3.2
HOMEWORKING
30
3
WORK PLACEME TS
READING
1
Read this description of work placements. Then
work with a partner and discuss the questions.
Work placements and internships are usually done by
young people as part of their college studies or afterwards
to get into a work sector. They give people experience of
work. They can be paid or unpaid. They are different from
apprenticeships, which are for more practical jobs.
1
What are work placements called in Bahrain?
2
Are they common?
3
Are they generally paid or unpaid?
4
Do you know anyone who has done a work placement?
2
a
Read Sachiko Suzuki’s blog which includes four
comments about work placements and answer the
questions.
1
Which two are the most balanced and considered?
2
Who is the most positive?
3
Who is the most negative?
2
b
Inferring opinion
Read the blog again and decide
who is the most likely to say the following: Azra (A),
Tom (T), Sabrina (S) or Charlotte (C).
1
‘Work placements exploit young people.’
2
‘You need to make sure you get enough training
before you take on responsible roles.’
3
‘I would recommend work placements to people
without question.’
4
‘Basically, some work placements are good, and
some are bad.’
5
‘Work placements can be a good way to find out
which area of the business you would like to work in.’
6
‘Work placements are good for people who want to
improve their confidence.’
7
‘I would not recommend work placements to anyone.’
8
‘The most important thing is to get a placement that
gives you a role with some responsibility.’
3
Which comment do you most agree with and why?
Compare your choice with a partner.
LISTENING
4
a
3.4
Listen to three university students talking
on the radio about their work placements. For each
student, find out the following information.
1
name
2
the country they are from
3
what they are studying
4
the city where they are doing their work placement
4
b
Work in groups of three and choose one student
each. Listen again and take notes on what your student
has been doing recently and why they had a good
work placement.
4
c
In your groups, summarise the information from
your notes.
Recently Jan has been doing a work placement …
GRAMMAR
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
5
Look at these sentences from the blog and then
complete the statements with
present perfect simple
or
present perfect continuous
.
1
I’ve just completed a work placement.
2
I’ve been looking for a job since January.
3
I’ve already sent off two applications this morning.
4
For the last month I’ve been working very long hours.
a
The
focuses more on the completed result
(sometimes with a focus on number).
b
The
focuses more on the activity itself and its
duration (sometimes with a focus on time).
6
Work with a partner and look at Audio script 3.4 on
page 166. Underline all the examples of the present
perfect simple and present perfect continuous. Note the
question forms and negative forms. Find two examples
to illustrate each of the statements in Exercise 5.
7
Complete the sentences with the present perfect
simple or continuous forms of the verbs in brackets.
Sometimes both are correct.
1
I
for a work placement in a hotel for some
time. (look)
2
I
Japanese since May. (learn)
3
The boss
ill this week. (be)
4
The intern
me in reception since Monday. (help)
5
Maria
in São Paulo since May. She’s moving
to Rio in August. (work)
6
I
in Moscow all my life. (work)
7
My mother
here for 25 years. (work)
8
Patricia
her job recently (not enjoy)
9
What
at work recently? (you / do)
10
We
ten people for the job. (interview)
8
Work with a partner and ask each other these questions.
1
What have you been doing to improve your English?
2
What have you been doing at college/work recently?
SPEAKING
9
a
Work with a partner. Make a list together of at least
three arguments against each of the following statements.
Work placements exploit young people.
Work placements should always be paid.
Only the rich and the privileged can afford to work for free.
Work placements benefit the employers more than the
employees.
9
b
In your pairs, discuss what makes a good work
placement.
MEET THE EXPERT
Watch an interview with Caroline
Matthews about her internship in the
insurance industry.
Turn to page 150 for video activities.
