...:
Now turn to section 3.
...:
You will hear four students discussing their work placements in their business course.
...:
First you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.
...:
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
SUSAN:
Come over here and sit with Cassie and me.
SUSAN:
We're just discussing our work placements.
SUSAN:
Have you got yours yet, Peter?
PETER:
Yes, it was confirmed this morning.
TOM:
What do you mean work placements?
CASSIE:
You know, Susan, Peter and I are all doing a BA in advertising.
CASSIE:
Well, we have a sandwich course.
CASSIE:
We do two years at university studying, and then there is one year working in industry, and then we have a final year at university.
CASSIE:
We all start our work placements in two months, and we have all just been given the confirmation of where we will be working.
TOM:
Do you find a placement, or does the uni?
CASSIE:
We have the opportunity to organise our own, but if we can't, the uni will find a placement for us.
SUSAN:
So Peter, what will you be doing?
SUSAN:
Did you get that placement in the design firm in South London that you were hoping for?
PETER:
I was holding out for it as long as I could, but they took too long to confirm it.
PETER:
Because of that, the uni went with my second choice.
CASSIE:
Was that the placement in Bournemouth at the finance company?
PETER:
That was my third choice.
PETER:
My second choice was in Birmingham, in a textiles manufacturing plant.
PETER:
How about you, Cassie?
CASSIE:
I'm really excited, as I've got a placement in Paris.
CASSIE:
Yes, it's right downtown.
CASSIE:
They manufacture furniture, and I'll be responsible for designing a new campaign for a whole new set of products they're launching.
CASSIE:
Well, I'll be part of a team.
CASSIE:
But that's better, as I can learn so much.
CASSIE:
The firm also said they're interested in my English skills, as a lot of the products will be heading for the UK market eventually.
PETER:
What about you, Susan?
SUSAN:
I'm going to be working in a paper factory in Liverpool.
PETER:
That's not what you wanted.
PETER:
I thought you had a London placement lined up.
SUSAN:
I did, but I met a student who was there last year, and she said they did not give her much opportunity to do meaningful work.
SUSAN:
I wanted to push myself, so I turned them down.
TOM:
I'm not surprised you turned them down, then.
TOM:
Paper doesn't sound so interesting, though.
SUSAN:
It doesn't, does it?
SUSAN:
But Professor Robinson knows the woman who is the Director of Advertising there, and he says I will learn loads.
...:
You now have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.
...:
Now listen to the rest of the discussion and answer questions 26 to 30.
PETER:
So, Cassie, tell us all about Paris.
CASSIE:
Well, I start pretty much at the end of the semester.
CASSIE:
I was hoping to negotiate beginning at the start of September, but they said they wanted me two or three months earlier than that, at least.
CASSIE:
Obviously, we're still at college in June, so early July it'll have to be.
SUSAN:
Can't you go in August?
SUSAN:
We were supposed to go to Spain together in July.
CASSIE:
You can come and visit me in Paris instead, though.
PETER:
Where will you live?
CASSIE:
I've got some options.
CASSIE:
I have an old aunt who lives in the Paris suburbs.
CASSIE:
She's happy to put me up.
CASSIE:
I'll be free, but it might curtail my evening activities a little.
CASSIE:
I can rent a flat, too.
CASSIE:
The company has put me in touch with some estate agents there, and I have the details of loads of flats.
CASSIE:
There are quite a few near where I'll be working, but it's just so pricey.
PETER:
Well, Paris is expensive.
PETER:
What about a flat share?
CASSIE:
That's possible, too.
CASSIE:
But obviously you have less privacy.
PETER:
That's quite a choice you'll have to make.
CASSIE:
I think I've decided that the most economical choice will win, though.
CASSIE:
I've not much choice on my budget.
PETER:
How hard will you have to work?
CASSIE:
Oh, they will get their money's worth, it seems.
CASSIE:
I was hoping that it wouldn't be full-time, so I could get to see Paris and the surrounding areas, but it looks like it will be Monday to Friday from nine to five or eight to four.
CASSIE:
Occasionally, if there's a big project on, then I was told that many people turn up for a full day on Saturday, and that will be expected of me when necessary, too.
TOM:
So, what kind of work will you be doing for this furniture company?
CASSIE:
Well, as I said, they will be launching a whole new range of products.
CASSIE:
They've designed a range of home furniture, and I'll be working on the advertising.
CASSIE:
They've even sent me some pictures so I can get working and show them what I can do.
TOM:
What pictures have they sent?
CASSIE:
The first is a coffee table.
SUSAN:
And you have to write marketing on it.
CASSIE:
Well, they want a couple of examples of what I can do.
CASSIE:
The coffee table is pretty standard.
CASSIE:
You know, rectangular, four legs and a glass top.
CASSIE:
It's pretty contemporary and fashionable.
TOM:
What's the second picture?
CASSIE:
The second one is a dining chair.
CASSIE:
It's a bit more traditional, with a wooden frame, no armrests, and a soft, comfortable cushion.
CASSIE:
Both the pictures are fairly straightforward, but they want some examples of my work so they can give me advice before I start.
...:
That is the end of section three.
...:
You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
