Imposter Syndrome
reading
B Both Harry Potter actress Emma Watson and American comedian Tina Fey have
said they suffer from ‘impostor syndrome’. What do you think ‘impostor syndrome’
is? Read the first part of the article and check your ideas.
INDEPENDENT
Do you feel like a
fraud? How to get over
‘impostor syndrome’
Ever feel like a fraud at work?
That you are just waiting for
your boss to notice you have
no idea what you are doing and
to send you back to the world
of unemployment? There
is actually a term for those
feelings – impostor syndrome.
The phrase, coined by
clinical psychologists Pauline
September 2015
Clance and Suzanne Imes in
1987, refers to the idea that
people cannot accept their
own accomplishments – even
if they are incredibly talented.
Harry Potter actress Emma
Watson has spoken about
feeling like an impostor within
the industry, while American
comedian Tina Fey has also
voiced fears about being
identified as a ‘fraud’.
If you feel like an impostor,
Ross McCammon, senior
editor at Esquire, has written
a book called The Impostor’s
Handbook – a guide to passing
yourself off as a successful
working person if you are
lacking confidence.
b Have you ever felt ‘imposter syndrome’? What advice would you give to someone
who wants to pass themselves off as a successful working person?
B What do you think Ross McCammon says about emails, eye contact, when you
have no idea what is going on, saying sorry and work parties? Read the second
part of the article and check your ideas.
Here are Ross McCammon’s Make eye contact
top tips for getting by:
Research shows that employers
look more favourable on those
Keep your emails brief
that maintain eye contact while
Mr McCammon argues that speaking. So, no looking out of
kindness and pleasantries have the window or staring at your
no place in email. While you scuffed shoes as you discuss
don’t want to be rude, you work.
should write an email to get a
conversation done as quickly
as possible.
He suggests that your emails
be direct and to the point,
ideally with one word answers.
If an email needs clarification,
make a phone call instead.
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When you have no idea what’s
going on say so
It’s impossible to seem
genuinely
interested
in
something you have no clue
about. So rather than nodding
and saying yes, you have
seen that latest art-house
film, tell the truth and start a
conversation.
Don’t say sorry
Ross explains that “I’m sorry”
is emotional and has no place
in the workplace. By all means,
you should own up when
Imposter Syndrome
reading
you’ve done wrong, but that
doesn’t mean endless pleas
for forgiveness. Explain the
misunderstanding and say
you’ll rectify it, and then move.
a version of work set in a bar.
Leave well before you intend to
in order to avoid any drunken
incidents of embarrassment.
Once you’ve said hello to
everyone needed – your boss,
Always leave a work party that excellent contact – hang
before you’re ready to go
around for a bit and then make
A work party is basically just a swift exit.
b Which do you think is the best piece of advice? Do you disagree with any of the advice?
V Find phrasal verbs in the article that mean the following:
1 overcome or master (a problem)
2 return
3 pretend to be; represent yourself as
4 be able to live or deal with a situation with difficulty
5 happen, occur
6 admit (you have done something wrong)
7 be in a place or in an area, doing nothing in particular
V Complete these sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs:
1 We __________________ the food ________________ because it wasn’t cooked.
2 We _____________________________ outside the theatre to see the actors arriving.
3 Kate ________________________ and told everyone she had broken the printer.
4 He _____________ himself ______________ as an expert, but in reality he knows very
little about the subject.
5 What is __________________________ in Pam’s office? They are making a lot of noise
in there.
6 I _________________________ my nerves before a presentation with ten minutes of
meditation.
7 We don’t speak the language, but we ___________________________ with a dictionary
and a phrase book.
E Look at these extracts from the article:
INDEPENDENT
September 2015
While you don’t want to be rude, you should write an email to get a conversation done as
quickly as possible.
Leave well before you intend to in order to avoid any drunken incidents of embarrassment.
2/3
Imposter Syndrome
reading
In the extracts you can see that we can use a ‘to infinitive’ and ‘in order to’ to talk about a
person’s purpose - why someone does something.
In negative sentences we normally use in order not to (rather than not to alone).
e.g. We left early in order not to arrive late.
We can use for to talk about a person’s purpose, but only when it is followed by a noun
(not a verb). e.g. We are going to New York for our honeymoon.
We use for + -ing to talk about the purpose or function of a thing.
e.g. We use Monday mornings for organising the week’s schedule.
V Complete these sentences using a to infinitive or in order to:
1 We drove at night...
2 They set their alarm...
3 You should not drink alcohol at the office party...
4 I worked all weekend...
5 They studied hard...
V Write sentences about yourself using a to infinitive or in order to:
e.g. I am studying English to improve my chances of a promotion.
V Complete these sentences using for and a noun:
1 We are going to Paris...
2 They are preparing their paperwork...
3 I am leaving work early...
4 She is training hard...
V Write sentences about yourself using for and a noun:
e.g. I am studying English for a job interview.
f Say what the following things are used for:
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Imposter Syndrome
Teacher’s notes 1
student pages 3
week of 21.09.15
reading
low-intermediate+ (A2+)
V Find phrasal verbs in the article that mean the following:
1 get over 2 send back
3 pass (yourself) off (as)
4 get by
5 go on 6 own up 7 hang around
V Complete these sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs:
1 sent back
2 hung around
3 owned up
4 passes off
5 going on
6 get over
7 got by
V Complete these sentences using a to infinitive or in order to:
Suggested answers:
1 to avoid traffic.
2 in order not to miss the plane.
3 to avoid embarrassing yourself.
4 in order to finish the project on time.
5 to pass the exam.
V Complete these sentences using for and a noun:
Suggested answers:
1 for an art exhibition.
2 for their tax return.
3 for a doctor’s appointment.
4 for the London marathon.
f Say what the following things are used for:
Suggested answers:
1 A camera is used for taking photographs.
2 A pen is used for writing.
3 A key is used for locking things.
4 Glasses are used for seeing better.
5 A knife is used for cutting things.