of the placements.
Woman: Yes, we’ve done all that but some finer points still need clarification.
Man: OK, but I don’t think we need to go overboard with the preparation. If we stick too rigidly to the plan, we won’t have the flexibility to adapt to any issues that might arise. After all, like you said, this is the first time we’ve done this so we’ve got some learning to do. It won’t be perfect. We mustn’t try to run before we can walk.
Extract two
Woman: At this point in your studies you should be thinking about preparing for the next step towards your future. By that I mean finding a job. Even though you have a while to go before you complete your degrees, you need to be proactive and get your foot in the door. If you wait until you finish here, you could miss the boat and in the fast-paced world of the jobs market you really can’t afford to do that.
But don’t worry, I’m here to help you. I’ll show you where and how to look and I’ll give you tips on how to achieve a successful outcome. I remember when I was faced with the daunting task of leaving the confines and security of academia and navigating the minefield that lay in wait. I felt totally at sea not knowing which way to turn. Thankfully, I had help from someone like me who pointed me in the right direction and helped me steer a course through it and that’s what I hope to do for you. I hope that what I say today will lessen the pressure you will feel and that each of you make it into your chosen field.
Extract three
Man: What’s that you’re looking at?
Woman: It’s a brochure from the community centre. It’s got a list of all the evening classes they run. I didn’t know they had such a wide range of courses. They’ve got everything from modern languages to flower arranging. I was looking for some D.I.Y. workshops. I want to do some remodelling but I don’t want it to cost an arm and a leg which it would if I hired a tradesman. Plus, I want to do a decent job of it so I need to learn some techniques. It should make it less time-consuming not to mention saving on unnecessary exertion.
Man: OK, I can see the value in learning a foreign language or you wanting to improve your practical skills to save some money, but flower arranging? There are more worthwhile ways to spend both your time and money. Surely education of any form should be used to better oneself and I just don’t see how courses like flower arranging can do that even if the results are quite artistic.
foray (into something) an attempt to become involved in a different activity or profession. Sp. incursión.
E.g.
the company’s first foray into the computer market.
his first foray into the music business.
touch/cover all the bases if someone touches all the bases or covers the bases, they deal with everyone or everything involved in a situation. To do everything necessary to be sure that something is successful
E.g.
He has managed to touch all the bases necessary, and trade goes on. The boss covers all bases when he sets up a job.
I think I’ve covered all the bases – I called everyone, ordered the food , and bought some decorations.
be tasked with: to give somebody a task to do
E.g.
NATO troops were tasked with keeping the peace.
mentor: to advise and help a less experienced person.
E.g.
Now she mentors undergraduates who are training to be teachers.
timescale: /ˈtaɪmskeɪl/ the period of time that it takes for something to happen or be completed. Sp. plazo.
E.g.
What's the timescale for the project?
a tight timescale
We hope the negotiations will be completed within a six-month timescale.
go overboard (with/on something): to be too excited or enthusiastic about something or about doing something. Sp. pasarse de la raya (con algo), exagerar (con algo)
E.g.
Don't go overboard on fitness.
I hope politicians will not go overboard in trying to control the press.
I don't think there'll be more than six people eating, so I wouldn't go overboard with the food.
try to run before you can walk: to try to achieve something very difficult immediately, without first doing more basic things.
miss the boat: to be unable to take advantage of something because you are too late. Sp. perder el tren, perder(se) una oportunidad.
E.g.
If you don't buy now, you may find that you've missed the boat
fast-paced: moving, changing or happening very quickly. Sp. acelerado.
E.g.
a fast-paced thriller
She enjoys working in a fast-paced environment.
He’s moved to the country and given up his fast-paced lifestyle.
lie in wait (for somebody) to hide, waiting to surprise, attack or catch somebody. Sp. a) estar al acecho de alguien/algo b) acechar a alguien/algo.
E.g.
He was surrounded by reporters who had been lying in wait for him
at sea: confused and not knowing what to do.
E.g.
I'm all at sea with these new regulations.
steer a course: to choose a particular way of doing something. Sp. tomar un rumbo.
steer a middle course Sp. adoptar una línea intermedia
E.g.
Managers were allowed to steer their own course.
They tried to steer a middle course between overconfidence and undue pessimism.
The government chose to steer a middle course between the two strategies (=chose a strategy that was not extreme).
remodel something: to change the structure or shape of something. Sp. reformar, reestructurar.
E.g.
The interior of the building has been completely remodelled.
They put forward plans to remodel the education system.
tradesman: a person who works with their hands in a job that involves training and special skills, for example a carpenter or plumber. Sp. trabajador -a manual
E.g.
This is a job for a skilled tradesman.
exertion: /ɪɡˈzɜːʃn/ physical or mental effort; the act of making an effort. Sp esfuerzo.
E.g.
She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.
He needed to relax after the exertions of a busy day at work
