3.3 The Problem of Self-Realization
Lead in
What is self-realization? What is necessary for a person to realize him/herself? Is it possible to realize oneself nowadays?
Do you know any institutions that might help young peoples to develop their talents and make good use of their spare time ?
Did you attend any vocational classes (musical, sport, dancing, chess, etc.) when you were at school?
Reading
1. Scan the text and point out the activities teenagers are engaged in. Working teens
Name: Sarah Williams
Age: 18
Job: Play Scheme Assistant
Hours: 38 per week in the summer holidays
Pay: $ 6. 50 per hour
“I love working with children and I want to become a teacher after university. Working on a play scheme is fun and good work experience. I don’t need the money as my parents give me a good allowance of $100 a month. I work for 6 weeks during the summer. About 80 children come to the Youth Centre every day. In the Centre there are 6 Assistants like me, and a Play Leader. We prepare activities like painting, drawing and crafts. We also organize games in the afternoon. This year it is my responsibility to take children on a trip to the zoo.”
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Name: Keith Lewis
Age: 17
Job: Babysitter
Hours: 10 per week
Pay: $ 5. 00 per hour
“This is the best job in the world. My parents have many friends with younger children. They call me when they want to go to a restaurant or pub for the evening. When I arrive the children are usually already in bed. I sit in the living room and watch TV. The children almost never wake up, and anyway they are not usually babies, so I just can tell them to go back to sleep. The best thing in this job is that I don’t need to pay any extra money – it is all cash-in-hand.”
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Name: Tom Maxwell
Age: 15
Job: Fast-food Restaurant Worker
Hours: 8 per week
Pay: $ 4. 50 per hour
“I love this job. It’s never boring because you are busy all the time. You can talk with your colleagues and have fun while you work. You also can get discount on the food here. I have to say that I am not so keen on burgers now I have been working here for 6 months. My job is a Saturday job. I am saving to buy a car when I am seventeen.”
Speaking
Discuss the following.
Have you ever taken any jobs?
At what age are young people allowed to work abroad/in Russia? What jobs can they get?
What kinds of jobs are available for students abroad/in Russia?
Communicating.
A
sking
for information
Asking for information can be as simple as asking for the time, or as complicated as asking for details about a complicated process. In both cases, it's important to use an appropriate form to the situation. For example, when asking for information from a friend, use a more informal form. When asking a colleague, use a slightly more formal form. Finally, when asking for information from a stranger, use an appropriately formal construction.
Asking for Information
Very Informal - for Friends and Family
Simple Question: Wh? + Helping Verb + Subject + Verb
If you are asking a friend or family member for information, use a direct a question.
How much does it cost? Where does she live?
More Formal for Everyday Simple Questions
Use these forms for simple, everyday questions in stores, with colleagues at work, and in other informal situations.
(Pardon me, Excuse me) Can / could you tell me + wh? + S + verb?
Can you tell me when the train arrives? Pardon me, could you tell me how much the book costs?
Formal for More Complicated Questions and Asking Important People Questions
Use these forms when asking complicated questions that require a lot of information, as well as asking information questions of important people such as your boss, on a job interview, etc.
I wonder if you could + tell me / explain / provide information on ...
I wonder if you could explain how health insurance is handled at your company. I wonder if you could provide information on your pricing structure.
Would you mind + verb + ing ...?
Would you mind telling me a little bit more about benefits at this company? Would you mind going over the savings plan again?
Replying to a Request for Information
If you would like to provide information when asked for information, start your reply with one of the following phrases.