Reading practice - Higher tier
Read this article in which Eduardo talks about his work.
Eduardo habla de su trabajo
Hice la carrera universitaria en ciencias, pero, una vez que había conseguido el título, no tenía ninguna idea de lo que quería hacer como trabajo. La idea de hacerme científico no me apetecía - estaba harto de trabajar en laboratorios. Pensé hacerme veterinario - me parecía una carrera bastante interesante y me chiflan los animales. Desafortunadamente, habrían sido más años de estudio. Así que, por fin, decidí hacerme profesor.
Mucha gente cree que ser profesor es muy fácil. Piensan que salimos temprano del trabajo y tenemos muchas vacaciones. Sin embargo, la realidad es otra. Nunca salgo del instituto a la misma hora que los alumnos. Normalmente, paso dos o tres horas después de las clases corrigiendo deberes o preparando clases, y el trabajo continúa durante las vacaciones. En realidad, lo que me gusta del trabajo es ver a mis alumnos superando sus dificultades, aprobando los exámenes. Y, a veces, un estudiante dice, 'Gracias por la ayuda que me has dado'. Es entonces cuando te dices, pues, este trabajo sí que vale la pena.
¿Mi opinión del trabajo? Pues, hay días malos y días buenos, pero, a fin de cuentas, es un privilegio poder decir que quizás hayas podido hacer una diferencia en la vida de un joven.
Answer these questions in English.
Question
What job did Eduardo not want to do when he left university?
| A | Scientist | |
| B | Teacher | |
| C | Vet |
| A |
| Scientist |
| B |
| Teacher |
| C |
| Vet |
| A | Scientist | ✔ |
| B | Teacher | |
| C | Vet |
| A |
| Scientist |
| ✔ |
| B |
| Teacher |
| C |
| Vet |
The passage reads: 'La idea de hacerme científico no me apetecía - estaba harto de trabajar en laboratorios.' (The idea of being a scientist didn't appeal to me - I was fed up of working in laboratories.)
Question
What does Eduardo like about his job?
Choose the two correct statements.
| A | Getting his salary at the end of the month | |
| B | School finishes early | |
| C | Teachers get long holidays | |
| D | When a pupil thanks him for his help | |
| E | You can see pupils progressing |
| A |
| Getting his salary at the end of the month |
| B |
| School finishes early |
| C |
| Teachers get long holidays |
| D |
| When a pupil thanks him for his help |
| E |
| You can see pupils progressing |
| A | Getting his salary at the end of the month | |
| B | School finishes early | |
| C | Teachers get long holidays | |
| D | When a pupil thanks him for his help | ✔ |
| E | You can see pupils progressing | ✔ |
| A |
| Getting his salary at the end of the month |
| B |
| School finishes early |
| C |
| Teachers get long holidays |
| D |
| When a pupil thanks him for his help |
| ✔ |
| E |
| You can see pupils progressing |
| ✔ |
The text reads: 'En realidad, lo que me gusta del trabajo es ver a mis alumnos superando sus dificultades, aprobando los exámenes. Y, a veces, un estudiante dirá, 'Gracias por la ayuda que me has dado'. Es entonces cuando te dices, pues, este trabajo sí que vale la pena.'
(In reality, what I like about the job is seeing my pupils overcoming their difficulties, passing their exams. And sometimes a pupil will say, 'Thanks for the help you've given me'. It's then when you say to yourself, well, this job is worth the effort.)
Question
Do you think Eduardo enjoys his job?
Yes/No
Give a reason for your answer.
Yes.
He says that it's a privilege to be able to say that you've perhaps made a difference to a young person's life. ('Es un privilegio poder decir que quizás hayas podido hacer una diferencia a la vida de un joven.')
Translation:
Eduardo talks about his job
I did my university course in sciences, but once I'd got my degree I had no idea what I wanted to as a job. The idea of being a scientist didn't appeal to me - I was fed up of working in laboratories. I thought of becoming a vet - it seemed quite an interesting career and I love animals. Unfortunately it would have been more years of study. So finally I decided to become a teacher.
Many people think that being a teacher is very easy. They think we leave work early and have lots of holidays. However, the reality is different. I never leave school at the same time as the pupils. Normally, I spend two or three hours after school marking homework or preparing lessons and the work continues during the holidays. In reality, what I like about the job is seeing my pupils overcoming their difficulties, passing their exams. And sometimes a pupil will say, 'Thanks for the help you've given me'. It's then when you say to yourself, well, this job is worth the effort.
My opinion of the job? Well, there are bad days and good days but when all's said and done, it's a privilege to be able to say that you may have made a difference to a young person's life.
