Working life ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 11

Working life

A	In my mid-twenties I joined the staff of a language school. The pay wasn’t brilliant but I could make a living1 and there were many aspects of the job that I enjoyed. The other members of staff were nice and I enjoyed teaching the students. A few years later, after returning from maternity leave, I decided to go part-time. Luckily I was able to do a job-share2 with another woman who had a small child. Then the school began to go through a difficult period and had to lay off staff3. I decided to go freelance4. I had managed to build up a network of contacts and this gave me a good start. I soon had a substantial volume of work – private students and marking exams – and was able to earn a good living. 1 earn enough to live (can also be used just to refer to one’s job and how one earns one’s money: She makes a living as a hairdresser) 2 situation where two people share equal parts of the same job 3 dismiss staff because there is no work for them to do 4 work for several different organisations rather than working full-time for one organisation Common mistakes People usually do work, NOT make work. If we talk about people making work, it means that they create work for other people to do, e.g. A baby makes a lot of work for its parents – but it’s worth it.
B	After graduating, I practised medicine1 for a number of years in London. I managed to carve a niche for myself2 as a specialist in dermatology. Then I realised I needed some fresh challenges and so I did a job swap for a year with my opposite number3 in a clinic in Vancouver. When I returned, I went back to my old job and also took up the post4 of editor of a leading medical journal. I held that position for a number of years. I’m now hoping to go abroad again and so am letting everyone know that I am open to offers. 1 worked as a doctor 2 make a special position for myself 3 someone doing the same job in a different location 4 started work
C	After graduating in economics, I did the usual thing of putting together my CV1 and applying for jobs. I got a very tempting offer from an investment bank and accepted it. I was put on a fast-track scheme2 and was moving up the ladder3 fast. However, one day I had a change of heart4. I realised I’d stopped enjoying the excitement. I felt I needed to get my priorities right5. I decided that other aspects of my life should take priority over6 my work. I handed in my resignation and moved to the country. 1 CV = curriculum vitae, a written description of your education, qualifications, skills and career 2 system for rapid training and promotion of talented staff 3 being promoted 4 my attitude or mood changed 5 give importance to the right aspects of life 6 be more important to me than Common mistakes We say someone is under a lot of / considerable pressure, NOT under high pressure.

EXERCISES

11.1	Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending. 1 My husband and I do of contacts. 2 Circulate the report to all members the staff in our company. 3 Jonas has been happier since he went of work this month. 4 I hope it won’t be necessary to lay of staff. 5 It’s not easy to make part-time. 6 Meeting people is the best aspect a job-share. 7 Marian was the last person to join off many of our staff. 8 Anna will be going on maternity of the job. 9 Try to build up a good network a living as an actor. 10 We’ve had a ridiculous volume leave next month.
11.2	Complete the conversation using words from the opposite page. Megan: Did you know my son’s in Australia at the moment? He’s doing a job swap with his opposite (1) ______________, the person who (2) ______________a similar position to his in the company’s Sydney office. Jose: Wow, that’s good! But I thought he wanted to go to the States this year? Megan: Well, yes. He did have a very tempting (3) ______________from a company in New York and he was about to accept, but then he had a (4) ______________of heart. Jose: So, have you met the exchange person from Sydney? Megan: Yes, he’s been to dinner a couple of times. He’d like to settle here in fact and has asked us to tell everyone he’s (5) ______________to offers from any companies that might be interested. Maybe your firm might be interested? Jose: Perhaps. We could do with someone with good Australian contacts. But we could really do with someone who could (6) ______________a post before the end of the year. Megan: That could work out perhaps. He certainly seems very nice. And he’d be motivated to do well for you because he’s so keen to stay here. Jose: And do you think your son will stay in Australia? Megan: I hope not. I’ve told him to get his priorities (7) ______________. Being near his mum should (8) ______________priority over Australian beaches and sunshine!
11.3	Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets. 1 The recession meant that the company had to make some workers redundant. (LAY) 2 Your family should really be more important to you than your work. (PRIORITY) 3 Nita soon gained several promotions at work. (LADDER) 4 Harry hates his new boss so much that I think he’ll soon leave. (RESIGNATION) 5 Vic earns good money as a freelance journalist. (LIVING) 6 I need to write down all my qualifications and experience before I apply for jobs. (CV) 7 My father always wanted to work as a doctor in a rural community. (PRACTISE)
11.4	Correct the seven collocation errors in this paragraph. George makes a life as a sports reporter on a local newspaper but he is under high pressure at work at the moment. He’s had far too much work to make recently. He’s been put on a fast-train scheme for promotion and they’re really pushing him. It’s so hard that he’s thinking of handing over his resignation and going freelancing. It wouldn’t be easy but I’m sure he’d soon work a niche for himself as a sports journalist.

ANSWER KEY

11.1 1 My husband and I do a job-share. 2 Circulate the report to all members of staff. 3 Jonas has been happier since he went part-time. 4 I hope it won’t be necessary to lay off many of our staff. 5 It’s not easy to make a living as an actor. 6 Meeting people is the best aspect of the job. 7 Marian was the last person to join the staff in our company. 8 Anna will be going on maternity leave next month. 9 Try to build up a good network of contacts. 10 We’ve had a ridiculous volume of work this month. 11.2 1 number 2 holds 3 offer 4 change 5 open 6 take up 7 right 8 take 11.3 1 The recession meant that the company had to lay off some workers/staff or lay some workers/ staff off. 2 Your family should really take priority over your work. 3 Nita soon moved up the ladder at work. 4 Harry hates his new boss so much that I think he’ll soon hand in his resignation. 5 Vic earns a good living as a freelance journalist. 6 I need to put together my CV before I apply for jobs. 7 My father always wanted to practise medicine in a rural community. 11.4 George makes a living as a sports reporter on a local newspaper but he is under considerable / a lot of pressure at work at the moment. He’s had far too much work to do recently. He’s been put on a fast-track scheme for promotion and they’re really pushing him. It’s so hard that he’s thinking of handing in his resignation and going freelance. It wouldn’t be easy but I’m sure he’d soon carve a niche for himself as a sports journalist.