Lesson 21 - Listening: MCQs and Note completion Revision
TRANSCRIPT
Activities 3 & 4:
Vicky Chambers: Hello, thanks for coming. I'd like to introduce myself to everyone: my name is Vicky
Chambers and I'm the student officer for Contact. Contact's main activity is to put students from the
university in contact with volunteer organisations in the city so that they can make a real contribution
to the society around them. We try to develop links with local community groups and make the student
experience at university a lot richer. So, let me tell you a bit more about what we do... the kinds of
projects we run, the training we give to our volunteers, and the benefits students especially international
students - can get from joining a project.
We have a wide range of projects in many different areas so that students can bring the knowledge and
skills they are learning in their course to practical use. We have projects in education where students
can become a volunteer tutor in a state school and help children learn how to read for example. If you
are studying information technology, you could work on an IT project. Many organisations around the
city need people with good computing skills to teach other people how to use a computer and to set
up databases and accounting programmes. Have you got retail, research, marketing or management
skills? There are many charity shops in the area who need assistants in sales, marketing and
fundraising. You could help with the latest campaign, you may be asked to do market research for a
charity or you might simply work in the shop and sell things to customers. Or are you good at
languages? We have many projects which need translating and interpreting skills, from people who
are new in the community, to working with the legal or law system for example.
Although you do not need any previous volunteering experience to get involved in Contact, we do ask
you to go for a training day with us. We're not simply going to throw you in at the deep end; we're here
as part of a full support service to make your volunteer experience enjoyable and useful. The training
day helps to prepare you for working with charities. As part of the training day there is a morning
induction session. There are three aims of the induction session: first, to help you to match your skills,
abilities and interests to the projects available; second, to explore the characteristics of a successful
volunteer - that is, what makes a good volunteer; and third, to meet the other staff and students who are
volunteering. You may well have further in-house training from the charity in addition to this.
So, why volunteer? Why come to Contact? Well, volunteering is an excellent opportunity to gain
experience and develop skills in your subject area. When you get involved in a project you are able to
put your knowledge into practice. It can help your confidence and help your personal and professional
development. Employers like to see that students have experience in volunteering; it means they have
gained skills and experience that otherwise they do not have - and this makes you a better choice for the
job you want. For international students you get the opportunity to meet people, to practise and improve
your English and, very importantly, you have the chance to explore and understand the culture you are
living in. Finally, perhaps the best thing about volunteering is the satisfaction you get from helping other
people.
