Television / Starting a Business / business person / Choosing work, Work-life balance

Part 1

Television 빈출 단어
on TV TV에서에서/TV에 나오는, couch potato 항상 TV앞에 있는 사람, commercial (TV/라디오) 광고 (advertisement 일반적인 광고), main character 주인공, family-friendly 가족적인, violent 폭력적인, storyline 줄거리, rerun 재방송, broadcast 방송하다, entertaining 재미있는, scene 장면

Television 빈출 표현
Comedy shows make us feel relaxed and relieve our stress. 코메디는 우리를 편안하게 만들고 스트레스를 풀게 해 줍니다.
I am a big fan of BBC documentary. 저는 BBC 다큐멘터리를 아주 좋아합니다.
When I miss the TV drama, I watch the reruns. 제가 그 드라마를 놓치면, 재방송을 봅니다.
The news comes on at nine o’clock. 그 뉴스는 9시에 합니다.
The show isn’t on anymore. 그 쇼는 더 이상 하지 않습니다.

Where do you usually watch TV programs/shows? (why/why not?)

I often watch TV at home with my family. We all love comedy shows, which make us feel relaxed and relieve our stress. I think it is a good way to spend time together.

a good way to ~하기에 좋은 방법
Light jogging is a good way to start the day.
Open debate(개방된 토론) will be the best way to solve the problem.

What's your favorite TV program/show? (why?)

I like cooking shows the most. I’m very interested in making simple and convenient meals, because I have a busy life, and those programs show me how to cook them. I have learned many new recipes from the programs.

learn (목적어) from ~로 부터 배우다
You will learn a lot from your mistakes. 
I learned British cultures from the book.
like the most 가장 좋아하다, 가장 좋아하는
I like red color the most.
What I like the most is listening to classical music.

Are there any programs/shows you don't like watching? (why/why not?)

Hmm, I don’t enjoy drama programs. Many dramas these days are full of unrealistic scenes such as stories about very rich families, Cinderella syndrome, or hopeless love. Actually, I’m tired of these storylines.

be tired of ~에 질리다 (=be bored with)
I’m tired of staying home all day.
He is bored with everyday routines. (everyday routines 판에 박힌 일상)
be full of ~로 가득 차 있다
The student is full of energy.
He is full of himself. (full of oneself 자신감으로 가득 찬)
hopeless love 이루어질 수 없는 사랑

Do you think you will watch more TV or fewer TV programs/shows in the future? (why/why not?)

I don’t think I will be able to watch more TV programs in the near future. I still watch some TV shows these days, but I will be much busier in the future when I’m preparing for the IELTS test and for other work. I guess I will enjoy watching more TV programs after the exams.

prepare for ~를 준비하다
We are preparing for the mid-term exam.
Note the phone number to prepare for emergencies.
enjoy ~ing ~를 즐기다, 좋아하다 (enjoy to 부정사 X)
I enjoy living in my hometown.

How much TV do you (usually) watch?

About twice a week. I am a big fan of baseball so I watch baseball games a lot. They’re exciting and entertaining to watch. Except that, I rarely turn on the TV.

turn on ~를 켜다
I tend to turn on the lights all day long.
I sometimes turn on the radio while studying.

Do you think some TV shows should be restricted for children?

Yes. I think some TV programs can encourage risky behaviors, such as drug use, violence, or sexual crimes. Children are not mature enough to tell right from wrong, so they may follow these antisocial behaviors.

tell right from wrong 옳고 그름을 판단하다
encourage: ~하도록 용기를 주다, 부추기다, 조장하다
The commercial can encourage overspending. 과소비를 조장하다.
encourage risky behaviors 위험한 행동을 부추기다
encourage + (목적어) + to부정사: (목적어가) ~하도록 하다
My teacher encouraged me to join the team.

1. 코메디 쇼는 안정이 되고 스트레스를 풀도록 해 줍니다.
Comedy shows make us feel relaxed and relieve our stress.
2. 저는 시트콤 “프렌즈”의 열성 팬입니다.
I’m a big fan of the sitcom “Friends”.
3. 저는 경험을 통해 많은 것을 배웠습니다.
I have learned a lot from my experience.
4. 몇몇 TV 프로그램은 폭력적인 장면으로 가득 차 있습니다.
Some TV programs are full of violent scenes.
5. 광고는 사람들이 불필요한 것들을 사도록 조장합니다.
Advertising encourages people to buy unnecessary things.

Part 2

Businessperson & People 빈출 단어
advisor 조언자, listener 경청자, property 자질(=quality), warm-hearted 따뜻한 마음의, devoted 헌신적인, outgoing 활달한, extrovert 외향적(↔introvert 내향적), faithful 충실한, reliable 신뢰할 수 있는, generous 관대한, creativity 창의성, sociable 사교성 있는, determined 단호한, ability to decide 결정능력

Businessperson & People 빈출 표현
We've been friends since we were children. 우리는 어릴 때 부터 친구였습니다.
We have a lot in common. 우리는 공통점이 많습니다.
My sister and I are similar in character. 여동생과 저는 성격이 닮았습니다.
He is a role model for me. 그는 저의 (제 입장에서) 롤 모델입니다.
He is a person who founded the company. 그는 그 회사를 세운 사람입니다.

Describe someone you know who has started a business.
who this person is/ what work this person does/ why this person decided to start a business/ whether you would like to do the same kind of work as this person

This question reminds me of my close friend.
My friend, Heeyoung, started a small business about three years ago. We have known each other since we were high school students. She studied fashion design at university.
Her business is related to Korean traditional clothing. She sells and rents hanbok, the Korean traditional costumes, and has expanded her business to include online shopping. Her shop also sells modernized types of hanbok.
Heeyoung started working at a major company in Korea, but always hoped to run her own business. Finally, she achieved her dream. She said hanbok is gaining in popularity amongst tourists these days.
Besides, many people in Korea are interested in modern styles of hanbok because of its convenience and uniqueness. That’s why she decided to focus on this business area.
Nevertheless, if someone asked me if I wanted to run the same kind of business, I would say no. I know next to nothing about clothing or fashion trends.

remind A of B : A에게 B를 생각나게 해 주다
This picture reminds me of my old days. 이 사진보면 옛날 생각이 나.
You remind me of your father.
gain in popularity: 인기를 얻다
Korean singers are gaining in popularity worldwide.
The novel has gained in popularity over the recent years.
next to nothing: 거의 없이, 거의 무료로
I was able to stay in the hotel next to nothing.
We knew next to nothing about the country.

1. How often do you see this friend?

Well, we used to see each other quite often, but after she started the business, we manage to meet about once a month.

2. What should you consider before starting your own business?

Firstly, I should consider if the business matches my skills and passion. If not, I couldn't sustain the work for long. Also, I must think about my financial situation. Opening a business, even a small one, requires more money than we expect.

Talk about a businessperson you admire.
who he/she is / what his/her business is / how you learned about him/her / explain why you admire him/her.

I'd like to talk about Bill Gates, who is a world-famous businessperson. He founded Microsoft, the world’s largest software company. The company invented personal computer software, which is used by most personal computers around the world.
When I was a child, I read his biography. According to the book, he entered Harvard University, but left school to start his computer software company. That was the first time when I was impressed by his effort and success. After that, I have learned about him through internet news or economic magazines.
There are many successful people in the world, but I admire him the most. This is because he donates his wealth to society. Since later in his career and after leaving Microsoft, Gates has donated large amounts of money to various charities and scientific research programs. I think he is a warm-hearted person as well as a successful entrepreneur.

B as well as A : A만큼 B 역시도 (B를 강조)
The drama is very popular in Korea as well as in America.
She speaks French very fluently as well as English. 

1. 저는 그 뉴스에 대해 거의 아무것도 듣지 못했습니다.
I heard next to nothing about the news.
2. 하이브리드 자동차가 세계적으로 인기를 얻고 있습니다.
Hybrid cars are gaining in popularity worldwide.
3. 그녀는 훌륭한 조언자일 뿐 아니라 가장 친한 친구입니다.
She is my best friend as well as a great advisor.

Part 3

Work 빈출 단어
work part-time 아르바이트를 하다, 파트타임으로 일하다, work full-time 정규직으로 일하다, job security 직업 안정성, job satisfaction 직업 만족도, job market 취업 시장, income 수입, salary 월급, rewarding 보람 있는, be in charge of ~를 맡고 있는, experienced 경험 있는, 경력 있는, high-paying job 높은 급여를 받는 일, workload 업무량

Work 빈출 표현
I usually leave my office at six. 저는 보통 여섯 시에 퇴근합니다.
We sometimes work overtime at night. 우리는 가끔씩 야근을 하기도 합니다.
I always try to achieve a balance between work and life. 저는 늘 워라벨을 맞추려고 노력합니다.
I work on a three-shift system. 저는 3교대 근무를 합니다.
The job market is getting tighter because of the long recession. 장기 불황으로 취업 시장이 점점 어려워지고 있습니다.

What kinds of jobs do young people not want to do in your country?

In my opinion, the farming and fishing industries are the fields young people avoid. The young are not willing to do heavy labor, but these kinds of jobs require hard work. Also, many young people hope to enjoy urban life, not work in the countryside.

be willing to 기꺼이 ~하다
I’m willing to pay more for good services.
Are you willing to join us?

Who is best at advising young people about choosing a job: teachers or parents?

I think teachers could be better job counselors for young people. Generally, teachers can understand their students' aptitudes well because they spend a lot of time with the students at school and have much experience in job counseling. On the other hand, we sometimes see some parents pushing their children to take a high-paid job, missing important aspects of their abilities.

experience in ~분야의 경험
She has three years' experience in teaching.
The position requires experience in management.

Is money always the most important thing when choosing a job?

I don’t think so. Like many young people, I am a person who values job satisfaction over a big salary. Most high-paying jobs demand a lot of working hours or a high degree of danger. I wouldn’t be happy with these kinds of jobs.

values A over B A에 B보다 더 가치를 두다
Many customers value good quality over quantity.
Young people value personal life over their career.

Do you agree that many people nowadays are under pressure to work longer hours and take fewer holidays?

To some extent, it is true. Although people say working conditions are improving, many companies still put a lot of pressure on their employees. It is hard to leave the office on time and take frequent or long holidays due to the heavy workload.

put pressure on ~에 압력을 가하다
Schools in Korea put heavy pressure on their students.
The new law put pressure on the industry. 

What is the impact on society of people having a poor work-life balance?

This question is a little difficult for me, but I think people would suffer from fatigue and stress if they failed to achieve a balance between work and life. As a result, people are more likely to get sick, which may lead to low productivity and discourage development.

be likely to ~할 가능성이 높다, ~하기 쉽다
She is most likely to take the position.
This trend is likely to continue.
achieve a balance between A and B A와 사이에 균형을 이루다
We need to achieve a balance between personal privacy and freedom of information.

Could you recommend some effective strategies for governments and employers to ensure people have a good work-life balance?

In my opinion, the one thing the government should do is to set more public holidays. Employees in our society need more time to rest and relax. In addition to this, employers can provide their employees with a family-friendly work environment by allowing homeworking days and offering onsite childcare facilities.

time to:~할 시간
It is time to make a decision.
provide A with B A에게 B를 제공하다
The book will provide students with useful information.

Are some jobs more stressful than others?

Most jobs are stressful, but I think customer service jobs are more stressful than others. They should deal with complaints all day, and sometimes they cannot help arguing with their customers. Nevertheless, they are demanded to always be nice to their customers.

cannot help ~ing(또는 명사) ~할 수밖에 없다
I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the children in need.
We cannot help accepting his advice. 

1. 우리는 그 회의에 참석할 의향이 있습니다.
We are willing to attend the conference.
2. 그 정책은 대부분의 사람들에게 압력을 가할 것입니다.
The policy may put extra pressure on most people.
3. 학생들은 더 나은 대학을 위해 어쩔 수 없이 서로 경쟁해야 합니다.
Students cannot help competing against each other for a better university.

from Siwonschool Cambridge IELTS 13 Speaking Test 1 by Laura Kim