Here we see Steve Jobs delivering his commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford University in 2005. In it he tells three stories about not graduating from a university, getting fired from Apple and about life & death. A really remarkable, striking, and inspiring speech!

Work-life balance - take a break from intensive studies

We've finished this year course in English for International Business and you all passed your tests successfully. Congratulations! Now you can relax and forget for some time about grammer exercises vocabulary drills and so on...
However, if during your holidays you feel a desire to improve your English skills: have some practice in listening,work on your pronunciation, grammer or pick up some new words, I would recommend you to try new on-line “trainers”: "Как доучить английский" and "Academic Earth" (use the links in Supplementary meterials). From the 1st site you can get to a lot of other free educational resources, including BBC Learning English, the site of free audiobooks etc. "Academic Earth" offers thousands of video lectures of the world's top university professors.
Have a nice summer, enjoy good rest and do not forget English!

Cultural Misunderstanding

This funny video reflects very well the problems of communication between people of different nationalities speaking English. The language used in the video is a bit rude but I know that most of you have already come of age (достигли совершеннолетия) so I think it's OK if you watch it. You may write comments if you like.

Will globalisation survive?

Some economists worry that the current crisis could spell the beginning of the end of globalization. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
Listen to what The Daily Star observer tells about it and compare with your ideas.Use the link Globalisation in Supplementary Materials.

Negotiating tactics

How many negotiating tactics do you know? Check yourself looking at the list of negotiating tactics on ChangingMinds.org site (use the link Negotiation tactics in Supplementary Materials). Which tactics do you use most often if you want to persuade smb.to do smth.? Which are completely new for you?

Using body language in business

After you've watched the video do the quiz using the link body languge quiz (in Supplementary materials)and see how good you are at interpreting body language.
By the way, on YouTube you can find lots of other videos about the use of body languge in business and not only, if you are interested in the subject. It's also excellent practice in listening!

An eye on the future

If you want to know how technology will develop in the nearest future, use the link Jonathan's eye on the future in Supplementary materials. This is an interview with BT(British Telecommunications plc) futurologist which is not long and quite easy to read. However, if are interested in a broader outlook on the future try the link Futurewise and you will learn about the development of virtual worlds, androids, biomedicine, etc.
Please, don't forget that I'm very much interested in your comments about the future predictions!