Program Helps Unemployed to Try New Jobs

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. undergo (v.) [uhn-der-goh] – to experience or to go through

Example: Students will undergo several lectures and seminars before taking the final exams.

2. initiative (n.) [ih-nish-ee-uh-tiv, ih-nish-uh-] – a plan or program that aims to solve a problem

Example: The University approved an initiative to give financial assistance to poor students.

3. evaluate (v.) [ih-val-yoo-eyt] – to carefully study or judge the value or quality of someone or something

Example: The employees must evaluate the business plan before making a report to the manager.

4. eventually (adv.) [ih-ven-choo-uh-lee] – at the very end; at some future point in time

Example: We have been paying for the house for 5 years and eventually it will be ours.

5. oblige (v.) [uh-blahyj] – to  do something because of a rule or because it is necessary

Example:  Citizens are obliged to pay taxes.

Article
Read the text below.

Hundreds of people in the US who lost their jobs due to the economic crisis can now hope for employment, as long as they are willing to undergo training.  Under the program called Return-to-Work Initiative, a jobless person trains in a company to develop the skills required for a specific position. The training is necessary because the available job may be very different from the job the person had before. While training, the applicant continues to receive the benefits given by the government to an unemployed person. He or she is then evaluated by the company to determine if he or she will eventually be hired.   The Department of Employment Security in New Hampshire runs the program to help people find jobs in other fields. According to the program coordinator, Keith Badger, the system does not put any pressure on either the applicant or the company. The applicant can discontinue training anytime and try another job.  Meanwhile, the company that provides the training is not obliged to pay the applicant, nor hire the applicant if he or she does not meet the company’s standards.  The program was established in 2010, and so far, 500 people have been trained, more than 350 of which have become full-time employees. They say they are satisfied with their new jobs because they finally have the chance to try new careers. More companies are joining the program, and Keith Badger expects more people to sign up for training.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Does the government have the duty to provide jobs for people?  Why or why not?

·         What must a person do so he can find a job despite the economic crisis?

Discussion B

·         If you lost your job due to a bad economy, would you be willing to undergo training to for a completely different job?  Why?

·         Have you ever wanted to try other kinds of jobs? What other jobs do you think you would be good at? What jobs would you not want to try?

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