George had problems with studying, so he wrote to a magazine problem page to ask for advice. Scan the text and find out what his study problems are.
Dear Marjorie,
I’m having problems with my studies at school. I find it difficult to get down to work in the evenings and I can’t concentrate on anything at the moment. I spend most of my time listening to records or watching TV instead of doing my homework. The other students in my class are much better than I am and I have difficulty in keeping up with them. I sometimes have problems with following the lessons as well. I can’t always take down the important things my teacher says because I write so slowly. She has told me that I’m falling behind with my studies. I’m not good at writing essays and I usually hand in my homework late because I put off doing it until the last minute. So I often have to invent silly excuses to explain why I haven’t done the work. I’m sure I’m not going to get through my final exams in June. I scraped through the exams last February with 54% - all the other students passed with flying colours. I’m now so far behind that I don’t know how I’m going to catch up with them. My teacher spent some time going through my homework with me but she found so many mistakes that I felt even more depressed. What do you suggest I do?
Yours desperately
Ex. 1. Pick out the multi-word verbs in the letter and try to work out what they mean.
Ex. 2. Use the multi-word verbs to make sentences about your working mode. Find out how many problems you have got in common with your partner.
Example:
As for me I do not find it difficult to get down to work in the evenings. In fact I feel at my best in the evening and at night.
Ex. 3. Give advice to George and encourage him.
| Useful language: Giving advice and encouraging You should If I were you I would … Pull yourself together, it is not as bad as it seems You’d better … Have you tried __ -ing? Why don’t you try __ -ing? |
Ex. 4. Work in pairs to discuss the following questions.
a) What candidate exams will you pass by the skin of your teeth or with flying colours?
b) How useful is it to learn things parrot fashion?
c) What things did you learn by heart at school? Can you still remember them?
d) What are the arguments for and against learning things by heart?
e) What do you think is a good way to learn multi-word verbs and idiomatic expressions?
Ex. 5. Search the Internet and find information about problems with getting down to work which are not covered in the Unit. Report them to the group. Did famous scientists have similar problems?
Ex. 6. Your friend is on the point of giving up his master thesis. He claims he is terribly short of time, he can’t get himself started, he skips lectures on philosophy. What would you advise? Use phrases from the language box above.
Unit II
People at work
Lead in
Ex. 1. Work in pairs to discuss the following questions.
a) What was your first job? How old were you then?
b) What did you spend your first salary on?
Ex. 2. Read the text and prioritize the motivations mentioned.
Most people work because they need to earn a salary, but money is not the only motivation or reason why people work. People get job satisfaction from different factors, such as social interaction with colleagues. Status, that is your professional position, and achievement, doing something well, can be important. Some companies really value their employees and see them as the company’s main asset. Managing people well can lead to better results and higher productivity for the company, but this can be difficult to do. People respond differently to different styles of management. Some organizations give their workers freedom to develop their roles and others don’t.
Focus on speaking I
Ex. 1. Look at the survey below, then choose six factors which are important for you. Compare them with a partner.
| Factors considered when choosing your first job | |||
| I want to: | % of graduates | I want to: | % of graduates |
| Enjoy my job | Be passionate about the industry I work in | ||
| Like the people I work with | Have job security | ||
| Have enough money to afford the things I enjoy | Be in control of what I do | ||
| Receive training | Have a lot of freedom at work | ||
| Find the work stimulating | Work for a well-known company | ||
| Have an inspirational boss | Not have to work overtime or at weekends | ||
| Have a good social life | Have a job that will take me abroad | ||
| Have the opportunity to take professional qualifications | Have an excellent salary | ||
| Work for a respected company | Make other people think that what I do sounds good | ||
| Have a position of responsibility |
