Essays Flashcards
Program Selection Criteria. These criteria were listed under Essays section. It described six different areas.
These criteria were listed under Essays section. It described six different areas.
1) Language goals & Motivation.
2) Cultural Knowledge.
3) Research Skills.
4) Professional Adaptability.
5) Compatibility with the Federal Workplace.
6) Language Skills in English and Native Language.
1- Language Goals & Motivation
Describe a situation where your English was a limitation. How have you been able to work on this? How do you see this program helping you to further address it?
Scholars must be able to articulate concrete goals and indicate that he/she possesses self-awareness in terms of their linguistic strengths and areas of improvement, rather than vague objectives (e.g., “improve my writing”). A strong applicant will connect language goals with program participation and professional aspirations while responding to all parts of the
prompt,
Successful essay: Applicant clearly articulates goals and
motivation to improve his/her English skills,
describes a situation in which s/he could have
benefitted from better skills, and relates that
to participation in EHLS.
2- Cultural Knowledge
Describe workplace experience where your native cultural knowledge was necessary to ensure linguistic understanding or to facilitate cross-cultural communication.
A strong candidate will understand
and be able to articulate the importance of cultural knowledge in the federal workplace.
- The following elements contribute significantly to communicative success in interaction: Values, beliefs, traditions, customs, norms,
rituals, symbols, taboos, deportment, etiquette, attire, and time concepts.
-The following elements are often the source of expectations regarding behavior: gestures, body
language, the physical distance between speakers, and deference due to status, age, and gender.
Applicant must describe how cultural knowledge in a specific situation facilitated cross-cultural communication in the workplace. Do not let the reader draw connections not explicitly and thoroughly made in the essay.
Successful Essay: Applicant explicitly describes his/her cultural knowledge and eloquently articulates how that knowledge was used to facilitate cross-cultural communication in the workplace. The reader is completely satisfied with the response. All points are addressed
and connected
explicitly.
3- Research Skills
Describe a project you have worked on, in school or in work, that used these types of research skills.
The capstone project for the EHLS Program is an analytical report and a formal presentation based on open source research about a topic that is of interest to the federal government. It requires the ability to gather, analyze, and evaluate information from a variety of publicly available sources to investigate and answer a question using your language skills and cultural knowledge.
Scholars will be required to use and further
develop research skills. A strong applicant demonstrates experience of research skills such as defining the scope of a
project and generating research questions, identifying and evaluating appropriate sources (or data points), synthesizing
information from different sources and analyzing synthesized (integrated/summarized) information.
Applicant must demonstrate the use of
research skills in a professional or academic setting and
provide a sufficient example, also, truly understands the
research skills needed to complete a project like the EHLS capstone project.
Applicant must provide examples that span the full range of skills needed to conduct a strong capstone project. It is not enough to demonstrate experience in a few research skills (e.g., developing research questions, analyzing synthesized information).
Bad Essay: Applicant describes fairly extensive research
experience that includes a wide range of skills needed to conduct a strong capstone project, but mastery of all skills may not be clear. Examples may not demonstrate skills described, or outcomes of previous research projects may be vague or lacking in substance.
Successful Essay: Applicant describes a research experience that requires mastery of the full range of skills needed to conduct a strong capstone project. Examples provided clearly show that the applicant would be able to gather, analyze, and evaluate data in order to create a successful capstone project.
4- Professional Adaptability
Describe an experience you’ve had on the job working with others to solve a problem or resolve a difficulty. How did this experience demonstrate your ability to adapt to a new situation and collaborate with others
Professional Adaptability - In both the EHLS Program and the federal workplace, working collaboratively with others is a critical skill.
his includes areas such as being able to maintain or shift focus on goals in response to changing priorities, control, and filter emotions in a constructive way and demonstrate self-management, accountability, and collaborative problem-solving.
Applicant must: convincingly show the capacity to adapt to work effectively with others. Response provides sufficient information regarding lessons learned. Reach beyond an average level of effort to change, highlighting a real wish to adapt and follow through. Lessons learned may be cliché.
Applicant must: shows adaptability through the use of multiple strategies (i.e., maintaining or shifting focus as needed, managing emotions, exercising self-management, demonstrating accountability, and engaging in collaborative problem solving). Connections between the workplace challenge and the applicant’s responses must be articulated well. Convey reflective lessons learned from the experience.
Successful Essay: Applicant’s response effectively highlights an ability to adapt and work collaboratively by
using multiple strategies (i.e., maintaining or shifting focus as needed, managing emotions, exercising self-management, demonstrating accountability, and engaging in collaborative problem solving), and clearly
articulates thoughtful, original lessons learned
from the experience.
5- Compatibility with the Federal Workplace:
How would you use your current skill set, including your work and educational experiences, in a federal position? Name one or more preferred agencies of employment and what role you would like to fill.
Federal Employment Goals - The goals of the EHLS Program are to train advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs. A strong candidate will demonstrate a commitment to public service and possess professional skills that are needed by federal agencies. Professional skills may include training in a specific field of study (e.g., chemistry, accounting) or more general workplace experience (e.g., writing skills, project management). Demonstrates work and educational experiences that have the potential to be relevant to government service. The reader need not be left with a
significant question of compatibility upon
reviewing.
Successful essay: Applicant demonstrates strong work and educational experiences and relates them explicitly to government service/a federal position. S/he names preferred agencies of employment and explains why that agency is a good fit. The reader understands the connection well and deems it reasonable if not optimal.
Language Skills in English and Native Language
To participate in the EHLS Program, applicants must demonstrate the following minimum proficiencies in English and the language under which they are applying:
• English: The minimum English language requirement is Limited Working Proficiency (ILR Level 2) in listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. All provisionally selected applicants will participate in language testing in
Washington, DC to certify that they meet these minimum requirements. Language testing includes multiple-choice
reading and listening assessments developed by the Defense Language Institute-English Language Center (DLI-ELC);
a writing assessment consisting of three prompts that are scored using an adapted DLI-ELC rubric; and a double-rated
Telephonic Oral Proficiency Interview conducted by Language Testing International.
• Native Language: The minimum native language requirement is Professional Working Proficiency (ILR Level 3) in
speaking. All provisionally selected applicants will take a double-rated telephonic Oral Proficiency Interview.
Online site for improving writing skills :
Owl.purdue
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html
