Battle of the teens

1c
At work
1
Warm-up
Answer the following questions.
• What job would you like to have in the future?
• Do you think some jobs are for men and others are for women?
• What is a ‘non-traditional’ job?
2
Read
A. Listen and read. What did Harry and Julie
use to do and what do they do now?
Changing careers
Do you think women can become construction workers? Can men make great midwives? No?
Well, think again. Nowadays, more and more men and women are choosing ‘non-traditional’ jobs
such as these. Harry Carson and Julie Knowles are two good examples.
“I was a lorry driver for eleven years. Then, one
day I decided I needed a change. I was bored!” says
Harry Carson.
Harry was always good with young children so
he went to university to get a degree in Primary
Education. Then, he found a job as a nursery school
teacher but it wasn’t easy in the beginning.
“Most parents don’t want men teaching their young
kids. They think they aren’t suitable for the job,” says
Harry. But he soon became the most popular teacher
in the school and the kids just love him.
“Storytime is their favourite,” says Harry. “I love
reading stories and they love listening. So, everyone’s
happy.”
Julie Knowles is fluent in French and Spanish, so a
degree in European languages was the natural choice
for her. She wanted to become a teacher. Well, at
least that’s what she thought.
“In my second year I joined a welding class, just for
a laugh. But I soon started enjoying my new hobby.
I used to spend more time welding than studying,”
she says.
In the end, she gave up university to become a fulltime
welder. “I realised that that was what I wanted
to do for a living,” she says. “However, working with
men isn’t always easy. They think I’m not as good as
them. But I’m so happy I found a job I really like.”
B. Read again and complete the sentences below.
1. Harry decided to get a different job because he didn’t like working as .
2. Most of the parents didn’t think Harry was .
3. The children’s favourite time is when Harry .
4. In the beginning Julie wanted to become .
5. Julie took up welding as a and then made it her full-time .
6. Julie thinks it’s sometimes difficult to work .
C. Why does the writer use the examples of Harry Carson and Julie Knowles? What point is he trying to make?
D. Think of somebody you know who has a non-traditional job. What does their job involve?
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