TEACHER'S TOOLKIT

April 24 2025

Career Path Study Guide

Key Concepts Review

This section outlines the core concepts discussed in the provided materials. Review these to solidify your understanding before moving on to the quiz and essay questions.

• Career Planning: The proactive process of setting career goals, identifying necessary skills and knowledge, and making strategic decisions to progress in one's professional life.

• English Proficiency Exams: Standardized tests designed to assess non-native English speakers' ability to use and understand the English language in various contexts (e.g., academic, professional).

• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication): An English proficiency exam that focuses on practical, everyday English used in the workplace, including business, customer service, and hospitality contexts.

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): An English proficiency exam primarily focused on academic English, often required for admission to universities and other higher education institutions.

• Marlins Exam: A specialized English proficiency exam tailored for professionals in the maritime industry, focusing on communication skills and terminology specific to working on ships.

• Vocational School: An educational institution that provides practical training and skills development for specific trades or occupations.

• Career Goals: Specific objectives or achievements that individuals aim to reach in their professional lives. These can be short-term or long-term.

• Communication Skills: The ability to convey information effectively and clearly, both verbally and nonverbally, and to understand messages from others. Essential in virtually all professions.

• Relevant Skills/Knowledge: The specific abilities and information that are directly applicable and necessary for success in a particular job or industry.

• Turning Point: A significant event or decision that marks a major shift or change in a person's life or career path.

• Must-haves: Essential requirements, qualifications, or conditions that are necessary for achieving one's career goals.

• Assessing Personal Values: The process of evaluating what is important to oneself in a career, such as salary, work-life balance, job satisfaction, and ethical considerations.

• Hypothetical Situations (Modal Verbs): Grammatical structures using modal verbs (like would, could, might) to express possibilities, conditions, or polite requests.

• Recommendations/Obligations (Modal Verbs): Grammatical structures using modal verbs (like should, must) to suggest advisable actions or necessary requirements.

• Possibility/Ability (Modal Verbs): Grammatical structures using modal verbs (like could, may) to indicate what is achievable or likely under certain circumstances.

Short-Answer Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each, based on the provided source material.

Essay Format Questions

Consider the following questions for a more in-depth analysis of the source material. Structure your essays with an introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence from the text, and a conclusion.

Glossary of Key Terms

Briefing Lesson: "Strategizing Your Career Path"

Date: October 26, 2023 

Prepared For: Teachers and Grade 11 Secondary Students: “Work and Professions” / «Робота і професії» 

Subject: Review of Career Planning Concepts and English Proficiency in the Context of Maritime and Hospitality Industries

Introduction:

This briefing document summarizes the main themes, important ideas, and factual information presented in the provided excerpts from "Your Riverschool - Кар'єра." The materials focus on career strategy development, the role of English proficiency exams, and personal career planning within the context of vocational training, particularly for students aspiring to careers in the maritime and hospitality industries.

Main Themes and Important Ideas:

• 1. Strategic Career Planning is Crucial: The materials emphasize the significance of proactively planning one's career path as a fundamental step towards future success. The speaker in the "Navigating Horizons" text states, "Career planning is one of the most important decisions in my life." This highlights the long-term impact of career-related choices.

  2. English Proficiency as a Key to Career Advancement: The dialogue between Petro, Anastasia, and Sofia underscores the importance of English language skills for career advancement, especially for those considering working abroad. Anastasia's initial struggle to find a suitable English proficiency exam for cooks and Sofia's suggestion of the TOEIC exam illustrate this point. Sofia explains that TOEIC "assesses practical business English skills that are directly applicable to our future careers. It covers topics such as customer service, food and beverage, and workplace communication, making it a better fit for our professional goals."

  3. Understanding Different English Proficiency Exams: The dialogue clarifies the distinctions between various English proficiency exams and their relevance to specific industries.

     • The Marlins exam is described by Petro as "tailored for professionals in the maritime industry, focusing on communication skills and terminology relevant to our work onboard ships." This highlights the existence of specialized exams for specific vocational fields.

     • The TOEIC exam is presented by Sofia as a more suitable option for those in the hospitality industry, as it "assesses practical business English skills" relevant to their professional goals, covering areas like "customer service, food and beverage, and workplace communication." This contrasts with TOEFL, which "focuses more on academic English proficiency."

  4. Defining Key Concepts in Career Planning: The "Listen to the New words" section provides definitions and examples of crucial career planning concepts, such as:

• Career planning: "The process of setting goals and making decisions about one's career path."

• One of the most important decisions: "A significant choice that can have long-term implications and consequences."

• To gain knowledge (skills): "Acquiring information or abilities through learning or experience."

• The turning point: "A critical moment or event that marks a significant change in direction or outcome." The speaker in "Navigating Horizons" views leaving vocational school as "the turning point of a far more serious examination of my abilities and character."

• Must-haves: "Essential elements or requirements that are necessary for success or fulfillment."

• To plan something out: "To carefully consider and arrange the details of a course of action or goal."

• She has her career all planned out: Indicates a thoroughly planned career path.

• Assess: "To evaluate or examine something carefully to make a judgment or decision." The speaker in "Navigating Horizons" mentions the need to "assess my personal values again" due to the changeable nature of life and the war in Ukraine.

1. Personal Career Narratives and Goal Setting: The "Tell about your future plans" task encourages students to articulate their career aspirations in a narrative format, emphasizing self-reflection and the process of choosing a profession. The "Navigating Horizons" text provides an example of a personal career plan, outlining specific goals and timelines, such as "I hope to have passed all my exams when summer begins. My plan is to have rented an apartment in Kyiv in early autumn. By this time next year, I intend to have gotten a good job on a ship."

2. The Influence of Proverbs and Personal Philosophy: Petro's rationale for pursuing a career at sea is linked to the African proverb, "Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." This demonstrates how personal philosophies and insightful sayings can influence career decisions and the acceptance of challenges as opportunities for growth.

3. Factors Influencing Career Choices: The dialogue between Sofia and Petro touches upon various factors that individuals consider when planning their careers, including "salary to working environment and location." Petro also highlights the impact of external factors like the war in Ukraine, necessitating a reassessment of "personal values."

4. The Sequential Nature of Career Goals: The speaker in "Navigating Horizons" lays out a sequence of career and life goals, starting with graduating vocational school and working as a sailor, followed by earning money for university education, continuing studies, getting married, and having children. This illustrates a long-term perspective in career planning.

Key Facts and Examples:

• Anastasia is a student at the River Water Transport Vocational School and is exploring English proficiency exams for studying abroad, specifically for a career as a cook.

• Petro, also a student, plans to take the Marlins exam for his career as a ship's motorman.

• Sofia suggests the TOEIC exam as a suitable option for Anastasia and other aspiring cooks, waiters, and bakers at the vocational school.

• The Marlins exam focuses on maritime-specific communication skills, while TOEIC assesses practical business English skills relevant to hospitality.

• The speaker in "Navigating Horizons" is pursuing a career as a sailor and has a detailed plan that includes working on a cruise ship, visiting Britain and the USA to improve language skills, and eventually attending university and starting a family.

Quotes from the Original Sources:

• On the importance of career planning: "Career planning is one of the most important decisions in my life."

• On the Marlins exam: "The Marlins exam is tailored for professionals in the maritime industry, focusing on communication skills and terminology relevant to our work onboard ships."

• On the TOEIC exam's relevance to hospitality: "Unlike TOEFL, which focuses more on academic English proficiency, TOEIC assesses practical business English skills that are directly applicable to our future careers. It covers topics such as customer service, food and beverage, and workplace communication, making it a better fit for our professional goals."

• On the turning point of leaving school: "leaving school is the start of my independent life, the turning point of a far more serious examination of my abilities and character."

• On the influence of a proverb: "According to an African proverb, 'Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.' I think the proverb is true, and I hope to learn a lot at sea. That's why I'm going to become a sailor."

• On factors in career planning: "Now, I have my career all planned out. These can range from anything like salary to working environment and location."

• On the need to reassess values: "Our lives are subject to constant change, and due to the war in Ukraine, I will soon be reassessing my personal values."

Conclusion:

The provided materials from “Work and Professions” offer valuable insights into the process of career strategy development for vocational students. They highlight the critical role of English proficiency, particularly practical business English assessed by the TOEIC exam for the hospitality industry, and specialized maritime English assessed by the Marlins exam. Furthermore, the resources emphasize the importance of proactive and detailed personal career planning, considering both personal aspirations and external factors. The inclusion of definitions, examples, and personal narratives provides a comprehensive introduction to key career planning concepts for students as they navigate their future professional paths. 

FAQ: Strategizing Your Career Path

1. Why is career planning considered a significant and important process, especially for students leaving vocational school? Career planning is considered one of the most important decisions because it lays the foundation for an individual's future professional life and personal fulfillment. For students leaving vocational school, it marks the transition to independent life and represents a critical turning point where their abilities and character will be tested in the real world. Thoughtful career planning helps in setting goals, acquiring necessary skills, and making informed decisions about their professional trajectory, ultimately influencing their long-term success and satisfaction.

2. What are some key elements or "must-haves" that individuals should consider when planning their careers, as highlighted in the sources? Based on the provided materials, some "must-haves" in career planning include gaining relevant knowledge and skills from vocational training, passing required exams, securing suitable accommodation (as indicated by the speaker's plan to rent an apartment), obtaining a good job in their chosen field, and having a financial strategy to support further education if desired. Additionally, considering personal values, desired working environment, and location are also important factors in comprehensive career planning.

3. How can English language proficiency and the choice of specific English proficiency exams impact career opportunities, particularly in international contexts or specific industries like maritime and hospitality? English language proficiency is a crucial asset that can significantly broaden career opportunities, especially in globalized industries. As seen in the dialogue, different professions may benefit from or even require specific English proficiency exams. For the maritime industry, the Marlins exam is tailored to the communication skills and terminology needed onboard ships. For the hospitality industry, while there isn't a specific exam like Marlins, the TOEIC exam is considered relevant as it assesses practical business English skills related to customer service, food and beverage, and workplace communication, making individuals more competitive in these fields.

4. What are some challenges individuals like Anastasia might face when choosing an appropriate English proficiency exam for their career goals in the hospitality industry? Anastasia might face challenges in understanding the specific English language requirements for her career as a cook, as there isn't a direct equivalent to the Marlins exam for maritime professionals. She might also struggle to differentiate between various English proficiency exams like TOEIC, TOEFL, and IELTS, and determine which one best aligns with the practical communication skills needed in the hospitality sector. Additionally, she would need to consider the recognition and relevance of each exam within her target career path and potential employers.

5. What insights does the African proverb "Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors" offer in the context of career planning and professional development, as expressed by Petro? The proverb suggests that challenges and difficulties are essential for developing expertise and resilience in one's career. Petro's decision to become a sailor, despite the potential hardships of working at sea, is motivated by this belief. It implies that facing and overcoming obstacles in a career path leads to greater learning, skill development, and ultimately, a more accomplished and capable professional. This perspective encourages individuals to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

6. How does the speaker in "Navigating Horizons" illustrate the process of career planning, from immediate goals after vocational school to long-term aspirations like marriage and family? The speaker demonstrates a structured approach to career planning by outlining a series of steps and goals. Immediately after vocational school, the speaker plans to pass exams, secure accommodation, and find a job on a ship. In the medium term, the goal is to earn enough money to pursue university education. Long-term aspirations include settling down in a city by the sea, getting married, and having children after achieving career success. This narrative highlights the importance of having both short-term and long-term objectives in career planning, along with a timeline for achieving them.

7. Why does the speaker in the dialogues emphasize the need to reassess personal values in the future, particularly in light of changing circumstances like the war in Ukraine? The speaker recognizes that life and external circumstances are subject to constant change, which can influence personal priorities and values. The war in Ukraine is specifically mentioned as a significant event that necessitates a re-evaluation of what is truly important in life and career. This highlights the dynamic nature of career planning and the need for flexibility and adaptability in response to personal growth and external factors. Regularly assessing personal values ensures that career goals remain aligned with what an individual finds meaningful and fulfilling.

8. What are some of the speaker's specific career goals and motivations for choosing a career as a sailor, including desired experiences and long-term settlement plans? The speaker's primary career goal is to become a sailor, driven by the belief that the challenges of the sea will foster valuable skills and experience. The speaker plans to work on a large cruise ship to visit countries like Britain and the USA to practice language skills and learn about different cultures. Financially, the speaker aims to earn enough to fund university education. In the long term, the speaker intends to settle down in a city by the sea, indicating a strong affinity for a maritime environment. These goals reflect a desire for adventure, personal growth through challenges, and a specific lifestyle connected to the sea. 

Detailed Timeline of Events:

This timeline focuses on the future plans and discussions of the students at the River Water Transport Vocational School regarding their career paths after graduation. It is based on their stated intentions and expectations, not past events.

1 Present (Implied): I've been struggling to decide which English proficiency exam to take. 

Grammatical Structure:

• Present Perfect Continuous for an ongoing action or state continuing up to the present

Explanation: The verb phrase "I've been struggling" uses the present perfect continuous to describe an action (struggling to decide) that started in the past and is continuing up to the present moment, indicating Anastasia's ongoing difficulty in making a decision.

2 Present: I heard you're planning to take the Marlins exam for your career as a ship's motorman.

Grammatical Structure:

• Present Continuous for Future Plans in:  

Explanation: The verb phrase "you're planning to take" uses the present continuous tense to express a future intention or arrangement regarding taking the Marlins exam.

3 Near Future (Before Summer): Petro : I hope to have passed all my exams when summer begins.

Grammatical Structure:

• Perfect Infinitive

Explanation: One phrase explaining this phenomenon: The perfect infinitive "to have passed"1 is used after the verb "hope" to refer to a future action (passing exams) that will be completed before another future time (when summer begins)

4 Early Autumn (Following Summer): My plan is to have rented an apartment in Kyiv in early autumn.

Grammatical Structure:

• Perfect Infinitive

Explanation: The perfect infinitive "to have rented" is used after "plan is" to describe a future action (renting an apartment) that will be completed before another future point in time (early autumn)

5 Within the Next Year: By this time next year, I intend to have gotten a good job on a ship.

Grammatical Structure:

•  Perfect Infinitive

Explanation: The perfect infinitive "to have gotten" is used after the verb "intend" to refer to a future action (getting a job) that will be completed before another future time (by this time next year).

6 Several Years After Starting Work: I expect to have earned enough money to have paid for my education at a University in several years ...

Grammatical Structure:

• Perfect Infinitive

Explanation: The perfect infinitive "to have earned" is used after the verb "expect" to refer to a future action (earning money) that will be completed before another future time (several years after starting work).

7 Future (After Earning Enough Money): After I have earned enough money, I'm going to continue my education at a University in several years.

Grammatical Structure:

• Future Simple with "going to" for a future intention or plan

Explanation: "Going to continue" expresses Petro's future intention or planned action to pursue university education after a prior future event (earning enough money) has been completed.

8 Future (After Completing Studies): Once I’ve completed my studies, I’ll get married.

Grammatical Structure:

• • Future Simple with "will" for a future event

Explanation:  "I’ll get married" uses the future simple tense with the auxiliary verb "will" (contracted as "'ll") to express a future intention or a prediction about an event that will occur after another future event (completing studies).

9 Future (After Succeeding in Career): When I've succeeded in my career, I’ll have children

Grammatical Structure:

• • Future Perfect Tense

Explanation:  "I've succeeded" uses the present perfect tense to describe an action that will be completed before the future action of having children1 .

10  Ongoing/Future: I  intend to settle   down  in a city by the sea

Grammatical Structure:

• To-Infinitive for future intention

Explanation: The phrase "intend to settle" uses the to-infinitive ("to settle") after the verb "intend" to express Petro's future plan or intention.

11 Ongoing/Future: I plan to work on a large cruise ship

Grammatical Structure:

• To-Infinitive for future plans/intentions

Explanation:  The phrase "plan to work" uses the to-infinitive ("to work") after the verb "plan" to express Petro's future intention or planned action regarding his career.

12 Future (While Working on a Cruise Ship):  I plan to visit Britain and the USA in order to practice my language skills and learn something new about the customs and traditions of these countries ...

Grammatical Structure:

• To-Infinitive for future purpose

Explanation: The to-infinitive phrases "to visit", "to practice", and "learn" are used after the verb "plan" and the phrase "in order to" to express Petro's future intentions and the purpose of these actions while working on a cruise ship.

13 Near Future (Due to the War in Ukraine): ...due to the war in Ukraine, I will soon be reassessing my personal values.

Grammatical Structure:

• Future Simple with "will" for a future event/prediction

 Explanation: Will soon be reassessing" uses the future simple tense with "will" to express a future action that Petro anticipates happening1 in the near future as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.

14 Ongoing: Anastasia is exploring the TOEIC exam as a potentially suitable English proficiency test for her career in the hospitality industry, with encouragement from Sofia and Petro.

Grammatical Structure:

• Present Continuous Tense

 Explanation: The verb phrase "is exploring" uses the present continuous tense to describe an action that is happening now or around the present time

15 Ongoing: Sofia is supportive of her peers' career aspirations and offers advice on relevant English proficiency exams.

Grammatical Structure:

• Present Simple Tense for a characteristic action or general truth

Explanation: The verbs "is supportive" and "offers" in the present simple tense describe Sofia's current and typical behavior  regarding her peers' career goals.

Cast of Characters and Brief Bios:

• Petro: A student at the River Water Transport Vocational School who is planning a career as a ship's motorman. He is preparing to take the Marlins exam and has a detailed plan for his future, including working on a ship, earning money for university, settling down by the sea, getting married, and having children. He values the experience he believes he will gain at sea and recognizes the impact of external events (like the war in Ukraine) on his plans.

• Anastasia: A student at the River Water Transport Vocational School who is aspiring to work as a cook, potentially abroad. She is trying to determine the most suitable English proficiency exam to demonstrate her skills and initially felt there wasn't a specific exam for cooks. She is now considering the TOEIC exam based on Sofia's suggestion.

• Sofia: A student at the River Water Transport Vocational School who appears knowledgeable about different English proficiency exams and their relevance to various career paths. She advises Anastasia on the TOEIC exam, highlighting its suitability for the hospitality industry (cooks, waiters, bakers) due to its focus on practical business English skills. She is supportive of her classmates' career ambitions.

• The Speaker (in "Navigating Horizons: From Vocational Dreams to Open Seas" and Dialog 2): This is likely Petro, as his plans and statements in Dialog 2 closely mirror the text. He outlines his career planning process, his expectations from vocational school, his immediate and long-term goals (passing exams, renting an apartment in Kyiv, working on a ship, funding university, traveling, settling by the sea, marriage, and children). He is motivated by the idea of learning through challenges ("Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors") and is aware of the need to reassess his plans due to life's uncertainties, particularly the war in Ukraine.