English Learning History

English Learning History

The first time for me to learn English was in my primary school, and I was 10 years old. Until now, I have been studying English for 10 years. Even it looks like a very long time; the majority of Chinese students did not gain an effective output. Frankly, English became important to me, when it was a part of my high school entrance exam. Hence, the main purpose for us to learn English is to how to pass the exam in a excellent grade and go to a famous high school. Plenty of exercise emphasized on listening and reading, which is the most important parts of our exam. The situation did not change a little, when we went into high school.

Due to the extreme pressure from our college entrance exam, most of high school students spent the whole day on study. For English study, our efforts were concentrated on how to improve our reading speed and how to get the correct answers. Furthermore, exercise was considered as the most effective way to improve English for the most students. Therefore, I have spent a great amount of time on doing exercise, during my high school time. Besides daily comprehension and listening exercise, reciting the article in our text book is another daily routine as well. During the miserable three years in high school, I accumulated useful sentence structures and advanced vocabulary. Even though the whole process was unpleasant, the outcome was pretty remarkable for me. In my college entrance exam, my English grade reached the top 10 in my school, which had 550 students in the exam at that time.

It was not until my first year in my Chinese university did I realize that how important the oral English was. Obviously, the way of teaching in university is totally different from high school. We have lot foreigner teachers, which created a fantastic environment for us to practice our English in real life. Every Tuesday was our regular English corner saloon; at here everybody was allowed to speak English only and I also made friends with my teachers. Since then, I have found another motivation to learn English, broadening my horizon and socializing. Once I got rid of the pressure from difficult and boring exams, learning English became fun and much more interesting. Enjoying a movie, sharing a book with a friend and having a chat about the latest the Grammy Award are also a way to learn English. Just as my teacher said, “When you can use it, it is time for you to enjoy it.”

Interested with the culture behind this language, I started to read some classic novels, such as Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility. Culture and history, I think, could help you to get a better understanding about this language and make this language more charming than it used to be, because you made it alive in your life.

However, there is still a serious problem remained---writing. Actually, I did not spend too much effort on my writing skill before I took the IELTS tests. Due to lack of exercise and the awareness of formal writing, my writing grade is much lower than the others. In order to improve my writing skill, I have asked a lot of teachers and friends for advice. It seems that I have to go back to where I start, practice. Absolutely, the whole process is going to be pretty demanding, but as a university student, academic writing is the foundation of all the study. Right now, I just made a plan to improve my writing, which includes reciting the New Concept English 3，finishing the exercise on Academic Writing and weekly diary. I am looking forward to my performance in the next month.

Advertisements for Hazel

Since we are a multinational company, I design three different visions for marketing in the Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

New Product Design: Hazel New Breezy Powder Foundation

Hanzel New Product design

Introduction

Our company, Hazel, is one of the world’s largest direct sellers of cosmetics and beauty products, targeting at female who is over 50 years old. Even though, the income these years is quite outstanding, the total sales in West Europe and North America decrease gradually. Confronted with the loss of profit and the threat from the outside, the whole management boards consider that maybe a new product and a series of adjustment could help us obtain the North America and Europe market again. Hence, we invent the brand new breezy power foundation to help us obtain the advantages among the competition again.

New Product

The target market for our new product this time is the young lady all over the world from 15-25, who are pursuing the fashion, healthy and sophisticated makeup style. The main character of the new powder is the double effect, healing and covering. As we all known, skin of teenage is quite sensitive and need to be protect from chemistry damage. There are 5 different color in order to content with the all the young ladies’ needs globally, also in each power box, we have two different colors. Hence, we can get three skin colors only with one power box. The whole company hopes our new product could help us to open the teenage market and broaden our market reach.

New logo

 Since our target market is global young ladies, we design a totally new logo and slogan to promote the new breezy power foundation. In our new logo(as you can see it on the left side),  a mysterious and glorious eye dominate the whole logo, because our brand name ”Hazel” is also known as a kind of a beautiful. On the other side, we hope our product could be a beautiful eye looking at you and taking care of you skin. In order to sale the idea of taking care of your skin, our marketing department also came up with an original slogans ‘Watching you, taking care of you ,Hazel. ’ . Additionally, the abstract shape and special design in the new logo could attract the ladies who want to be extraordinary possibly. We all believe our new logo and slogan could apple to our X-generation and make them become loyal customers in the future.

Mission Statement

Our mission: to give our customers more confidence and offering them the final touch to their beauty.

Here are the principles of how we live that every day:

Moral/ethical position

We will never test our products on any animals in any forms, and our company commit to offering the best quality products to our customers,just as we said in our mission, Hazel offer you the final touch to your beauty.

Public image

Global, healthy, high quality and elegant will be the core ideas of our company in the future. Every step we take illustrates the determination to help all the customers to gain a more comfortable and high quality life.

Target market

Women, who seek sophisticated and healthy lifestyle and pursue for the natural beauty and fashion at the same time, are our target group, regardless of nationality and age, all over the world.

Products/services

The products for women over 50 years in our company have already helped us earn a great amount of revenue and they are also the leaders in this market. Furthermore, the graying society is gradually broadening, which means our main target market enlarge recently. Therefore, our products still emphasis on the aging group. On the other side, we are exploring the teenage market, by developing new products aiming at young ladies.(Global)

Additionally, the new purchasing system is going to be implemented, with which our customers could buy any products they like online. The member could also receive the benefits such as free transport fee.

Geographic domain

The domain markets are the North America and West Europe.

Expectations of growth

We hope our sales could increase significantly in the Asian and South American market in the next five years. For the teenage market, a breakthrough in the market reach has a great possibility to achieve.

Press Information

Press Information

GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS, November 16, 2011

Dounne Alexander : persisting your dream

Dounne Alexander-Moore, the founder of Gramma’s spicy sauce, has already achieved her dream, establishing her own business and accessing to the UK local market through Gramma’s spicy sauce. Even faced with invisible discrimination, Dounne’s determination and perseverance kept her progressing on the way to success and right now she intends to expand her ambition oversea.

“To launch a new product on the market is always very hard, and probably doubly so being a black woman,” said Dounne, during the interview by Carol Dix, “But never once did I compromise my goals.”

Before starting her own business, Dounne is an ordinary and hard-working single mother, who suffered a lot from heavy burden of family, always struggled to live, and have no capital to take off her career. Given such a circumstance, most people would give up their dream. Nevertheless, her insistence pushes her to connect with all the medias in UK seeking for any opportunity to promote the products.  

Dounne’s story illustrates that we have been encouraged to think big, which result in the ignorance of the power of our dream and idea. In fact, every dream could be realized with your persistence in your heart.

To get more about Gramma’s Ltd, please dial 081-501-3530 or visit Unit 6, Acorn Centre, Hainault Industrial Estate, Hainault, Essex. The sauces can be purchased by mail order.

Contact Info

Ziyu Xu

Add:Kornoeljestraat2 9741 JB

Groningen, Netherlands

Phone: +31 0685777777

Result from checking against the Oxford 3000™

http://keyword-checker.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

Vocabulary Test of Market Leader

Today, I just tested my vocabulary of Market Leader on the website,http://www.vocabtrainer.net/vt/go/8/618


Personally, it worked very well .At first, it will give you a brief look about your situation right now after a general vocabulary test. And then, it will record the words you did not grasp ,meanwhile  make a list helping you review them efficiently.


In a word, it is freaking useful, and I sincerely recommend it to you.
Hope you get a nice grade in the exam.

second memo report：Stitch Wear

Memo Report

To:                       Heads of all subsidiaries

From:                    Ziyu Xu (Head of Marketing and sales)

Date:                     20 October 2011

Subject:                  Improve CSR Profile

Introduction:

On 20^th October, all the board member of top management gathered and discussed the improvement about our company’s CSR profile. Everyone attended the conference strongly agreed the ideas of establishing a healthier social image and market our ethical stance, in order to gain a increasing reputation and commercial viability. We have reached our decisions and made a general plan about the action we will take in the future to achieve our aim.

Findings:

CSR Report:

Before everything starting, we decide to conduct a research among our suppliers and contractors to ensure that there is no child labor under 14 in our company and operative corporations anymore. Also in this report, we also announce that the whole company will be committed to social and environmental responsibility and the ETI would help us monitor the implementation of this plan.

Overseas Suppliers

After setting all the regulations, a regular examination to our suppliers is a direct and easy way to test them whether they carry out their accountability properly. Therefore, a three-month visit to our suppliers will be organized by human resource department, and every supply managers is asked to hand in a monthly report informing of the general operation. Besides, every top manager of our overseas suppliers will receive a short training about the company culture, especially about the CSR, before their employment. Also, there will be a serious penalty, if we find any suppliers go against our regulations.

Program for child employees

For the child labor we or our suppliers employed, we will set up a series of programs, including, education, health and technical training. All the material such as, books and textbooks are offered by our company.

Sustainability of Supply Chain

With the purpose of establishing a sustainable supply chain, we outsource the whole supply chain to ETI, which is obvious more professional and experienced. And ETI is responsible for the suppliers, which means ETI should have close connection with the company and suppliers. So a monthly report is also needed, whereas it still remains its own right to handle any emergency in the process.

Marketing Strategy

Even though, the used brand name was linked to the child labor by the public, maintaining of this name show the sincere we want to change and undertake more social responsibility. Additionally, we are going to set up a fund, devoted to helping child labor return to school and provide help in healthy and financial aspects. A quart report about the foundation will be published to general public to remain the high transparency of the foundation. What’s more, we will launch a campaign, called “Five cents, every product”, which means we will donate five cents from the every products we sale to the charity.

Sponsorship

Considering about the financial pressure, Sponsorship not only share financial pressure, but also advocate our campaign, and leverage our position efficiently as well. We intend to have an annual New Year Eve Party to raise money and find sponsorship for the next year charity plan.

New team

Since we design a series of action about our CSR, we do need a special new team taking charging of those plan and action. Our HR department will arrange such kind of a team in a week after this meeting.

Suggestion

Finally, we think a 1% raise in our price would help us make up for some decrease in revenue, and 1% raise is a small amount for every customer.

Conclusion and recommendations

All the top managers support the point that being ethical do strengthen our sustainability and viability, given the circumstance that the demands and expectation of society increase greatly. Nevertheless, keeping the balance between our own accountability and CSR could be the problem in the future and we should also consider the financial flexibility at the same time. W

We look forward to your reaction and hope to see this plan being conducted in the whole company.

Ziyu Xu

Head of Marketing and sales. 

My first memo report：Konopnicka Airport New Construction in Poland

Konopnicka Airport New Construction in Poland

By ziyu xu S2150727

Instruction:

  This report concerns about:

1.       Financial definition in the construction

2.       Operation and management issues during and after the construction

3.       Details in repayment

4.       The schedule of the building

5.       Risk and responsibilities between different companies

Negotiations:

Finance

There are guarantees given by Polish Government, therefore the Airports Company decided to lend 108 million euro from Weber-Merkel Bank at a preferably interest rate of 2.5%. However, the Bank prefers a higher interest for the total huge loan agreement.

Operation and Management

Both companies would like to own the operation of airport service, and the ownership of assets still remains by the Airport Company.

Repayment

During the meeting, the representatives from both company had different the opinions about how long it will take for the Airport company to repay the loan and when it stars. Besides, the ownerships of some charges and fee also aroused sever discussions.

Building Schedule

This part lays about the whole duration of the construction and the corporation form.

Risk Allocation

Finally, some commercial risks were attached much importance by both sides. And the responsibility and penalty fines about the delays in building program should be clarify and explicit.

Conclusion and Further Recommendation

This report indicates Weber-Market Bank decided to lend money to the Konopnicka Airport Company for its new airport in Poland, but something still need be discussed before carrying it out.

In the general financial part, we both agree with the total amount of 120m in the whole construction, whereas only 96million of them will come from the loan of The Bank, at an interest rate of 3.5%.Concerning about the operation and management, the Airport Company remains the ownership of all the assets, but the first six year operation of airport service belongs to the Bank.

Besides, both companies compromised that the Airport Company should repay all the loan at the end of 17^th years, since all the projects are finished, and the loan have to be repaid monthly .After the completion, the Polish Airport will collect take-off and landing charges and the incomes from the overflight fees will be obtained by the Bank.The Airport should be put into use after 25months under the operation of Lauman and Polish with a proven track record.

At last, the risk issues were divided into two inspects. From the aspect of commercial risk, Polish Airport will take the responsibility for the preliminary environmental studies and consultation of local residents, and Laumann will take charge of any possibility that may lead to the delays in building schedule except for the circumstances out of control. What’s more, the delays fine which is responsible for the Launmann is arranged from 0.5 million to 4 million per two weeks and risk associated with low air traffic volumes shared on 40-60 between Polish Government and private contractor.

Action Minutes: Smile.Co

Action Minutes

Name of company: SmileCo. Purpose of meeting: Devising a training program Date/Time:15/9/2011 Chairperson: Alina  Be Members present: Alina  Basener   Matthias Repplinger    Ziyu Xu Apologies: None
Agenda  Item	Discussion	Action	Person Responsible
1.Priorities	The priorities of the training.	1.      Training focused on the customers’ awareness of the sales team. 2.      Also, the implementation of the new system	The external company we choose
2.Pros and cons	1.      Who will take charge of this training? Internal or external company? 2.      The Pros and Cons of them.	1.       Chose External Company 2.      Pros of E:1)more professional 2）effective and efficient  3)cost lower efforts for our company. Cons of E :1) lack of clear awareness of our purpose 2）the possibility of  over budget	The external company we choose
3.Type	The type and the duration of the training	1.      Short and intensive, on-the-job training, twice a week for a month and 2hours for each time. 2.      Keep the balance between work and training.	HR department and external company
4New system.	Whether use the new system	1.New System	Technology department
5.Budget	How could we use limited budget to benefit  stuff  maximally?	1.      Find out who need the training most by a test. 2.      Using afterward training	HR department
6.Integration	How to accelerate the integration.	1.      More group work in training 2.      Some course about team spirit in training.	HR department and External company

Next Meeting: After finishing the training.

Venue: Main office room of SmileCo.

__

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Presentation: Lose the fear

 This is my first presentation in Netherlands, interesting but a little bit nervous.

During the presentation, I shared a lot of personal experience with my classmates and received many positive comments. Whereas my tension made me speak very fast, maybe next time I could improve at this part.