Imagine you are having a job interview and make your own conversation with a partner using the dialogue above as an example.

1.4 Teaching as Career

I. Read the following conversation and say who/what influences people’s choice of a career. Worrying about a Child’s Future

Mr. Harris has come to see the Headmaster of his son’s school to ask his advice about his son’s future education

Headmaster:Good morning, Mr. Harris. Do sit down. I understand you’d like to have a word with me about William.

Mr. Harris: Yes, that’s right, Headmaster. I felt I should see you as soon as possible before William does anything he’ll regret.

Headmaster:Regret, Mr. Harris?

Mr. Harris: Well, you see, he’s set his heart on becoming an artist, and my wife and I think he ought to take up something more secure. I meant even if he went to Art School, there’d be no guarantee he could get a good job afterwards.

Headmaster:He could probably teach, Mr. Harris.

Mr. Harris: He wouldn’t like that. He says he wouldn’t be a teacher if it were the last job on earth – oh, I beg your pardon, Headmaster, I didn’t mean –

Headmaster:Not at all, Mr. Harris, I wouldn’t have been a teacher myself if I’d had my way. I’d have been an actor if my parents had let me, so I have some sympathy with William’s problems. Now, let’s see – if he wants to be an artist, he’ll have to decide what sort of artist he wants to be.

Mr. Harris: I don’t quite follow you, Headmaster.

Headmaster:Well, what I mean is, if he wanted to be a commercial artist, graphics, cartoons, that sort of thing, he might do very well if he took an art course at a Technical College, and besides, the entry qualifications wouldn’t be so stiff. On the other hand, if he wants to go to one of the major Art Schools, you’d better not raise his hopes too high. There’s a good deal of competition to get accepted, and he’d have to have at least three O’levels and two ‘A’s at good grades before he’d even be considered. Oh and there’s another thing, he’d have to do a year’s foundation course first, probably at another college. He’d get a grant, of course, provided he’d got right ‘O’s’ and ‘A’s’.

Mr. Harris: But art, Headmaster! It’s so chancy. I wish he weren’t so set on it.

Headmaster:I don’t think you should stand in his way, Mr. Harris. If I were you, I’d let him decide for himself. You’d better accept the fact that nowadays young people don’t worry about security the way we did when we were young.

Mr. Harris: Well, I must admit my wife and I would have felt much happier if he’d chosen to do something else. Perhaps it’s still not too late for him to change his mind. You know, I could get him a good job with my own firm if he had a science degree.

Headmaster: From what I know of him, Mr. Harris, I don’t think he’s the sort of boy to change his mind, not in a hurry at any rate. In any case, I think you ought to let him decide.

Mr. Harris: But an artist, Headmaster! What’ he going to live on?

Headmaster:Making a career as an artist isn’t easy, of course. It would be a good idea if you had a talk with our art master, Mr. Sims; he can tell you more about the possibilities than I can. I know he thinks very highly of William’s work, though you’d better not tell William I said so.