Unit 9
CHOOSING A CAREER
PERIOD 85: READING
ADVICE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS

By: Le Thi Thu- Chuong My A High School

BEFORE READING

3

SHE MAY GO TO UNIVERSITY / CONTINUE STUDYING

4

HE MAY WORK AS AN APPRENTICE //
HE MAY JOIN THE WORKFORCE

5

HE MAY TAKE A GAP YEAR AND GO TRAVELLING

6

Work in individuals

TIPS: HOW TO MATCH HEADINGS WITH PARAGRAPHS
•Look at the headings and identify keywords.
•Do not read the whole paragraph word per word
•Read the first one or two sentences and the last sentence of the paragraphs.
(You can also briefly look at the rest of the paragraph but you don't have to read
every word and pay attention to new words).
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Work in individuals

D

C

A

B

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Work in pairs

UNIT 9: CHOOSING A CAREER – READING - WHILE READING – VOCABULARY LEARNING

ACT 3: MATCH THE WORDS/ PHRASES/ EXPRESSIONS WITH SUITABLE DEFINITIONS OR EXPLANATION
WORDS/
PHRASES/
EXPRESSIONS

PART
OF
SPEECH

PRONUN-CIATION

DEFINITIONS/ EXPLANATION

1.Smooth(er)

ADJ

[smu: ð]
 

a.To follow someone else while they are P.2 –L5
at work to learn that person's job

1-

 

2.Apprentice

N

 

V

b. To become used to something very  
easily
c. Someone who works for an employer  
or expert to learn a particular skill or job
 

2-

3.Shadow

[ə'prentis]
 
/ˈʃædəʊ/

3-

 

 

4-

 

['tə:∫əri]
e. Written work in an office, such as  
[,edju:'kei∫n] filling in forms, writing letters, etc…
 

5-

 

6.Take to st like a IDM
duck to water

 

6-

 

7.Paperwork

/ˈpeɪpəwɜːk/ g. At university or college level

7-

  10

4.Get (Come)
grips with

to IDM

/ɡet tə ɡrɪps d. Without problems or difficulties
wɪð/

POSITION OF STUDEN
THE WORDS/ TS'
PHRASES
ANWERS

STUDENTS'
TRANSLATION
FROM
THE
CONTEXT

 
5.Tertiary
education

NP

N

f.To begin to understand and deal with  
something difficult
 

WORDS/
PHRASES/ DEFINITIONS/ EXPLANATION
EXPRESSIONS

POSITION
OF
THE ANSWE
WORDS/
RS
PHRASES

SUGGESTED
TRANSLATION

1.Smooth(er)

D. Without problems or difficulties

P.2 –L.5

1- D

Suôn sẻ

2.Apprentice

C. Someone who works for an employer or expert P.3 –L.20
to learn a particular skill or job

2- C

Người học việc/
nghề

3.Shadow

A. To follow someone else while they are at work P.3-L4
to learn that person's job
 

3-A

đi theo quan sát
(ai), thực hành
để học việc
 

4.Get (Come) to grips F.To begin to understand and deal with something P.3 –L. 4+5 4- F
with
difficult

Bắt đầu hiểu/
nắm bắt vấn đề

5.Tertiary education

G. At university or college level
 

6.Take to st like a duck B. To become used to something very easily
to water
 

7.Paperwork

P.4 – L.1

5- G

Giáo dục cao
đẳng/đại học

P.4 –L.5+6

6- B

Dễ dàng thích
nghi/ hòa nhập
( như cá gặp
nước)
 

7- E

Công việc bàn
giấy/ văn phòng

E. Written work in an office, such as filling in P.4 –L.13
forms, writing letters, etc…

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: READING
In the UK, there are some websites that provide school students with practical advice about leaving school
and taking the next step in their careers. The following are some examples: 
1.  d. For those about to start a job
If students are about to start a job, career advisers have useful information that may help them make the
transition into the working world smoother. They should get used to taking responsibility if something goes
wrong in their job. By taking responsibility, they will have the opportunity to learn how to put things right and
they can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
2. c. For those going to be apprentices
In general, apprentices are assigned to a senior member of staff to spend some time shadowing them and
getting to grips with the basics of the job. If apprentices are given the opportunity to get involved early on,
they should take it, as this will help them learn faster and improve their confidence. The best thing for
apprentices is that they have the opportunity to earn while they learn, and most apprentices are required to
attend college for part of the time.
3.  a. For those going to university
Moving straight to tertiary education from secondary school is considered a big jump. However, many
students take to university life like a duck to water. Normally, the first week at university is a bit confusing,
even a little stressful, but it does not take long to get used to university life. During the first week, students
have their timetables and other paperwork sorted. After that they can relax and take in the campus
atmosphere.
4. b. For those who have no plans
When students do not know what they want to do after leaving school, they could consider some other
options, which the advisers can offer. They can find a temporary job, or take a gap year and go travelling; they
may work somewhere abroad, or speak to career advisers who can help them come up with a plan. If none of
these options are successful, students should go back to school. They can still be accepted on to A level
courses if they have GCSEs.
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WHILE READING – ACT 3: VOCABULARY LEARNING
WORDS/
PHRASES/ EXPRESSIONS
1.Smooth(er)

PART
OF PRONUNSPEECH
-CIATION
ADJ
[smu: ð]
 

2.Apprentice

N

[ə'prentis]
 

Người học việc/ nghề

3.Shadow

V

/ˈʃædəʊ/

đi theo quan sát (ai), thực hành để
học việc

4.Get (Come) to grips with

5.Tertiary education

IDM

NP

/ɡet
wɪð/

tə

SUGGESTED TRANSLATION
Suôn sẻ

 
ɡrɪps Bắt đầu hiểu/ nắm bắt vấn đề

 
['tə:∫əri]
[,edju:'kei∫n]
 

6.Take to st like a duck to IDM
water

 

7.Paperwork

/ˈpeɪpəwɜːk/

N

Giáo dục cao đẳng/đại học

Dễ dàng thích nghi/ hòa nhập
( như cá gặp nước)
 
Công việc bàn giấy/ văn phòng
13

Read
the passage ,and
then do the tasks
VOCABULARY
CHECKING
that follow.

14

Work in groups of 4 students

1.What kind of websites are available for school leavers in the UK?
2. What advice is offered to school leavers who want to start a job?
3. What is the best thing for apprentices?
4. What do students do in the first week at university?
5. What can students do if they have no plans after leaving school?
 
 

Tips:
_Find the key words of the questions

_Locate the section in the text based
on the key words.
_Read it carefully to find the answer
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ANSWER: Some websites that provide school leavers with
practical advice about leaving school and taking the next step in
their careers ( P.1 - L.2.3.4.5)
PARAGRAPH 1;
In the UK, there are some websites that
provide school students with practical
advice about leaving school and taking
the next step in their careers. The
following are some examples: 

16

Work in groups of 4 students

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Q.2. What advice is offered to school leavers who want to start a job?
 They should get used to taking responsibility when something goes
wrong in their job. ( P.2 - L 6-7-8)

d. PARAGRAPH 2: For those about to
start a job
If students are about to start a job,
career
advisers
have
useful
information that may help them make
the transition into the working world
smoother. They should get used to
taking responsibility if something goes
wrong in their job. By taking
responsibility, they will have the
opportunity to learn how to put things
right and they can avoid making the
same mistakes in the future.
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Q.3. What is the best thing for apprentices?
The best thing for apprentices is that they have the
opportunity to earn while they learn. ( P.3. –L11-1213)
c. PARAGRAPH 3: For those going to be apprentices

In general, apprentices are assigned to a senior
member of staff to spend some time shadowing them
and getting to grips with the basics of the job. If
apprentices are given the opportunity to get involved
early on, they should take it, as this will help them
learn faster and improve their confidence. The best
thing for apprentices is that they have the opportunity
to earn while they learn, and most apprentices are
required to attend college for part of the time.
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Q.4. What do students do in the first week at university?
 They have their timetables and other paperwork sorted in
the first week at university. (P.4 – L.11-12-13)
a. PARAGRAPH 4: For those going to university
Moving straight to tertiary education from
secondary school is considered a big jump.
However, many students take to university life
like a duck to water. Normally, the first week at
university is a bit confusing, even a little stressful,
but it does not take long to get used to university
life. During the first week, students have their
timetables and other paperwork sorted. After that
they can relax and take in the campus
atmosphere.

20

Q. 5. What can students do if they have no plans after leaving school?
 They can find a temporary job;
 they can take a year out; ( take a gap year and go travelling)
 they may work somewhere abroad;
 they can speak to career advisers to help them come up with a plan;
 they can go back to school
( P.5 – L 6-7-8-9-10-11)

Paragraph 5: For those who have no plans
When students do not know what they want to do after
leaving school, they could consider some other options,
which the advisers can offer. They can find a temporary job,
or take a gap year and go travelling; they may work
somewhere abroad, or speak to career advisers who can
help them come up with a plan. If none of these options are
successful, students should go back to school. They can
still be accepted on to A level courses if they have GCSEs.

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1.Which advice in the reading text is the most
useful for you? Why?
2.Which is the most popular trend in Vietnam
now ?
-START A JOB
-GO TO UNIVERSITY
-BECOMING AN APPRENTICE
-HAVING NO PLAN
3. What is your choice after you leave CMA high
school? Give the reasons.

- Prepare the answers individually in 2 minutes
- Go round the class to asks as many friends' options as possible in 3 minutes
- Report to the whole class ( Your and one of your friend's opinion)

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SUGGESTION: Right now I am in two minds to
many options. I would like to go abroad but I
can't meet the demand financially; I also dream of
going to university but I am not sure whether I can
pass or fail ( As I am not good at any school
subjects). Actually, leaving schools I will for sure
miss my friends, my teachers and my school and I
will never forget the wonderful time I am with
them during school years so should I go back to
school? In conclusion, the most useful advice for
those who have no fixed plans like me is that I will
speak to career advisers for some advice.
REMEMBER: DON'T be afraid of making mistakes when speaking, but rather
recognize that making mistakes is a natural part of learning a language.
 FREELY SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
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AFTER READING: CONSOLIDATION

1

2

6

5

3
4
25

9

points

WHAT IS THE TOPIC OF OUR LESSON TODAY?
ADVICE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS

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9

points

WHAT IS THE WORD THAT HAS THE OPPOSITE MEANING WITH “
SMOOTH”
A. Flat

B. Rough

C. Even

D. Slippery

B: ROUGH

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8

points

The closest meaning of the word apprentice is:
A. Noble

B. Independent C. Scientist

D. Learner

D: LEARNER

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10

points

WHAT DOES GCSE STAND FOR?
 General Certificate of Secondary Education.
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
is an academic qualification, generally taken in a number
of subjects by pupils in secondary education in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland.

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9

points

Find a phrasal verb meaning to find
or produce an answer, idea,..

Come up with

30

WHAT ARE TWO MAIN READING
SKILLS USED IN THIS LESSON?

SKIMMING AND SCANNING

10 points

Homew
ork

* Learn the new vocabulary by heart
and make sentences with them

* Write a paragraph about your future career plan
* Prepare for the next lesson

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