Lesson 4: Clubs
Now I have connections in several industries!

I can talk about the social benefits of being in a club.

INTRODUCE

People join clubs to enjoy their hobbies, but clubs are also good places to meet new people and expand your network.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

I. Go over the expressions with your tutor.

    1. To have connections means to know various people who are in a position to help you.

     

    She was able to find a new job very quickly because she had connections in the industry.

     

     

    2. To get one’s foot in the door means to do something that may give you a chance at better opportunities in the future.

     

    Giving your contact details to someone in the company is a way to get your foot in the door.

     

     

    3. To know the right person means to know exactly who can help you in a specific situation.

     

    It’s not difficult to find a job in this industry if you know the right person.

     

    II. What’s your goal in life? Talk about how you plan to achieve it using the expressions above.

     

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

There are several different ways to pronounce oo. It can be pronounced with a short u sound, a long u sound, and even a long o sound.  
Phrase Example

foot in the door

/ fut in thuh dawr /

It’s a way to get your / fut in thuh dawr /.

good tool

/ gud tool /

Excellent communication skills are a / gud tool / for networking.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Naoki is having coffee with a German coworker.

Heinz:

Ah, it’s finally Friday! Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Naoki:

Hmm… No, not really. Back in Japan, I normally play golf on weekends, but I guess for now, I’ll just take a look around the city.

Heinz:

Oh, wow! You play golf?

Naoki:

Yeah! I’m actually a member of a golf club back home. Originally, I only signed up because my boss invited me, but I’m glad I did. There are so many benefits!

Heinz:

Really? Like what?

Naoki:

Like meeting a lot of people! I get to interact with a lot of big names in our club, and I’ve been able to build a good network through it. Now I have connections in several industries!

Heinz:

Oh, nice!

Naoki:

Yeah, it’s really good for business. Like, if you know the right person in a company, it’s as good as getting your foot in the door for future partnerships. By the way, are there clubs like that here in Germany?

Heinz:

Absolutely. Have you heard of hobby horsing clubs? They’re pretty interesting.

Naoki:

Really? Cool! Are you a member?

Heinz:

(laughs) No, I’m not. It’s a club where people ride wooden stick horses.

Naoki:

Really?!

TRIVIA

Hobby horsing is a combination of a sport and hobby where participants ride toy horses on sticks while making jumps and other movements that look like riding real horses. The hobby horsing association in Germany was founded in 2023 with just 13 members. There are now more than 200 hobby horsing clubs across the country.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

The underlined expressions are close but not quite correct. Correct them.

ex. She knows connections in the food industry.

→ She has connections in the food industry.

 

  1. Show your portfolio to someone in the company to get the foot in a door.
  2. I get connections who could help us with the project.
  3. If you need someone to endorse your project to the management, I know a right person for the job.

STEP B EXERCISE

Complete the speech using your own information.

A huge client hired me as their wedding coordinator! I really want to plan the perfect wedding for them.

Don’t worry! You can do it with enough help. Do you have connections _____? If you know the right people, you can _____. Also, try partnering with some good caterers and suppliers. You could get your foot in the door for future opportunities if you _____.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your friend wants to start a business, so he/she is trying to expand his/her social circle. Convince him/her to join a club to make new connections.

Today's Expressions

  • have connections
  • get one’s foot in the door
  • know the right person

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

CLUBS
2

HAVING CONNECTIONS
3

GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR
1

CLUBS

  1. What kind of clubs are popular in Japan (ex. sports clubs, fan clubs)?
  2. What qualities do you look for in a club?  
  3. Why do you think some people don’t like joining clubs?
  4. Do you think being part of a club is worth your time?

2HAVING CONNECTIONS

  1. In what industries is it really important to have connections?  
  2. Do you think that having connections is absolutely necessary for a successful career?  
  3. Aside from business, how else can having connections be helpful?
  4. Do you have any connections to famous people?

3GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR

  1. What do people usually do to get their foot in the door (ex. give out business cards)?  
  2. When trying to get your foot in the door, what should you be careful of?  
  3. Have you ever tried but failed to get your foot in the door somewhere?
  4. Once you get your foot in the door, what should you do next?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about the social benefits of being in a club.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK