Bullies in the Workplace

Hi LINC 7 Students!

Here's the link to the video we watched in class. It's very fast and 12 minutes long, but I'd just watch the first 5 minutes and 15 seconds. Watch it a few times and see if you can understand more of the content each time you view it. You can also watch it with the English "captions" on!


We also watched part of this second video on harassment. Harassment and sexual harassment are particular forms of bullying at work.

Wednesday Homework!

Hello Everyone!

Here's the link to the video of Remember Me, written by Willie Nelson and sung by Paul Simon and Edie Brickel.


Also, please re-read the article "Your Boss Just Isn't That Into You."

There's a lot of challenging vocabulary here that you need to review. Please make sure you understand these words and phrases:

paranoia (n)
dread (n)
disdain (n)
"silence is golden" (idiom)
a search party (phrase)
"up the creek" (idiom)
whopping (adj)
calibrate (v)
productivity (n.)
unrelenting (adj)
impact (n, v)
in jeopardy (phrase)
proactive (adj)
a tipping point (idiom)
inevitable (adj)
buck up (idiom)
suffer in silence (phrase)
persnickety (adj)
mentor (n, v)
proactive (adj)
office dynamics (phrase)
a silver lining (idiom)
iconic (adj)

We'll review this vocabulary in class on Wednesday.

The Sandwich Method

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Here's a review on the Sandwich Technique, which we heard about today from Carolina.

In the video, Carla uses the idiom "to go off on [someone]" which means "to become angry with [someone]". If you don't communicate respectfully, you might "go off" like a bomb! This could do a lot of harm to the relationship with the person whom you explode at!

Weekend writing assignment

Hello Everyone,

Here's your writing assignment for this weekend:

First, I want you to watch the video Communication Skills: The 6 Keys of Powerful Communication. In this video, Leon discusses the six most important skills that can improve your communication at work, as well as with your family and friends:

1. Assertiveness  (Ask for what you want/need.)

2. Authenticity  (Be true to yourself; don't hold back.)

3. Open-mindedness  (You're willing to consider other points of view.)

4. Empathy  (Understand and create "common ground" with the other person.)

5. Clarity  (Communication is what the other person "hears" in your conversation!)

6. Listening  (Really hear what the other person wants/needs.)

TASK: Once you have watched the video a couple of times, think about which two communication skills (2 of the 6) you most need to work on and improve. Write a few paragraphs about those two skills. Why did you choose those two skills? What are the benefits for you if you can improve them? Give examples of how you think you can improve those skills.

More on Improving Communication Skills at Work

Hi LINC 7 students,

Here's the link to a good video about resolving conflicts at work. There is a lot of advanced vocabulary in this video, but you can watch it several times!

One of key points involves asking questions rather than making statements when you are in a leadership role.

Ask yourself: Is this conversation going to motivate my colleague (co-worker) or demotivate (which means that your colleague is less likely to be motivated and productive in the workplace)?



Here's the link to a longer video (20 minutes) called "Communication Skills: The 6 Keys Of Powerful Communication."

The speaker discusses the six most important skills that can improve your communication at work, as well as with your family and friends:

1. Assertiveness  (Ask for what you want/need.)
2. Authenticity  (Be true to yourself; don't hold back.)
3. Open-mindedness  (You're willing to consider other points of view.)
4. Empathy  (Create a "common ground" with the other person.)
5. Clarity  (Communication is what the other person "hears" in your conversation!)
6. Listening  (Really hear what the other person wants/needs.)

Which one(s) do you have to improve (work on)?

Gender in the Workplace

Hello LINC 7 Students!

Here's the link to the radio interview on gender inequality in science and math. It's called "The Only Woman in the Room," and it's from the CBC Radio science show "Quirks and Quarks."

Regarding our conversation about girls and young women going into STEM majors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), here's a short Microsoft video that encourages girls to pursue a career in science.

Here's a summary of the Microsoft approach to this situation:

"7 out of 10 girls are interested in science. Only 2 out of 10 will pursue it as a career. Let’s change that. Through the voices of these girls, we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History month. We support the bright young women who participated in this project and all girls who share our belief in the empowering nature of science and technology.

Microsoft is committed to creating opportunities for all youth. DigiGirlz is a Microsoft YouthSpark program that gives girls the opportunity to learn about careers in tech. Learn more about it here: http://msft.it/digigirlz"

Internal Conflict

Hi LINC 7 Students,

Good work on today's role plays! This gives you a sense of how to deal with conflict at work, while also being polite and respectful.

Please watch the videos from yesterday if you haven't had a chance yet.

Also, here's a good video on internal conflict. It's part of a series that you have to pay for, but you can watch the first 2 minutes and 50 seconds for free!

There is also a transcript of the video at the bottom of the page. Just scroll down and read as you listen.

Have a great weekend everyone!