Audio script

Interviewer: Can you tell me why you decided to study English?

Teacher #1: I think I was influenced by my brother. You know, my brother go to the South[west] Normal University to study English. So he likes English very much. He often practise speaking English at home. English sounds good. I think like English is very interesting. I usually just follow him and imitate his pronunciation and intonation. My brother is a very good student in the university.

I think that my parents… My father and mother are teachers so they think teacher is a good career for a girl. Because teacher can communicate with the students every day. I think that it’s very interesting to be a teacher.

That’s my job to teach the students to study English well, because when they study English well, when they go to the university and they go to the society, English will help them to get a better job. When China enter the WTO, English is very important for them. So, I think, I just want to help.

Interviewer: When you were younger, did you think of maybe of doing other jobs?

Teacher #2: When I was a child, I wanted to be a secretary, but upon my graduation I changed my mind.

Interviewer: What made you change your mind?

Teacher #2: Well, a professor. That professor helped me a lot. He asked me: ‘If you want to be a teacher, I can help you. I can give you a chance. That’s a good experience for you, no matter what you will do in the future. This interview is very useful for you. It’s experience.’ So I tried and I succeeded.

Interviewer: Why did you decide to become a teacher?

Teacher #3: Because my mother is a teacher. From my childhood, I like to be a teacher. I love students.

Discuss

Why did you decide to be an English teacher?