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MANAGER:
Each student has a mentor in the workplace and a placement
[185]
tutor – an academic member of staff – who makes regular
visits to the workplace to discuss the student’s progress and, if
necessary, resolve any problems or issues.
INTERVIEWER: OK, thanks Mike.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
INTERVIEWER: Now continuing with our theme of graduate employment, we’re
going to talk about soft skills – what they are and why you need
them. Mike… Can you define what is meant by soft skills?
MANAGER:
Yes. Soft skills are an extension of what I mentioned earlier, when
I spoke about teamworking and communication. It’s not sufficient
these days to have only the knowhow – by that I mean the technical
skills to do the job – employers also look for personal qualities and
interpersonal skills.
INTERVIEWER: And why are personal qualities so important in the business world?
MANAGER:
Well, employers want people that are going to add value to their
business and not detract from it. Simple things like lack of
[186]
punctuality – showing up on time and being dependable will
always be important to any company, as are honesty and integrity.
These personal characteristics are an inherent part of an individu
al’s makeup, and are difficult to change. Soft skills also include
[187]
coping skills when faced with difficult situations and chal
lenges… Again, performance in these areas is linked with inbuilt
traits.
INTERVIEWER: I see, and what about interpersonal skills, can’t these be improved
with practice or training?
MANAGER:
Yes they can, because it is possible to change the way that
you interact with colleagues and customers. The ability to
[188]
communicate effectively, both through speech and in your
documentation is at the core of interpersonal skills. Equally
[189]
important is the ability to demonstrate respectful listening.
INTERVIEWER: And how will good soft skills help you in an interview situation?
MANAGER:
[190]
Soft skills are vital to a successful interview. The impression
you create can play a large part in the decision to make a job offer,
or not. Employers need to know that you have the right attitude. Will
HOW TO MASTER THE IELTS
156
you fit in? Are you a team player? Do you appear positive and
enthusiastic? You must be able to make the necessary changes to
market yourself in this way.
INTERVIEWER: Well, thanks Mike. That’s er… That’s most interesting.
Section
4
Today I’m going to talk about a man who explained how life on earth evolved through
a process of natural selection; the survival of the fittest.
[Q191]
His name is Charles Darwin and he was born in England in 1809. Darwin’s
mother was the daughter of the renowned Staffordshire potter Josiah
Wedgwood, and his father was a wealthy doctor. Darwin’s mother died when
he was nine years old, and his father sent him to boarding school. During
[Q192]
vacations, Darwin would collect and study wildlife, especially insects. In
1825, Darwin attended the University of Edinburgh to study medicine.
However, he lacked the aptitude for the subject, being more interested in
botany. He joined a student natural history group, which introduced him
[Q193]
to the science of geology. Darwin left medical school two years later without
completing his training. Darwin’s father was disappointed by his son’s failure
at Edinburgh and he sent him to Cambridge to study theology. He graduated
from Cambridge in 1831, age 22, but decided against becoming a clergy
man, much to the dismay of his father. Whilst at Cambridge, Darwin had met
a Professor of Botany who encouraged him to pursue his interest in natural
history, and later recommended him as a crew member on the Royal Navy
[Q194]
mapping ship, HMS
Beagle
. The ship embarked for South America in 1831,
sailing from Plymouth, England. It dropped anchor in Brazil, Argentina, the
Falkland Islands and Chile, before arriving at the Galapagos Islands in 1835.
Here Darwin observed species of plants, birds and reptiles that were unique
to the islands. The rest of the journey took in Sydney, Australia, and Cape
Town, South Africa, with stops in the Keeling Islands and Mauritius. The
route back to England included a stop in the tropics of South America, where
Darwin made further important discoveries. The journey took five years and
enabled Darwin to study life on three continents; collecting plants, insects
[Q195]
and rock samples whilst taking notes and making drawings.
AUDIOSCRIPTS FOR THE LISTENING TESTS
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