Dialogue between Herta Herzog and Alka-Zeltzer man

Herta Herzog: Hello Mr. Alka_zeltser. What would you like to discuss?

Alka_zeltser: Hi, Herta [k5: syntax – wrong order of honorifics: (When we don’t know if she is married or not) ] Ms Herta Herzog. Let’s talk about my product. [k1: too informal for business dialogue] I would like to discuss our product and its promotion with you.

Herta Herzog: Oh, hi!  About what? What product exactly?

Alka_zeltser: We would like to do goals concerning achieve sales targets for our aspirin. [k2: incoherence + k4: wrong verb form] We would like to set clear goals in order to (чтобы) achieve sales targets for our aspirin.

Herta Herzog: Could you please show me your current commercial?

Alka_zeltser: Sure. Here it is.

Herta Herzog: In your commercial showed one hand dropping one of the tablets into a glass of water. [k4: wrong verb form + k4: word order: В английском предложении жесткий порядок слов:сначала подлежащее (the Subject) потом сказуемое (the Predicate)] In your commercial, one hand (The Subject) is shown (The Predicate) dropping a tablet into a glass of water. It is quite a mild picture, but I suggest making a slight modification.  That way we will show the hand throwing [k3: inaccurate word choice] dropping two tablets into the glass of water instead of one. It will make your product fizz louder and brighter.

Alka_zeltser: So simple? Oh wow!

Herta Herzog: Take my word for that. It’s a brilliant idea to create more customer value and double sales.

Alka_zeltser: I genuinely impressed. [k4: wrong verb form:You missed the verb 'to be'] I am genuinely impressed.

Opinion on Herta Herzog

To my mind, Herzog tries [k4: wrong tense for past event] tried to move the brand into an upper-tire [k3: lexical mistake – wrong word form] upper-tier position, because the Alka-Seltzer brand looking [k4: verb form – missing auxiliary verb 'to be'] was looking for more customer value in a crowded market.

So she tries [k4: tense – past context] tried to make an association with Alka-Seltzer aspirin.

Her decision makes [k4: tense – past context] made the product fizz louder and brighter. 

// In my opinion, Herzog aimed to move the brand into a higher-tier position, since Alka-Seltzer was seeking greater customer value in a crowded market.

Homework for 28.10.25

The Grierson Gallery of California had received a private donation to buy Whistler’s portrait of his mother from the Muse D’Orsay [k5: wrong spelling + k4: wrong article] the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

The greatest painting [k3: exaggeration/word choice – use neutral precision] The celebrated painting was made by an American artist and was returned back [k3: redundancy] returned to America. // The celebrated painting by an American artist was returning to America.

Back in London, there was a meeting about unveiling [k4: wrong article/preposition – missing “the” + “of the” +k2: factual inaccuracy] about  the unveiling of the painting.

In fact, [k2: linking phrase needed] The Grierson Gallery of California had asked them [k2: unclear reference] the London institution to send a scholar to preside over the ceremony and stay for two months for lectures and seminars.

They decided to recommend for the post Mr Bean [k4: incorrect word order/article] Mr Bean for the post to try dismiss him [k4: wrong verbal form/infinitive use + k2: illogical phrasing] to get rid of him for three months, because he was constantly sleeping  // falling asleep at work and was a actually a real freak [span class="rephrase"] // a highly eccentric colleague who who gave everybody pain [k3: lexical mistake—unnatural collocation, use the verb 'to be' ] who was a pain (in the ass) to everybody.

The chairman backed him up so [k2: faulty logic/linking] nevertheless supported him, so it was a good idea to get rid of him. // The chairman nevertheless supported him; therefore, they saw this plan as a way to get a break from him.

Grammar exercise IV.2

1. Mr Bean is constantly blowing his nose.
2. Mr Bean is constantly talking loudly.
3. He is constantly falling asleep at work.
4. He is constantly forgetting the timetable.
5. He is constantly creating problems.

Model 2 can't stand smb Ving

1. I can’t stand him blowing his nose loudly. [model OK] // I can’t stand his blowing his nose so loudly.
2. His colleagues couldn't stand him coming [k3: collocation] arriving late for work. [model OK]
3. I can’t stand him talking loudly. [model OK] // I can’t stand his talking so loudly.
4. I can’t stand when they looking [k4: verb form; structure needs “it when + finite verb”] it when they look at me. [model corrupted] // I can’t stand them looking at me.
5. I can’t stand when boss defending [k4: missing article; wrong verb form] it when the boss defends him. [model corrupted] // I can’t stand the boss defending him.

Model 3 wish smb would V1

1. I wish he would resign at last. [model OK]
2. When's Mr Walton would fire him. [k5: syntax; wrong auxiliary with “wish”] I wish Mr Walton would fire him. [model corrupted] // When will Mr Walton fire him?
3. Let he would resign at last. [k4: wrong imperative structure] I wish he would resign at last! [model corrupted] // Let him resign ar last!
4. Let he wouldn't work in our company anymore. [k4: negative imperative; wrong pronoun form] I wish he wouldn’t work in our company anymore. [model corrupted] // Let him not work in our company anymore.
5. Let he would stop blowing his nose! [k4: wrong structure] I wish he would stop blowing his nose! [model corrupted] // Let him stop blowing his nose!

Sentences about a pesky colleague

• He is such a freak and weirdo [k1: register—offensive/too informal] peculiar and difficult colleague.
• He is constantly talking with [k3: collocation] talking to me about his problems.
• I can’t stand him smoking. [model OK — Model 2]
• I wish he would leave the company as soon as possible. [model OK — Model 3]
• I want him to unfollow me on social media. [k1: style—informal in formal context; consider neutral] stop following me on social media.

 

Галерея Гриерсон в Калифорнии получила частное пожертвование, чтобы купить Портрет матери Уистлера  из музея Орсе в Париже.

The Grierson Gallery of California had received a private donation to buy Whistler’s Portrait of his Mother from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Знаменитая картина, написанная американским художником, была возвращена в Америку.

The celebrated painting by an American artist was returned to America.

В Лондоне состоялось заседание по поводу торжественного открытия картины.

Back in London, there was a meeting about the unveiling of the painting.

Дело в том, что галерея Гриерсон попросила лондонское учреждение прислать учёного, который будет председательствовать на церемонии и останется на два месяца для лекций и семинаров.

 The fact is that the Grierson Gallery of California had asked the London institution to send a scholar to preside over the ceremony and stay for two months for lectures and seminars.

Они решили рекомендовать мистера Бина на этот пост, чтобы избавиться от него на три месяца,

They decided to recommend Mr Bean for the post to get rid of him for three months,

так как он постоянно засыпал на работе и был фактически настоящим фриком, который был обузой для всех.

because he was constantly falling asleep at work and was actually a real freak who was a pain in the ass to everybody.

Тем не менее, председатель его поддержал,

The chairman nevertheless supported him,

поэтому эта идея показалась хорошим способом отдохнуть от него.

so it was a good idea to get a break from him.

Listen to the trainer and learn the summary, trying to translate in pauses and repeating after the model translation

Model 3 – wish smb would V1 (corrected)

Пусть / Да когда уже мистер Уолтон уволит его!

I wish Mr Walton would fire him!

Пусть он наконец уйдет в отставку?!

I wish he would resign at last!

Пусть он больше не работает в нашей компании!.

I wish he wouldn’t work in our company anymore!

Пусть он перестанет сморкаться!

I wish he'd stop blowing his nose!

Пусть он перестанет ругаться матом!

I wish he 'd stop swearing!

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Sentences about a pesky colleague (informal)

Он такой урод и чудик.

He is such a freak and weirdo.

Я хочу, чтобы он отписался от меня в соцсетях.

I want him to unfollow me on social media.

Repairing the picture

At the beginning of that [k4: unnecessary demonstrative] the episode, Mr Bean was sitting at the table and drinking the milk [k3: unnatural collocation] drinking milk.

After that, Kevin had a dialog [k5: wrong spelling (BrE/AmE consistency)] dialogue with Mr Bean about women.

Kevin couldn't falling asleep [k4: incorrect verb form] could not fall asleep because he was thinking about naked woman [k4: incorrect number form] naked women, while Mr Bean was thinking about Whistler's Mother.

Then Kevin invited Mr Bean to his room for looking at [k4: misuse of a verbal] to look at women’s posters.

After that, Mr Bean got the idea how to fixed [k4: wrong verb form] fix the picture.

He started to take diffrent [k5: wrong spelling] different items from David's house, for examle [k5: wrong spelling] for example: a hand mixer, a laxative, a flashlight, a brush, and many others things [k4: incorrect word order + incorrect number form] other things.

Then Mr Bean went to the garage, there he found [k5: run-on structure] where he found a skateboard.

He used it to get to the gallery. After that, he used a laxative and mixed it with coffee to distract the security [k3: inaccurate word choice] the security guard from his work.

Then Mr Bean changed the keys to have more time. After that, he found the Whistler's Mother poster and went to the spoiled picture [k3: inaccurate word choice] the damaged painting.

Then Mr Bean used rubber gloves to protect his hands and put men’s briefs on head [k4: missing article] on his head to fix the flashlight.

After that, he used a security card to open the picture that had hidden [k4: wrong voice] was hidden behind the metal door.

Then Mr Bean took the picture off the wall. After that, he used a pizza knife to cut the picture out of the frame.

Then Mr Bean used the [k4: wrong article] — chewing gum to stick the poster on [k4: wrong preposition] into the frame.

After that, he used a hand mixer to mix two components, like [k3: informal connector] such as eggs and nail polish. Mr Bean used that mixture and a brush to imitate an oil painting.

After that, he used a hair dryer to dry the poster. As a result, Mr Bean closed the poster behind the metal door and run [k4: wrong tense] ran away by using [k3: unnatural phrasing] on a skateboard.

//As a result, Mr Bean secured the restored poster behind the metal door and escaped on his skateboard.

Learn the retelling with the trainer:

 

Слушаем русский перевод, ставим на паузу и стараемся перевести самостоятельно. Потом слушаем образец перевода и повторяем. Затем переходим к следующему предложению.

Questions on the video about AR lenses

1. What does the Mojo Lens include?

2. Where does the Mojo Lens take the power for a work [k3: unnatural collocation + k4: incorrect verbal form] get its power from?

3. How do the motion sensors work?

4. For what [k4: incorrect word order] What is the image sensor is used [k4: redundancy – duplicate verb] used for?

5. Where is the dynamic display located and how is worked [k4: wrong voice] does it work?

6. How do you control the Mojo Lens?

7. How does the Mojo Lens motivate people every day?

Part 2. Video description

That video was about the Future [k5: capitalization error] future of sight.

At the beginning, we saw a man that [k3: less formal relative pronoun] who was playing computer games while he was lying on the floor.

After that, he went to the kitchen to cook the breakfast [k3: unnatural collocation] make breakfast with some eggs and cucumber [k4: incorrect number form] cucumbers.

Then he went on a date, there he was using [k2: illogical linking + run-on phrasing] where he used an app like a helper [k3: unnatural collocation] as an assistant, and also that app was like a computer game [k2: weak cohesion + word order] the app also functioned like a computer game with different achievements while he was talking with a girl.

After that, they went to his apartments [k4: incorrect number form] apartment, where the girl saw the wall of his achievements in different areas.

Then she saw the achievement of the perfect date and she understood that for him it was just a game [k2: awkward clause structure] understood that, for him, it was just a game, and that he was a creep [k1: informal / judgmental vocabulary] manipulative. Frustrated and indignant, she called him a creep and rushed out of the flat.

In the end, we saw how man stopped her and started programming her [k4: missing article] [k4: incorrect structure – Complex Object required after verbs of perception] [k4: broken parallelism – bare infinitives required after Complex Object] [k3: overly literal / unnatural collocation] reprogramming her settings to have another chance for a date [k4: wrong preposition] at a date.

 

Task 1

He invited me on a date in [k4: wrong preposition] at the restaurant where the best burgers in a town [k4: missing verb + k4: wrong article] where they serve the best burgers in the town, but I was vegetarian.

After that, he suggested to go [k4: wrong verb pattern] suggested going somewhere else; it was nicely [k4: adverb instead of adjective / unnatural phrasing] it was nice, but I decided to stay.

Then he suggested to order [k4: wrong verb pattern] suggested ordering a glass of wine, and it was great.

After that, we had a conversation about my profile and the level in a marathon master app [k3: unnatural phrasing + k4: wrong article] my level in the Marathon Master app.

He said that my 5th level [k3: unnatural collocation] level 5 in a marathon master app [k4: wrong article + k5: capitalization consistency] the Marathon Master app was impressive; it was pleasantly [k4: incorrect part of speech] it was pleasant.

After that, we had a conversation about my accident with the sight [k3: unnatural collocation] affecting my eyesight, and he grew on after he said [k3: ill-chosen phrase / unclear meaning + k2: lack of coherence] became more engaged after he said that he worked with it [k3: vague reference] "Sight" doesn't crash, especially after their last patch.

It was very interesting  // relieving .

In the end, he said that I was pretty lady [k4: missing article] a pretty lady, and later he invited me to his apartment.

The date started at a burger restaurant, but since I am a vegetarian, he suggested switching places. We stayed anyway, ordered wine, and talked about my profile and my level in the Marathon Master app. When I mentioned my eyesight accident, he seemed acted cool reassuring me that Sight doesn't crash, especially since their last patch, which helped me feel relieved.

Task 2

I believe that AR technology have [k4: wrong subject-verb agreement] has advantages and disadvantages // is a two-edged sword.

On the one hand, this technology will change our perception in the different areas [k3: unnatural phrasing] in various areas; for example, we will not need to go shopping because we can just put the lens [k3: vague / unclear reference] AR lenses or glasses on and do it online.

On the other hand, we will spend less time in a a real life [k5: spelling/typing + k4: wrong article] real life and become as junkie [k4: incorrect comparison structure + k1: style too informal/insensitive] dependent, because we can't [k1: no short forms in formal writing!] cannot live without AR technology.

In conclusion, it will be in a future [k3: unnatural phrasing] this may become part of the future, and we need to control ourselves.

Overall, AR technology offers clear benefits but also poses risks. While it can make daily tasks more convenient, it may also reduce real-world interaction and increase dependence, so responsible use will be essential.

Task 3

In the begging [k5: wrong spelling] beginning of the episode, David was sitting on the sofa; then he heard something outside the window.

He understood that it was the daughter's boyfriend [k4: incorrect possessive structure] his daughter’s boyfriend.

He started running downstairs to stop her because it was very dangerous to ride on a motorcycle [k4: wrong preposition] a motorcycle, but she didn’t want to listen it [k4: wrong verb pattern + k4: incorrect pronoun] to listen to him.

In the same moment [k3: unnatural collocation] At the same time, Mr Bean felt good after he had fixed Whistler’s Mother’s picture and just checked the mailbox.

After that, Mr Bean and David were going went/headed to  the gallery, and Mr Bean wanted to brag about the picture.

Then an important military man arrived to [k4: wrong preposition] at the gallery. He was the donor who had paid 50 mln dollars for the work of art.

After that, Mr bean [k5: capitalization error] Bean and David arrived too, and woman [k4: missing article] a woman in the corridor gave them the badges.

Then David met the military man and the boss, and they went in [k3: vague/unfinished phrasal direction] inside together.

After that, the military man /the donor opened Whistler’s Mother’s picture, which was hidden behind the metal door.

Then the people in that room saw the picture at the first time [k4: wrong preposition] for the first time.

After that, Mr Bean gave a speech [k3: unnatural collocation for this context] a short talk about the picture. in the process of his monologue [k3: wordy / unnatural phrasing] During his talk, he was nervous and became more and more confident because the people were making a positive feedback [k3: unnatural collocation] giving positive feedback about his speech.

Then David congratulated him, and later the policemen came to [k4: wrong preposition] up to David.

He became nervous . because [k5: syntax – incorrect punctuation/capitalization after full stop] , because he thought it was about the picture, but it was combined with [k3: unnatural collocation] related to his daughter’s accident.

At the beginning of the episode, David hears someone outside the window and realizes it is his daughter’s boyfriend. He rushes downstairs to stop her from riding a motorcycle, but she refuses to listen. At the same time, Mr Bean, pleased with himself after fixing Whistler’s Mother, checks the mailbox and then heads to the gallery with David. A high-ranking military guest arrives, staff hand out badges, and the painting is revealed for the first time. Mr Bean gives a nervous talk that gradually becomes more confident as the audience responds positively. Soon afterward, police officers approach David—not because of the painting, but because of his daughter’s accident.

Task 2

I will talk about Apple and their [k4: incorrect pronoun – company = singular] its marketing lore. //I am going to talk about Apple and its marketing lore. / Today, I will focus on Apple’s marketing lore.

Apple was founded by Steve Jobs [k2: factual inaccuracy] was co-founded by Steve Jobs (along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne).

He was associated with an Apple's genius [k3: unnatural collocation + k4: wrong article/possessive] was widely regarded as Apple’s visionary genius that had made different innovative technologies [k4: wrong tense + k3: inaccurate word choice] created a range of innovative products, for example: [k5: punctuation] for example, iPhone, iPod, iPad, and MacBook. //He is often seen as Apple’s visionary figure, behind products such as the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and MacBook.

He came up with idea [k4: article] the idea of brand's name [k4: missing article] the brand’s name and logo. //He also played a key role in shaping the brand’s name and visual identity.

Nowadays, when consumers look at the brand's logo, they see a bitten-off apple and the lore of how the company changed the world and what the marketing messages the Apple supports [k4: incorrect structure/word order + k3: unnatural phrasing + k2: lack of coherence] as well as the story of how the company “changed the world” and the marketing messages Apple promotes. //Today, the bitten apple evokes a whole story: innovation, simplicity, and “changing the world.”

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Task 5

The author states that, firstly, the brands, came for [k5: punctuation + k3: unnatural phrasing] brands first appeared with manufactured goods, later for [k4: wrong preposition] in services, and then people became brands. //The author argues that branding began with goods, expanded to services, and eventually turned people into brands.

After that, the author believes that the brand comes first, and the mere human beings [k1: style – overly dramatic/odd phrasing + k3: unnatural collocation] individual people are chosen to fit. //…and that people are then selected and shaped to fit the brand.

Then the author draws an example [k3: unnatural collocation] gives an example of a manufactured pop group, that is Hear’Say [k5: punctuation + k5: capitalization/symbol consistency] namely, Hear’Say, and holds that the marketing lore is that the consumer is swamped [k4: incorrect number form/generalization] consumers are swamped with products, and the only brands which [k4: incorrect pronoun (restrictive clause) or k1: style] that will succeed are those that make an emotional connection. //…and argues that, in an overcrowded market, only brands that create an emotional bond will stand out.

Learn the summaries using the trainer below. Pause after each russian sentence and try to translate it, then play and listen to a model, then pause and repeat it

 

Checked & Marked (TOEFL Integrated-style summary paragraph)

The lecture challenges the theories presented in the reading passage regarding that [k4: incorrect conjunction / structure] the idea that having many options to choose from can actually be a good thing. //The lecture challenges the reading’s claim that having many choices is ultimately beneficial.

Firstly, it disputes the hypothesis that having a large number of options makes our lives easier, arguing that it can make the mental exhaustion [k3: unnatural collocation + k4: wrong article/structure] cause mental exhaustion, because we need to spend an abnormal amount of time by comparing [k4: wrong preposition/structure] comparing and evaluating different products, and we become increasingly less capable to decision [k4: wrong word form] of making decisions then [k4: wrong linker] as the days go on. and [k5: run-on / sentence structure – needs separation] Moreover, if its happen to often [k4: wrong verb form + k5: spelling + k4: adverb form] if this happens too often, it can lead to much reduce product activity [k3: unclear/unnatural phrasing] reduced productivity. //In short, too many choices may overwhelm people, making the decision harder and lowering productivity over time.

Secondly, it refutes the idea of business focuses on provides [k4: wrong verb form + k4: incorrect structure] that businesses focus on providing many products without improving their product's [k4: incorrect number/possessive form] their products’ quality by pointing out that they think [k4: unclear pronoun reference] companies believe its [k5: spelling] it is the best way to find the new customers [k4: wrong article] new customers, and poor quality can hide the innovation for our society [k3: unnatural collocation/meaning] low quality can prevent truly innovative products from benefiting society. //The lecturer argues that offering variety can help attract customers, and that innovation does not necessarily depend on maintaining uniformly high quality across every product.

Finally, it questions the theory of a large number of options makes [k4: incorrect structure] that a large number of options makes people lazy, noting that its mean [k4: wrong verb form + k5: spelling] this means that we feel that we have to many [k5: spelling] too many options available and we can just stuck [k4: wrong verb form] get stuck in our way and never change our choice, suggesting people that an able to change less are likely to achieve success in their jobs or in their personal lives as a factor [k2: illogical conclusion + k4: incorrect structure] However, it largely supports the theory that a large number of options makes people lazy, noting that we can get stuck in our way and never change our choice being overwhelmed by the abundance. Also the lecturer adds the idea that people who are more willing to change their choices are more likely to achieve success in their professional and personal lives. 

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Comments

[k1: task achievement / clarity] The overall structure (“Firstly / Secondly / Finally”) is appropriate, and you attempted to contrast the lecture with the reading. However, several sentences become difficult to follow because of frequent grammar and cohesion problems, which makes the argument hard to interpret.

[k5: sentence structure] There are multiple run-on sentences with too many clauses linked by “and/because,” which should be split into shorter sentences to improve readability and accuracy.

[k4: grammar control] Recurring issues include incorrect verb forms (“its mean,” “stuck”), incorrect structures (“regarding that”), and missing/incorrect articles (“the new customers”).

[k3: lexis] Several phrases are unnatural or unclear (“make the mental exhaustion,” “much reduce product activity,” “hide the innovation”), so the intended meaning becomes ambiguous.

Learn the final version of the analytical summary using this trainer below

 

Words and expression to be learnt by January 20, 2026

Flashcards for January,22,2026_property market, evaluating, interest rates, compensations, demands of compensations

Play music

Rendering

Preliminary results of 2025.

CORE.XP are expecting [k4: wrong verb form + k1: formal style] expects that the preliminary results of Russian property investments will be estimated to amount to [k3: wordiness / unnatural phrasing] will amount to 1 trillion rubles in 2025, that on the 24 per cent less than [k4: incorrect word order + k3: unnatural collocation] which is 24 per cent less than in 2024. Consultants think that the negative trend is related with [k4: wrong preposition] is related to the high key interest rate.

Consultants think that demand will decrease in the segment of the properties [k3: unnatural collocation] in the real estate segment. Property investments in the segment of the developer's areas [k3: inaccurate word choice] development projects have double dropped [k3: unnatural phrasing] fallen by half, regarding 2024 [k4: wrong preposition] compared with 2024, to amount to 194 billions rubles [k4: incorrect number form] 194 billion rubles. In the first centre of the year [k3: unnatural phrasing] half of the year, pressure in the sector led to had decrease of the demand [k4: incorrect verb form + k3: unnatural phrasing] a decline in demand in the residential sector.

According to analysts, commercial property investments are decreased on [k4: wrong voice + k4: wrong preposition] have decreased by 11 per cent to 806 billions rubles [k4: incorrect number form] 806 billion rubles. Demand from the ultimate users [k3: unnatural collocation] end users is decreased [k4: wrong voice] has decreased by 33 per cent, while investment activity among professional investors are increased [k4: subject-verb agreement] has increased by 11 per cent.

Office property are stayed such as leader [k4: wrong verb form + k3: unnatural phrasing] Office properties remain the leading asset class, with a market share of 40 per cent. At he same time [k5: spelling] At the same time, investment in the sector are decreased [k4: subject-verb agreement] has decreased by 20 per cent compared with last year. In second place are warehouse property [k4: incorrect number form] warehouse properties, accounting for 20 per cent of the market; however, annual demand in this segment is decreased [k4: wrong voice] has decreased by 10 per cent. Retail ranks third, holding 9 per cent of the market, and annual demand didn't decrease [k1: no contractions in formal writing] did not decrease.

Consultants from IBC Real Estate have recently increase [k4: wrong tense] increased their forecast for total property investment by year-end. Experts expect investments to amount to [k3: wordiness] to reach 800–850 billion rubles instead of 750 billion rubles, which is That higher on the 6,6 - 13,3 per cent [k4: syntax + k5: punctuation + k3: unnatural phrasing] 6.6–13.3 per cent higher than originally expected. In conclusion, the positive impact on the activity investment as companies and buyers decrease the key interest rate [k2: illogical flow + k3: unclear meaning] investment activity may improve if companies and buyers benefit from lower key interest rates.

// Analysts forecast that real estate investment in Russia will decline in 2025 due to high interest rates, although some segments may recover if financing conditions ease.