June 18, 2006

Lectured by Daniel Goodfellow

Career

Communication

Daniel: Ida, I would like you to explain “career?to me?

Ida: My career?

Daniel: No. Generally.

Ida: “Career?means job.

Daniel: Yes. What’s the difference between “career?and”job?

Ida: I have no idea.

Daniel: Ok, let me explain it. A “Career?is many jobs. You have a career. Maybe, in you career there are three jobs, but all the jobs are in you career. In your text book, there are many careers. They are teacher, lawyer, doctor, and so on.

Ida: Is teacher a job?

Daniel: It’s a career. I made a career list for you. They are very useful. So you can memorize them. Let’s see it. Lawyer, accountant?Do you know this word?

Neil: “Accountant?means men or women work with cash.

Daniel: Yes.

Ida: Does it mean “cashier?

Daniel: No. For example, if you want to buy a table for your office, you should tell the accountant.

Ida: Oh, it’s not the same as “cashier?

Daniel: No, they are not the same. Well, next word, nurse. What is a “nurse?

Ida: It’s the assistant of a doctor.

Daniel: Ok, good. What is “self-employed?

Ida: self-employed? I don’t know.

Daniel: For example, I am employed by the Beijing Police Station. The Beijing Police Station employed me. I am the employee of the Beijing Police Station. And the Beijing Police Station is my employer. “Self-employed?always means a job. You have your own job. You have no boss. In Canada, most people are self-employed. You are your own boss.

Jena: In China, the government encourages people to be self-employed.

Daniel: Right. If I started my own company, and when someone asked me, “what is your job??I will answer, “I am self-employed?

Jena: Yes, I see.

Daniel: Ok. Here is a trick. If you don’t know the word, for example, if my job was to work with a computer, but you don’t know the word of my job, so you can say “you work with computers.?

Ida: Oh, work with?o:p>

Daniel: Yes. I work with animals. I work with actors. I work with children. Well, you can also use “work in…” For example, I work in the car industry.

Ida: Industry?

Daniel: Yes. If I make toys, I can say “I work in the toy industry.?o:p>

Jena: Oh, yes. “Work in…” is useful!

Daniel: If you say “I work in the television industry.?There are two meanings. The first is, you make television; the second is, you play shows.

Jena: Oh, actor or actress?

Daniel: Yes, it’s for the second meaning. Ok, show me some examples.

Ida: I work in the toy industry.

Daniel: Jena, my uncle makes furniture everyday. Tell me what my uncle does.

Jena: Your uncle works in furniture industry.

Daniel: Good! This is a trick. If you don’t know the word, it can help you. Flyer, my aunt sales tea. Tell me what my aunt does.

Flyer: Oh. Your aunt works in tea industry.

Daniel: Good, that’s perfect. My sister makes glasses everyday. Tell me what my sister does.

Neil: Your sister works in glasses industry.

Daniel: Perfect.

?o:p>

Daniel: Ok. Neil, today you are a doctor. I want the students to ask Neil questions about his career.

Neil: Ok. Now I am a doctor. And you can ask me some questions about my career.

Flyer: What is the medicine treatment for cancer?

Neil: We give the patient medicine.

Daniel: What kind of medicine? Chinese medicine or the west medicine?

Neil: I think Chinese medicine is better.

Daniel: Why?

Neil: Because Chinese medicine is good for your health. It’s no negative effect.

Jena: How do you keep your body in good health?

Neil: Take exercise. And also watch what you eat. The most important thing is to be positive towards everything.

Ida: In your opinion, what kind of food is nutritious?

Neil: Good question! I think fish, milk, eggs, and vegetable are all nutritious.

Daniel: Did you find being a doctor is a rewarding career?

Neil: Sure. As a doctor, I help patients everyday. I am very happy with it.

Daniel: Ok. Ida, it’s your turn now. You are a lawyer today. 

Ida: Oh, I don’t like lawyer. Ahah!

Daniel: We think lawyers are bad people.

Neil: Why?

Daniel: Because they have no hearts.

Jena: Do you like your career as a lawyer?

Ida: I don’t like this career, because I think a lawyer is not honest.

Daniel: Do you think being an English teacher is a rewarding career?

Ida: Yes!

Daniel: Oh, I feel better! Ahahah!

Neil: Why do you tell lie to people?

Ida: Because my client gives money to me.

Daniel: So are you nerve-racking?

Ida: Sure. It’s really a nerve-racking career.

Important Words and Phrases

career 职业

cashier 收银员

hair salon 美发厅

self-employed 自己经营的

sector 部分，部门

trick 窍门

architecture 建筑学

career moves 工作调动

more or less 或多或少，……左右

astronaut 宇航员

challenging 有挑战性的

tough 艰苦的

warning 警告，通知

nerve-racking 惊险的，紧张的，伤脑筋的

rewarding 值得奖励的

discouraging 令人气馁的

stratagem 战略

strategy策略

contrary 相反的

curious 好奇的

casually 随便的，偶然的