Is It I or Me?

Are you learning English as a second language and find it difficult to know when to use “I” and when to use “me” when talking about yourself?

Well, you should know that you are not alone! Even native speakers have trouble knowing when they should say “I” and when “me” is the right choice, but there is a simple way to tell the difference.

If you have not touched this subject in your ESL class you may want to propose it, because speaking and writing correctly is of utmost importance in today’s business world.

Here’s what you have to know about the use of “I” and “me”:

We normally select the right form by intuition; because we have heard it before, we automatically know some instances where you should use “I” and others where “me” is the correct choice.

For example, you would never dream of using “me” in these cases:

-      I am an executive.
-      I love chocolate.
-      I will be late if I don’t leave now.

Equally, you would never employ “I” here:

-      Give me that.
-      Show that to me.
-      Teach me how you do it.

The doubt concerning their use arises when these words are joined by another pronoun or a noun. In these instances, you have to think about the subject and object in the sentence to accurately write “I” or “me”.

When this happens,

“I” is used as the subject of the sentence, and “me” is the object.

For example, what’s the correct form in the following sentence?

It was I who showed him the house.

Or,

It was me who showed him the house.

To be sure, just simplify the sentence:

I showed him the house.

So according to this, the correct form of the above is:

It was I who showed him the house.

Now, let’s analyze this other sentence. Which one is correct?

        The policeman handed the paper to my brother and I.

        Or,

        The policeman handed the paper to my brother and me.

Again, to be certain about the correct form, simplify the sentence and take care of each person individually:

        The policeman gave the paper to my brother.

        And,

        The policeman gave the paper to me.

Then, the correct form in this case is:

        The policeman gave the paper to my brother and me.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our ESL blog as the original source).

Mark Doyle writes articles for <a href="http://www.englishlci.com/esl-classes.html">esl classes</a>

Five Points That Can Make or Break a Job Search

If you are unemployed or fear you might become unemployed, you can find yourself angry, depressed and demoralized. Unemployment figures in the United States rose to 9.2 percent in June, but those figures include teachers who are on unpaid leave during the summer, so the truer picture might be a hundredth or two lower. The picture is still bleak, and projections are almost unanimous for that trend to continue for at least the rest of 2011. So how can you increase your chances of finding gainful employment?

Assessment and Evaluation
People often mistake these two words to be synonymous and apply to only aptitude tests. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Assessment does mean evaluation, and it can apply to evaluation, but its deeper meaning and application goes beyond skill sets. Are you happy working in your field? If you aren't, unless you are a very, very good actor, that shows when you're interviewing for or performing in a job.

Remember a line from a well-known play: “To thine own self be true.”

Evaluation enters the fray after your full and honest assessment. Are you looking for the right type of job in the right industry in the right places?

Constant Diligence
Always be looking for new job leads. Don't rely on waiting until near the end of your unemployment pay period: On average, it takes 4.5 to 8 months for people to find a job, even if the jobs they find are outside their fields of expertise.

Widen the Scope
You're probably familiar with the saying, “Don't put all your eggs in one basket.” In searching for a job, that adage is “gospel.”

Many people believe that online job sites are the “be all and end all” of job search methods. Unfortunately, they find themselves sitting at home, watching TV and growing more frustrated than ever: Only about four percent of all jobs posted on job sites are filled through the Internet.

Your best bet is and always has been tapping your social or professional network—and that's not Facebook. Talk to your friends, family and associates regarding unpublicized job openings. Ask if they know of anyone who is hiring or if they can refer you to someone or some business that might know of an opening. Network marketing is a technique that works: Sell your skills to your immediate circle and expand outward—that “friend of a friend” scenario.

Next on the probabilities list is your local print media. Don't overlook or neglect looking in the want ads. Occasionally, you'll find the best of both worlds and read an ad for a position where an acquaintance works. If you can include that person's name—with prior knowledge and permission—in your cover letter as well as the placed ad, then you're probably a half a step ahead of other applicants.

The Application
Before you send off another whirlwind of cover letters and applications, fine tune both. Is your cover letter merely repeating what's on your resume or does it present one primary and relevant highlight, and especially does it request further contact?

Your work experience and education or training does not have to be in chronological order. Put the relevant items first and itemize them. You can always fill in the employment blanks beneath with only a brief description of other, non-related positions.

The Interview
Brush up on your interview skills. Pay close attention to your appearance, body language and voice. Be confident and assured. Desperation leaks out very easily, and you decrease your odds of getting an offer or a competitive wage.

Article by Sara Woods of Coupon Croc, use a Debenhams discount voucher and save on the gadgets you need to maxmize your job search options.

Student Finances: What You Need To Know

Finances are perhaps the most difficult thing a student must learn to deal with. Sure, college and day-to-day life are difficult, but a student can't hope to get anywhere if they can't control their own finances. Managing cash flow, bills, and more isn't as simple or easy as it sounds. With that in mind, students must realize that there is tons of learning for them to do when it comes to money.

Cash Flow

The first thing a student must figure out when it comes to money is how much of it they have. To start out, a student will want to figure out their weekly and monthly cash flow. That involves both earnings and costs. A student should figure out where all of their money comes from and add it up; the same thing goes for all expenses. Unfortunately, those numbers can and probably will shift each month. Student life isn't very structured because school, work, and a social life can make things go haywire. A student should - at the very least - average out the earnings and expenses over a three month period to get a good judge of earnings and expenses. From there, things can get underway.

The Most Important Thing

Without a doubt, saving money is the most important part of a student's financial life. That doesn't mean saving money on purchases or anything like that either. Students must focus on putting away money for the future because that's the best way to safeguard from any of life's emergencies. So then, students should focus on saving money by reducing expenditures and using high-yield savings accounts. Anyone, including students, can put away extra money, even while paying bills and tuition.

Reducing Bills

Students should always focus on lowering their bills because bills are always what mess up a student's financial life. Of course, this involves being a little less frivolous and finding new ways to spend less. There are various federal programs out there that can help students save money on everything from electric bills to credit card payments. Therefore, no student should hesitate to sign up for a program that can save themselves some money. It works out for the best in the long run.

What To and Not To Do

Students should take proactive steps to reign in their finances by increasing earnings and decreasing expenses. On the other hand, they should not make the mistake of getting multiple credit cards or spending like a king or queen. Using money management tools is always a good idea; disregarding expenses is not. Students have to be smart about their finances or they could face financial ruin very quickly.

Britney Baker normally writes feature articles for carinsurancecompanies.org.