Unit 1 Additional activities: Building a career Reading

Life Begins at 60
We talked to Benjamin Lewis from Knutsford, Cheshire, who decided to change his
career at a time of life when most people are contemplating a more sedate life of
gardening and reading.
‘I’d always loved water sports but
had never had the opportunity or
available cash to follow it through.
It had somehow become a distant
5 dream, as I grew older. The company
I worked for was going through
financial difficulties and was offering
early retirement to its employees,
so I jumped at the chance, without
10 really thinking at the time what I
was going to do. I needed a change
and a rest as I’d been at the same
place for 15 years. My wife and
family wanted me to stay on, but I
15 felt it was the right time to go. That
was three years ago now.
‘After leaving work, I started
to go swimming regularly at my
local swimming pool and I heard
20 that diving courses were on offer
at other pools in Manchester. I took
the course just for fun really, and
then took my wife Sara on holiday
to the Red Sea in Egypt. There I
25 enrolled on the PADI Open Water
Course. I completed it successfully
and immediately went on to
do the Advanced Open Water. I
can honestly say that I became
30 completely hooked! We came back
from holiday and discussed how I
could continue to pursue my new
passion. What we came up with
was a plan to keep us financially
stable, and myself emotionally
35 satisfied. I was to work part-time
for eight months of the year, so that
I could then go abroad and dive for
the other four!
‘As part of our redundancy
40 deal we were given money for
re-training in any field of our
choice, as well as the financial
package. So, two years ago, I went
out to the west coast of Thailand on
45 my own. I got my first qualification
as a diving instructor, doing
the Greenforce Dive Instructor
Programme. This took three months
to complete, but I am now qualified
50 to instruct people to witness the
joys of the underwater world.
‘I was by far the most senior
member of that course, but I’m
proud to say that I was healthier
55 than many of them, and had more
stamina than most! The trainers
on the course said that my age and
experience was actually an asset
as I was approachable and calm.
60 I thoroughly enjoyed the whole
experience, even down to going out
with the others and socializing in our
free time. The youngest ones would
call me ‘dad’ or even ‘granddad’
at times, but I didn’t mind. I have
65 actually stayed in touch with a
handful of my fellow trainees.
‘I now intend to get short-term
instructor posts in various locations
around the globe: Australia, The
70 Bahamas, Fiji, The Philippines.
Having travelled very little as a
young man, I am now getting to
see the world. I keep waiting for
the novelty to wear off, but so far it
75 hasn’t, and I feel young again! Nor
has the shock of leaving a secure
but boring job ever hit me, though
the money, as you can imagine, is
not particularly good. Even having
80 to work part-time for eight months
a year all seems worth it. Being
underwater is so exhilarating.
My first dive was a life-changing
experience for me. I completely
85 forget myself down there, at one
with the creatures and the rocks.
‘My advice to anyone thinking
of taking that initial frightening
step into the unknown, changing
90 your career is, … ’

1 Which of these mini-texts below is the best summary of the article? Be sure to check the facts fully.
A
This article is about a man who decided to change his career, towards the end of his working life. He handed in his notice at his place of
work, because he felt the time was right to take a new direction in his life. He is extremely happy with the choice he made, and finds his
new job fulfilling, although his earnings are relatively low. His only regret is that he didn’t do it earlier.
B
This article is about a man who decided that he wanted to do something completely different, even though he was fairly mature in age.
He was not very satisfied at work and people were being made redundant. He took early retirement and went on various diving courses,
including a diving instructor training course abroad. Since then, he has never looked back. He loves his new life.
C
This article is about a man who decided that he needed a dramatic change in lifestyle. He’d always enjoyed water sports, so when the
opportunity arose to take early retirement, he took the chance so that he could indulge his passion. He immediately trained as an instructor.
The course was really tough but enjoyable, but he now gets enormous job satisfaction from his work, a quality he never experienced before.

2 Which of these descriptions do NOT describe Benjamin?

adventurous brave determined fast learner fit flexible funny
fun-loving materialistic passionate quiet sociable

3 Complete the last line with a sentence of your own. Be imaginative!

2.0 B2 Upper Intermediate Teacher’s Resource Disc © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013 Unit 1 3