Interesting but true.

A recent health study determined that there are 3 primary reasons people can't cope in life:

•They have a low self-esteem

•They live in the past

•They don't laugh enough

In fact, the same study concluded that we need a minimum of 12 laughs a day just to stay healthy!

A little touch of Varaždin magic - Čarobna Škrinja

Creative. Inspiring. Mystical. Quite simply, a little touch of Varaždin magic from the Luminus Gold team.

Front pages

Međunarodni Ispiti

Cambridge ESOL International examinations are the world's most well-known standardised certificates regarding English langauge competence. There are various levels and differents types of exam which can be taken: FCE, CAE, CPE and the three business English exams (BEC). In addition to these, Cambridge ESOL has introduced two specialised exams for Legal English (ILEC) and Financial English (ICFE).

Peter Hopwood has just completed training for ILEC and is now a Cambridge ESOL oral examiner for all of the main suite exams including the specialised exams for financial and legal English.

For details, advice or simply to have a chat concerning these exams - to determine which direction or exam is right for you, contact Peter and he'll be pleased to advise you.

The Langauge Show 2008, London

Recently, I made the trip back to London where I had the opportunity to attend an inspiring event regarding languages - The langauge show 2008 at Olympia, London.

Each year the interest grows with more and more exhibitors on show, an increase in languages represented and an interesting area known as the TEFL village. Tis is for teachers, trainers, learners and literally all who have a interest in teaching English as a foreign language. This is my 3rd visit to the show and I look forward to next year!

It's all in a word....

An interesting set of images which reflect the most common words used by both of the main Presidential candidates. Taken from one of the 3 debates running up to the election, we can identify a lot from the words which were repeated and used in context on many occasions.

Obama's word list is below while the words spoken from McCain are above.

10 Things you Can Do to Lose your Best Employees

1. Hire them promising an appealing job that has nothing to do with what they will do in the reality

2. Think that they will be motivated just by their salary

3. Never explain them the companies overall strategy.

4. Don't be transparent.

5. Never pay attention to their suggestions or ideas

6. Enhance competitiveness among team members

7. Avoid they have any control or responsibility over the work they are doing

8. Never tell them how good they are

9. Control them

10. Support yes-man and isolate people with a critical sense
Adapted from innovation think.

What leads to success?

This talk will take 3 minutes of your time - but give you something to think about for a lot longer....

Here's something for the office....

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

Look around your desk. Look for your post-it notes. found them? good....now take a long hard look at them...then check this out! This should brighten your day if nothing else does! Enjoy.

Poslovni Engleski

Libris komunikacije has just begun courses implementing the new series of specialist English courses for professions such as Human resources, marketing and advertising and Customer care.

As demand grows for more and more specialized training linked directly to the profession and tasks we do in our daily working lives, Libris komunikacije, as always, provides that link, helping you towards your specific goals using the latest materials and course books as tools to guide you on your way.

In addition to the 'profession training' Libris also continues its 'Skills' based training in specific areas such as telephoning, meetings and socializing.

Voiceovers u Hrvatskoj

Libris has recently been requested by the Ministry of Culture, once again to provide the English language Voiceover for its forthcoming UNESCO DVD documentaries.

Peter Hopwood, who has worked with the Ministry of Culture on previous projects has provided his voice talents for the English version of various promotional audio video material. Libris has worked with a number of companies and institutions namely The Croatian Conservation Institute, The Croatian Trade and Investment Promotion agency together with local companies such as Vindija and Vaba banka.

Libris komunikacije i VTV.

Leading up to the 'big match' Varazdin Television and Libris thought it was time to put two football experts to the test, one being a Croat - Goran Malis (Chief editor) and the other, an Englishman....Libris' Peter Hopwood.

The concept of supporters of the two nations proved to be an interesting one, creating competitive tension in the studio as they both gave an indepth analitical review of the match ahead! The players, the supporters, the duels - nothing was left undiscussed!

Both Goran and Peter showed the main headlines of newspapers from England and Croatia to reflect a little on what the national media are saying about the opposition. Goran seemed to be over confident regarding Croatia's ability to win the match ahead while Peter, without giving too much away, spoke stategically about Capello's tactics and also the 'ones to watch' within the England squad.

Throughtout the friendly but intense discussion there seemed to be something that was visually 'strange'!?? During the live broadcast, Peter actually changed into 5 different England training shirts but without any mention of it during the course of the live show.

As both 'pundits' were 100% convinced of victory there was only one way to resolve the situation by laying down a bet! A bet that would put the loser in a rather embarrassing position......

The losing supporter would simply have to wear a 'Skarnicl' (brown paper bag) on their head the following day. Return to the studio for a follow up of the match and congratulate the winning supporter.

Peter and Goran shook hands, looked each other in the eye and knew that the best man would win!

That evening England scored 4 goals against Croatia winning the match with a final score of 4-1. Goran, after the second goal, had already begun to prepare the 'Skarnicl' for the following day.

The next day in the Varazdin television studio, Goran and Peter returned to the same place at the same time - the very same spot where the bet was made. The pictures that follow say it all!

Why do you spend your money?

Why do we buy things? What exactly motivates us to part with our money? Geoff Ayling’s book "Rapid Response Advertising" provides an excellent list of 51 reasons why people buy. I've included a few below....some may be behind your reasons?....

1. To make more money

2. To save money – this is the most important reason to 14% of the population

3. To attract praise

4. To increase enjoyment

5. To possess things of beauty

6. To avoid criticism

7. To make their work easier

8. To speed up their work

9. To keep up with the Joneses

10. To feel special

11. To look younger

12. To become more efficient

13. To buy friendship

14. To avoid effort

15. To escape or avoid pain

16. To communicate better

17. To be in style

18. To avoid trouble

19. To protect their family

20. To express love

Why do you buy?

Loyalty at work?

click to enlarge
click to enlarge

Institute of Leadership & Management

Peter Hopwood recently obtained a Pass with Distinction grade concerning a Business Management award provided by the Institute of leadership and management with its main office in the UK. The exam was taken in June and Peter recently was notified of his achievement.

Međunarodni Ispiti

Cambridge ESOL Oral Examiners - Ljubljana at the British Council.

Since the end of May, Cambridge ESOL exams have been taking place throughout the world.
Cambridge Oral Examiner, Peter has been examining candidates in Zagreb, Rijeka and recently in Slovenia for a variety of exams with more and more response for the BEC (Business English Certificates) as Croatian learners are seeing the need and demand for this benchmark of knowledge regarding business English.

Libris communications Trainer, Peter Hopwood is a licensed Cambridge Oral Examiner for 7 Cambrdidge ESOL exams in Croatia and Slovenia (FCE, CAE, CPE) including the specific Cambridge Buisness Certificates (BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher) together with the International Certificate of Financial English. For further information on any of the above exams please feel free to contact Peter for advice, training and tips. peter@libris-komunikacije.hr

Germans on their knees as Croatia erupts!

For Croatia's second game, the toughest challenge so far, Peter travels to Klagenfurt to be amoung 90,000 Croats outnumbering the 35,000 from Germany. A historic victory winning 2-1 putting the Germans in the shade ready for the next challenge against Poland on Monday! So many 'Varazdinci' and again nice to have met Libris clients in the Fanzone!

Spot the Englishman, the Austrian and the Croat. (Peter's sister-in-law Martina, with her husband Hanse from Klagenfurt and the gentleman in the Croatian shirt, well....on je taj Englez!)

IATEFL Business English Conference in Paris

Libris was proud to have attended the one-day conference on 7 June, bringing together the best speakers in Professional English training from around Europe. A result of joint collaboration between TESOL France and IATEFL BESIG (Business English Special Interest Group) presenting native speakers based in the UK, France, Germany and Italy with considerable ELT experience.

Talks were on topics as diverse as using technology in the training room, developing intercultural awareness and fine tuning negotiating skills. A full day of refreshing ideas and lots of thought provoking content in order for us improve and enhance ourselves.

Congratulations to the TESOL France and IATEFL BEsig who organized the conference providing further ideas and development within the Business English field. Equally, It was an opportunity for Peter to be back on familiar ground as he onced lived in Paris 10 years ago for a few years - a chance to return to his favourite 'spots' and catch up on old friends as well as making new ones at the conference.

Libris komunikacije - Ultimate Pub kviz

More than just a game, more than a 'bit of fun'....the Ultimate mind game took place on 31st May 2008 in Varaždin, the first of it's kind...never been seen before anywhere in Croatia, the UK or on the planet!

The Ultimate challenge....20 teams of companies/institutions playing it out against each other with no less than 100 challengers (5 members per team) to win the Libris komunikacije d.o.o. Ultimate Pub Quiz!

Some said it couldn't be done, some thought 20 teams would be too many and there were even a few party-poopers who complained about the noise (you know who you are!) but, we proved them all wrong by providing a dynamic, up-beat, challenging and original evening's entertainment for our clients, business partners and friends injecting a completely fresh concept to Varazdin's public which lets' face it - it certainly needs!

As the evening unfolded, we began to see and feel who were the strong teams amoung us and who needed to get their thinking caps on. There were a few one-off surprises with many teams deciding to play the joker card - obtaining DOUBLE points for each correct answer. Above we see the 'HNK actors' team feeling confident, or was this just an act?

As we steadily went through the various rounds showing knowledge in areas such as Music, History, General Knowledge and Sport, it was time to add a twist to the challenge....the surpise round of 'FIGARO'. 'Figaro' was simply an opportunity for teams to gain 10 golden points by singing a song. Singing a well-known song.....in operatic style! 1 member of each team was represented and one by one, we heard the extraordinary talent from the 'operatic' balcony. From 'Let it be' to 'Vela Luka'. 'Cesarica' to 'My way'....we had them all.