Part 2

An Overseas Student Officer talking to some new students about arrangements for an excursion to Ironbridge, in England

Hello everyone, my name is Pamela Sutcliffe and most of you already know that I’m the Overseas Student Officer here at Salopian Technical College. Next Tuesday, the 28th September, we have arranged an excursion for all new students, to the important historical town of Ironbridge. We are hoping you’ll all come because not only is the history of Ironbridge very important and interesting, but also an excursion like this is a relaxed and fun way to get to know each other.

Ironbridge is about fifty-five kilometres from here and we’ll be travelling by the college bus which holds 40 people. If there are more than that we’ll bring a couple of staff cars as well, though I might ask you to indicate on the list if you have a car and would be willing to take a couple of passengers. The list I’m referring to is up there on the student notice-board, and if you would like to come on Tuesday, would you please add your name as soon as possible. By the way could you please print your name clearly - I know some people have wonderful signatures but often I’m afraid I can’t read them which can cause problems. So if we need extra transport and you could bring your car, can you tick the ’car’ column next to your name? Could you also add your student number and your telephone number, just in case there are any last minute changes and we have to contact you.

The other information I need to give you is about lunch. There’s a very nice little restaurant in Ironbridge, which gives a 15% discount to the college when we bring groups. That means lunch is only about £4, and they do good vegetarian meals too, so it’s usually no problem for those of you on special diets. But if you prefer to eat your own food that’s fine too, either on the bus or in the park. But I’d encourage you to try the restaurant. Now talking of costs I should tell you that the bus will only cost you £10, and if you bring your car we’ll pay for the petrol, so you get a free trip in return for driving there. Will you please sign up by Saturday at 6 pm at the latest, the list is closed after that.

We will depart at 9:30 am sharp on Tuesday morning, so please make sure that you arrive at least 15 minutes before so that you can find a seat and get settled on the bus.

(Pause)

The college bus garage is behind the engineering workshop. It’s quite easy to find. If you come here to the Student Union building, then walk east down the Avenue until you get to the childcare centre on your left, and then turn left and walk past the sports centre and the tennis courts, which are both on your left. Cross over Central Square and opposite you is the engineering workshop. Walk around to the back and you’ll see the bus. Please wear comfortable shoes as we’ll be walking around Ironbridge and be on our feet for most of the day. Wear a warm jacket and you might like to bring an umbrella and a backpack to put them in if the weather’s warm and sunny, which we hope it will be, but of course we can’t guarantee that! Certainly bring your cameras and any snacks or drinks for the bus journey there and back, which should take about an hour and a half each way. You should all check the notice-board on Monday and we’ll also put a note in your mailbox to confirm arrangements, so don’t forget to check it. Now why are we visiting Ironbridge? Well, Ironbridge (as the name suggests) has got the original iron bridge - that is the first ever iron bridge in the world! It was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and for 40 years it led the world - as Britain changed from an agricultural society into an industrial one. It’s hard to imagine today that this pretty, sleepy little tourist town was one of the most important places in England for over a century. Just imagine, 200 years ago, people from all over Europe and even North America came to Ironbridge to learn about what was then the latest technology! Today it is listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, as they consider the unique collection of industrial monuments, rank it alongside the Grand Canyon, the Pyramids and the Great Barrier Reef. One place that’s fun to visit is Blist Hill, which is a reconstruction of a small Victorian industrial town, where people are working and living as they did a hundred years ago. I hope you’ll enjoy the day - it’s been a very popular excursion in previous years, so I’m looking forward to going again next Tuesday. Now don’t forget to put your name on the list as soon as possible ...

Part 3

A group of students, Henry, Jo, Nancy and Gordon, discussing changes to their work experience placement arrangements

H: Look! There’s the notice that Professor Jones told us he’d be putting up confirming the details of our work experience placements.

J: But I thought that was already arranged.

H: No, he said he’d have to check with the companies that the days we preferred were OK for them - let’s see if any have changed.

Theresa’s not here today, but her name’s first - it says the Uni Bookshop, Friday mornings, starting on the 23rd March, so nothing’s changed. I’ll let her know.

J: What about Manuel? He’s not here either. Is he still going to the music store in the High St.?

H: If it’s Mainly Music, yes he’s still down for that, on Friday afternoons, starting on the 9th.

J: Um ... the day’s different - it’s changed from Tuesday mornings, but that’s OK, I’ll tell him. He’ll really enjoy listening to music all day!

H: Now where’s my name ... Henry ... here it is ... I’m going to The Beauty Shop, and I said I preferced Thursday afternoons ... oh good, that seems OK and my start date hasn’t changed either. Jo, what day did you opt for?

J: I’m going to Highway Hotels on Monday mornings.

H: Yes, that’s OK ... and ... starting on Monday 12th March?

J: Oh, has that been changed? OK, I was scheduled to start the week before, I’ll just make a note of that.

N: What about me, Henry? Have I still got the Explore Travel Service on Wednesday mornings?

H: Just a minute, where’s your name? Uh, let’s see ... Nancy. OK, here it is. Explore Travel on Wednesdays, yes ... but afternoons and starting date is Wednesday 14th March. Has the date changed?

N: No, not the date, just the time, which is fine -I’ll get to sleep in!

H: You lazy thing Nancy! Chris’s name is next on the list. Gorgeous Gowns Fashions, what a name!

N: Yes, it sounds good, doesn’t it? I’m hoping he’ll bring me some free samples! So has he still got Wednesday mornings?

H: Yes, Wednesday mornings, starting on the 14th March.

N: OK, I’ll tell him when I see him tonight that his arrangements haven’t changed.

J: Gordon, what about you?

G: I chose that software company that makes computer games, I can’t remember its name, but I asked for Tuesday afternoons.

J: Oh yes, here it is. Games to Go on Wednesday mornings ... there’s a note here saying they have their weekly staff meetings on Tuesday afternoons, so that wouldn't be much use to you. That’s why they've changed it to Wednesdays, starting on 21st March, so you can see their working set up.

G: OK, I'm glad they’ve changed it. I don’t think I’d want to sit through a meeting every week!

(Pause)

G: Can someone remind me what time we have to get to our placement in the afternoons?

J: It says here 'mornings start at 9 am and afternoon sessions at 1 pm’.

G: Oh, that’s a shame. I thought Professor Jones was going to change it to 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.

J: Yes, he did say that he’d try to make it later, but obviously that wasn’t possible.

G: By the way, just in case, what happens if we’re ill or something and can’t make it? Do we phone the college or the place we’re going to?

N: I think we have to phone the company first and then the college. Didn’t you get the information sheet about work experience at our last seminar?

G: No, I missed it because I had to go to the dentist. What else did it say?

N: Well, we have to do a total of 24 hours altogether, so if we miss one of the arranged sessions ,we have to organise another time to make up the hours. And he gave us details of the presentation we have to give, about our work experience.

G: Oh really, what do we have to do?

J: In week 10 we each have to give a presentation to the class about the company we’ve been with. It’s 30% of our final mark for this subject, so it’s going to be a lot of work!

N: Yes, he’s expecting us to do a lot of research while we’re there, so that we can outline the histoiy of the company, it’s management structure, number of employees, other branches, etc.

J: And he said we should use lots of visuals such as diagrams and flow charts during the presentation.

H: Yes, and we should also include what we did each week, the different departments of the company or positions that we observed, and try to relate what we saw to our studies so far. He gave examples like management style, accounting systems, information technology, and so on.

G: You were right. It sounds like lots of work!

Part 4

A talk from a member of the Conservation Society about 'green cleaning’

Good morning, everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here as a representative of the Conservation Society, to talk to you about 'Green Cleaning’, in other words about ways you can help to save the environment at the same time as saving money.

I’ll start with saving money - as we’re all interested in that, especially students who are living on a tight budget. Probably none of you has sat down and calculated how much you spend on cleaning products each year - everything from dishwashing detergent, window cleaners and so on through to shampoos and conditioners for your hair, and then those disasters - products to get stains out of carpets, or to rescue burnt saucepans. I can see some nods of agreement, even if you don’t spend a lot of time on housework, you’d end up spending quite a lot of money over a period of time, wouldn’t you? We can save money on products and also use products which are cheap, biodegradable and harmless to the environment - these I will call 'green’ products. Unfortunately most cleaning products on sale commercially are none of these, and many of our waterways and oceans are polluted with bleach, dioxins, phosphates and artificial colourings and perfumes. Also, think how many plastic bottles each household throws away over a year - they’ll still be around in landfill when you are grandparents! So we often feel there’s nothing we can do to make a difference, but we can. The actual 'recipes’ are on handouts you can take at the end of the talk: The sorts of ingredients I’m referring to are things like bicarbonate of soda, eucalyptus oil, ammonia, vinegar, lemons, pure soap. Lastly many people find they’re allergic to modern products, so for all you asthma sufferers keep listening. Nothing in these recipes should cause you any problems, an end to itching and wheezing!

(Pause)

So let’s start with spills and stains. Soda water is wonderful as an immediate stain remover; mop up the excess spill, don’t rub but apply soda water immediately - it’s great for tea, coffee, wine, beer and milk - as is salt or bicarbonate of soda, which will absorb the stain - then vacuum when dry and shampoo if necessary.

While we are talking about disasters, let’s quickly look at some others that can be avoided. Bicarbonate of soda is wonderful for removing smells, especially in the fridge - an open box in the fridge will eliminate smells for up to three months. And those terrible burnt saucepans? Either sprinkle with out-good friend bicarb again and leave it to stand, or cover with vinegar and a layer of cooking salt. Bring it to the boil and simmer for ten minutes, then wash when cool. Much cheaper than a new saucepan! Then there are heat rings on wooden furniture. Simply rub with a mixture of salt and olive oil, or for scratched furniture use olive oil and vinegar.

Now let’s look at general cleaning - first the floors. If your floor covering is made of slate, cork or ceramic tiles or lino, it probably only needs a mop or a scrub with vinegar in a bucket of water. Carpets can be shampooed using a combination of pure soap, washing soda, cloudy ammonia and some boiling water. You put a small amount of this mixture onto the mark on the carpet, rub with a cloth until it lathers and then wipe off the excess. A smelly carpet can be deodorized by sprinkling bicarbonate of soda on the surface, leaving overnight and vacuuming off the next day.

Cleaning in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet is the next section ...