1. Know Yourself “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
William Shakespeare
( ), English playwright
Know Yourself
Filling English Gaps, #1

2. Core ALI Classes Filling English Gaps, #2 Audience
ALI Courses – ESL
Graduate students
TOEFL scores under 90
Few exceptions that prove the rule
Mandated
High intermediate & advanced
Core ALI Classes
Filling English Gaps, #2

3. Volunteer Audiences V Filling English Gaps, #3
ALI 280 – English for Job Search
Undergraduate to PhD students
Small classes
Mainstream students
USC Career Workshops Series
International students
Large workshops
Stand alone 80-min. V
Volunteer Audiences
Filling English Gaps, #3

4. Adaptions Filling English Gaps, #4 Frame concept for wider audience
Tighter presentation/ less detailed
Faster tempo
Emphasize USC identity/ narrative
Less pair work
No written feedback
frontload short bio
Drop related autobiographical assignments & multiiple versions
Adaptions
Filling English Gaps, #4

5. What? Where? When? Who? Why? How?
Biostatements
Filling English Gaps, #5

6. Who are you? Filling English Gaps, #6
World’s leading expert on this subject
Multiple selves and possible selves
Someone anchored in facts and dates
What impression do you want to project?
Choose an audience:
Who are three potential employers?
Do you have secondary audiences?
Who are you?
Filling English Gaps, #6

7. Barebones Bio Filling English Gaps, #7
(Name) is a (Position) in the (Department) at the University of Southern California (USC).
She/he is interested in….
More specifically…
Barebones Bio
Filling English Gaps, #7

8. Short can work Filling English Gaps, #8 EXAMPLE:
Sean Allgood graduated with a Bachelor of Science in computational neuroscience. He is the recipient of a Fulbright research grant to Spain to conduct Alzheimer’s research in collaboration with the Cajal Institute in Madrid.
Read about other USC Fulbright fellows: /fulbright-fellows-worldwide/
Short can work
Filling English Gaps, #8

9. What Story are You Telling?
What are you doing right now?
When do want to start the story of your academic and professional successes?
What are your academic achievements?
What else have you accomplished during your university years?
How did you choose a graduate program? Why did you choose USC?
What are your post-graduation plans?
What Story are You Telling?
Filling English Gaps, #9

10. Sample Biostatement Opening
Julie Garcia is a second year student in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Sample Biostatement Opening
Filling English Gaps, #10

11. Good Mistakes Filling English Gaps, #11 Missing facts and details
Unexplained abbreviations
Shifts in tone
Excessive use of pronouns
Unclear pronoun references
Confusing narrative
Insufficient detail
Weak verbs (is, get, make, go)
Good Mistakes
Filling English Gaps, #11

12. Writing is Rewriting Filling English Gaps, #12
Visually highlight the full name (Walt Whitman) so it stands out
Use the last name only after the first sentence
Shift to past tense
Identify university by name and year entered & major chosen
Consider adding other experiences
Writing is Rewriting
Filling English Gaps, #12

13. “This above all: To thine own self be true.”
Pick a home for the biostatement
Consider alternative versions
50 words
100 words
200 words
Consider different audiences
Remember text, context, and subtext
“This above all: To thine own self be true.”
—Shakespeare
Next Steps
Filling English Gaps, #13

14. Title Filling English Gaps, Page # CONCLUSIONS
Students appreciate the activity
Students find it useful
Students want more feedback
Students want more time
Biostatement workshop attendance grew
36 students in Spring 2016
92 students in Fall 2017
Title
Filling English Gaps, Page #

15. Know Yourself Filling English Gaps, #15
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? 
If I am only for myself, what am I? 
And if not now, when?" 
Rabbi Hillel the Elder
(110 BC-10 AD) Jewish religious leader
Know Yourself
Filling English Gaps, #15

16. Thank You! Eric Roth Richard Jones Filling English Gaps, #16
Master Lecturer,
USC American
Language Institute
Richard Jones
Lecturer, USC American
Language Institute
Thank You!
Filling English Gaps, #16

17. References Filling English Gaps, #17
Bolles, R, N. (2017). What Color is Your Parachute? 2017 Edition: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers. New York: Ten Speed Press.
Epley, N. (2015). Mindwise: Why We Misunderstand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want Paperback Reprint Edition: Vintage.
Garfield, S. (2013, October 28). 10 old letter- writing tips that work for s. Retrieved from 
Gradhacker.org
References
Filling English Gaps, #17

18. References Filling English Gaps, #18
governance/officers-and-directors/executive- officers
Labovich, L, M., & Salpeter, M. (2012) Conversations for Career Success: Learn to Network, Cold Call, and Tweet Your Way to Your Dream Job!. New York: Learning Express.
USC.edu
References
Filling English Gaps, #18

19. Title
Presentation Title, Page #