英语口语教程（Oral Workshop）--中级 Lesson 27

Lesson 27

 Is It an Ideal Career?

 Text A

 I am not an extreme feminist 1. I am not an extreme anything. However, I am a firm 

believer in equality and freedom. I think we are all entitled to the same rights and 

opportunities.

 perhaps my views on feminism are influenced by the fact that I was an only child and perhaps if I had had a brother,he (and I) might have been treated differently.

 My mother was the perfect example of all an ardent 2 feminist would hate: she 

waited hand and foot on my father and did it all without complaint. When my father 

arrived home from work his soup was served. Every night his clothes for the next day 

were left out with the underwear thoughtfully placed on top so that he didn't even 

have to think what to put on first. 

His shoes were always polished for him, his right to be first in the bathroom was never challenged, and if he ever found himself in the kitchen, it was by mistake. My mother was honestly content with this situstion and regarded my father as a perfect husband: he was a caring, generous man-a good provider. What more could any woman ask?

 I remember being brought up, not as a male or femaie,but simply as an individual, 

and although I suppose I must have been influenced by my parents, I do not 

remember ever being eneouraged to make marriage my major ambition.

 I was fortunate enough to marry a man who did not expect to chain me to the 

kitchen sink. He was quite capable of polishing his own shoes , and mine too while 

he was at it. He was also able to wash dishes , dust , or do anything else around the 

house. We managed beautifully, with no strict male/female division of labour.

 Our first baby arrived, much to our delight, six months ago. I was more than 

pleased to give up my job as I had become sick of it. I looked forward to my baby, 

and now he is here I actually enjoy him very much. I have no intention of returning 

to Work, as I think our son ought to have a parent to care for him for a few years at least. Indeed, I could be very happy with the situation, were I not experiencing quite unexpected problems adapting to my new role.

 When I attended the ante-natal clinicfi, I remember the doctor asking me what I 

'was' , meaning my occupation, rather than my blood group or star sign. Yet when I 

went to the baby clinic for the first time, all they wanted to know was what my 

husband 'was'. I am still wonderirig what difference that makes to anything, and I 

was hurt that nobody wanted to know about me any more. Quite suddenly I was just 

someone's wife and someone's mother. I no longer seemed to have an identity of my

 Where, previously 3, my husband was quite happy to help around the house, his 

attitude now seems to be that if I'm at home all day, I can do all the housework. And 

what bugs 4 me most is that I find myself going along with it. If the baby cries during 

the night, then there is no question about who gets up. Have I taken leave of my 

senses? My sense of self-esteern seems to be clogged 5 with baby powder and baby 

cream! 

But the aspect of motherhood I've found hardest to take has been the loss of 

earning power, and what I see as a loss of financial independence. For seven years I 

enjoyed helping 6 to bring home the bacon; and money never caused a row. It does 

now.

 Although the decision to have our baby and for me to stay at home was a joint 7 one, 

I feel totally dependent on my husband, who is becoming more and more irritated by 

my stupidity. The indignity 8 of being financially dependent on my husband is 

something I feel very, sensitive about. Logically, having a baby ought to have 

extended me as a person: I should be the person I was plus the person I am, as a 

result of my new experience.

 It hasn't worked out like that. Motherhood seems to have wiped out ten years of 

varied 9 and interesting work experience and taken me back, not forwards-a whole 

generation back. But the hig difference between my mother and me is that she was 

happy and I am not. I know a conflict that she couldn't have imagined.

 Text B

 Having a specia! day in honour of teachers is a fine thing. But one day a year is not enough!

 Where would the world be withocrt teachers? What hope would there be for 

human progress? Teachers deserve the respect of the whole of society the whole year 

round. But they haven't got it. What is most remarkable 10 and regrettable is that in this 

great land of China, with its ancient civilization and traditional respect for learning, 

teachers are so looked d'own upon that it is necessary to set aside a day to show 

respect for them.

 Why is this? I believe that teachers' low social status is inseparable 

from their I'ow pay, and poor living and: working conditions-though 

these are gradually being improved. But still the state allocation of funds for 

education is, per capila, amongthe lowest in the world. So teachers are, in gengeral, 

under-paid and overworded-especially those in pre-school, primary and secondary 

education. 

This despite the faat that Comrade Deng Xiaoping immediately onv resuming office pointedout: education is a continuous process and the pay and'conditions of teachers from the most elementary level must be improved. This statement was most encouraging', but progress since it was made, some years ago,. has been painfully slow.

 So today, who wants to become a teacher? Who wants to marry a teacher? When far better prospects 12 are offered in other professions?

 True,"man does not live by bread alone " -but he can't live without it. Of course 

many fine dedicated 13 people are still willing, even eager to become and remain 

teachers. Many, but not enough. That's one reason why there are middle sehool 

classes of 70 and more pupils , an intolerabl'e situation. The lower the number of 

students in a class , the higher the quality of education can be.

 Of course I am not speaking personally. Looking back on, 35 years as a teacher in 

China I feel grateful. As a teacher here I have had a happy and rewarding life. Being 

surrounded by young people has helped to keep me young. But my pay and 

conditions are well above those of my Chinese colleagues.A big and rapid 

improvement in their social status, together with a similar improvement in their pay, 

working cond'i~ions and bousing, will attract more and more fine people to the 

teaching profession. Th is a vital and urgent necessity for China's socialist 

modernization 14.

 Additional Information

 For many of you this will be your last year at shcool and now is the time for you to 

begin thinking seriously about your future careers. In order to give you as much help 

as possible, I have drawn 15 up a list of questions that you ought to ask yourself. 

"Have I given thought to what I would like to be doing 15 to 20 yeas from now?" Bear in mind that the career you choose will affect the future course of your life. It will partially 16 determine your range of friends, your choice of husband or wife, where you live, your recreational activities. and other important aspects of your life.

 "Have I a clear knowledge of my abilities and aptitudes 17, as well as my interests 

and aims?" & honest about your weak points as well as your strong ones. Take a 

really good look at yourself and give real thought to the kind of person you are, what 

you are good at, and what kind of person you want to be.

 "Do I know the kind of occupations in which people like myself tend to find 

success and satisfaction?" Once you have examined and found out about yourself , 

your next question is what you can really do with yourself. You can gain some idea 

of what other people, with similar abilities and interests. consider to be important and 

challenging in the careers that they chose , by talking to people already in the careers 

that interest you. Watch these people at work.

 "Have I weighed carefully the immediate 11 advantages against the longterm 

prospects offered by the jobs I am considering?" Will the occupation you select give 

you satisfaction, not just when you start, but in the years to come? Realize now the 

importance of education in all fields, technical and professional. Remember that 

when promotion 18 occurs, preference is usually given to educated persons-other things 

being equal.

 "Have I talked about my job references with my careers master, my parents, my 

teachers and my headmaster?" Remember they have a tremendous furid of 

experience from which you should benefit. They can help you think about the job in 

which you will find satisfaction and challenge. They can stimulate 19 you to give 

careful thought to what you really want to do, and offer useful suggestions as to how 

you might take full advantage of your personal qualities and qualification.

 "Have I made a real study of jobs in Hong Kong?" It takes a very long time to find the work that suits you the best. Reading about and studying a number of occupations is something you should do over and over again. In Hong Kong very little written material is provided about the careers available. But there is some. You or your parents should obtairi it as soon as possible. Your careers master will be able to help you in this, if your school has one.

 "How do I regard my job? Is it just a means of getting money to do the things that I want to do? Is the work important to me and my future happiness and contentment? Is it a combination of both these things?" The above questions and their answers should give you some better ideas about how you should start planning your career. Your life-long job cannot be approached in any kind of haphazard 20 fashion. It must be considered carefull, examined from every angle, talked over with those who know you and those who can help you in any way.