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English for Career Development
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 40 hours
  • Course by University of Pennsylvania
  • Offered by

About

Welcome to English for Career Development, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs. To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate." This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in advancing their careers in the global marketplace. In this course, you will learn about the job search, application, and interview process in the United States, while comparing and contrasting the same process in your home country. This course will also give you the opportunity to explore your global career path, while building your vocabulary and improving your language skills to achieve your professional goals. The first unit in this course will introduce the U.S. job application process and provide strategies for identifying the jobs that match your interests and skills. Unit 2 will take you through the steps necessary to produce a professional-looking resume. In unit 3, you will work to develop a clear and concise cover letter. The final unit of the course focuses on networking and interview skills. Anyone may take this course for free. If you want to get a Coursera Verified Certificate for free, please fill out the Financial Aid form. Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license. Supplemental reading materials were provided by Newsela, which publishes daily news articles at a level that's just right for each English language learner.

Modules

Introduction to the Course and Unit

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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3 Videos

  • Course Overview: Introduction to the Career Development Process
  • Course Overview: Topics, Assessments, Games & Activities
  • Job Search Overview

1 Readings

  • Overview of the Unit

Your Profile as a Job Seeker

    • 4 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 4 Assignment
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4 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "What You Offer the World"
  • Game 2: Things, Actions and People
  • Unit 1, Assessment 1: Self-Assessment of Job Skills and Experience
  • Value Affirmation Activity

4 Videos

  • Identifying Your Interests and Skills
  • Language Focus: Vocabulary and Word Forms Related to Jobs
  • Choosing the Job that's the Best Fit for You
  • Unlockable Achievement 1

3 Readings

  • BASIC: What You Offer the World
  • ADVANCED: What You Offer the World
  • Game 1: Unit 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Key Skills for the Job Search

    • 8 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 5 Assignment
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5 Assignment

  • Game 3: Simple Present or Present Progressive
  • Check Your Understanding: "Set SMART goals to get ahead in your career"
  • Game 4: Key Words in a Job Advertisement
  • Check Your Understanding: "Facebook Launches Job Search Feature for Low-Skilled Workers"
  • Check your Understanding: "Using the Internet and Social Media to Search for a Job"

1 Peer Review

  • Unit 1 Assessment 2: Written Comparison of the Job Search Process

8 Videos

  • Language Focus: Verb Tenses (Present vs. Present Progressive)
  • Understanding Job Descriptions: Reading a Job Advertisement
  • Language Focus: Phrases to Compare Similarities
  • Language Focus: Phrases to Contrast Differences
  • Unlockable Achievement 2
  • Model Response Comparing/Contrasting the Job Search Process
  • Unlockable Achievement 3
  • Online Learning Opportunities to Extend Your Skills

5 Readings

  • BASIC: Set SMART goals to get ahead in your career
  • ADVANCED: Set SMART goals to get ahead in your career
  • Facebook Launches Job Search Feature for Low-Skilled Workers
  • Listening: Using the Internet and Social Media to Search for a Job
  • Written Assignment Instructions

Additional Resources and Exercises (Not Required for Course Certificate)

    • 3 Readings
    • 5 Assignment
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5 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Culture Affects Career and Life Planning"
  • Game: Vocabulary and Word Form Review
  • Check Your Understanding: "Is there a 'Skills Gap' in US Job Market?"
  • Check your Understanding: "Business schools bridge classrooms and real-life work"
  • Game: Compare and Contrast Phrase Matching

3 Readings

  • Culture Affects Career and Life Planning
  • Listening: Is there a 'Skills Gap' in the US Job Market?
  • Business schools bridge classrooms and real-life work

Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Overview of the Unit

Overview of Resumes

    • 3 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Game 1: Reasons for Writing a Resume
  • Check Your Understanding: "Resume Guide: The Basic Elements"
  • Game 2: Match the Parts of a Resume

3 Videos

  • What is a resume? Why do you need one?
  • Parts of a Resume
  • Unlockable Achievement 4

4 Readings

  • BASIC: Resume Guide: The Basic Elements
  • ADVANCED: Resume Guide: The Basic Elements
  • Sample Resume: Tomoko Martin
  • Sample Resume: Beth Smith

How to Write Your Résumé

    • 6 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 5 Assignment
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5 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Connecting Employers with Job Seekers in Today's Economy"
  • Check your Understanding: "Using Keywords Effectively"
  • Game 3: Matching Key Words in a Job Advertisement
  • Game 5: Listing Experience in (Reverse) Time Order
  • Unit 2: Assessment 1: Resume Template Quiz

6 Videos

  • Writing a Resume, Part 1: Name and Contact Information
  • Listening: Connecting Employers with Job Seekers in Today's Economy
  • Language Focus: Key Words
  • Writing a Resume, Part 2: Headline and Summary
  • Writing a Resume, Part 3: Work Experience
  • Writing a Resume, Part 4: Education

3 Readings

  • BASIC: Using Keywords Effectively
  • ADVANCED: Using Keywords Effectively
  • Game 4: Unit 2 Vocabulary Flashcards

Finishing and Polishing Your Resume

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Game 6: Using Action Verbs

1 Peer Review

  • Unit 2 Assessment 2: Peer Review of Resume

3 Videos

  • Language Focus: Action Verbs
  • Writing a Resume, Part 5: Complete your Resume
  • Unlockable Achievement 5

Additional Resources and Exercises (Not Required for Course Certificate)

    • 4 Readings
    • 5 Assignment
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5 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Haven’t had a lot of (or any) work experience?"
  • Check Your Understanding: "More Action Verbs Practice"
  • Game: Action Verb Crossword Puzzle
  • Check Your Understanding: "Functional or Chronological Resume
  • Game: Labeling Resumes: Functional or Chronological

4 Readings

  • Haven’t had a lot of (or any) work experience?
  • Sample Resume for "Haven’t had a lot of (or any) work experience?"
  • More Action Verbs Practice
  • Functional or Chronological Resume? Which is for You?

Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Overview of the Unit

Overview of Cover Letters

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Sample Cover Letters"
  • Unit 3 Assessment 1: Quiz on Letter Format
  • Check Your Understanding: "Parts of the Cover Letter"

3 Videos

  • What is a Cover Letter?
  • Professional Writing: Letter Format
  • Unlockable Achievement 6

3 Readings

  • Sample Cover Letters
  • BASIC: Parts of the Cover Letter
  • ADVANCED: Parts of the Cover Letter

How to Write a Cover Letter

    • 4 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Game 1: Match the Job Description with Skills
  • Game 2: Grammar Review

4 Videos

  • Cover Letter Paragraph 1- Introducing Yourself
  • Cover Letter Paragraph 2- Highlighting Your Skills in the Cover letter
  • Cover Letter Paragraph 3- Closing
  • Language Focus – Present Perfect vs. Past Tense

1 Readings

  • Game 3: Unit 3 Vocabulary Flashcards

More Advice for Writing Cover Letters

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Why an Old-Fashioned Cover Letter Still Matters"
  • Game 4: Direct or Polite Language

1 Peer Review

  • Unit 3 Assessment 2: Cover Letter

4 Videos

  • Professional Writing: Level of Formality
  • Language Focus- Using Modal Verbs to Write Politely
  • Writing a Cover Letter for a Specific Job
  • Unlockable Achievement 7

2 Readings

  • BASIC: Why an Old-Fashioned Cover Letter Still Matters
  • ADVANCED: Why an Old-Fashioned Cover Letter Still Matters

Bonus Additional Resources (not required for course certificate)

    • 2 Readings
    • 4 Assignment
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4 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: “8 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid”
  • Game: Verb Tense Review
  • Check Your Understanding: "Death of the Cover Letter"
  • Key Parts of a Formal Letter

2 Readings

  • 8 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid
  • Death of the Cover Letter

Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Overview of the Unit

Getting Started with Networking

    • 4 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Networking During the Job Search"
  • Game 1: Choose the Conversation with Appropriate Topics
  • Check Your Understanding: "Networking doesn't happen overnight"

4 Videos

  • What is Networking?
  • Unlockable Achievement 8
  • Making Small Talk
  • Unlockable Achievement 9

5 Readings

  • BASIC: Networking During the Job Search
  • ADVANCED: Networking During the Job Search
  • BASIC: Networking doesn’t happen overnight
  • ADVANCED: Networking doesn't happen overnight
  • Game 2: Unit 4 Vocabulary Flashcards

All About the Elevator Speech

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Game 3: Sample Networking Elevator Speeches

1 Peer Review

  • Unit 4 Assessment 1: Written Networking Elevator Speech

4 Videos

  • Networking Elevator speech- What to Say When Networking
  • Language Focus: Networking Elevator Speech- Delivery
  • Sample Spoken Networking Elevator Speech
  • Unlockable Achievement 10

2 Readings

  • Preparing a Networking Elevator Speech
  • Written Assignment Instructions

Bonus Additional Resources (not required for course certificate)

    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Game: Networking Vocabulary Matching
  • Check Your Understanding: "What's Your Passion? Internships Can Help Focus Career Path"

1 Readings

  • What's Your Passion? Internships Can Help Focus Career Path

Introduction

    • 1 Readings
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1 Readings

  • Overview of the Unit

What to Expect in a Job Interview

    • 4 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: Interview Tips
  • Game 1: Interview Jeopardy

4 Videos

  • Overview of the Job Interview
  • Unlockable Achievement 11
  • Answering Typical Interview Questions
  • Language Focus– Asking for Clarification in an Interview

3 Readings

  • BASIC: Interview Tips
  • ADVANCED: Interview Tips
  • Game 2: Unit 5 Vocabulary Flashcards

Interview Culture in the United States

    • 6 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: Five Illegal Job Interview Questions in the US
  • Game 3: Matching Answers to Questions
  • Unit 5 Assessment 1: Written Answer to Interview Question

6 Videos

  • Unlockable Achievement 12
  • Sample Interview Do’s and Don’ts Part 1
  • Sample Interview Do’s and Don’ts Part 2
  • Sample Video Responding to an Interview Question
  • Unlockable Achievement 13
  • Course Conclusion

2 Readings

  • Five Illegal Job Interview Questions in the US
  • Written Assignment Instructions

Bonus Additional Resources (not required for course certificate)

    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
Show info about module content

2 Assignment

  • Check Your Understanding: "Seven Ways to Advance Your Career With Social Media"
  • Game: Grammar Review (Questions)

2 Readings

  • BASIC: Seven Ways to Advance Your Career With Social Media
  • ADVANCED: Seven Ways to Advance Your Career With Social Media
Brian McManus
Instructors

Brian McManus

Robyn Turner
Instructors

Robyn Turner