13rd March

First in this class he said to us the script that was going to continue:

• Differentiating Vowel Sounds (pronunciation)
• Organisation Chart: Read Text and Fill in chart (reading and vocabulary)
• BizFuctions: Company Personnel survey (speaking and translation)
• Presentation: Decision Making (listening and note-taking)
• Textual cohesion/Modals (grammar and reading)
• Compound Word (vocabulary)

As for the pronunciation we made the unit 1.5 of the blog. We had to listen to the sound in the cassete, it repeat and write the correct one in the exercise

Continuously we made 2.1 the exercises of the unit. In the first one we had to read a text and complete the organization charts. The text was treating on the different departments of the administration and the human resources of the company. In all that the second one was translate some phrases from English into the Spanish with the help of the companions of Erasmus.

Also in this class we realize the exercise 2.2.1. In this exercise we had to observe the connections between phrases that more were repeating themselves.

Finally, we did exercise 2.3.1.Compound Words.

27th March

First, the teacher Keith explained that we had to make a work do since : how to do business in a country. This work we have to realize it in groups of 4. In addition he did not give the script to follow:

• Desingn and develop model
• Group reserach/ group prepare document
• Present document to class
• Videoconference
• Document of all countries

In this class we saw a video that was treating on a robbery to a bank in which the thieves start catching the telephone and fighting until the police come. Of this video we have done an activity.

Later Keith explained Market Research's topic:

Primary Research.

The characteristics are:

• First hand information
• Expensive to collect, analyse and evaluate.
• Examples: questionnaires, focus groups, telephone surveys…

Secondary Research

This information we can find so much in internal sources as an external sources. If we refer to internal sources for example: stock analysis or company accounts … As for the external sources we have for example: Government Statistics.

Sampling methods.

Several methods exist:

• Random Samples
• Stratified or Segment Random Sampling
• Quota Sampling
• Cluster Sampling
• Multi-Stage Sampling
• Snowball Sampling

Purpose: assessing marketing mix, reduce risk…

22th May 2007

This class was given by a teacher of the Czech republic called Estefanía.

First we saw a video on which we did a few activities. In the video there was appearing an executive who was going on holidays of relax where he didn’t have means to communicate with anybody. When he is turning his secretary tells him that the company had had problems, and when the executive comes to the facilities one thinks that the factory had burned in a fire.

Secondly, Estefanía explained some such economic figures as: romantic rice, increase sharply, rose slightly, slight decrease, fell sharply, sharp drop… With these words we had to do phrases in active and in passive.

Thirty, we saw another video in which the representatives of a circus were appearing. In this video the situation of the circus analyzes across an analysis DAFO, that is to say, opportunities, threats, fortresses and weaknesses of the circus. This analysis they realize it because there appears a new circus that can do the competition and need to look for solutions. Of this video we realize some activities as the DAFO, questions of true or false and to arrange the text according to the video.

15th May 2007

In this class Keith explained since a Good presentation is done. For example: the corporal language is very important for a presentation to support the interest of the listener. It mustn’t be excessive. Also it is important to always speak with tranquillity and always directing the look the public. In addition it is important that phrases with emphasis are said to maintain the attention.

This explanation is very important for the pupils of this subject since next week we have to present our work. Of this case mine it consists of the different methods of production.

Later we saw a video on an announcement of rolex in which he appeared a man playing golf and showed the article.

8th May 2007

In this class we realize some exercises of the topic 4: Marketing and Go out.

First we realize the exercise 4.2.1 that we have that fill in the spaces with reporting verbs. Later we did 4.2.2. In these exercise we have that put sentences in the correct order, to complete some dialogues, transform the sentences from direct to indirect speech and fill the spaces with to reporting verb and the appropriate preposition. Also we made 4.3 the exercise of vocabulary and 4.4 in that we had to read a text, it order and answer some questions.

Besides Keith put a presentation in Spanish on the " Theory on the assaults to the heart ". The pupils we had to translate the phrases of Spanish into English.

The teacher distributed a few leaves on profit and loss account for British Airways in groups we had to define some accounts. Then Keith explained some concepts as:

• Turnover: the revenue earned over the year
• Cost of sales: the variable costs, how much it cost the firm to produce what it has sold- not to be confused with sales revenue. Ex: pilots, petrol, food…
• Gross profit= turnover- cost of sales
• Operating or net profit= gross profit- operating costs
• Dividend: the share of the profit returned to shareholders.
• Retained profit: the amount kept back for future investment…

17th April 2007

In this class Keith explained the Pricing strategies :

• Penetration pricing: When we throw a new product we can choose between two strategies of penetration: under price or high volume.The low prices to secure how volume the sales. May be useful if launching into a new market. Is typical in mass market products: chocolate bars, foos stuffs, household goods....

• Market skimming : High price/low volume. Skim the profit the market. Suitable for products that have short life cycles or which will face competition at some point in the future, example: playstation , digital technology…

• Value Pricing: price based on consumer perception. Price set in accordance with customer perceptions about the value of the product or service. Examples include status products/exclusive products como BMW

• Loss Leader: sold below cost to attract saes elsewhere. Goods or services deliberately sold below cost to encourage sales elsewhere. For example: ‘Free’ mobile phone when taking on contract package

• Psychological Pricing: used to play on costumer perceptions. Classical example is 9,99£. instead of 10, 99 £. Links with value pricing: high value goods prices according to what consumers think should be the price.

• Going Rate: price leadership. In case of price leader, rivals have difficulty in competing on price-too high and they lose market share, too low and the price leader would match price and force smaller rival out of market.

• Tender Pricing: Many contracts awarded on a tender basis. Firm submit their price for carrying out the work. Purchaser then chooses which represents best value. Mostly done in secret

• Price Discrimination: Charging a different price for the same good/service in different markets. Example: bus

• Destroyer/predatory Pricing: aims to force out competitor. Deliberate price cutting or offer of ‘free gifts/products’ to force rivals out of business or prevent new entrants. Example: microsoft

• Absorption/full Cost Pricing: Full Cost Pricing – attempting to set price to cover both fixed and variable costs. And Absorption Cost Pricing – Price set to ‘absorb’ some of the fixed costs of production.

• Marginal Cost Pricing: set price in relation to Marginal Cost

• Contribution Pricing: Contribution = Selling Price – Variable (direct costs). Prices set to ensure coverage of variable costs and a ‘contribution’ to the fixed costs

• Target Pricing: target level of profit. Setting price to ‘target’ a specified profit level.Estimates of the cost and potential revenue at different prices, and thus the break-even have to be made, to determine the mark-up

• Cost-plus Pricing: calculation of average cost plus a mark up. AC= total cost/output

• Influence of Elasticity: price inelastic or price elastic.

After the explanation on the strategies of prices, Keith put a video of which we did a few exercises. In them we had to find the failures of some written words.

Finally, we did the exercises of the paragraph 3.3 of the blog on prefixes and suffixes.

3rd April 2007

This week I could not be present at class but my collegues said to me the activities that they realized. Keith could not be present at class and Ana Botella gave the class.

My collegues in this class did exercises on a video that was treating on the launch(throwing) of a new product. The executives were meeting to discuss the qualities of this product. Also they spoke on the name that they would put to this product. The executives have to realize a market research to know the viability of this product.

In addition Ana remembered the work that we have to realize in the subject.

20th March 2007

To begin Keith ordered us the exercise2.4.2.2of the blog in groups. We have that fill in the table with to list of the most important qualities an employee should have. My group chose: responsibility, efficient, creative, communication skills, team working, intelligence, hard work, good looking and manual skills.

Then we made 2.5 of the blog the exercise. These exercises it was on pronunciation of consonants. Keith read the words and the pupils we repeat them them to be able to declare well and the ejercice 2.5.3 was the translate the words from phonemic script into roman alphabet.

Later a pupil of class across a presentation explained the different segments of the market that exist.

Finally, we made 2.4 the exercise, we it read and answered some questions.

6th March 2007

In this class Keith distributed an exercise on the marketing mix (1.4.2.2) in that we had to listen to a cassette and refill the hollows that were absent in the text. The marketing mix consists of place, price, product and promotion.

Later the teacher asked us to write that we believed that tape-worm k to have a good oral presentation. And then a video put us on a presentation that was erroneous. The girl was very nervous, was stammering, not prepared well tape-worm the presentation....

After seeing this video we did the activities of the paragraph 1.4.2.1

27th February 2007

In the third class, we have done exercises with help of the students Erasmus.

In this class Keith explained across transparencies the business organisation. The Business Functions are:

• Human Resources: recruitment and retention, motivation, dismissal…
• Sales and Marketing: market research, promotion strategies, pricing strategies, sales strategies….
• Research and Development: new product development, product testing, competitive
  
• Production/Operations: projections on future output, production methods, planning output – labour, capital, land…..
• Customer Service: publicity and public relations, offering advice to consumers, after-sales service
• Finance and Accounts: cash flow, raising finance, preparing accounts…
• Administration and IT: reception, overview of quality control, use of IT systems…

Besides he explained the Organisation Charts with four differents structures:

– Hierarchical structure
– Pyramidal Structure
– Centralised structure
– Matrix Structure

Finally, in groups we speak on the structure of the UPV

20th February 2007

In the second class of English, Keith explained the different forms of business ownership and advantages and disadvantages.

The private sector is a business activity owned financed and controlled by private individuals. There are differents types:

• Sole Traders: Owned financed and controlled by one individual but can employ other staff. Common in local building firms, small shops, restaurants, butchers etc

• Partnerships: Owned, financed and controlled by upwards of 2 partners. Common in professions – lawyers, accountants, architects, surveyors, estate agents, vets etc

• Private Limited Companies: Owned by between 2 and 50 shareholders.

• Public Limited Companies (PLCs): Owned by minimum of 2 but no maximum number of shareholders.

• Co-operatives: Ownership, finance and control in hands of ‘members’. Exists for the benefit of ‘members’

Consumer co-ops – members buy goods in bulk, sell to members, divide profits between members

Worker co-operatives – workers buy the business and run it – decisions and profits shared by members

Producer co-operatives – producers organise distribution and sale of products themselves

• Franchises: Method of business ownership backed by established ‘brand’ name. Common franchises – Body Shop, McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Benetton, Toys R Us, IKEA, Kentucky Fried Chicken

• Charities

First English class

The first day of the English class , the teacher Keith Stuart realized a presentation of the course, indicating the way of evaluating the subject. And the aims to managing in the subject.

The aims of the first class were the following:

The pupils have to manage understand the differences between a private sector organization and a public sector organization. Besides, we will have to know the major aims of the business activity in the public sector and in the private sector.


The principal aim of the private sector is to increase the benefit. They have more aims: efficiency, image, quality, sales...

On the contrary, the principal aim of the public sector is to offer services of high quality independently of the status, religion, race... Besides offer services that are cheaper or free than in private sector. For example: schools, street lighting....

Also was explained the primary, secondary, tertiary sector and quarternary sector.

Later we divide the class in groups composed by Spanish and foreigners to discuss the differences between the public and private sector.