G discourse markers (1): linkers V work P the rhythm of spoken English Nice work! 1 READING & SPEAKING a Think about people you know who either absolutely hate or really love their jobs. What do they do? Why do they feel that way? How do you know how they feel? b_ The Guardian runs a weekly series called What I'm really thinking, ‘where people in different jobs or situations reveal their true feelings. Lookat the three jobs in the articles. With a partner, say ‘which person you think said the following, and why. 1 Although it s not my place to judge, I get frustrated sometimes. 2 People assume you're an idiot. 3 Your expressions and bodies reveal far more than you know. Read the articles and check. Reading between the lines, do you think on the whole they like or dislike their jobs? Read the articles again and answer A, B, or C. Who..? implies that he / she sometimes finds the job boring says people seem to think he / she can’t see them feels misjudged by the people he /she eomesin contact with has toask one particular question, to which it is not always, easy to get the answer 5 [_] would like the opportunity to give feedh: he / she works with 6 [J notices physical change in him / herself when he {she is working kon the people 7 [J describes a moment when he [ she really loves the job suggests he she won't be doing the job for much longer tries to empathize with the people he {she speaks to LEXIS IN CONTEXT € Look atthe highlighted phrasal verbs and idioms and guess the ‘meaning of the ones you don’t know from the context. Then ‘match them to the definitions 1-8, GEEKY think they are better than sb / sth EE makes me very upset FIED move or make progress atthe same rate as sb [sth DY (informal) makes me annoyed becomes exhausting 1 vitally important Bm get bigger EM can'tthink what to do or say Whenever you are asked if you can do ajob, tell'em, ‘Certainly ican. Then get busy and find out how to doit: What I’m really thinking ‘A]THE CHECKOUT GIRL OF course I judge you by your shopping. It's ‘the only diversion have, The work isn't that intellectually ‘demanding ~the til does all the maths ~ ‘and itdoes become robotic. Having identical conversations every day ‘quickly gets wearing. ‘You get to know types of customers. The stressed-out mum, feeding her kids on the way round and thrusting the empty packet at me to scan. The sweet older couple, carefully packing cat food and biscuits into a trolley. The woman in a suit who buys a bottle of own-brand vodka, then puts it in her handbag. Sometimes I like to channel my inner Sherlock. Dark circles, nappies and aspirin? New baby. Rice cakes and spinach? The diet starts tomorrow. (Older women are very polite and chatty, but watching a queue build up as they count out pennies does my head in, Usually take a deep breath and try to treat them as I would my own ‘grandma, And I don't mind when people have to stay on their phone, but it is rude. People assume you're an idiot. The fact is, Tm studying for a history degree, But that’s frrelevant; neither Inor my colleagues are stupid, and people have no right to look down on us. B |THE UNIVERSITY LECTURER look at the 23 of you in the room —a small group this year - and wonder ifyou're even aware of. me as I teach. Might it be that because you're not talking directly to me, you forget to adjust the expressions on your faces? Oris it that you imagine, ina crowd, you are somehow invisible? ‘Your expressions and bodies reveal far more than ‘you know ~ sneering, eye-rolting, yawning, you ‘can barely stay awake sometimes.Your indifference bears no relation ‘tomy hours of preparation. The university asks you tocomment, ‘anonymously, on the quality of my teaching. would like the chance to ‘comment on the quality ‘of your listening, When you are really disengaged and disconnected, see hands reach for phones in bags. You connect, but i's usually to someone outside this room. Sometimes you even pass notes, giggle, ‘and whisper. Yet Talso see you when you laugh at my jokes, When you are concentrating hard, I can almost hhear your minds working. Some of you take notes ‘0 intensively, fighting to keep up with my words, as if t's life or death if you miss something. see your faces light up when you want to say ‘something, the eagerness to comment, to take part, You are relaxed, smiling, enjoying the _moment of understanding. We connect. Now see you and you see me. C] THE 999 OPERATOR ‘The hardest part of my job is also the simplest - getting the address. Often when someone calls, they goblank. Or in the case ofa road accident, they don't know exactly where they are. But the ‘most important element is the address, because that’s what brings the ambulance. Ihave to ask for it twice, which infuriates people. It still surprises me to hear my voice during acl. It changes, becoming deeper, almost authoritative. I have to take control of the situation. I suppose that's why I wear a uniform. Thave a script, but I refuse to be a robot; hearing people at their most vulnerable makes me add to it, When the caller is hysterical, telling them, 'm ‘going to help you' andl knaw you're frightened! calms them down. But it breaks my heart when they're in pain or their loved one is dying; Lhave to takea ‘stress break’ after harrowing calls. ‘Although itis not my place to judge, I get frustrated sometimes. The man who rang because his toothpaste was ‘burning his mouth; the ‘mother whose baby was afraid of a fly. Don't they realize they're taking up precious time when a life-or- death situation may be needing help? But the moment Icall them time-wasters is ‘the moment I should quit my job. Look at some extracts from other What I'm really thinking articles. Match them to the jobs in the list. What do they imply that the people (sometimes) feel about their jobs? beauty countermanager| | dentist| | driving instructor IT support worker! | pizzadelivery man | taxi driver 1 Sometimes what I do is painful, and I'm not a sadist. 2. Tdon'texpect to chat, but sometimes my cab becomes a mobile confessional, 3. Menare risk-takers. They go too fast and don't tike being told what todo. 4 Tlke some respect - people who answer the door while they're on the ;phone realy bug me, as do the ones who take ages to find the money. 5 _It’sa cliché, but ‘Have you turned it on and off again?’ s the first thing that comes to my mind every single time someone calls, 6 Twork inan industry that convinces people to part with thelr cash in pursuitofa perfection that does not exist lam betraying my sisterhood, fall the jobs mentioned in che articles and extracts, which fone (s)-.? + would you never do under any circumstances + might you consider doing if you desperately needed the money + would you actually quite like to do VOCABULARY work Look at three sentences from the articles and complete the missing words 1 ‘The work isn’t that intellectually d 2. ..neither Inor my € look down onus. re stupid, and people have no right to 3 But che moment | call them time-wasters is the moment I should qu my jab, > p-161 Vocabulary Bank Work. Complete sentences 1-5 with words or phrases from the list. ‘Then write five sentences for your partner to complete with the other five words. apply for befired belaidoff clock off perks quit rewarding skills tedious unpaid 1 Can we leave whenever we like or do we have to ata Nursing is often described asa job, even though it may be badly paid. 3. The company has decided that around 20% ofits workforce will have to until the economic situation improves. 4 Theonly required for this post are a good level of English and the ability to drive. 5 Ifyouare prepared to do. work, there are several voluntary ‘eganietny dara ing Sr people a2 DIEPersonality VOCABULARY BANK 1 ADJECTIVES 2 PHRASES a Complete the sentences with the adjectives in the list. bright ‘bravt/ @@ASAeiooS OSSD determined i':mind/ gentle sent Suan egg orcas ‘spontaneous spon'teinias! steady "sted straightforward /sirett >xwad sympathetic simpoQettk’ thorough /ara/ 1 Heisvery thorough. Whatever part of job he’s doing, he does it with great attention to detail He's quite He can usually work ‘out how to solve a problem, 3 He'sv else's help. 4 Herboyfriend isa guy. He's sensible and she can really rely on him— just what she needs! He never needs anyone 5 She's very. Once she’s decided to do something, nothing will stop her. 6 Mynieces are both really They getvery good marksat sehoolinall their subjects 7 He'snotvery When I wasill last ‘week he didn’t even phone me. 8 Sheisso ! She worked all ‘weekend to make sure she got everything. done. 9 My sister’sa very person. She's calm and kind and she never gets angry. 10. She'ssucha person. She's honest and open and says just what she chinks. IL He's very He can suddenly decide to go to Paris in the morning and in the evening he's there! 12, Ourmaths teacher used to be so. She loved making comments that made us feel small. b @o)) Listen and check, False friends Be careful with sympathetic. Many languages have a similar adjective ~ sympathique (French, simpatico (talian, sympatyczny (Polish - which means friendly. The same is true of gente: thiss not the same as, eg, genti French), gentile italian), which mean kind or pote. Complete the phrases with the verbs from the list inthe right form. change refuse seem take(x2) tend 1 My father tends _ to avoid conflict. He never argues with my mother—he just leaves the room. 2 Idon' really like risks, especially with money. 3. She makes life hard for herself because she © compromise. Everything has to be perfect. 4 She's quite stubborn, She rarely ther mind even when she knows she’s probably wrong, 5 Iworry about my grandmother, She's so trusting thatit would be easy for people to advantage of her. 6 Onthesurface he self-confident, but deep down he's quite insecure, b 79) Listen and check, 3 IDIOMS a Match the bold idioms 1-6 to their meanings AF. F My brother-in-law is very down to earth. Mum's gota heart of gold. My boss isa bit ofa cold fish, My brother's a real pain in the neck Dad'sa soft touch, My uncle has a very quick temper. A He's unfriendly and he never shows his emotions, B_ She’sincredibly kind to everyone she meets. CC _ He's so annoying ~he’s always taking my things. D_Icanalways persuade him to give me extra pocket money. E. He getsangry very easily F He's very sensible and practical b @)) Listen and check. P) vxingongstive abut people We often use a bit / a bit of a before negative adjectives or idioms to “en them og Shecanbe abi suestic Hots of span te Pec pnts ctienteattevay poaiesbesnesiatertiet Caingregstne ones og nes roc very bra eto than es Supt Think ofpeopleyou know for two adjectives from 1, aphrase from 2, and an idiom from 3. Tell your partner about them nt wp Hany ae te acento. <6