Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Company
go to end; go to Table of Contents / 43. Trang's Story - Skills / 44. Samir's Story - Qualifications & Experience / 45. Samir's Story - Skills / 46. The Small Claims Tribunal (1) / 47. Small Claims Tribunal (2)
43. Trang's Story - Skillspattern:
text:
[1] I have always been good at doing detailed, precise work with my hands. [2] This talent has been much developed in dressmaking. [3] I am often asked to sew especially difficult custom clothing designs. [4] My work in the garment industry has given me experience with a variety of sewing and cutting machines. [5] I have a reasonable mechanical aptitude, and can usually fix small problems that arise with the machines. [6] By nature, I am fairly systematic and orderly, so I feel quite at home in a production environment. [7] I get on well with people at the workplace. [8] Newer immigrants seem to trust me, and sometimes I am asked to interpret for them or do other things. [9] When the manager asked me to be a supervisor, I was a bit worried about losing friends. [10] It has worked out fine though, even if a couple of people are now more careful about telling me all the gossip!
response:
1 .Describe Trang's talent with her hands.
2. Make a question using these words: How / talent / dressmaking.
3. What sort of special jobs does Trang do?
4. What technical experience has Trang's factory work given her?
5. Why is Trang able to fix minor mechanical problems?
6. What advantage does Trang's liking for system and order give her?
7. Finish this sentence: She gets on well with ....
8. What is Trang's relationship with other migrants?
9. Why was Trang reluctant to accept a promotion?
10. How has her relationship with other workers changed, now that she is a supervisor?
keywords:
[1] detailed; [2] talent; [3] custom; [4] experience; [5] mechanical; [6] systematic; [7] get on; [8] trust; [9] friends; [10] careful
44. Samir's Story - Qualifications & Experience
pattern: I come from A where B; I wanted A, but B; For 6 months A, then B; I did A, which gave me B; I was unhappy with A, and eventually I was able to B; I wanted A...Therefore I have been doing B.
text:
[1] My name is Samir and I come from Basra in Southern Iraq, where my family had lived for generations. [2] At high school I attended the technical stream and graduated with training in automotive repairs. [3] I wanted to study more, but my family was not rich. [4] For six months I worked in a garage, then my country went to war with Iran. [5] Every man in Iraq is forced to serve in the army. [6] Luckily I spent most of the next six years repairing tanks and trucks, which gave me more mechanical experience. [7] I was very unhappy with conditions in Iraq, and eventually I was able to flee to Turkey with my family. [8] After some time in a refugee camp I came to Australia. [9] For a year I worked in a vehicle assembly plant for Ford in Melbourne. [10] However, I really wanted to improve my technical and English language skills. [11] Therefore I have been doing a six months full time Certificate in Occupational Studies (Automotive) with John Batman College of TAFE.
response:
1. How long had Samir's family lived in Basra?
2. Finish this sentence: Samir attended ..... and graduated with ....
3. Why couldn't Samir continue his studies?
4. What was Samir's work experience before he joined the army?
5. Make a question using these words: what / every man / forced to
6 .How did Samir get mechanical experience in the army?
7. Why did Samir's family flee from Iraq?
8. Where did he spend some time before coming to Australia?
9. What sort of work experience has Samir had in Australia?
10. What has Samir been doing to improve his life chances?
pattern:
text:
[1] From a very early age I liked to take things to pieces. [2] It was a sort of joke in my family. [3] However this habit gave me a natural advantage as a mechanic. [4] I seem to have a real talent for problem solving, especially when it comes to machines. [5] Of course, I have also learned to understand metals very well. [6] In Iraq I often had to make parts which couldn't be bought. [7] I can use a lathe and weld most jobs. [8] I have had experience with trucks, farm machinery, military vehicles and cars. [9] In Iraq I also had licences to drive all these vehicles. [10] In Australia I have a car licence at present, and have also done a course to obtain a forklift licence.
response:
1. What special interest did Samir have from an early age?
2. How did his family regard Samir's habit?
3. Make a question using the words: what / Samir / advantage
4. What does Samir have a talent for?
5. Add a beginning to this sentence: .... understand metals very well.
6. Why did he often have to make parts in Iraq?
7. Name two metalworking skills which Samir has.
8. Give a summary of Samir's mechanical experience.
9. What kind of licences did he have, and which licences does he have now?
keywords:
[1] pieces [2] joke [3] advantage [4] talent [5] understand [6] make [7] lathe [8] experience [9] licences [10] forklift
46. The Small Claims Tribunal (1)
pattern:
text:
[1] The Victorian Small Claims Tribunal mediates disputes between consumers and traders up to the value of $5000. [2] If necessary, the Tribunal can make an order like a Magistrate's Court. [3] However, claims are usually settled by agreement. [4] One example of a complaint might be faulty goods which the trader refuses to repair, exchange or refund for. [5] Another example might be tradesman's work which was not done correctly. [6] A third example might be a car under warranty which the dealer refuses to fix. [7] The Tribunal cannot hear some claims. [8] It has no power where the complaint is more than two years old, or where the goods or services are used in a business. [9] It has no power over rent & bond disputes, or over life insurance disputes. [10] These problems are dealt with by other organizations.
response:
1. What is the monetary limit on claims before the Small Claims Tribunal?
2. Write this sentence in the passive form: The Tribunal can make an order.
3. How are claims usually settled?
4. What can a trader do when a customer complains about faulty goods?
5. Give an example of unsatisfactory work by a tradesman.
6. What sort of guarantees might a vehicle warranty offer?
7. Make a question using these words: why / cannot hear / Tribunal
8. Give four cases where the Small Claims Tribunal cannot act.
9. What can a consumer do when he has a rent dispute with his landlord or real estate agent?
keywords
[1]mediate; [2] order; [3] agreement; [4]faulty; [5] tradesman's work; [6] warranty; [7] cannot; [8] two years; [9] rent; [10] other
pattern:
text:
[1] Before you make a claim you must pay any money which the trader claims. [2] You can pay the trader directly, or you can put the money in trust with the Tribunal. [3] There is a non-refundable fee for taking a case to the Small Claims Tribunal. [4] After you make a claim the trader will be notified and a date will be set for the hearing. [5] The Tribunal will be happy if you settle the dispute privately before the hearing. [6] You must tell the Tribunal in writing if you settle the claim. [7] Give the Tribunal instructions about any money it is holding in trust. [8] The address of the Small Claims Tribunal is 500 Bourke St., Melbourne; telephone (03) 9602 8204. [9] There are also some suburban offices.
response:
1 . If the trader claims money, what do you have to do?
2. What does putting the money in trust mean?
3. Why do you think the Small Claims Tribunal charges a fee? *
4. What happens after you make a claim in writing and pay the application fee?
5. Finish this sentence: The Tribunal will be happy if ..
6. How must you notify the Tribunal if you settle the problem privately?
7. Why do you think a trader might settle privately after he gets a notice to attend the Tribunal?
8. What happens to money in trust if you settle privately?
9. What is the Melbourne address of the Small Claims Tribunal?
Reason for fees:
- To stop frivolous claims; 2. To discourage spiteful claims; 3. Recoup some of the cost of the Tribunal's operation.
keywords:[1] money; [2] trust; [3] non-refundable; [4] notified; [5] privately; [6] settle; [7] instructions; [8] address; [9] suburban
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