unit7.ppt

Unit  7        A Job Interview

Part  A                           

Communicative Function   Fact or Opinion?

       An opinion is what a person thinks about something. It is based on personal judgment. A fact is an item of knowledge that is true and can be proved. 

Now listen to the recording and decide whether what you hear is a fact or an opinion. Choose “a. Fact” for a fact or “b. Opinion” for an opinion.

1.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

2.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

3.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

4.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

5.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

6.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

7.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

8.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

9.  a. Fact         b. Opinion

10. a. Fact         b. Opinion

11. a. Fact         b. Opinion

12. a. Fact         b. Opinion

Key：

1. O   2. O   3. F   4. F

5. O   6. F    7. O   8. O

9. F   10. O  11. O  12. F

Script

1. I don't think there's any problem for me to work on computers.     

2. If I were you, I'd find a part-time job to earn some pocket money.   

3. The salary is 1,600 yuan to start with and raises will be given according to ability.

4. I’ve only done some part time jobs in supermarkets.

5. I guess it is no easy job to be a stewardess.

6. I’ve never done any nursing but I love children.

7. In my opinion market research is very important if we want to increase the sales volume of our company. 

8. It seems to me that this position would be a very good start for you.

9. There're many young people these days who can't find the jobs they want.   

10.   As to me I want a job in which I can use my English.

11.   I assume you haven't had any work experience.   

12.   To qualify for the job of a tour guide, experience is very important. 

Useful Expressions for Expressing Your Opinion

l  I think / don't think (appearance counts a great deal in a job interview).

l  As to / for me, (I'm used to working long hours).

l  I assume (you know a great deal about marketing).

l  As far as I'm concerned, (working with figures is the last job I'd like to take).

l  In my opinion, (being a teacher is a worthwhile profession / job).

l  Personally, (I would say yes to your proposal).

l  To my mind, (working at a travel agency is fun).

l  From my point of view, (that would be the best solution).

l  You need to look your best at an interview.

l  I guess (competition is intense in the job market).

l  I suppose (you can't study well if you're doing a part-time job at the same time).

l  If you ask me, I’d say that (the interview is often the decisive factor in landing a job).

l  Don’t you agree that (good preparation before an interview is a must)?

l  As I see it, (we need to submit at least two recommendation letters from our former employers or supervisors when applying for a new job).

l  If I were you, I’d (choose my interview clothes with great care).

Listening Strategy

Recognizing the Weak Forms of Certain Words

Structural words, such as prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliaries and articles are often pronounced in their weak forms in spoken English unless for emphasis. Sometimes, a content word may also be unstressed if it is placed between two strong-stressed words. In these situations, we use their weak forms to pronounce them. The following exercise is designed for you to recognize the weak forms of such words.

Listen to the recording and fill in the blanks with what you hear. Notice how the weak forms of words are pronounced.                   .

1.        Let me take a quick look at your application.

2.        To tell you the truth, I need a part time job, both for money and experience.

3.        To my mind, being a teacher is an honorable job.

4.        We’re supposed to look our best at an interview.

5.        I don’t think you can handle both a part-time job and your schoolwork.

6.        I’d like to find a job as a secretary.

7.        In my opinion the competition in the job market is quite intense nowadays.

8.        Many students in the West take part-time jobs to get some working experience for their future career.

9.        As far as I’m concerned, working as a tourist guide is fun.

10.    In job application it is required that you submit at least two recommendation letters written by your teachers or employers.

Part B                            

Pre-listening Task

Questions for Discussion   

You are going to talk about part-time jobs and job interviews. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner.

1.         Are you doing any part-time jobs?  Why or why not?

2.         What would you do if you wanted to get a part-time job?

3.         What kind of part-time jobs are available for college students?

4.         Have you been to a job interview?

5.         What questions will an interviewer ask during a job interview?

6.         What questions can an interviewee ask during a job interview?

7.         How can you handle both a part-time job and your schoolwork?

Demo

6. What questions can an interviewee ask during a job interview?

Here are some job interview tips and typical interviewee questions you may ask the interviewer during your job interview:

l  What are the major duties and responsibilities of this position?

l  What would a day on the job be like?

l  What would my exact duties be?

l  What are you looking for in the person who will fill this position?

l  What does the company actually do?

Oral Activity

The following are some common questions and possible answers for a job interview. One student plays the role of the interviewer and the other interviewee. After a few minutes, exchange the role.

1. Question: Tell me something about yourself.

Possible answer: Provide a brief summary of your personal details, educational qualifications and your professional experience / skills.

2. Question: What is your exact profile/position in the previous job?

Possible answer: Provide your previous job titles and brief duties.

3. Question: What is your education background?

Possible answer: Provide additional information regarding courses / programs / lessons you took.  

4. Question: What are your future plans?

Possible answer: You want to make progress in terms of – interest, duties, position and financials matters, etc. Be practical and don’t just tell about your dreams.

5. Question: What do you know about this company?

Possible answer: Tell what you know about the company and provide general details.

6. Question: Why are you leaving your current job? 

Possible answer: Give an honest answer, but don’t provide too many details.

7. Question: What are your weakness and strength?

Possible answer: Be honest about your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Provide one professional weakness and one of your strengths (do not boast your strengths). Provide examples about how you’ve tried hard to handle/overcome your weakness (do not go too far).  

8. Question: How did you handle difficulties and stress?

Possible answer: Provide short interesting success stories. Provide some good examples on how you managed your work-time, how you solved difficulties and relieved stress.

9. Question: What are your salary expectations?

Possible answer: Provide specific details. Remember to tell that you are ready to negotiate and compromise.

Language Focus 

Here are some useful sentences and structures that you might find handy in discussing the above questions:

l  I read on the bulletin board / heard from a friend / read in the Student News that helps are wanted in the school cafeteria / library / language lab / computer center / bookstore.

l  The students' center is the right place to go to / ask for information if you want to find a position as a teaching assistant / lab assistant / tutor for school pupils.

l  An ad in the school paper says that China Telecom wants to hire 50 students to do a market survey for the company.

l  The interviewer asked me about the subjects I’ve learned/my work experience/my hobbies.

l  The important thing, I think, is to get some work experience. Pay is secondary.

l  In a part-time job you can learn things that you can’t normally learn on campus/from books.

l  I need to support myself, so I’m really concerned about how much I can earn.

l  I want a job that is rewarding/challenging/satisfying/stable.

l  I would like a job to which I can apply what I have learned at college.

l  I hope to get a job that pays well/ enables me to learn new things/ promotes growth.

l  I want to look for an evening or weekend job since I’m available only during those periods of time.

l  I would like to find a part-time job as an office worker/secretary/receptionist/tour guide/waitress/computer operator.

l  I’m selling evening papers and magazines at a newsstand every Tuesday afternoon/delivering sample products/doing market research for a company.

l  The job is tedious/exhausting/frustrating/stressful, but now I know earning money is not easy.

l  I get up very early every day and make full use of my time.

l  Besides studying and working part-time, I don’t have much social life.

l  When attending classes, I listen very attentively and try to digest everything in class.

l  Being efficient in everything I do / Wasting no time on trivial things/ Making full use of my time is how I handle both my schoolwork and a part-time job.

Listening  Tasks

A Conversation

We Have an Opening Now

Word Bank

  hire           v.  to employ 雇佣

  part-timer      n.  a person who works for only part of each working week  打零工者

  junior         n.  a student in the third year of a program of study at a university [美国四年制大学的] 三年级学生

life guard      n.  an expert swimmer employed at a swimming pool or on a beach to rescue swimmers in danger 救生员

  handle         v.  to deal with 对付

  reference       n. a letter written by someone about a job applicant’s character, ability, etc. 推荐信

reliable        a.  dependable   可靠的，可信赖的

opening        n.  vacancy   空缺    

mailroom       n.  a place where mail is handled   收发室

personnel department     the department dealing with people   人事部

Atlas Raincoat Manufacturing Company     阿特拉斯雨衣制造公司

B average        an average of B for school work  各科平均分数为B

minimum wage           the lowest wage for an hour's work that can be legally paid to an employee   最低工资

night shift   the period of working time from about 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. 夜班

take a nap        have a short sleep, esp. during the day   小睡，打盹

stay up      not go to bed until a certain time during the night   熬夜

Script

We Have an Opening Now

（Steve is in the Personnel Department of the Atlas Raincoat Manufacturing Company.）

Ms. Campbell: Have a seat, Mr. Wells. Let me take a quick look at your application…I see that you want a part-time job.

Steve:         That's right.

Ms. Campbell:  We hire part-timers occasionally. How many hours a week do you want to work?

Steve:          About fifteen or twenty.

Ms. Campbell:   You're a junior at the university, I see. Also, you were a lifeguard for the past two summers.

Steve:         Yes. But this year I have an apartment. So I need a job during the school year, too.

Ms. Campbell:  Do you think you can handle both a job and school?

Steve:         Well, I have a B average. Yes, I think I can do it.

Ms. Campbell:  Your references are very good. They say you're a hard worker and are very reliable.

Steve:         I seldom miss work, and I'm always on time.

Ms. Campbell:       Well, Steve, we have one opening now.

Steve:             That's wonderful!

Ms. Campbell:       We need a clerk in the mailroom.

Steve:                   That's fine.

Ms. Campbell:       The job pays the minimum wage.

Steve:                   That's okay.

Ms. Campbell:       However, it's on the night shift.

Steve:                   That's all right.

Ms. Campbell:       The hours are 2 to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Steve:                   That's… not so good.

Ms. Campbell:       I know. What do you think? Are you interested?

Steve:                    Well,…I often take a nap in the afternoon, and then I stay up late. I guess the hours are okay. When do I start?

Ms. Campbell:       On Monday.

Steve:                   All right. Thank you.    

Language and Culture Notes

1.       Background information  In job application, the interview is often the decisive factor in determining success or failure. It is designed to find out more about an applicant and to see if one is suitable for a particular job. So if one is lucky enough to be called for an interview, good preparation beforehand is necessary. Find out as much as possible about the job and consider how one’s qualifications and experience can be related to it. More people also think that appearance counts in an interview, so they will choose their interview clothing with great care.

   During the interview, it is good policy to show interest to the questions raised by the interviewer and answer every one of them politely, truthfully and convincingly. At the close of the interview, the applicant may ask some questions about such matters as the salary and benefits, or if there is a training program.  

2.  part-timers  people who do part-time jobs. Many students in the West take part-time jobs to earn some money to cover their tuition or living expenses and to get some working experience for their future career.

3. a lifeguard  a person employed at a beach or a swimming pool, whose job is to make sure that the swimmers are safe and to rescue them if they are in danger of drowning. The popular American TV series "BAYWATCH" depicts the lives of lifeguards.  

4. I have a B average.  The average score of my school work is B. In American schools, the average quality of a student's work is indicated by his or her score of GPA, or grade-point average. A GPA between 3.0 to 4.0 is considered very good.  

5. Your references are very good.  You have been highly recommended. In job applications, it is required that you submit the names of at least two former superiors, such as your teacher or employer, who are willing to provide a letter of recommendation on request.  

Exercise 1:  Listening for general understanding 

Listen to the recording and choose the right answers to the questions you hear.

1.    What do you know about the man from the conversation?

       a. He is a university student, looking for a part-time job.

       b. He is a lifeguard but intends to find a better job.

       c. He is a junior school student working part time as a lifeguard.

       d. He is a clerk, working in the mailroom of a university.

2.    What can be inferred about the man?

       a. He has met the woman before.

b. He is an experienced job hunter.

c. He likes the job offered to him very much.

d. He is badly in need of a job.

Exercise 2: Listening for details

Listen to the recording again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.

INFORMAYION ABOUT THE JOB APPLICANT

Name:           Steve Wells

Status:             A university junior

Academic record:  B average

Work experience:   A lifeguard for two summers

Accommodation:      Lives in an apartment

References' remarks:     Hard working and reliable

Self evaluation:         Seldom absent from work and always on time

Reason for accepting the job: To pay the rent of the apartment  

 INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOB OFFERED

Job:       A clerk in the mailroom

Working schedule:  2 to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday

Wage:     Minimum      

Speaking   Tasks

Pair Work

Listen to the conversations and repeat after the recording. Practise the conversations with your partner, playing the role of A or B. Then create your own conversations by replacing the underlined parts with your own words. 

Conversation  1

A:    1) Hi, Mary, what have you been doing?

B:  Hello, 2) Ted. I've been getting ready for a job interview. 3) Have you ever been to one?

A:    No, not yet. But my friend has.

B:           4) Oh, really? What does he think?

A:         Well, he said he thought he didn't get the first job because 5) he dressed too casually.

B:           But surely 6) qualifications are more important than what you wear.

A:       He feels first impressions 7) count a lot, you know.

B:         8) Maybe he's right. But I think I'm also going to 9) point out what I can do well, even if it's on my resume. 10) What do you say?

A:         Yes, I agree — well dressed and well qualified can't go wrong. 11) I wish you luck.

B:       Thank you. 12) Now I don't feel quite so nervous.

Conversation  2

A:    Good morning, Miss Wang. I'm Mr. Zhang. 1) Please sit down.

B:    Thank you. 2) It's nice to meet you, Mr. Zhang.

A:  I have your application here. You are a university student?

B:  Yes, I’m a 3) business major.

A； So you are interested in working for our company.

B:   Yes. I need a part time job, 4) both for money and experience.

A:  We’ll have an opening 5) for an office clerk.this summer.

B:  6) That would be wonderful.

A:  Are you computer trained?

B:  Yes. I can handle 7) Windows, Power Point, and Excel.  Here’s my certificate.

A:    Ah, that's very good. 8)You'll need some training in our methods, though. Every office is different, you know.

B:    Thank you. 9) That will be very helpful for my future.  When do I start exactly?

A:    We'll let you know as soon as possible. Goodbye.

B:    Goodbye.