📙 Part 2: Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting

This episode's vocabulary

Career change (noun) – a switch from one type of job to another. → I made a big career change when I moved from publishing to teaching.

Pan out (phrasal verb) – to turn out well or succeed. → My new job didn’t pan out the way I expected.

Mutual friends (noun) – people who are friends with both you and another person. → We met through mutual friends at a birthday party.

In hindsight (phrase) – when looking back and considering the past. → In hindsight, I should have studied harder for that exam.

Throw a party (phrase) – to organise and host a party. → He decided to throw a party for his colleagues.

Publishing (noun) – the business of producing and selling books or magazines. → She works in publishing as an editor.

Opportunity (noun) – a chance to do something. → Moving abroad gave me the opportunity to learn a new language.

Skills necessary (phrase) – the abilities needed for a task or job. → He didn’t have the skills necessary to complete the project.

Well-organised (adjective) – able to arrange things efficiently. → She is very well-organised and always meets deadlines.

Sociable (adjective) – friendly and willing to talk to people. → He’s a sociable person who enjoys meeting new people.

Eloquent (adjective) – able to express ideas clearly and effectively. → The speaker was very eloquent and inspiring.

Laugh something off (phrasal verb) – to pretend that something is not important. → She laughed off the criticism and kept working.

Words of encouragement (phrase) – things you say to give someone confidence. → His words of encouragement helped me prepare for the exam.

Authentic (adjective) – real, genuine, not fake. → The restaurant serves authentic Italian food.

Motivation (noun) – the reason for doing something or willingness to act. → Good teachers know how to spark students’ motivation

Mentor (noun) – an experienced person who helps and advises someone. → She had a mentor who guided her in her career.

Turning point (noun) – an important moment when things start to change. → Getting my first teaching job was a turning point in my life.

Supportive (adjective) – giving help or encouragement. → My family was very supportive during my studies.

Guidance (noun) – advice or help given by someone experienced. → The teacher gave us guidance on how to improve our essays.

Influence (noun) – the power to affect how someone thinks or behaves. → His father had a big influence on his choice of career

Questions and Answers

Maria: You should say who he or she is, how you knew him or her, what interesting thing you did, and explain how he or she inspired you to do something.

Rory: Well, my best friend and I were talking a while back, and in the course of the conversation we had, I was really encouraged to make a huge career change that's panned out rather well for me. To tell you a bit more about him, I met Rob a while back through some mutual friends, and we realised we had a lot in common. And actually, it was even more so than we did with the original friend group, which is kind of funny in hindsight. We've been friends for about 15 years now, and I'm not sure where I'd be without him.

Back then, we'd only just met, and we were getting to know each other at this party he'd thrown for some people. And I remember it rather well, because we were sitting on his couch having a cigarette, and he asked me what I did, and I explained I worked in publishing, but I'd always wanted to be a teacher, though I didn't think that would happen for me. I'd been to university, and that moment of opportunity had passed. At least, it had in my opinion. And it was at that moment that he suggested I try English teaching, since there were various courses running, and I could join them. I didn't think that it was very likely, since I wasn't sure I had the skills necessary. And I remember distinctly him looking at me and saying: If you're as reasonably well-organised, sociable, and eloquent as you seem, then you'd do very well for yourself. And I laughed it off at the time, but when I thought about it later, I felt really encouraged by those words. And so I looked into it, and I found a course that worked for me, and the rest is history. I've spent over a decade as a teacher now, and it was the best decision I've ever made. It's made such a difference to me, and I hope the lives of all the people I've worked with.

I think it was just hearing some words of encouragement that identify your strengths in a really authentic way that can make a really big difference in terms of motivation. If I hadn't heard them, well, who knows where I'd be now? I might even still be at that old job, and that would be a bit dull.