Career Prospects

Susan: How have your two sons been doing school lately, Andy?

Andy: Terrible! James never starts working, and Malcolm never stops working.

Susan: You're joking, of course. I hear that Malcolm is likely to win all the prizes in the exams this year.

Andy: Yes, so his teachers say. But he deserves to do well. He's always been so conscientious and hard-working, and he's been Slaying at his books every evening for months on end recently. He wants to go to Oxford University next year.

Susan: Maybe he'll become a university lecturer himself eventually.

Andy: Maybe. But I think he studies too hard; I sometimes wish he'd go out and enjoy himself for a change.

Susan: Yes... What about the younger one?

Andy: Well, James' teachers $ay that he has ability, but that he's too inconsistent and that he rarely does his best. In other words, he's not bad when he makes an effort, but he's too idle. He couldn't care less about exams. He does his homework in ten minutes every evening and then rushes out to play tennis.

Susan: He's crazy about tennis, isn't he? Perhaps he can make his fortune at it. You can make more money from sport than from an old-fashioned profession these days.

Andy: So I believe. But my wife always worries about the children's future. She wants James to give up tennis and study law, but I don't believe in forcing boys to take up carreer they're not cut out for. I wonder how James'll develop in a couple of years' time.

(from magazine "LifeLines ")

to deserve — заслуговувати, бути достойним

eventually — врешті решт

idle — ледачий

old-fashioned profession — старомодна професія

Dialogue 4

Red-Tape

Clerk: May I help you?

Dan: Yes, I was told that I could renew my application for benefits from Workers' Compensation here.

Clerk: That's right. I'll get you a form.

Dan: What a relief! I've been getting the run-around all day — this is the third office I've been to.

Clerk: Here you are. Fill out this form with the information about your original claim and then take it to the Social Services and Community Health Department. They will validate your claim for additional assistance while you're off work... And this form is for the Department of Hospitals and Health Care...

Dan: All this blasted paper-work! I've heard about red-tape but this is ridiculous! One last question. I'm hoping that this month will be my last one for benefits. When I've finished, how do I let my boss know that I'm officially ready to go back to work?

Clerk: Well, there's another form put out by Workers' Compensation. It requires a doctor's recommendation, one of the Compensation doctors.

Dan: Great. I hate to ask, but where do I pick that up?

Clerk: You can get it right here. Here you go. If you have any problems with the form — just ask me.

Dan: Thanks, you've been a real help. See you later.

benefits — тут: гроші, які виплачуються по хворобі або тимчасово непрацездатним

to get the run-around — метушиться, бігати туди й назад

to validate — оголошувати дійсним, надавати законної сили

blasted — проклятий, спустошувальний

paper-work — канцелярська робота

red-tape — тяганина, канцелярський формалізм, бюрократизм

Discussion

1. What conversations might Dan have had at the other two offices he visited?

2. Practise variations on the dialogue by changing the information requested (e.g., an application for a federal grant, information about maternity leave benefits, or something you have had to deal with).

3. What successes and problems have you had dealing with various government agencies?

4. In groups, suggest ways to look for information on the following topics:

medicare payments;

energy resources in the province;

utility rates;

parking laws on the city streets;

pension plan payments.

Dialogue 5