Survival of Fittest
Between now and the 21st century citizens of the worlds richest and most technologically advanced nations will find it increasingly difficult to keep up with the demand for change. For them, the future will arrive too soon. So begins Alvin Toffler’s book Future Shock, written back in 1970.Now people are beginning to pay attention to Toffler’s prediction, because the speed of change is accelerating rapidly. What should you do? (1) D) First of all, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and try to get a sense of the good things the future has to offer. You don’t need to be a genius to predict the job areas which will be most affected by technological change.Farming, mining and heavy industry are all doing badly. (2) A) On the other hand, the media and science are doing really well. Without doubt, the number of jobs in information technology will rise dramatically. There are currently over 100 million computers in the world and by 2020 the number will be around one billion. (3) B) Because of this, computer programmers will be in much greater demand. There are also many other important changes taking place in the workplace.First,the job market is getting more and more competitive and the idea of a “job for life” has already become old-fashioned.(4)f)Because of this, workers will have to be more flexible. In the same way, companies will change, and they will require people who are flexible and responsible. (5) E) they will also need people who can work co-operatively and get on well in a team. English will probably remain the international business language, so learning Russian or Chinese is not a priority. (6) c) However, understtanding other minds, culture and history will be vital. New technology is the driving force behind the rapidly changing workplace, so don’t get left behind. You don’t need to become a computer expert, but you must consider improving your computer skills.Undoubtedly, all this new technology is changing the way we work and offering many alternative ways of working. Rather than go into an office a lot of people are connected to the internet and now work from home.Woring like this may give you the flexibility you want-to live where you want, to continue your studies and to have a lot more free time. That must be good news.
The New Australians
WE interviewed some people who have emigrated to Australia and asked: Is it all kangaroos and surfing?
Georgo: well, youwont see many kangaroos in Melbourne, except maybe on the menu in a restaurant.Theyre great, really tasty, by the way. But it’s true; most Australians live on the coast. Were a beach culture, I suppose, and yes, surfing is popular. Almost everybody lives in the big cities on the coast, because most of the country is desert and farmland. Farming is mainly sheep farming. Somebody once told me there were seven sheep for every Australian-that’s a lot of sheep! One of the things we found hard to handle at first in Australia was the feeling of being isolated. Australia is a long way from Europe.Flights takes about twenty-four hours and they’re not cheap either.
Julie: Sure, surfing is part of the beach scene, but it’s not the main leisure sport. Because the weathers so good, were an outdoor people.Weve produced great cricket and rugby teams, Olympic swimmers and top cyclists.Therer are loads of really spectacular places to see in Australia, and you can see some amazing animals. One of the most interesting places to visit isUluru, which we used to allayers Rock. It’s really impressive at sunrise when the red rock changes colour.By the way, if you travel in Australia by car, take care on the roads. Most of them are in pretty poor condition. And look out for snakes and spiders-Australia has the most poisonous collection in the whole world!
Martin: must admit that, before I came here, thought that Australia would be a rather dull place. Was surprised when I came to work at Sydney University.Theres a really lively cultural scene here. Australia has produced some outstanding painters painters and world-class writers.Thefilm industry is pretty dynamic, too.As well as famous actors like Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman, there are some innovative film directors such as Peter Weir and Bruce Beresford. If you’re looking for something to do at night in Sydney, youre spoilt for choice, really.Of course, things are more limited if you live in a small town.
Fiona: When we came to Australia from Scotland, over ten years ago, we soon realized that Australian culture is a marvelous mixture of many different cultures. You can see all these influences in modern Australian cooking. WE call it “fusion food”-a brilliant mixture of delicious Mediterranean flavours, Southeast Asian spices and native Australian food. For me, there’s one bad thing about Australia though. That’s the way the native Australians, the Aborigines, have been treated. Most Aborigines live in terrible conditions, while the rest of us are quite well-off. Think that’s unfair. The government are trying to improve things, but it seems a bit late.
Britain Today
(1)Don’t expect to see red phone boxes everywhere-there aren’t many left nowadays. Some phones take cash (E1, 50p, 20p and 10p coins) and some take phone cards-we suggest having both. Phone after 6 p.m-its cheaper. Useful numbers: Emergencies 999, International Operator155. (2)There are E50, E20, E10 andE5notes, and coins worth E2,E1,50P,20P,10P,5P,2P,1P.Banks are usually open from9:30 to 4:30,but most of them are closed on Saturdays.(3)There are many international restaurants. When you see “service included: on a restaurant bill, you don’t need to tip. If it says “service not included” a 10%tip is expected. (4)Hotels are expensive in Britain but there are some cheaper alternatives” Bed and Breakfasts” are private houses which offer accommodation and breakfast. Many of them give excellent value for money. (5)Wherever you decide to stay in Britain, we advise you to take a plug adaptor if you plan to use any electrical appliance like a hairdryer. Plugs in Britain (like a lot of other things!) are different from the rest of Europe. (6)Buses are probably the cheapest way to travel. If you can’t stand long bus journeys, you can always go by train.T rains in Britain are expensive but”return”tickets (especially” day returns”) are a lot cheaper than singles. (7)We can’t promise to provide good weather for your trip-British weather is very changeable. If you enjoy sitting in the hot sun all day, you should consider going somewhere else for your holidays. During the main tourist season, June-August, the weather is mild, usually between 20c and25c.
Education in Jordan
Over the previous years, Jordan has made significant strides in education. Substantial investment by the Jordanian ministry of Education has been made in education sector, with the opening of new schools and colleges to cater for the country’s growing and youthful population. Most people in Jordan are literate and well-educated, possessing degree and specialist qualifications in a wide variety of fields. Over half of people complete secondary education up to the age of sixteen. The majority of students attend government schools.Thegrowing Jordanian economy is in need of a skilled and well qualified workforce if it is to continue with development and growth. At every level in the private and public sectors demand for managerial, technical and industrial skills is increasing. The Jordanian economy is experiencing a major development in key skill areas such as computing which is necessary to keep up with the competitive modern world. A substantial number of Jordanian secondary school leavers go on to higher educatin, enrolling at the many universities in country. A great many courses are offered to undergraduates. From 1986 onwards private universities were established, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Postsecondary education is highly desirable, as many Jordanians are eager to pursue a successful professional career. To apply for a place at one the public universities, candidates need to attain a result of 65 percent or more in the Tawjihi Exams and hold the Tawjihi Certificate. Private universities require a result of at least 55 percent. The higher education system in Jordan every year provides Jordanians with the necessary skill and training to enable them to enter the job market. Obtaining interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as the ability to work as part of a team, are essential requirements for success in today’s highly demanding work environment.
The mysterious nabateans
Before Alexander’s conquest, a thriving new civilization had emerged in southern Jordan. It appears that a nomadic tribe known as the Nabateans began migrating gradually from Arabic during sixth century Before Common Era (BCE). Over time, they abandoned their nomadic ways and settled in a number of places in southern Jordan, the Naqab desert in Palestine, and in northern Arabia. Their capital city was the legendary Petra, Jordan’s most famous tourist attraction. Although Petra was inhabited by the Edomites before the arrival of the Nabateans, the latter carved grandiose buildings, temples and tombs out of solid sandstone rock. From the imposing Al-Khazna carved out of solid rock, to the high place of sacrifice above Petra, to the theatre seating 8000 people, to the lofty Dayr at the top of the hills, one marvels at the eclectic architecture of the Nabateans. They also constructed a well to fortify the city although Petra was almost naturally hidden from view by the surrounding rose-coloured sandstone mountains. The site of this magnificent city was lost for over 1000 years and was rediscovered in 1812(AD). Building an empire in the arid desert also forced the Nabateans to excel in water conservation. They were highly skilled water engineers, and irrigated their land with an extensive system of dams, canals and reservoirs. The Nabateans were exceptionally skilled traders, facilitating commerce between China, India, the Far East, Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. They dealt in such goods as spices, incense, gold, animals, iron, copper, sugar, medicines, ivory, perfumes and fabrics, just to name a few. From its origins as a fortress city, Petra became a wealthy commercial crossroads between the Arabian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures. Control of this crucial trade route between the upland areas of Jordan, the Red Sea, Damascus and southern Arabia was the lifeblood of the Nabatean Empire. Of the little-known about Nabatean culture, we know that they spoke a dialect of Arabic, their community was governed by a royal family and there were no slaves.