LESSON 6A READING AND VOCABULARY - A job for life
📑 Article Contents
1 Look at the photo on page 23 and read the question below the title. Discuss the question in groups.
The picture shows some volunteers. It suggests an environmental organisation as we can see the volunteers are outside and there is a forest in the background.
2 Read the title, the first and the last paragraph of the text and decide if statements 1–4 are true or false.
1 This text tells the personal experience of a volunteer worker. F
2 It examines the reasons people do volunteer work. T
3 It encourages the reader to try volunteer work. T
4 It gives specific information on how to find a job in volunteer work. F
3 Read the text and choose the correct answers.
1 The number of volunteers in the world today is
a about 65 million people.
b a quarter of the world’s population.
c higher than it ever was in the past.
2 According to the text, volunteers often organise talks for
a money.
b political organisations.
c non-governmental organisations.
3 The main reason that ‘voluntourists’ volunteer is that
a they want to learn a new language.
b they want to be different.
c they want to experience new situations.
4 Complete the questions with the correct forms of the verbs from the box. Then in groups, ask and answer the questions.
- Are you good at working in a team? Are you good at working in a team?
- Do you agree that …
a it’s easy to make friends when you work with people?
b if you work well, you should get paid well?
c the most important thing in life is to find a job you like?
d the most important thing in life is to make money? - Have you ever done any volunteer work?
a If so, when and where did you do it? What was it like?
b If not, would you like to do it? Say why. What kind of work would you like to do?
5 SPEAKING Work in pairs. Interview your partner using the questions below. Student A, go to page 75. Student B, go to page 75.
- What's your name and where are you from?
- What kind of volunteer work do you do?
- How long have you had that position?
- Do you get paid?
- What do you like about the position?
- What do you not like about it?
- What are your plans for the future?
Students’ own answers
6 Find out information about one of these things. Then make a presentation about it in class.
- International Volunteer Day - Celebrated every year on 5 December, it's a UN-mandated day to promote volunteerism and recognize volunteer contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals[citation:1][citation:3]. The theme for 2025 is "Every Contribution Matters"[citation:1].
- another international volunteer organization
- a volunteer organisation in your town, region or country
- websites offering volunteer jobs abroad for young people - Reputable platforms include organizations like the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program[citation:8], International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)[citation:2][citation:10], and Projects Abroad[citation:9].
💎 Presentation Research Tips
For your presentation, focus on key facts: what the day/organization is, when it started, what its main goal or mission is, and how people can get involved. Using visuals or a short personal story (real or imagined) can make your talk more engaging.
📌 Additional Information and Notes
🌍 The Scale of Global Volunteerism
Volunteerism is a massive global force. According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 1 billion volunteers worldwide[citation:1]. This highlights how contributing time and skills for the benefit of others is a common and powerful practice across cultures and countries, making it a highly relevant topic for discussion.
🔗 Official Sources & Further Reading
🌐 Trusted Resources on Volunteerism:
International Volunteer Day (IVD) Official Page - The official UN source for IVD history, themes, and global significance[citation:1].
https://volunteerinternational.org - An accrediting body for quality, ethical volunteer abroad programs[citation:4].
https://www.gooverseas.com - A reputable platform with reviews and advice for youth-focused volunteering abroad[citation:5].
✅ Lesson Checklist
By completing this unit, you have practiced: ✔️ Describing images, ✔️ Skimming and scanning a text, ✔️ Answering reading comprehension questions, ✔️ Using verbs in questions, ✔️ Conducting a structured interview, and ✔️ Planning a research presentation.
