World at Work 1

The World at Work 1: Basic

John Spiri

2010

The World at Work 1: Basic Š2010 John Spiri and Perceptia Press All rights reserved. This book must not be copied or reproduced in any form whatsoever.

Published by Perceptia Press in association with Panurgic Publishing Edited by Brian Cullen Design, layout, and cover by Paul Lewis First Edition ISBN978-4-939130-87-8 Second printing CD and other listening materials engineered and mixed by Brian Cullen.

Photographs by John Spiri, Aidan L (trousers; p. 36), Joe Schlabotnik (sweater; p. 36), Mahalie (pregnant woman; p.40) The publishers have endeavoured to trace all the copyright holders of images and texts included in this book. If we have inadvertently omitted anything, please contact us and we will make the necessary arrangements.

For more information about this book and others, view our website at:

www.perceptiapress.com or contact us: info@perceptiapress.com

John Spiri is an Associate Professor / freelance writer based in Tokyo, Japan. This textbook is the culmination of many years of research and reflection. John started his working life as an accountant, but found greater vocational satisfaction after returning to university to study English and then education in the late 1980s. Many of the chapters of this textbook are based on interviews originally published in Kansai Time Out magazine between 1999 and 2005. John has also traveled to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Korea, and Taiwan to interview individuals about their occupations.

Acknowledgments The author would like to express his sincere thanks for all the individuals who contributed to making this textbook a reality. Brad Blackstone encouraged me and arranged and did co-interviewing with me in Malaysia. Thanh Binh Nguyen introduced interviewees and provided professional translating in Hanoi; Mr. Liao Ching Hsiang likewise introduced numerous Taiwanese interviewees and provided professional translating in Taichung. Finally, Paul Lewis at Perceptia Press has dedicated tremendous time and effort into making this the best possible textbook, and has been a pleasure to work with.

Most of all, I’d like to thank all of the interviewees who took time out of their busy lives to share with me their experiences, plans, ideas, and dreams. I have learned much from them all.

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Contents Unit 1: Agriculture.......................................................................................................... 5 Persimmon Farmer............................................................................................................ 6 Unit 2: Mass Media........................................................................................................ 9 Photographer.....................................................................................................................10 Unit 3: Entertainment.................................................................................................13 Singer.............................................................................................................................. 14 Unit 4: Clothing Industry..........................................................................................17 Shopkeeper........................................................................................................................18 Unit 5: Travel & Tourism............................................................................................21 Flight Attendant.............................................................................................................. 22 Unit 6: Education.......................................................................................................... 25 Teacher............................................................................................................................26 Unit 7: Public Safety....................................................................................................29 Firefighter........................................................................................................................ 30 Unit 8: Traditional Arts.............................................................................................. 33 Kimono Specialist............................................................................................................34 Unit 9: Healthcare........................................................................................................ 37 Nurse............................................................................................................................... 38 Unit 10: Management.................................................................................................. 41 Coffeeshop Owner...........................................................................................................42 Unit 11: Hotels and Inns.............................................................................................45 Innkeeper....................................................................................................................... 46 Unit 12: Sports................................................................................................................49 Boxer............................................................................................................................... 50 Unit 13: Transportation............................................................................................... 53 Taxi Driver......................................................................................................................54 Unit 14: Food Preparation......................................................................................... 57 Chef................................................................................................................................. 58 Unit 15: Animal Care....................................................................................................61 Zoo Veterinarian ............................................................................................................ 62 Adjective Bank............................................................................................................... 65 Answers............................................................................................................................66

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To the student Welcome to The World at Work. Choosing an occupation is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Unfortunately, young adults often do not have enough information to make appropriate choices. This textbook aims to give you information about various occupations so you can make the best possible choices. Along the way, you will learn about the lives of ordinary people: their dreams, experiences, culture, and of course working lives. You will also spend plenty of time reflecting and talking about your own personality, and which occupations may be most appropriate for you personally.

At the same time, this textbook aims to give you the best possible English language instruction. A basic principle of The World at Work is that people learn English more easily and thoroughly when the content is interesting, engaging, and meaningful. Every effort has been made to present vocabulary and exercises in a logical manner, so you can build on previous English knowledge step by step as you move towards fluency. We trust you will enjoy this textbook as you prepare to step into your own World of Work.

John Spiri

Listening Icon This icon means you can download the listening tracks from this book’s website at:

www.perceptiapress.com Be sure to put the tracks onto your MP3 player and get lots of practice listening to the interviews. For information on obtaining a CD, contact the publisher or view the website.

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Unit 1: Agriculture

In this unit you’ll learn about a farmer from Gwangju, Korea.

Vocabulary ==Here are some other occupations that do earth-related work. Match an item from each column to make sentences.

1. A fisherman 2. A beekeeper 3. An environmentalist/ecologist 4. A weather forecaster 5. A gardener

predicts the weather. keeps bees for honey. takes care of fields of flowers and plants. protects and preserves nature. fishes for food.

==Match these words with their meanings.

1. organic (u) 2. a pest 3. a pesticide 4. a field 5. to plant 6. a seed 7. boredom 8. competitive

an uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what to do a feeling of wanting to win to put a seed into the ground a small thing that grows into a large plant a bother, like an insect that eats a farmer’s plants a poison to kill pests a natural area, often used for agriculture or sports natural; without pesticides

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.......

Persimmon Farmer

......................................................................

Listening 1. Getting the Questions

Mr. Chai, a persimmon farmer from Korea

==Read Mr. Chai’s answers, predict the questions, then listen and write. a) ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

I grow high quality sweet persimmons. My persimmons are well-known in this area because I don’t use pesticides. They’re organic. b) ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

I get up around 6am and work until lunch and don’t return until evening. c) ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

One good point is the money. It’s enough. However, the bad point is finding helpers. Young people are not available for this. They all move to the city.

2. Getting the Answers ==Listen and answer the questions.

1. Do you have any seasonal trouble? .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

2. Do you have trouble with pests because you don’t use pesticides? .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. Any dreams for the future? .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. Connecting the Dots ==Read, then listen and fill in the blanks.

——Do you ever feel lonely up here on the mountain?

I only go into town when I .................... .................... 4 or 5 times a month. I used to live in Seoul, but wasn’t happy. Living in the city is very .................... . People are not .................... .

——Is that traditional Korean clothing you’re wearing?

It’s .................... . Sometimes I work wearing this.

——It looks .................... . And it’s the color of persimmons.

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Speaking 1. Reviewing ==Look back at the interview again and check the following with a partner.

1. Why are Mr. Chai’s persimmons well-known?

2. Why do organic farmers not use pesticides?

3. How does Mr. Chai feel about life in the city? Why?

2. Rating the jobs ==Rate how much each job interests you by choosing a number between 1-10. Then record your favorite on page 65.

10—perfect! / 8—very interesting / 6—interesting / 4—not so interesting / 2—not interesting / 0—awful!

__ fisherman __ ecologist

__ beekeeper __ weather forecaster

__ gardener __ farmer

3. Making choices

....... 1 Persimmon Farmer

................

==Fill out the chart below to decide whether this job is suitable for you.

A farmer...

Yes! I can No, not Comment (explain your answer) do it for me

wakes up early physical strength general good health enjoys country life loves nature

4. Making the Choice ==Talk about whether your skills, abilities, and habits are suitable for this job.

1. Can you wake up at sunrise or early morning?

2. Can you work long hours and lift heavy objects?

3. Can you avoid or recover from colds, the flu, or other illnesses easily?

4. Do you prefer the country or the city? Why? 5. Are you a nature lover? Explain.

6. Describe the weather in your home region for each of the four seasons. ==Finish the sentence below and share with your partner.

Earth related occupations suit me/don’t suit me because: ................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................

Tell me more...

How about you?

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Reading and Writing The Wonderful World of Fruit ==Match the paragraph with a picture.

The skin of this fruit has hair and the inside has tiny black seeds. This fruit originated in China but found a home and fame in New Zealand.

The name for this fruit comes from a city in Morocco, from where they were first introduced to Europe.

This fruit is very similar to an orange, but the skin can easily be peeled by hand.

Although the color and shape are completely different, this fruit is similar to the banana for its consistency (the way the fruit feels on your tongue). It is probably native to Mexico, and grows with one very large pit (also known as a stone or seed) in the middle.

This one is famous as an island fruit. It can be eaten or consumed as a pleasant fruit drink, and it is very nutritious. It is also widely used for oil.

This is one of the oldest fruits to be cultivated, going back thousands of years. It is commonly eaten raw, dried, as a juice, or as wine. Nowadays, some varieties are seedless.

Questioning: Writing Comprehension Questions ==Asking questions is one of the most helpful skills to learn English. By asking questions you can continue conversations, increase your understanding, and get answers! To practice, write two comprehension questions about the above article. A comprehension question asks about the article’s content, so the answer should be found by reading the article. Write your questions below: 1) .................................................................................................................................................................................................

2) .................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Unit 2: Mass Media

In this unit you’ll learn about a photographer from Nagasaki, Japan.

Vocabulary ==Here are some other occupations that do mass media-related work. Match an item from each column to make sentences.

1. A reporter 2. An editor 3. An announcer 4. A film director 5. A web designer

decides how to create videos and movies. gathers information to write for newspapers and magazines. creates homepages. explains news events. decides what to publish.

==Match these words with their meanings.

1. a teenager 2. an industry 3. a prep school 4. a routine 5. a ceremony 6. a base 7. photography 8. joyous

the craft of taking pictures something done regularly a kind of business a person between 13 and 19 years old a foundation very happy a special school to prepare students for higher education an event with a standard way of doing it

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.......

Photographer

......................................................................

Listening 1. Getting the Questions

Mr. Kusano, a photographer from Japan

==Read Mr. Kusano’s answers, predict the questions, then listen and write. a) ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

As a teenager I had many hobbies, like cooking, cutting hair and taking pictures. After high school I failed the university entrance exam and entered yobiko, prep school. I then started working with my friend who was a photographer. He suggested that I try it professionally, so I decided to quit yobiko. He taught me everything about it. b) ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

My basic working hours are 9 to 5, but that changes a lot. Actually, I work when I have a job to do, and the company decides that. I get sent to wedding ceremonies, local events, school ceremonies, things like that. Other times I do design work in the office.

2. Getting the Answers ==Listen and answer the questions.

1. How much time off do you get? .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

2. What’s your salary like? .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. Connecting the Dots ==Read, then listen and fill in the blanks.

——What are the good and bad points of being a photographer?

It’s great to see a .................... for the .................... time and photograph it. I sometimes go to Singapore, .................... and China for special events. I enjoy the .................... to meet people. It’s not like a normal company worker .................... in an office all day. Going to joyous events like .................... or graduations helps me stay young. A bad point is that it’s hard to .................... promises because the job takes a lot of time and I’m never sure when I’m going to be free. I .................... touch with friends.

——What about the future? .................... like to start my own business, taking pictures whenever and of .................... I like. But that takes a lot of money. I’d like to see more of Japan. I’ve been .................... over Kyushu, but have never .................... Hokkaido. I’d like to go there, or .................... of Tokyo.

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Speaking 1. Reviewing ==Look back at the interview again and check the following with a partner.

1. What were three interests of Mr Kusano besides photography?

2. What is his annual pay, including bonuses?

3. How is Mr Kusano’s job different from a company worker?

2. Rating the jobs ==Rate how much each job interests you by choosing a number between 1-10. Then record your favorite on page 65.

10—perfect! / 8—very interesting / 6—interesting / 4—not so interesting / 2—not interesting / 0—awful!

__ reporter __ editor

__ film director __ web designer

....... 2 Photographer

................

__ announcer __ photographer

3. Making choices ==Fill out the chart below to decide whether this job is suitable for you.

A photographer...

Yes! I can do it

No, not for me

Comment (explain your answer)

has good artistic sense enjoys photography is knowledgeable about mass media has a flexible schedule takes business trips

4. Talking about jobs ==Talk about whether your skills, abilities, and habits are suitable for this job.

1. Find a photograph in this textbook that you like. Tell your partner what you like about it.

2. Do you like taking pictures?

3. What interests you about the mass media (TV, magazines, documentaries, etc.)?

4. Do you like a routine, or doing things differently every day?

5. Would you like a job that requires domestic or international travel?

6. A proverb states, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” What do you think that means?

7. What job did you want to do as a child?

8. Choose a few photos off the cover of this book and say several sentences about each. ==Finish the sentence below and share with your partner.

Being a photographer would/would not suit me because: ................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................

Yes, I think so, too.

Really? That’s interesting.

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Reading and Writing Photo Albums ==Match each paragraph with a picture.

Japanese people know all about the three places that are said to be the most scenic in the country.

Not surprisingly, all three of them are by the sea, one near Sendai, another in Kyoto, and the third is Miyajima Island in Hiroshima. This is a fine island for hiking and, true to its reputation, gave me the chance to take the lovely photo below.

Cameras are, of course, not only for shooting gorgeous scenery, but also for family memories. Here is my son when he was still a young baby. We were all out for a pleasant walk in rural Akita when Vincent was surprised by these strange hanging objects. What is their purpose? Why are they hanging? Can you guess?

The power of photographs is not just the beauty that they show us, but also the story behind the picture. I was on a motorcycle trip, carrying my tent and sleeping bag, in Aomori prefecture. I found a small beach to set up my tent on, and relaxed while the sun went down. Just as darkness was falling I took several pictures of the sea. For me this picture also reminds of the next brilliantly sunny morning, and the finest motorcycle ride I took in my life, up to a hot spring resort on the top of a mountain.

A

B

C

Questioning: Writing Discussion Questions ==In unit 1 you learned about writing comprehension questions. Writing and answering comprehension questions is useful, but not so interesting. This time practice writing questions for discussion. To practice, reread the article above, and then write two questions for you and your partner to discuss.

1) .................................................................................................................................................................................................

2) .................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Unit 3: Entertainers

In this unit you’ll learn about a singer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Vocabulary ==Here are some other occupations that do entertainment-related work. Match an item from each column to make sentences.

1. A comedian 2. An actor 3. A street performer 4. A disk jockey (DJ) 5. A dancer

plays roles in movies and plays. performs on crowded streets for donations. tells jokes and humorous stories. moves her or his body for an audience to enjoy. announces on the radio.

==Match these words with their meanings.

1. destiny (u) 2. expected 3. part-time 4. a break 5. an audience 6. to deal with 7. a crowd 8. blood (u)

all the people listening to or watching a performance fate stop doing something to rest the red liquid in a person’s body to handle; to struggle with short working hours (usually 20-30) many people gathered together a result that people believe will happen

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