As promised, here is a sample experimental report based on the hypothesis "Concentrating on a listening task affects motor performance". I must stress that this is NOT a perfect experiment - in fact I'd make several changes to it after my discussions with my students - but my main objective is to give you an example of how to write an experimental report in English. If you have any comments I welcome them.
Introduction
This study aims to discover whether or not concentrating on a listening task significantly affects simultaneous performance of a motor task. The experimental hypothesis is: “Participants concentrating on listening to music whilst sorting a pile of books will sort the books more slowly than those who complete the task without listening to music.”
The null hypothesis is: “There will be no significant difference in the time taken to sort a pile of books when participants are simultaneously concentrating on music, and when they are not”. The variable measured in this experiment is the time taken to perform a task under two different conditions, one (C2) while concentrating on a listening task and one while performing the motor task alone (control condition, C1). As different areas of the brain are involved in listening and in motor control, if it could be established whether or not listening affects competence and/or rapidity of motor activity, we would have useful information about interaction or interference between activity in different brain regions. A significant difference in the time taken to complete the task in the two conditions could indicate that regions of the brain involved in motor control are inhibited when someone is actively concentrating on listening; if there is no significant difference in the dependent variable, interference between the different areas would appear less likely.
Methods
Participants were selected from among the researcher’s friends and colleagues, of both genders and with an arbitrary age restriction of 25-60 years old, to reduce any possible unsuspected effects of age on performing the task. All had normal hearing and eyesight (with glasses if needed) and no significant motor impairment, such as arthritis. It was explained that they would be asked to sort and move a pile of books while wearing headphones, and would be timed as they did so. They were invited to ask questions, which were answered fully (there was no need to withhold any information in this experiment). They signed a consent form, specifying that data would be anonymous and they had the right to withdraw at any time before, during or after the experiment, without giving a reason.
A regular pile of 40 books, volumes of an academic journal and all alike in size, shape and weight, was placed at one end of an otherwise empty table 110cm long, with all the books face-up. Participants were asked to perform a simple motor task: sitting at the table, to take the books one by one, with their left hand if right-handed (and vice-versa) and create a new regular pile at the other end of the table with the books alternately face-up and face-down. In Condition 1 (the control condition) they did only this task; in Condition 2 they were simultaneously listening to music, and asked to indicate if the music stopped at any point during the task. Time taken to complete the task was measured in both conditions by a colleague (the ‘timer’). The independent variable was the presence or absence of the listening task, and the dependent variable the time taken to complete the motor task in the two conditions. In fact the music never stopped in Condition 2, so the only difference between the two conditions was the concentration on listening. Participants in both conditions wore headphones, for two reasons: i) to reduce possible distraction from ambient noise, a potential extraneous variable, and ii) so that the timer would not know which condition was being timed (double blind). Other potential extraneous variables, such as participant alertness, were reduced (though probably not eliminated) by having all participants perform the task at the same time of day (between 10 and 11am); other extraneous variables may not have been eliminated, as a laboratory setting was not available. All participants in Condition 2 listened to the same music (the slow movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto), always at the same volume, set very low to increase the level of listening concentration, and also so that the timer could not hear it, and thus remained unaware of the difference between the two conditions.
It was decided to use a within-participants design, with all participants doing the task in both conditions (half doing condition 1 first, and half condition 2, to counterbalance any possible order or practice effect, but in random order so that the timer was unaware which condition was being timed) and by having all participants perform the task in the same setting at the same time of day. Variables intrinsic to the participants, such as music preferences and interest in books, should also have been at least partly overcome by this design. A within-participants design should also have overcome certain potential confounding variables, such as age, manual dexterity or a habit of listening to music (or not) whilst working, since all participants carried out exactly the same motor task in both conditions, and exactly the same listening task in condition 2 – simply listening for whether the music stopped, without any modification in the motor task.
The data collected consists of the times taken by each participant to complete the motor task in the two conditions, and in a full study would be analysed using a standard t-test to assess the probability of any detected variation in the means of the two sets of times being the result of chance. After completion of the task, the new pile of books was checked by the experimenter for regularity and for errors; if the participant had failed more than twice to arrange the books as asked (alternately face-up and face-down), or if the pile was very irregular or fell over, their results were discarded.
Participants were given their instructions orally, using a written script (see below, Appendix) which was read to them in the absence of the timer, as the instructions for Condition 1 and Condition 2 are slightly different.
There is no reason to think that this experiment could expose anyone to any risk of physical or emotional harm: nothing took place during it which was not explained to them beforehand, and if they preferred not to handle books, listen to music or be timed doing so, they need not give their consent.
The only equipment needed for the experiment was a pile of 40 identical volumes, a CD player with headphones and a stopwatch. These were all shown to participants before the experiment began. As the participants were all wearing headphones, a hand signal (agreed with the timer) was used to indicate the beginning and end of the task, which participants carried out separately.
Results of pilot study
Participant Age Gender C1 C2 1st
1 39 M 1min 37sec 1min 43sec C2
C1 = time taken to complete task in Condition 1
C2 = time taken to complete task in Condition 2
1st = Condition carried out first
In a complete study involving at least twenty participants, the mean times taken in each condition would be calculated, and a standard t-test used to assess the probability of any difference in the two means being the result of chance. This would require appropriate computer software or a conversion table.
Discussion
Even with a single participant, this pilot study threw up certain unforeseen problems with the experimental design. The participant wanted to perform the task standing up the second time (he had remained seated the first time, C2), and it was clear that this would have made the task easier. His slight frustration at being asked to remain seated may have affected his result. This also led to the realisation that the length of participants’ arms would have an effect on performance: taller participants would find it easier to reach for the books. Also, the headphones did not successfully eliminate ambient noise in C1; the participant could still hear me speak with the headphones on. Another problem is that of using music for the listening task. Many people enjoy listening to music while they work, and find it increases their concentration; others find it impossible. A recorded series of neutral tones might be better, but even then it is hard to exclude the possibility of participants liking/disliking what they hear. Further reflection suggests other extraneous variables: 1) participants in C1 were not listening to music. It might be better to have all participants listening to something, but only asked in C2 to identify any change in what they hear. This means the null hypothesis also needs to be revised, as it fails to distinguish between ‘listening’ and ‘concentrating on listening’. 2) The instructions for the two conditions are slightly different – this might be a confounding variable, but it is hard to see how it could be avoided. There is also the question of a ‘regular’ pile of books; this needs to be defined or some other criterion used, as in this case the second pile of books was stable but quite ‘irregular’ – a subjective judgement on the experimenter’s part. There are still several details in this design which need to be corrected before it could be used in a full study.
Appendix – Instructions to participants:
Condition 1: [Timer is not in the room] On the table in front of you, at the right-hand end, is a regular pile of 40 books, all the same size, shape and weight, and all face-up. When you are ready I will ask you to put on these headphones, to reduce any possible noise distraction, and then take the books one by one, using only your left hand [if the participant is right-handed, or only the right hand if left-handed] and make another regular pile at the left-hand end of the table with the books alternately face-up and face-down. My colleague who is waiting outside is going to time how long it takes you to do this. There is no need to try to do the task as quickly as possible. All you have to do is re-create the pile in the way I have described, but please make the new pile as regular as the first, still using only the same hand. I will indicate when to begin the task with this hand signal [demonstrate signal agreed with colleague]. Please make the same hand signal when you have finished. Do you have any questions? [If there are no questions, or when any questions have been answered:] I am going to ask my colleague to come in now. Please put the headphones on. [Timer enters. When timer and participant are ready, make eye contact with participant and give hand signal to begin].
Condition 2: [Timer is not in the room] On the table in front of you, at the right-hand end, is a regular pile of 40 books, all the same size, shape and weight, and all face-up. When you are ready I will ask you to put on these headphones – you will hear some music. Please take the books one by one, using only your left hand [if the participant is right-handed, or only the right hand if left-handed] and make another regular pile at the left-hand end of the table with the books alternately face-up and face-down. My colleague who is waiting outside is going to time how long it takes you to do this. At the same time I want you to raise your other hand if the music you are listening to stops at any point, but don’t stop re-arranging the books. There is no need to try to do the task as quickly as possible. All you have to do is re-create the pile in the way I have described, but please make the new pile as regular as the first, still using only the same hand. I will indicate when to begin the task with this hand signal [demonstrate signal agreed with timer]. Please make the same hand signal when you have put the headphones on to indicate that you can hear the music, and at the end of the task to tell me that you have finished. Do you have any questions? [If there are no questions, or when any questions have been answered:] I am going to ask my colleague to come in now. Please put the headphones on. [Wait for hand signal to indicate music is audible. Timer enters. When timer and participant are ready, make eye contact with participant and give hand signal to begin].
lundi 30 janvier 2012
Paris 8 IEE Thème
Here's the text for this week's classes, with my apologies for posting it so late - I'm still trying to get my internet connection sorted out and had to wait till I could post this from one of your rival universities!
« La culture, notre seule identité »
Umberto Eco vient de retrouver son bureau de Milan, après un voyage à Paris où Nicolas Sarkozy lui a remis les insignes de commandeur de la Légion d’honneur, troisième grade hiérarchique de cet ordre. « C’était au moment où la France se battait pour ne pas perdre son triple A, mais Sarkozy a quand même tenu à me la remettre en personne, j’ai apprécié. Mais je dois dire que j’ai été aussi très ému lorsque j’ai été décoré, en Grèce, de la grande croix du Dodécanèse : la remise de l’insigne a lieu dans la grotte de Patmos, où saint Jean a écrit l’Apocalypse ! », s’exclame, en riant, l’écrivain et sémiologue italien.
« D’ailleurs, un des avantages de l’Europe est que le président allemand Christian Wulff ou le premier ministre espagnol Mariano Rajoy, que je ne connais même pas, me souhaitent mon anniversaire. Désormais, nous sommes européens par la culture, après l’avoir été des années durant par les guerres fratricides.
« Face à la crise de la dette européenne, et je parle en tant que personne qui ne connaît rien à l’économie, nous devons nous rappeler que seule la culture, au-delà de la guerre, constitue notre identité. Des siècles durant, Français, Italiens, Allemands, Espagnols et Anglais se sont tiré dessus à vue. Nous sommes en paix depuis moins de soixante-dix ans et personne ne remarque plus ce chef-d’œuvre : imaginer aujourd’hui qu’éclate un conflit entre l’Espagne et la France … ne provoque plus que l’hilarité. Les Etats-Unis ont eu besoin de la guerre civile pour s’unir vraiment. J’espère que la culture et le marché nous suffiront.
« En 2012, l’identité européenne est répandue, mais shallow – j’utilise à dessein ce mot anglais, qui ne correspond pas complètement à l’italien superficiel et se trouve à mi-chemin entre surface et deep, ‘profond’. Nous devons l’enraciner avant que la crise ne la détruise entièrement. Les journaux économiques évoquent peu le programme d’échanges interuniversitaires Erasmus, mais Erasmus a créé la première génération de jeunes Européens. Pour moi, c’est une révolution sexuelle : un jeune Catalan rencontre une jeune Flamande, ils tombent amoureux, se marient, et deviennent européens, comme leurs enfants. Ce programme devrait être obligatoire, pas seulement pour les étudiants mais aussi pour les taxis, les plombiers, les ouvriers. Ils passeraient ainsi un certain temps dans les pays de l’Union européenne, pour s’intégrer.
« Quand j’ai proposé, lors d’un sommet des maires européens, mon idée d’un Erasmus étendu aux artisans et autres professionnels, un maire gallois s’est écrié : ‘Mes administrés n’accepteront jamais !’ Et, alors que je parlais il y a quelques jours à la télévision anglaise, le présentateur s’est mis à me contredire, préoccupé qu’il était par la crise de l’euro, l’Europe supranationale et le fait que les gouvernements techniques de la Grèce et de l’Italie, n’étant pas ‘élus’, n’étaient donc pas ‘démocratiques’. Que devais-je lui répondre ? Que notre gouvernement a été approuvé par le Parlement et proposé par un président de la République élu par ce Parlement ? Que dans toutes les démocraties il y a des institutions non électives, la reine d’Angleterre, la Cour suprême américaine, et que personne ne les considère comme étant non démocratiques ? »
Gianni Riottoa (La Stampa)
Traduit de l’italien pour Le Monde, 26 janvier 2012 par Florence Boulin
« La culture, notre seule identité »
Umberto Eco vient de retrouver son bureau de Milan, après un voyage à Paris où Nicolas Sarkozy lui a remis les insignes de commandeur de la Légion d’honneur, troisième grade hiérarchique de cet ordre. « C’était au moment où la France se battait pour ne pas perdre son triple A, mais Sarkozy a quand même tenu à me la remettre en personne, j’ai apprécié. Mais je dois dire que j’ai été aussi très ému lorsque j’ai été décoré, en Grèce, de la grande croix du Dodécanèse : la remise de l’insigne a lieu dans la grotte de Patmos, où saint Jean a écrit l’Apocalypse ! », s’exclame, en riant, l’écrivain et sémiologue italien.
« D’ailleurs, un des avantages de l’Europe est que le président allemand Christian Wulff ou le premier ministre espagnol Mariano Rajoy, que je ne connais même pas, me souhaitent mon anniversaire. Désormais, nous sommes européens par la culture, après l’avoir été des années durant par les guerres fratricides.
« Face à la crise de la dette européenne, et je parle en tant que personne qui ne connaît rien à l’économie, nous devons nous rappeler que seule la culture, au-delà de la guerre, constitue notre identité. Des siècles durant, Français, Italiens, Allemands, Espagnols et Anglais se sont tiré dessus à vue. Nous sommes en paix depuis moins de soixante-dix ans et personne ne remarque plus ce chef-d’œuvre : imaginer aujourd’hui qu’éclate un conflit entre l’Espagne et la France … ne provoque plus que l’hilarité. Les Etats-Unis ont eu besoin de la guerre civile pour s’unir vraiment. J’espère que la culture et le marché nous suffiront.
« En 2012, l’identité européenne est répandue, mais shallow – j’utilise à dessein ce mot anglais, qui ne correspond pas complètement à l’italien superficiel et se trouve à mi-chemin entre surface et deep, ‘profond’. Nous devons l’enraciner avant que la crise ne la détruise entièrement. Les journaux économiques évoquent peu le programme d’échanges interuniversitaires Erasmus, mais Erasmus a créé la première génération de jeunes Européens. Pour moi, c’est une révolution sexuelle : un jeune Catalan rencontre une jeune Flamande, ils tombent amoureux, se marient, et deviennent européens, comme leurs enfants. Ce programme devrait être obligatoire, pas seulement pour les étudiants mais aussi pour les taxis, les plombiers, les ouvriers. Ils passeraient ainsi un certain temps dans les pays de l’Union européenne, pour s’intégrer.
« Quand j’ai proposé, lors d’un sommet des maires européens, mon idée d’un Erasmus étendu aux artisans et autres professionnels, un maire gallois s’est écrié : ‘Mes administrés n’accepteront jamais !’ Et, alors que je parlais il y a quelques jours à la télévision anglaise, le présentateur s’est mis à me contredire, préoccupé qu’il était par la crise de l’euro, l’Europe supranationale et le fait que les gouvernements techniques de la Grèce et de l’Italie, n’étant pas ‘élus’, n’étaient donc pas ‘démocratiques’. Que devais-je lui répondre ? Que notre gouvernement a été approuvé par le Parlement et proposé par un président de la République élu par ce Parlement ? Que dans toutes les démocraties il y a des institutions non électives, la reine d’Angleterre, la Cour suprême américaine, et que personne ne les considère comme étant non démocratiques ? »
Gianni Riottoa (La Stampa)
Traduit de l’italien pour Le Monde, 26 janvier 2012 par Florence Boulin
vendredi 20 janvier 2012
Paris 8 IEE thème
Here's the text for next Wednesday's classes:
Hongrie : en pleine crise financière, le pays vient de durcir ses lois familiales
Travail, famille, ennuis
Envoyé spécial à Budapest
Depuis le 1er janvier, la « République de Hongrie » n’existe plus. En haut de la nouvelle Constitution, il ne reste plus que « Hongrie ». Jugées « liberticides » par plusieurs eurodéputés, les nouvelles lois sur les médias, la famille ou la justice modifie le mode de vie dans ce pays. 20 Minutes s’y est rendu.
Le fœtus est encore dans le ventre de sa mère. Mais il a déjà acquis l’usage de la parole. « Je pourrais comprendre que tu n’es pas prête pour moi maintenant, implore-t-il. Mais réfléchis-y à deux fois et donne-moi à l’adoption. Laisse-moi vivre ! » Placardées l’été dernier dans le métro par les autorités hongroises, les affiches ont fait le tour de Budapest. Avant d’atterrir sur le bureau de Viviane Reding à Bruxelles. « Cette campagne anti-avortement est incompatible avec les valeurs de l’Union européenne. » La commissaire en charge des Droits fondamentaux n’était pas au bout de ses surprises. Le 1er janvier, le gouvernement de Viktor Orban (droite) a gravé dans le marbre de la Constitution son concept de « bonne famille ». Noir sur blanc, les enfants doivent « obéir à leurs parents ». Le mariage doit être « l’union d’un homme et d’une femme ». Quant au fœtus, il est considéré comme « un être humain dès le jour de sa conception ».
D’abord préoccupés par la crise
Mais ce qui choque Bruxelles laisse Budapest indifférente. Ou presque. « La loi sur l’avortement ? Si ça peut faire réfléchir les jeunes filles à deux fois, pourquoi pas… », lâche Nikolett, 26 ans, tout en promenant ses deux enfants dans le parc Kàrolyi. Deux rues plus loin, Gabor se fait plus explicite. « Ici, les gens sont d’abord préoccupés par la situation économique. »
Pas les moyens d’élever un enfant
Elu en 2010 pour endiguer la crise, Viktor Orban aura finalement pris l’eau. La monnaie, le florint, s’est effondrée. L’inflation a suivi une courbe inversement proportionnelle. Et c’est la seule chose qui fait vaciller les convictions de Mariana. Tout en découpant une pâtisserie aux amandes, la serveuse détaille : « Je suis catholique. Donc, plutôt contre l’avortement. Mais si j’avais un enfant, je n’aurais pas les moyens financiers de l’élever. Si je tombais enceinte, je ne saurais pas quoi faire. » Car tout reste possible dans l’ex-empire magyar. Si la Constitution donne son avis sur l’avortement, elle ne prévoit aucune sanction pour ceux qui y contreviendraient. Julia Spronz pense que le pire est à venir. Fondatrice de l’association Patent, elle craint que des « médecins vieux jeu » ne se servent de la loi pour refuser de pratiquer des interruptions volontaires de grossesse. Vingt-huit hôpitaux auraient d’ailleurs déjà pris position en ce sens. « Mais le joug communiste a laissé des traces. Les gens pensent qu’en manifestant, ils risquent d’avoir plus de problèmes », lâche-t-elle. Depuis janvier, elle n’a réussi à mobiliser que 55 femmes contre le texte.
A suivre
20 Minutes, jeudi 19 janvier 2012
Hongrie : en pleine crise financière, le pays vient de durcir ses lois familiales
Travail, famille, ennuis
Envoyé spécial à Budapest
Depuis le 1er janvier, la « République de Hongrie » n’existe plus. En haut de la nouvelle Constitution, il ne reste plus que « Hongrie ». Jugées « liberticides » par plusieurs eurodéputés, les nouvelles lois sur les médias, la famille ou la justice modifie le mode de vie dans ce pays. 20 Minutes s’y est rendu.
Le fœtus est encore dans le ventre de sa mère. Mais il a déjà acquis l’usage de la parole. « Je pourrais comprendre que tu n’es pas prête pour moi maintenant, implore-t-il. Mais réfléchis-y à deux fois et donne-moi à l’adoption. Laisse-moi vivre ! » Placardées l’été dernier dans le métro par les autorités hongroises, les affiches ont fait le tour de Budapest. Avant d’atterrir sur le bureau de Viviane Reding à Bruxelles. « Cette campagne anti-avortement est incompatible avec les valeurs de l’Union européenne. » La commissaire en charge des Droits fondamentaux n’était pas au bout de ses surprises. Le 1er janvier, le gouvernement de Viktor Orban (droite) a gravé dans le marbre de la Constitution son concept de « bonne famille ». Noir sur blanc, les enfants doivent « obéir à leurs parents ». Le mariage doit être « l’union d’un homme et d’une femme ». Quant au fœtus, il est considéré comme « un être humain dès le jour de sa conception ».
D’abord préoccupés par la crise
Mais ce qui choque Bruxelles laisse Budapest indifférente. Ou presque. « La loi sur l’avortement ? Si ça peut faire réfléchir les jeunes filles à deux fois, pourquoi pas… », lâche Nikolett, 26 ans, tout en promenant ses deux enfants dans le parc Kàrolyi. Deux rues plus loin, Gabor se fait plus explicite. « Ici, les gens sont d’abord préoccupés par la situation économique. »
Pas les moyens d’élever un enfant
Elu en 2010 pour endiguer la crise, Viktor Orban aura finalement pris l’eau. La monnaie, le florint, s’est effondrée. L’inflation a suivi une courbe inversement proportionnelle. Et c’est la seule chose qui fait vaciller les convictions de Mariana. Tout en découpant une pâtisserie aux amandes, la serveuse détaille : « Je suis catholique. Donc, plutôt contre l’avortement. Mais si j’avais un enfant, je n’aurais pas les moyens financiers de l’élever. Si je tombais enceinte, je ne saurais pas quoi faire. » Car tout reste possible dans l’ex-empire magyar. Si la Constitution donne son avis sur l’avortement, elle ne prévoit aucune sanction pour ceux qui y contreviendraient. Julia Spronz pense que le pire est à venir. Fondatrice de l’association Patent, elle craint que des « médecins vieux jeu » ne se servent de la loi pour refuser de pratiquer des interruptions volontaires de grossesse. Vingt-huit hôpitaux auraient d’ailleurs déjà pris position en ce sens. « Mais le joug communiste a laissé des traces. Les gens pensent qu’en manifestant, ils risquent d’avoir plus de problèmes », lâche-t-elle. Depuis janvier, elle n’a réussi à mobiliser que 55 femmes contre le texte.
A suivre
20 Minutes, jeudi 19 janvier 2012
mardi 20 décembre 2011
Paris 8 psychology
For your exam on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 January I will ask you to write two short essays on different subjects, most of which we have covered in class. The subjects you can choose from are:
Experimental method (you should explain some of the following terms: experimental/null hypotheses, double blind, participants, independent/dependent/confounding/extraneous variables, conditions,
Transactional analysis
Topics and experiments in social psychology: altruism, prosocial behaviour, love and friendship, schemas, stereotypes and prejudice, conformity, destructive obedience etc.
Ethnopsychiatry
The therapist-client relationship
The theories of Jung
Adolescence
Schizophrenia
Addiction
You can choose how to approach the subject; there will be no specific questions or grammar exercises. The objective is to show that you can write a short text (about 200-300 words) on a subject in psychology, including information from different sources (which you should identify correctly) and express your own evaluation of the information you give.
Experimental method (you should explain some of the following terms: experimental/null hypotheses, double blind, participants, independent/dependent/confounding/extraneous variables, conditions,
Transactional analysis
Topics and experiments in social psychology: altruism, prosocial behaviour, love and friendship, schemas, stereotypes and prejudice, conformity, destructive obedience etc.
Ethnopsychiatry
The therapist-client relationship
The theories of Jung
Adolescence
Schizophrenia
Addiction
You can choose how to approach the subject; there will be no specific questions or grammar exercises. The objective is to show that you can write a short text (about 200-300 words) on a subject in psychology, including information from different sources (which you should identify correctly) and express your own evaluation of the information you give.
dimanche 11 décembre 2011
Paris 8 IEE affaires internationales
DETAILS OF THE DST (Tue 13 and Wed 14 Dec)
For your DST I will ask you to write an essay about what you have learned in your classes this semester. You should cover the following points:
· What you learned in the classes at the beginning of the semester
· What you learned from the experience of doing a case study
· The experience of working in a group
· Making a presentation in English
· What you learned from putting together a business plan
· Mistakes you have learned to avoid in English
· Differences between making a presentation in writing and orally
· Your personal feedback about the lessons (I will mark this on your use of language, not content – but feel free to express your opinions, they will be useful in planning future classes)
mercredi 7 décembre 2011
Paris 8 IEE thème
Here is the text for next week's exams, at 3pm and 4.30pm.
Malgré la crise, Starbucks s’agrandit au Royaume-Uni
La chaine américaine de cafés va créer 5 000 emplois dans les cinq ans outre-Manche
Londres, Correspondance
En annonçant, jeudi 1er décembre, l’ouverture de 300 nouveaux magasins au Royaume-Uni dans les cinq ans à venir, et la création de 5 000 emplois, Starbucks a apporté à David Cameron une rare bonne nouvelle qu’il s’est empressé de célébrer. « Je suis heureux de voir que l’investissement et la création d’emplois dans le secteur privé continuent », s’est félicité le premier ministre britannique.
La chaine américaine, qui possède 17 000 cafés à travers le monde, dont 735 au Royaume-Uni (et 65 en France), va en particulier développer outre-Manche les drive-in, une formule qu’elle a testée sur neuf sites et qu’elle veut étendre à 200. Ces nouveaux magasins seront sous licence dans les stations-service Euro Garages, essentiellement dans le centre et le nord de l’Angleterre, des régions très touchées par la crise.
Le groupe américain fait le pari que les Britanniques vont conserver le café comme un petit luxe quotidien sur lequel ils ne veulent pas rogner. « Les gens réduisent beaucoup leurs dépenses, mais veulent continuer à s’offrir de petits plaisirs », explique une porte-parole. Pour preuve, argue-t-elle, la croissance continue des ventes, à nombre de magasins comparable, au Royaume-Uni depuis début 2009. En 2010 (derniers chiffres disponibles), la hausse était de 5 %, et le chiffre d’affaires de 460 millions d’euros.
Retour en force
Outre-Manche, l’ensemble du secteur des cafés est en progression. Longtemps buveurs de thé, les Britanniques sont passés à ce breuvage depuis une quinzaine d’années, avec le développement rapide de plusieurs chaines concurrentes. Une tendance qui a très bien résisté à la crise avec 4 700 cafés à travers le pays, pour un chiffre d’affaires total de 2,2 milliards d’euros, selon une récente étude d’Allegra Strategies.
Le Monde, samedi 3 décembre 2011
mardi 6 décembre 2011
Paris 8 IEE affaires internationales
GENERAL COMMENTS
Many of you made mistakes with numbers. It may seem like a detail, but multiplying or dividing what you mean by 1000 is hardly a detail! In general, however, your presentations were very good and you seem to have remembered some of my advice.
SOVASI COACHIN’
“Massage” is usually uncountable, like “advice”, so “massages” and “advices” are wrong. So is “1 000 000 €” – you should write “€1,000,000” or “€1m”. A “particular hotel” isn’t English – or if it is, it would mean “a specific hotel” (the Crillon, for example). Only French cities have arrondissements, so we don’t translate it. Too much use of “the” (“the bodybuilding”, etc.) Your use of slides was good – they didn’t simply reproduce what you were saying. “Me, I…” at the beginning of a sentence is literally “Moi, je…” and it’s not English! “Musculation” isn’t English, you should say “weight-training”. The opposite of “closed” is “open” (not “opened”). “Nobody is judged on their physical appearance” (not “its” – you can’t use ‘it’ for a person). “On the radio” (not “in”). “To come to our center” (not “in” – what you said means “jouir”!) 15/20
MERCURY
The expression is “small and medium businesses” (not “enterprises”). “Notoriety” means being famous for a bad reason, e.g. “a notorious criminal”. “Benefic” isn’t English, you should say “beneficial”. You used your slides well – you weren’t reading them – but you started going too fast when I told you you only had 5min left. Spelling mistakes: “equipment”, “resources”, “payment” etc. “Furniture” is uncountable. “€200,000”, not “200.000 Euros”. I mentioned the other points I wanted to raise with you. Maybe your presentation was a little serious? You answered all the questions on the checklist – good. 16/20
PAUSE DÉTENTE
“To reach” customers, not “touch”. “Manager” or “director”, not “responsible” – responsible is an adjective, so it never has an ‘s’ on the end. E.g. “Marketing manager”, not “commercial responsible”. Some of the time you were reading your text. “Lounges of massage” is word-for-word translation from French, you should say “massage rooms” (don’t say “massage parlours”, that usually means brothels!) “It’s more easy for place an order” – you should say “it’s easier to place an order” (2 mistakes, caused by translating French literally). You pay a person and pay for something – similar problem with “ask” and “ask for” – check you are clear about the difference. You answered most of the questions on the checklist. 13/20
INK-SPLASH
You started by reading a slide, but after that your text was better presented – you showed you had your information in your heads. Your customers could call for their documents (not “pass”). “6pm”, not “18”. “Company chart” (not “company’s”). “Rent a local” means nothing in English, you should say “rent premises” (local is only an adjective, except in a colloquial usage which means ‘nearest pub’). “Stationery”, not “stationaries” (wrong spelling, and it’s uncountable). “Determined”, not “determinated”. “€22,300”, not “22.300 €” (you divided the amount by 1,000!) You answered the questions on the checklist. Your slides looked good. I’m not sure people would come from P13 to P8 – it’s not far but it isn’t that easy! 14/20
PET HOUSE
Numbers: “61.6m”, not “61,6mln” and “4.5bn”, not “4,5mlrd” – what you wrote doesn’t mean anything in English. “Why we have decided…?” – you know that’s not a correct question. Your presentation was entertaining and your slides were good. “To be made up of” (not “to compose”), “to check”, not “to control”. We talk about “the suburbs” (in general) or “a suburb” (e.g. Saint Denis), but not “the suburb”. You answered the questions on the checklist. Most of your information was in your heads. “Companies” (there is no ‘g’, and don’t say ‘enterprises’, either). You confused “to look at” and “to look after”. Giving best/worst forecasts was a good idea. You panicked a bit when I said you had 5min left. 15/20
MORPHEUS DRIVERS
Alcohol is the leading factor, not the “first”. “Progress” or “improvement”, not “progression”. You used French guillemets instead of English inverted commas. The details of your plan were well thought-out. “Concurrence” isn’t English (at least not in the sense of “competition”, it means “agreement”). “Training”, not “formation”. “18-30 year-old people” (it’s used as an adjective, so no ‘s’ – same for “income forecast”). Misuse of the word “course” – taxi drivers call it a “fare”, but I think you want to say a “trip”. (Check meanings of “course”, there are quite a lot.) My little book on Greek mythology says Morpheus was the god of dreams, the son of Hypnus (the god of sleep) and the grandson of Nyx the goddess of night – but nothing about the relationship between the name and ‘shape’. 15/20
Many of you made mistakes with numbers. It may seem like a detail, but multiplying or dividing what you mean by 1000 is hardly a detail! In general, however, your presentations were very good and you seem to have remembered some of my advice.
SOVASI COACHIN’
“Massage” is usually uncountable, like “advice”, so “massages” and “advices” are wrong. So is “1 000 000 €” – you should write “€1,000,000” or “€1m”. A “particular hotel” isn’t English – or if it is, it would mean “a specific hotel” (the Crillon, for example). Only French cities have arrondissements, so we don’t translate it. Too much use of “the” (“the bodybuilding”, etc.) Your use of slides was good – they didn’t simply reproduce what you were saying. “Me, I…” at the beginning of a sentence is literally “Moi, je…” and it’s not English! “Musculation” isn’t English, you should say “weight-training”. The opposite of “closed” is “open” (not “opened”). “Nobody is judged on their physical appearance” (not “its” – you can’t use ‘it’ for a person). “On the radio” (not “in”). “To come to our center” (not “in” – what you said means “jouir”!) 15/20
MERCURY
The expression is “small and medium businesses” (not “enterprises”). “Notoriety” means being famous for a bad reason, e.g. “a notorious criminal”. “Benefic” isn’t English, you should say “beneficial”. You used your slides well – you weren’t reading them – but you started going too fast when I told you you only had 5min left. Spelling mistakes: “equipment”, “resources”, “payment” etc. “Furniture” is uncountable. “€200,000”, not “200.000 Euros”. I mentioned the other points I wanted to raise with you. Maybe your presentation was a little serious? You answered all the questions on the checklist – good. 16/20
PAUSE DÉTENTE
“To reach” customers, not “touch”. “Manager” or “director”, not “responsible” – responsible is an adjective, so it never has an ‘s’ on the end. E.g. “Marketing manager”, not “commercial responsible”. Some of the time you were reading your text. “Lounges of massage” is word-for-word translation from French, you should say “massage rooms” (don’t say “massage parlours”, that usually means brothels!) “It’s more easy for place an order” – you should say “it’s easier to place an order” (2 mistakes, caused by translating French literally). You pay a person and pay for something – similar problem with “ask” and “ask for” – check you are clear about the difference. You answered most of the questions on the checklist. 13/20
INK-SPLASH
You started by reading a slide, but after that your text was better presented – you showed you had your information in your heads. Your customers could call for their documents (not “pass”). “6pm”, not “18”. “Company chart” (not “company’s”). “Rent a local” means nothing in English, you should say “rent premises” (local is only an adjective, except in a colloquial usage which means ‘nearest pub’). “Stationery”, not “stationaries” (wrong spelling, and it’s uncountable). “Determined”, not “determinated”. “€22,300”, not “22.300 €” (you divided the amount by 1,000!) You answered the questions on the checklist. Your slides looked good. I’m not sure people would come from P13 to P8 – it’s not far but it isn’t that easy! 14/20
PET HOUSE
Numbers: “61.6m”, not “61,6mln” and “4.5bn”, not “4,5mlrd” – what you wrote doesn’t mean anything in English. “Why we have decided…?” – you know that’s not a correct question. Your presentation was entertaining and your slides were good. “To be made up of” (not “to compose”), “to check”, not “to control”. We talk about “the suburbs” (in general) or “a suburb” (e.g. Saint Denis), but not “the suburb”. You answered the questions on the checklist. Most of your information was in your heads. “Companies” (there is no ‘g’, and don’t say ‘enterprises’, either). You confused “to look at” and “to look after”. Giving best/worst forecasts was a good idea. You panicked a bit when I said you had 5min left. 15/20
MORPHEUS DRIVERS
Alcohol is the leading factor, not the “first”. “Progress” or “improvement”, not “progression”. You used French guillemets instead of English inverted commas. The details of your plan were well thought-out. “Concurrence” isn’t English (at least not in the sense of “competition”, it means “agreement”). “Training”, not “formation”. “18-30 year-old people” (it’s used as an adjective, so no ‘s’ – same for “income forecast”). Misuse of the word “course” – taxi drivers call it a “fare”, but I think you want to say a “trip”. (Check meanings of “course”, there are quite a lot.) My little book on Greek mythology says Morpheus was the god of dreams, the son of Hypnus (the god of sleep) and the grandson of Nyx the goddess of night – but nothing about the relationship between the name and ‘shape’. 15/20
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)