English

You will develop these skills

• Identify the use of the first conditional, second conditional and ‘could’.

• List the vocabulary of work and jobs.

When you leave school, you will have to find a job. Your career depends on your interests, qualifications and training. You need to plan now for what you would like to do in the future. It is important to try to find a job that suits your personality and gives you the opportunity to further your dreams and ambitions.

Ability at school and educational ambitions

Before we leave school, we need to decide on a career path.

Read about educational ambitions

Some pupils know exactly what they want to do as a career and start working towards it by getting the grades they need in the right subjects. Other pupils have a vague idea, and still others have absolutely no idea at all what they want to do when they leave school.

It is not a coincidence that the subjects we do well in at school are usually the ones we like best. These are the subjects that are easiest for us to master and to get good grades in. Sometimes we have to work really hard at a subject because we know we need to get a good grade in that subject to be able to study for our chosen career. It is important to make plans for the future while you are still at school. If you do not make plans, you will have no direction.

Activity 1: What are your favourite subjects?

In pairs, talk about your favourite school subjects. Your conversation will go something like this.

Read about skills and talents

There are many careers available from which to choose. You need to decide what your talents are, and choose a career where you can use these natural talents. What do you enjoy doing? What skills have you developed while doing the things you enjoy? For instance, perhaps you love flowers and plants and already know the names of most of the plants in your area. This love of plants could open up a large choice of careers for you. You could, perhaps, follow a career in botany (the scientific study of plants); horticulture(the science and art of growing fruit, vegetables and other plants); apiculture (the science of beekeeping); floriculture (the study of growing flowering plants) or floral design (the art of arranging flowers – a florist).

All these different occupations related to a single interest are called a ‘field’. As you can see, one field of work enables you to choose from a wide variety of jobs.It is important to choose a career field in which you can use your interests, abilities and natural talents. The subjects that you choose while you are at school will determine the career field that you go into and the careers that you can choose from.The following table shows the subjects needed for different career fields and some of the careers available within each career field.

Activity 2: Compare your subjects and career fields

In which subjects do you perform best? Which subjects do you enjoy the most? Make a list of these subjects and then compare your subjects to those in the table above to see which field you might consider going into.

Grammar focus

The first conditional with ‘if’

Conditional sentences are used to speculate about what could happen. They are used to refer to a possible condition and its probable result in the present or future where the situation is real. For example: If it rains today, you will get wet.The ‘if’ clause (if it rains today) is in the simple present tense, and the main clause (you will get wet) is in the simple future tense.First conditional sentences are based on facts. Most conditional sentences contain the word ‘if’. We do not normally use ‘will’ or ‘would’ in the conditional clause, only in the main clause.

Examples:

• If you help me with the dishes, I will help you with your homework.

• If I have enough money, I will go to Kigali.

Activity 3: Write conditional sentences

Complete the following first conditional sentences.

1. If you work hard, you will ______.

2. If you invite her, she will ______.

3. If I am late, I will ______.

4. If I win first prize, I will ______.

5. If you need me, you can ______.

Read a conversation about leaving school

Listen to the following dialogue between three Standard 4 pupils at Green Hills Academy. Three pupils can each read a part of the dialogue.

Keza: My teacher says that I must start thinking about what I want to do when I leave school. I’d like to become a doctor. If I get good grades, I will go to university. What jobs are you interested in doing, Mihigo?

Mihigo: I like writing, so I’d like to work as a journalist.

Ngabo: That sounds interesting. If you go to university, what will you study?

Mihigo: I will have to study English and Journalism and then try to get a junior job with a local newspaper. It is difficult to get a job as a journalist. What about you, Ngabo? What would you like to do professionally?

Ngabo: I would like to get experience in banking. If I go to university, I will study finance.

Keza: If you want to study finance, you will have to get good marks in Mathematics. It sounds like we all have to work very hard to get the right grades we need!

Activity 4: Describe your ambitions

1. In groups, talk about your educational ambitions and career opportunities. Use the phrases ‘I’d like’, ‘I’m interested in’ and ‘If you want to be a ______, you have to ______’.

2. Write three sentences about your educational ambitions, using an ‘if’ clause.

Read about job opportunities

Not everyone wants to go to university. Technical and vocational training are also important options because there are many jobs in Rwanda for skilled craftsmen.

In Rwanda, the government encourages the establishment of small and medium enterprises, locally known as Agakiriro, because they help to provide employment opportunities for artisans.

The term ‘Agakiriro’ is derived from Kinyarwanda word ‘Gukira’ which means ‘getting rich’. Agakiriro can therefore be understood as a place where one can get rich. People with small businesses who earn their living by making various products are referred to as Agakiriro artisans.

The following case study is an example of a young woman who made a successful career out of handcrafts.

CASE STUDY A successful career in handcrafts

Angelique Mukashema, a female member of Agakiriro in Nyabihu District, is a member of an association that makes beautiful bags and baskets from banana and other fibres.“These bags are very durable. We weave different fibres to make patterns of all colours, and the bags are beautiful. Our traditional woven baskets are also very popular with the tourists.All the ladies in the association have saved money and improved their families’ lives due to these handcrafts. I have installed biogas at home and bought four cows. One of the other ladies has build a new house. Now lots of others want to be trained so that they can make money too,” Angelique said.

Activity 5: Write about technical skills

Write sentences about technical skills, using the sentence: If you learn ______ , you will ______ . For example: If you learn plumbing, you will be able to fix leaky sinks.

Read about salaries

When you are deciding on a career, you will also have to consider what you could expect to earn in a particular career. In general, the longer you study, the higher your salary will be.

This is because you will have gained more knowledge and learned more skills. The following table shows some average salaries earned per annum in different occupations, as well as the level of education required.

Activity 6: Do research about careers

1. Research and find out what people earn in the following occupations:

• teacher

• farmer

• shop assistant

• dentist.

2. Make a table similar to the one above and fill it in with your findings.

3. Discuss different career options with your class.

Read a conversation about education

Read this conversation between a doctor (Dr George), a lawyer (Joan) and a teacher (Clever).

Dr George: Hello, Joan. Clever, meet Joan. Joan is the best lawyer we have in town. Joan, this is Clever, he is a teacher at Leafy Wood Academy.

Joan: Nice to meet you, Clever. What do you teach?

Clever: I teach Physics and Mathematics.

Dr George: Clever has been reminding me of our school days. He says that the education system has changed quite a bit since our school days.

Joan: Oh really? I don’t see any changes in the system. The country is still producing the same types of professionals: teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, nurses, counsellors ... Mind you, there are a few

Clever: You mean information technologies? Good observation, Joan! I must tell you, teaching these new technologies is demanding; it has taken over much of the time that we used to use for informal activities. Do you remember how we used to have time for a lot of handwork, cultural activities and a wide range of sports and art? We now have very limited time for these activities.

Joan: Yes, of course I remember. At my school, we used to spend a lot of time knitting, having lessons in home management and also doing sports, music, dance and drama. You know what, if it were not for my parents’ insistence, I would be a chef right now. I was very much in love with the kitchen and catering.

Dr George: You don’t say! Do you regret having taken a different career path? However much I loved football, I never thought of taking it to a professional level. It just helped me to keep active and healthy. You cannot excel at school if you do not have a clear mind.

Joan: Come on, George, I do not regret anything. I love the courtroom, and I also enjoy compiling all the evidence needed to win a case. Now, Clever, tell me – I hear that the arts are being neglected. Is this true? If so, how are you going to produce more professionals?

Clever: That is not correct. Art subjects have not been neglected, but with the increase in technology, we need to equip the youth with more practical skills. Besides, there have been high rates of unemployment all over the world, and teaching technical and entrepreneurship skills will help to create more job creators.

Dr George: I completely agree with that. Our children need a great many technical and vocational skills in the competitive society of today.

Clever: Well, I have to go now. You both know that teachers have to be very time-conscious because of our busy schedules.

Dr George: Not very different from a doctor. I have an appointment with a patient in about an hour’s time. We can leave together. I will give you a ride.

Joan: Do not mind me. I have a free afternoon. I am going to the museum.

Activity 7: Answer comprehension questions

1. What are extra activities in schools?

2. Why do you think these activities are referred to as ‘informal’ in the conversation?

3. What has caused limited time for informal activities in schools?

4. Why do you think Joan is not a chef right now?

5. What academic subjects do you think Joan liked during her school days?

6. Who are job creators? What skills do you need to be a job creator?

7. Among the three, who is going to be resting after their departure?

8. Explain what Clever means when he says, “Teachers have to be very time conscious”.

Grammar focus

The second conditional with ‘if

’The second type of conditional sentence is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The second conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result. For example: If I had enough money, I would go to Kigali.In the second type of conditional sentences, the ‘if’ clause (If I had enough money) uses the simple past tense, and the main clause uses the present conditional tense (I would go to Kigali).

Examples:

• If you worked hard, you would win.

• If you invited her, she would come.The difference between first conditional and second conditional is not a difference of time. Both structures can refer to the present or future; the second conditional simply suggests that a situation is impossible or imaginary.Look at the difference between these sentences.

Activity 8: Practise using the second conditional with ‘if

Complete the following sentences.

1. If I got a pay rise, ______ .

2. If you left your job, ______ .

3. If you were nicer to him, ______ .

4. If we had gone out earlier, ______ .

5. If I had revised, ______ .

Applying for jobs

Read about job advertisements

One way of looking for a job is to read job advertisements. These can be found in newspapers and on the Internet. When you read a job advertisement, you will see that it has two parts to it: the job description and the job specification.

The job specification indicates what is required of the person who will fill the job. It specifies:

• qualifications required

• personal qualities needed

• work experience required.

ABC Retail

Trainee Manager requiredJob specification: Managers at all levels would be expected to show responsibility. The company is looking for people who have a minimum of one year’s previous experience and a qualification in marketing. They should have a flair for business, know how to sell, and be able to work in a team.

he job description refers to the content of the job itself and sets out the duties and responsibilities required of the person employed to do the job. It specifies:

• the title of the job

• the location of the job

• the duties of the job.

Job Description: Trainee Manager

Location: ABC Retail, Kigali branch

Duties: Promote sales at ABC Retail, Kigali; Engage with customers; Deal with customer complaints; Assist Store Manager with stock management; Assist Store Manager with training of junior staff.

CASE STUDY Secretary at Twiggs Technical College

Nadege is looking for a new job and she has come to you for help. She has noticed that Twiggs Technical College is looking for a new secretary, and would like to apply for the position. The job description is in the table below. Nadege completed secretarial college in December 2011. For the past six months, she has done the administration for her uncle’s textile company. Her job included working in MS Word, managing the accounts, receipts of payments, salary payments, updating a database with all the workers’ details, and learning to communicate with other employees.

Activity 9: Work with job advertisements

1. In your group, discuss whether Nadege is suitably qualified for the job and advise her as to whether or not she should apply.

2. Write an advertisement for a new teacher at your school. Your advertisement should include both a job description and a job specification.

Lifelong learning and career development

Read about personal development

Different career fields require different levels of schooling. You can use the library, Internet and other research methods to find the qualifications necessary to pursue your choice of career. Your school, local community services and university will also be able to assist you. From this research, you will be able to determine exactly which subjects you need to do at school, and whether you need to study further at college or university once you leave school.

Some careers give you the opportunity to start working with a basic education, and encourage you to further your studies while you are working in order to move up the ‘career ladder’. Other careers require you to have the highest possible qualification before you are able to find employment.

When you leave school and enter your career of choice, you will probably start on the lowest rung of the career ladder. In order to move up the career ladder, you must prove to your employers that you are capable of doing the job. Learning new skills enables you to move up the ladder more quickly. Some employers provide additional training during working hours; however, others expect you to train yourself in your own time.

Modern technology helps you to do your job more efficiently, so make sure you have the proper skills to use this technology. Often, your boss or your co-workers will show you how to use this equipment. If you become involved in different tasks, you will start to understand what the company you work for is trying to achieve. You will also enhance your efficiency and abilities, and increase your confidence and self-esteem. With each new aspect of the job, you will learn new skills and all these skills will help you to move up the career ladder. Opportunities often arise in the workplace where you can exhibit your skills and talents, and you can then move into a totally different branch of your career.It is important to keep learning. This is known as lifelong learning. It will improve your career and salary prospects, as well as help you to lead a satisfying life.

Vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling

Activity 10: Match words and their meanings

Use your dictionary to look up the words in the left-hand column of the table, and then match them to the correct description in the right-hand column. Make sure that you can pronounce the words correctly.

Writing and understanding

Activity 11: Write a report

Write a report about your ambitions and how you plan to further your education.

Jobs and gender

In many countries, women still do not have the same job and pay opportunities as men. In Rwanda, gender equality is written into the Constitution; Article 11 of the Constitution states that all Rwandans are equal regardless of gender, race or religion. In the past, many women only held jobs at the level of receptionists and personal assistants but this is changing rapidly, although women still find it difficult to access finance to start their own business.

In Rwanda, the government has made a commitment to promoting gender equality. According to the 2009 Social Watch Gender Equity Index, Rwanda was equal second in the world in its efforts towards gender equality. Only Sweden had a higher score. Rwanda was the first country in the world to have more than 50% female members of parliament. The government has set a target for women to make up 40% of all those in decision-making positions by 2020.

These goals are in line with the United Nation’s third Millennium Development Goal, the promotion of gender equality. This covers many aspects that affect women’s lives, from access to education, to accessing finance, to participation in decision-making processes, to reducing gender-based violence.

Activity 12: Discuss women’s roles in Rwanda

In your group, find answers to the following questions.

1. What are the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals?

2. Discuss the business world in your district. How many women entrepreneurs can you think of?

3. In a traditional society, what are the roles of women?

Assessment

1. Complete the following sentences, using the correct modal verb.

a) If I get home late tonight, I ______ not eat.

b) If Jan could run 100 metres in 10 seconds, he ______ be an athlete.

c) If Simon catches a fish today, we ______ eat it.

d) She ______ buy a new car if she won the lottery.

e) If it rained in the Sahara Desert, everyone ______ be very surprised.

f) If it rains tonight, we ______ go to the cinema.

g) If your dog spoke, you ______ sell it to the circus.

h) If we play football on Saturday, I ______ be tired on Sunday.i) You ______ become fat if you eat too much.

j) If I ______ you, I wouldn’t accept that job. It sounds terrible! (10 marks)

2. Explain briefly why some jobs command higher salaries than others. (5 marks)

3. Analyse your talents and describe what careers you believe would suit you. (5 marks)

Total (20)