Thursday, March 19, 2020

ESL Dialogue About Having a Hard Time Finding a Job

ESL Dialogue About Having a Hard Time Finding a Job Original Conversation Mark: Hi Peter! How are you doing these days?Peter: Oh, Hi Mark. Im not doing very well, actually. Mark: Im sorry to hear that. What seems to be the problem?Peter: ... you know Ive been looking for work. I cant seem to find a job. Mark: Thats too bad. Why did you leave your last job?Peter: Well, my boss treated me badly, and I didnt like my chances of advancing in the company. Mark: That makes sense. A job without opportunities AND a difficult boss isnt very attractive.Peter: Exactly! So, anyway, I decided to quit and find a new job. I sent out my resume to more than twenty companies. Unfortunately, Ive only had two interviews so far. Mark: Have you tried looking online for a job?Peter: Yes, but so many of the jobs require moving to another city. I dont want to do that. Mark: I can understand that. How about going to some of those networking groups?Peter: I havent tried those. What are they? Mark: Theyre groups of people who are also looking for work. They help each other discover new opportunities.Peter: That sounds great. Ill definitely try some of those. Mark: Im glad to hear that. So, what are you doing here?Peter: Oh, Im shopping for a new suit. I want to make the best impression possible at my job interviews! Mark: There you go. Thats the spirit. Im sure things will look up for you soon.Peter: Yes, youre probably right. I hope so! Reported Conversation Mark: I saw Peter today.Susan: Hows he doing? Mark: Not too well, Im afraid.Susan: Whys that? Mark: He told me had been looking for work, but hadnt found a job.Susan: That surprises me. Was he fired or did he quit his last job? Mark: He told me his boss had treated him badly. He also said he didnt like his chances of advancing in the company.Susan: Quitting doesnt sound like a very wise decision to me. Mark: Thats true. But hes been working hard at finding a new job.Susan: Whats he done? Mark: He said he had sent out his resumes to more than twenty companies. Unfortunately, he told me that only two had called him for an interview.Susan: Thats tough. Mark: Tell me about it. However, I gave him some advice and I hope it helps.Susan: What did you suggest? Mark: I suggested joining a networking group.Susan: Thats a great idea. Mark: Yes, well, he told me he would try a few groups.Susan: Where did you see him? Mark: I saw him at the mall. He told me he was shopping for a new suit.Susan: What?! Buying new clothes and no work! Mark: No, no. He said he wanted to make the best impression possible at his job interviews.Susan: Oh, that makes sense. More Dialogue Practice - Includes level and target structures/language functions for each dialogue.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Layers of the Atmosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere Earth is surrounded by its atmosphere, which is the body of air or gases that protects the planet and enables life. Most of our atmosphere is located close to Earths surface, where it is most dense. It has five distinct layers. Lets look at each, from closest to farthest from the Earth. Troposphere The layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth is the troposphere. It begins at the surface of the Earth and extends out to about 4 to 12 miles (6 to 20 km). This layer is known as the lower atmosphere. Its where weather happens and contains the air humans breathe.  The air of our planet is 79 percent nitrogen and just under 21 percent oxygen; the small amount remaining is composed of carbon dioxide and other gases. The temperature of the troposphere decreases with height. Stratosphere Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, which extends to about 31 miles (50 km) above the Earths surface. This layer is where the ozone layer exists and scientists send weather balloons. Jets fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid turbulence in the troposphere. Temperature rises within the stratosphere but still remains well below freezing. Mesosphere From about 31 to 53 miles (50 to 85 km)  above the surface of the Earth lies the mesosphere, where the air is especially thin and molecules are great distances apart. Temperatures in the mesosphere reach a low of -130 degrees Fahrenheit (-90 C). This layer is difficult to study directly; weather balloons cant reach it, and weather satellites orbit above it. The stratosphere and the mesosphere are known as the middle atmospheres. Thermosphere The thermosphere rises several hundred miles above the  Earths surface, from 56 miles (90 km) up to between 311 and 621 miles (500–1,000 km). Temperature is very much  affected by the sun here; it can be 360 degrees Fahrenheit hotter (500 C) during the day than at night. Temperature increases with height and can rise to as high as 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit (2000 C). Nonetheless, the air would feel cold because the hot molecules are so far apart. This layer is known as the upper atmosphere, and it is where the auroras occur (northern and southern lights). Exosphere Extending from the top of the thermosphere to 6,200 miles (10,000 km) above Earth is the exosphere, where weather satellites are. This layer has very few atmospheric molecules, which can escape into space. Some scientists disagree that the exosphere is a part of the atmosphere and instead classify it actually as a part of outer space. There is no clear upper boundary, as in other layers. Pauses Between each layer of the atmosphere is a boundary. Above the troposphere is the tropopause, above the stratosphere is the stratopause, above the mesosphere is the mesopause, and above the thermosphere is the thermopause. At these pauses, maximum change between the spheres occur. Ionosphere The ionosphere isnt actually a layer of the atmosphere but regions in the layers where there are ionized particles (electrically charged ions and free electrons), especially located in the mesosphere and thermosphere. The altitude of the ionospheres layers changes during the day and from one season to another.