SCRIPTS: READING - TALKING ABOUT WORK AND LEISURE

THREE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR TYPICAL DAY

  

 

Interview 1 (Interviewer and Mark)

I: So, Mark, you work for a fashion company in Milan. Tell me about your working life. What do you do when you get to work?

M: First, I say hello to all my colleagues and then I check my e-mail.

I: Where do you have lunch?

M: We have a long lunch break. I sometimes go home for lunch, because it’s close to work. The other days I have lunch with colleagues in a restaurant.

I: How much do you travel for your job?

M: Not a lot, but I always go to the fashion shows in Paris and New York.

I: And what do you do on the weekend?

M: On Saturday nights, I meet friends for a meal or we go clubbing.

 

Interview 2 (Interviewer and Isabelle)

I: So what do you do, Isabelle?

Is: I work for a pharmaceutical company. I’m a research assistant.

I: Can you tell me about your working day? What do you do when you get to work?

Is: I’m always at my desk at seven o’clock. First, I check my e-mail and my diary. Then I have a coffee with my colleagues.

I: Where do you have lunch?

Is: I don’t stop for lunch. I usually have a sandwich at my desk.

I: How often do you travel for work?

Is: I never travel for work. I’m always in the office.

I: What about the weekend? What do you do?

Is: I’ve got two small children, so I like to spend time with them. On Saturday evenings, we sometimes invite friends round for dinner or we go to the cinema. It depends if we can get a babysitter.

 

Interview 3 (Interviewer and Dan) 

I: What do you do, Dan?

D: I’m a sales manager for Africa and Europe.

I: Tell me about your working day. What do you do when you get to the office?

D: First, I have a meeting with my team. Then I check my BlackBerry and reply to important e-mails.

I: Where do you have lunch?

D: I usually have lunch in the company restaurant. About twice a week, I go out for lunch with visitors.

I: How often do you travel on business?

D: I’m away a lot. I visit the sales office in South Africa three times a year. And I’m in Europe once a month for a week.

I: And what you do on the weekend?

D: I like quiet weekends. I read a lot and listen to music. On Sunday mornings, I play golf.

 

TALKING ABOUT WORK AND LEISURE

 

  

P: Hi, I’m Pat. It’s Tim, isn’t it?

T: Yes, hi, Pat, nice to meet you.

P: What do you do in your job?

T: I manage a web team at an IT company.

P: Ah, yes. And how many hours a week do you work?

T: Usually between 30 and 35 hours, but sometimes it’s a lot more.

P: Yes, it’s the same in my job, but I have to travel around quite a lot.

T: Uh-huh, and what do you like best about your job?

P: Well, I work flexible hours, which is great. And I like the people I work with. Do you meet your colleagues after work?

T: Yes, from time to time. We sometimes go for a meal at a nice restaurant near the office.

P: Oh, that’s nice. And what do you do in your free time?

T: I love sports. I really like karate and I love playing golf. But I’m not really interested in watching sports on TV. I don’t enjoy watching professional golf, for example. What about you?

P: I like golf too, but I’m also into French cinema and jazz music. I like watching DVDs and I really enjoy going to concerts. I also like playing the guitar. I’m interested in computer games, but I’m not very good at them.

A MEMBER OF HUMAN RESOURCES INTERVIEWING ONE OF THE COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES.

 

 

Human Resources manager and a Media Planner

HR: I’d like to ask you a few questions about your work. What exactly is your job?

MP: I’m a media planner.

HR: OK, so what do you do at work?

MP: Well, to put it simply, I decide the media we use for our advertising campaigns. I spend a lot of time each day talking to people in radio, television and the press, as well as with internet companies. We use all kinds of modern media for our advertising campaigns.

HR: OK, thank you. What hours do you work?

MP: It depends. If we’re working on a big advertising campaign, I start at eight and often don’t leave the office much before nine or 10 in the evening. There’s a lot of pressure in my job.

HR: I can see that. What about breaks? How long do you have for lunch?

MP: Usually, I don’t have a break at lunch. I get a sandwich at the local deli and eat it at my desk. I have a proper lunch maybe once or twice a month.

HR: Mmm, you are busy. So tell me, how do you feel about your job? What do you like about it?

MP: There’s a lot of variety in my work. I meet lots of interesting people outside the office, and many of my colleagues are also friends. I really enjoy working with them.

HR: Right, so what don’t you like about the job? 

MP: Huh, how long have you got ? OK, I don’t like working such long hours without a break. I have a young daughter and I don’t see much of her because I get home so late. I often work on the weekend if we have to plan a really big advertising campaign. So my work–life balance isn’t good. Too much work, not enough time for leisure, for fun activities. Not enough time for the family – that’s my problem.