Cam3 - Test 1 - Part 3 (Listen and Read)

Hello. Jonathan Briggs, isn't it?

Yes, that's right.

Do come in and sit down.

Thanks.

Right.

Well, Jonathan, as we explained in your letter,

in this part of the interview, we like to talk through your application form...

your experience to date, etc....

and then in the second part,

you go for a group interview.

Group interview... yes, I understand...

So... your first degree was in Economics?

Yes, but I also did Politics as a major strand.

And you graduated in 1989.

And I see you have been doing some teaching...

Yes. I worked as a volunteer teacher in West Africa.

I was there for almost three years in total from....

1990 to... 1992.

How interesting.

What organisation was that with?

It's not one of the major ones. It's called Teach South.

Oh, right.

Yes, I have heard of it.

It operates in several African countries, doesn't it?

And what kind of school was it?

A rural co-operative.

Oh, a rural co-operative, how interesting...

and what did you teach?

A variety of things in different years...

I did... with Forms 1 to 3 mainly Geography

and some English with Form 5.

Then in my final year,

I took on some Agricultural Science with the top year...

that's Form 6.

Right. Quite a variety then...

I also ran the school farm.

How interesting...

And how did you find the whole experience?

I'll be honest with you.

At the end of the first year I really wanted to leave and come home.

Oh, why was that?

Well... I was very homesick at first and missed my family...

Yes, I can understand that.

and I also found it frustrating to have so few teaching resources,

but I did decide to stay

and in the end I extended my tour to a third year.

Right.

Things must have looked up then?

Yes. We set up a very successful project breeding cattle to sell locally.

Really?

And then after a lot of hard work we finally got funds for new farm buildings.

And you wanted to see things through?

And that's why you want to train to teach Geography?

Yes.

I've had a couple of jobs since then

but I now realise I like teaching best.

And I chose Geography because...

because it is my favourite subject...

and also because I think it has so many useful applications.

Well... you certainly have had some interesting work experience.

I'll ask you now to go on to the next stage...