Education and Professional Development

Most Americans start their education at age 5 or 6, in elementary school. Then they graduate to middle school, and finally high school. Each year of education is called a grade. Each school may be different, but grades 1 through 5 are usually elementary school, grades 6 through 8 middle school, and grades 9 through 12 high school. (what grade are you in?)

After high school, students can choose to go to a university or college. Universities are larger than colleges and offer more degrees, like a bachelor's or master's degree. Colleges usually offer only bachelor's degrees.

Students can go to public schools, which are paid for by state taxes, or families can pay for their children to go to private schools, which some people believe offer a better education, but are usually more expensive.

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Student: Good afternoon. I'm considering applying to your university and would like to ask you some questions.

Woman: Of course. Take a seat. Which course were you thinking of applying for?

Student: South-East Asian Studies.

Woman: I see. Do you have copy of the university prospectus?

Student: Yes, I do. I downloaded it.

Woman: So, you know that it's a four-year course, including one year living and working in the region.

Student: Yes. The A-level entrance requirement is BCC, right?

Woman: Yes, but on average our students have 3Bs.

Student: Are there any restrictions on the subjects that I take at A level?

Woman: No, but we find that student studying politics, economics, history, geography or languages tend to find their first year easier. A background in at least two or three of those subjects is advantageous.

Student: I see. I'm not studying politics or languages, but I am taking the other three at A level. Are languages an important part of the course? You see, I'm not very good at them. 

Woman: Languages are not a compulsory part of the course - they are optional each year. However, because students spend a year abroad, we strongly recommend that students take one for at least a year beforehand. However, there is a language lab that students are free to use during the day regardless of the subjects they are taking.

Student: Which language are offered?

Woman: We have five on offer -Vietnamese, Burmese, Thai, Indonesian and Tagalog. They can be taken in the first, second, and fourth years. During the third year, students are expected to learn the basic of the language spoken wherever they are spending their year abroad. 

Student: I see. Can I spend my year abroad in any country in the region I choose?

Woman: Yes, as long as you can satisfy your tutors that it will benefit your studies. This year most students have gone to Vietnam, Thailand or Philippines. Fewer have gone to Indonesia, Burma, Malaysia, Laos or Cambodia. None went to Singapore or Brunei.

Student: What do students generally do during their year abroad?

Woman: The vast majority help on aid projects, especially helping with water supply and sanitation in rural areas. Others get involved in teaching English or in Business - particularly the logistics side of things. A small minority get jobs translating or checking translations. That's quite well paid, but your language skills have to be up to scratch.

Student: Good. I was attracted by the idea of teaching English or doing aid work.

Woman: Very often, It's possible to do both. The way you can also develop a wider range of skills.

Student: Thank you for your help. Can I just check the optional courses for year one?

Woman: The only choice in year one is a language or a project where the student creates a portfolio of background information on the countries of the region. Actually, many students do both, since they find the project contributes to their general understanding of the region and the languages are obviously useful preparation for going abroad. However, students are only assessed on either the language or the project and are free to choose which one. 

Student: Got it. And could you tell me about the scholarships that are available from the department? It says in the prospectus that there are some in addition to the ones offered by the university.

Woman: Sure. Actually, I've printed out a list...Here you are. Nothing is available for the first-year students, but thereafter scholarships are awarded for high overall grades and also for linguistics skills. There is a smaller discretionary award for non-academic contributions

Student: Well, thank you very much for your help. 

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A: I went to public elementary school in New York City. I loved it. But when I went to middle school, the classes were big and my grades went down. So, for high school, my parents moved me to a private school. It was expensive, but teachers were really good. Most of them had master's degrees or doctorates. After highschool, I went to New York University. I received a bachelor's degree in literature. I really learned a lot, so it was worth it. At least, I hope my parents thought so.   

B: I, Uh, grew up in Coventry in England, and I went to school there. I went on to university at Warwick. and studied for joint degree in economics and mathematics. I did a BA in business management, then I did an MBA at University of Michigan. It was challenging, leaving my friends and family in England to study in tha US. I really learned a lot about American culture. Oh, and I became addicted to hotdogs.

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A: I've been thinking about my future. Where I want to go, who I want to be, what I want to do. I'm 24 years old, and I don't know what I want. 
B: What are those?
A: These are my job applications, This is my law school application, And this is everything for my Peace Corps application.
B: Wow, so many possibilities. [Emma is going to be very successful. She has so many opportunities, and so much energy. She could really use that energy to change the world. I had energy when I was younger. I remember having opportunities. I hope she does something great]. I'm a little jealous. You have your whole future in front of you. 
A: I know. But I don't know what I want!     
B: So what are you going to do?
A: I don't know
B: Let's look at your choices. If you get a job now, you'll make money soon. But if you go to law school and become a lawyer, you'll make a lot of money later. And if you join the Peace Corps...
A: ... I won't make money...ever!...
C: Peace Corps? Emma, You're thinking about the Peace Corps?
B: Yes, Emma is going to apply. 
C: Emma. 
B: Dad, I just want to do something good. You gave me so much, and I'm so grateful. But now I want to go out there. I want to help people. I think if I join the Peace Corps, I'll really help people. I'll give something back. 
A: It's a very noble idea, Em. 
C: I know kids grow up. They move out of the house, they get jobs, they get married. But she's talking about the Peace Corps! She'll be so far away. But she will help people. If she moves abroad, she'll learn another language. She'll get to see a lot of things and meet a lot of new people -yeah. But it's dangerous. She'll be far away, and I won't see her for two years. I'll worry so much. Why don't you just stay here with me? With us? 
B: Well, I don't know yet. My future is, um, undecided.       

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A: Jake, what's wrong? You haven't said anything for an hour.  
B: It's my job again, managing the coffee shop. 
A: Did something happen at work?
B: No. Nothing happened at work. That's the point. Nothing ever happens. It's completely unchallenging. The same boring stuff, every day.
A: Why not change your job?
B: Like it's that easy.
A: Well, what other job have you got experience in?
B: Well, I was a substitute teacher for a couple of months. I really enjoyed that.
A: That was last year, right?
B: Yeah. It was really rewarding.
A: That's great.
B: The kids actually learned some history. At least, I think they did. Anyway, I loved it.
A: That's great.
B: It's always been my dream to become a teacher. If I were a teacher, I'd be a lot happier with my life.
A: What do you have to do to become a teacher?
B: Well, first I have to ... I need a teaching certificate.
A: So you need to take some classes. You can do that. 
B: Well, actually, there's a certificate program in January. I'm hoping to get on it.
A: That's great, Jake. You really have a plan to change your life.
B: I guess I do. Of course, working during the day and studying at night...well, it won't be easy.  
A: Lots of people do it. 
B: Hey. Wanna play Galaxy Battlestar?
A: Uh, Okay

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B: Hey, Jake. What's up?
A: I just had a meeting with my college counselor. 
B: As part of your teaching certificate?
A: Yeah. Umm, my internship's next month, and I talked with my counselor about starting it.  
B: How did it go?
A: Good, I guess. I mean, I've never been asked about my goals before.
B: Really? What did you say?
A: At first nothing. I didn't really have any goals. But then, we talked for a while and I started to... I began to think of goals. 
B: SO what were they?
A: Well, first, I want to do the internship and get my teaching certificate. My second goal is to get a teaching job. And then, I'm interested in getting an MA. 
B: That's great. 
A: My counselor believes in continuing education. She says we should never stop learning.
B: She's right.
A: What are your goals, Simon?
B: Well, my big objective right now is to get professional development for my team. I'm meeting Joan and Todd tomorrow, to talk about on-the-job training.

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C: Okay. Next item on the agenda: Simon, you wanted to talk about professional development?
A: I've been looking for a course that will help our developers get up to date with new technologies. 
C: Okay.
A: I know that cost is important, as is flexibility, especially regarding location and schedule. That's why I'm proposing online study. 
B: I thought you were looking at live classes, with a real teacher? I mean, the advantages are obvious. There's a great college near here, and the tutor's an expert in his field. 
A: Yes, but these classes have their disadvantages. There's a set schedule, and if you miss a class, you lose it. With online classes, you can study wherever and whenever you want. And they're also cheaper.
C: In your email, you suggested two different online schools: Thomsen Computer Institute and the University of Wessex.
A: Yes, but I talked to a friend of mine who studied at Thomsen, and he told me it has a bad reputation. Another disadvantage is that it's a private school, so it's expensive.
C: What about Wessex?
A: I've heard a lot of good things about it. Martin, my senior engineer, gives it a strong recommendation. One good thing is that you meet online with a live instructor once a week. And another advantage is that you can do one class for free, to see if you like it. 
B: That does sound ideal. Do they have a suitable course for your team?
A: They have a short course for people who are already engineers. It just introduces the newest technology. 
C: How much is it?
A: Three hundred dollars. I have 10 engineers, so...
C: That's not bad at all. So, uh, we've made our decision? We'll go with Wessex. 
B: Yupp.
A: Great. I'll send you all the details. 

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MALE: The location of the Wellington school isn't great. It's at 414 Brook Place.
FEMALE: That's pretty far. Well, the instructor could come to our office. He said that he can teach wherever we choose.
MALE: OK. Now, does he ever teach on weekends?
FEMALE: What? Oh, no – I don't think so. Not on weekends.
MALE: Too bad. This Wellington course is short, but … hmm. Maybe we should try Bronson's Online Course instead. It is longer, and there's no instructor, but …
FEMALE: Yeah, but … then we can study at the office, at a cafe before work …
MALE: Right. We can study whenever we want and wherever we want.

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T: I just got an email from my mom. She's going back to college. 
S: Really?
T: Yeah. She was a mathematics teacher for 40 years. Now she want to study Spanish.
S: It's not unusual for older people to go back to college.
T: Yeah, I know. But, I wonder: Why Spanish?
S: Maybe she wants to travel.
T: My mom couldn't wait to retire. After 40 years, she's had enough of the education system. 
S: Why?
T: Oh, you know, the usual good news and bad news. One year they'd get more money, but the class size would double. 
S: Right.
T: Or, the elementary and middle school students would get new textbooks, but only so they could take more tests. 
S: And if the kids didn't pass the test, they failed the grade. 
T: Exactly.
S: I'm totally against that. Too much time is spent on tests. 
T: You know, my mom had some quite modern ideas. When I was 18, she encouraged me to take a gap year. 
S: Cool. I'm all for gap years. I wish I'd taken one.
T: I'm in favor of them, too. But in those days, it wasn't so common for kids to take a year out like that. My mom didn't want me to go straight from school to college. She wanted me to travel and work, and that way I could figure out who I was. 
S: It took me years to figure out what I wanted to do.
T: You're lucky. Some people never do.

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A: I want to talk about my career path here at IXW
B: Okay
A: Dont get me wrong. I enjoy what I'm doing now. But I've been thinking about where I really want to go.
B: That's good. Professional development is important
A: I dont just mean professional development. I mean my whole career path. You see, I'd really like to get into project management.
B: Well, Let's look at your strength. You have good communication skill. You're extremely organized. You're also very good with technology, but...You dont really have a technical background.
A: Yeah. I wish I'd studied something different in college.
B: Hey. It's not the end of the world. You can take a course. It won't be easy, but you can definitely do it. 
A: Doyou really think so?
B: Yes, I really think so
A: Where do you suggest I start?
B: Well, you can start by learning on the job. I'll give you one or two of our smaller projects, so you can get some experiences.
A: Great!
B: And I'd suggest taking a class. I can recommend some good courses.   
A: Thanks!
B: My pleasure, Sally. You have a lot of potential. I'll help you all I can.
A: Thanks Todd!