F2F Class Notes (Ally)[R]

Vocabulary

picky: tiao ti
ie. She doesn’t like the girl because she is very picky.

essay: school paper/lengthy paper
ie. To get a doctoral degree requires us to write essays.

acquired by hard work:  nuli de lai
ie. My English ability is acquired not by hard work but by natural means.

conceited: overly confident
ie. She is a conceited girl so no one likes her.

logical: you luo ji de
ie. You need to speak logically so that others can understand the things you say.

adults/grown-ups: cheng nian ren
ie. Only adults can go to the casino.

graduate: finish school
ie. I will find a job once I graduate.

casino: du chang
ie. Only adults can go to the casino.

decent: fair/satisfactory
ie. I am satisfied with my job because it has a decent pay.

Being an employee at a company has many challenges – you want job satisfaction, a work-life balance and opportunities for promotion. But most of us want a decent financial reward. We aim to get a good salary to pay for the essential things in life plus a few luxuries. But when that’s not enough, we have to do the hardest thing in the world– ask our boss for a pay rise!

In some companies, a regular annual pay rise is the norm – all staff get a fixed increase in their monthly pay packet. In other firms, workers might get a bonus to reward them for their efforts or for meeting a target. But for some people, a pay increase is something you have to ask for – and if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Wage increases have been a sensitive issue in recent years. Due to the global economic recession, businesses had to tighten their belts. Most public sector pay in the UK, for example, was frozen for two years in 2010, and after that rises were capped at 1% – below the rate of inflation. But last month the government awarded them a pay rise above the 2% inflation rate so that teachers, for example, will get a 2.75% salary boost. That’s the equivalent to £1,000 extra a year for those on an average salary.