Wednesday 23 May 2012

Admission College Interview (2) - The Secrets of Body Language

Do interviews matter? 
It depends on the school. In many cases it counts; undoubtedly, the interviewee can prove thoughtfulness, facility with words and commitment. Fewer and fewer former admission officers say that interviews are inefficient. More and more universities go back to the old times when interviews were not mandatory. Consequetly, candidates are now warned they cannot participate in the interview underprepared, without previous research and training.
What kind of questions can you expect?
There are typical questions and unexpected ones. The interviewer (college student, alumnus* or alumna, admisssion officer) decides. Anyway, it's not the questions you need to be afraid of; only 7 percent of the message is conveyed through words. The interviewer is looking for the real picture of you, trying to learn who you really are. The truth leaks out through the remaining 93 percent non-verbal communication. Make it profitable.

Watch this video and you'll understand why body language is crucial in business, politics, media, sales.
Length of video: 1:3o:13  
Is there any explanation for the college admisssion interviews to be in the focus again? Recent findings prove that written communication is limited in conveying feelings and attitudes. Is this why in modern communication (emails, memos or chat) young people mainly add emoticons? Isn't it a way to avoid misunderstanding? Isn't it why a face-to-face conversation is more reliable than any other type of communication?

This is a topic worth paying attention to. If you liked the topic, please subcribe to receive updates.

Glossary: 
alumnus *(male singular) = university graduate, former employee or member
alumna (female singular)
alumni (plural)

Sunday 20 May 2012

Admission college interviews (1)


Is it a required part of the application process?
Not always. Few colleges require an interview; in most cases it is optional. But it gives you a chance to show you are something else than numbers (exam scores, hours of volunteer work etc.) and words (the statement, the recommendations etc).
Moreover, it is an informational tool; for the college to find out more about the student and for the student to learn more about the college.

Do interviews matter?
Yes, because you show you're interested.
What's in a handshake ? How important is it to establish eye contact? What about voice inflection?

What kind of information and knowledge is the interviewer looking for?
There are as many different questions as there are interviewers.
1.  What can you tell me about yourself?
2.  Why are you interested in our college?
3.  Why do you want to major in.....?
4.  Do your school grades reflect your effort?
5.  Is there anything you did previously that you'd like to change?
6.  Can you recommend a book to me?
7.  What do you do in your free time?
8.  Who do you most admire in your family?
9.  What is your biggest weakness?
10. Why do you want to go to college?

In the next post:

  • Answers to the questions above
  • Solutions to succeed in your interview
  • If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask

Saturday 12 May 2012

Why learn languages?

If you want to start learning a foreign language or improve your language skills, define your expectations first.
Read more about:

  • learning styles
  • online learning
  • Burlington English method
  • language centres
  • Trinity College London ESOL certificate
  • other ESOL certificates

Thursday 10 May 2012

Updates on ESOL examinations

Not only is English useful, but it also gives you a lot of satisfaction. There is one problem though; due to the social changes, English grammar and vocabulary are changing. Consequently, learners need to regularly refresh their skills.


You might find it hard to understand the acronyms and abbreviations related to this activity. The definitions for the most often used ones and many more will definitely help you become familiar with the terminology.
Read more....