W 11 - Int 1

Intermediate 1 - Week 11 – Hard Work

I)            Reading :

1)   Read the first paragraph of a magazine article: Life on the Other Side

Earlier this year, successful journalist Pat Side was preparing an article about the problems of mothers who want to return to work. By chance, she met another woman who had the same name as her and was the same age. The other Pat Side was unemployed and looking for a job. The two women agreed to exchange lives for four weeks and to write about their experiences.

2)   What do the two women have in common?

3)   Read the rest of the article

Day 2 _____________________________________

Day 4 Tomorrow, I’ve got interviews for four different jobs. The salaries are low – more or less the same as my unemployment benefit. But if I don’t apply for the jobs, I lose my benefit! It’s crazy!

Day 5 I didn’t get the jobs. They said I was too old. It’s the first time in my life that I’ve wanted to cry.

Day 8 Back to the Jobcentre. I waited for three hours to speak to Mr Mills. They said he was in a meeting, but I think he was having a long lunch. He gave me two more application forms…

Day 12 I’ve never worried about money too much, but today I got two bills in the post. Gas and electricity. I haven’t got the money. What am I going to do?

Day 14 ___________________________________

Day 15 Another interview today. I didn’t have the money for the bus so I walked. Five miles in the cold and rain and I didn’t get the jobs. Chips again for dinner.

Day 16 ___________________________________

Day 18 I went for another interview today and took the bus. Surprise, surprise – I didn’t get the job. They said I was too qualified.

Day 29 I’ve filled in seventeen application forms and been to seven interviews, but no success. I begin to think this is all a waste of time.

Day 30 __________________________________

Two weeks after this article was written, Pat Side found a job in a telephone call centre. She enjoys her new work and says that the money is good.

4)   Decide if the sentences are True or False. Correct the false sentences

1.   She describes her experience of looking for work

2.   It was difficult to find a job

3.   She had some money problems

4.   She enjoyed her experience

5)   Put the diary extracts a-d into the gaps 1-4 in the article

a.   Finally, finally, my unemployment benefit cheque arrived and I went to the post office to cash it. At the same time, I paid the gas and electricity. I’ve never felt so happy!

b.   I went for an interview at the Jobcentre today. Mr Mills, my interviewer, gave me application forms for six jobs.

c.    Tomorrow I return to my old life. My job, my home, my car and no more interviews. This is the hardest four week I’ve ever had and I realize how lucky I am.

I really hope Pat finds a job soon.

d.   I’ve done half of the month. I wanted to go out with some friends, but I haven’t got enough money.

II)         Reading :

1)   How often do you read your horoscope? Do you believe what it says?

2)   Read the magazine article

It’s 9 o’clock in the morning and you have already arrived at work. There are a million things to do: check your email, finish something you started yesterday, get ready for that meeting, tidy up your desk… stop, hold it! Have you read your horoscope yet?

Every time you write your date of birth on an application form (to apply for a job or promotion, for example), somebody, somewhere will probably look at the astrological information it contains. Does this person have the right personality for the job? Will they work well with the other people? How important is work in their life? Is this person a good traveller? How ambitious are they?

So even if you think that horoscopes are a waste of time, it’s often interesting to know what other people are thinking about you. Oh, by the way, have you read your boss’s star sign yet?

3)   Choose the best title:1. Horoscope are a waste of time/ 2. Why you should read your horoscope/ 3. Astrology and the secret police

4)   The article was badly torn out of the magazine. What is the first word in each line of paragraphs 2 and 3?

III)       Grammar : present perfect with already and yet

We usually use already in positive sentences. We use it to emphasize that something has happened before now (perhaps earlier than expected)

It is early in the morning, but she has already arrived at work.

We use yet in negative sentences and questions. We use it too talk or ask about something that has not happened, but will probably happen soon.

Have you checked your email yet? No, I haven’t done it yet.

Complete the dialogue with already or yet

A: Have you finished __________?

B: No, not ________. Another few minutes, OK?

A: But you’ve ___________ taken two hours! 

B: I know, but I haven’t really understood the problem ______. 

A: I’ve _______________ explained it to you twice!

B: Just give me a few more minutes, OK?

IV)        Homework :

Complete the text about Pat Side’s experience of work with the following verbs:

applied    finished      got (X2)      had     left      lost      was (X2)    went (X2)

When Pat Side’s children ______________ their studies and ______________ home, Pat wanted to find a job. She _____________ no qualifications, so she ___________ on a training course to become an assistant in a home for retired people. After the course, she ______________ for many different jobs. She ____________ for a few interviews, but it was six months before she ___________ a job. She ____________ good at her work and, two years later, she _____________ promoted to ‘senior assistant’. She also _________________ a small pay rise. Unfortunately, the home closed a year after that and Pat ______________ her job.