Unlocking Word
Meanings (5 minutes)
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. captain (v.) [kap-tuhn] – to lead or head something, usually a
ship, aircraft, or a spacecraft
Example: The young
general captains the
army.
2. on a whim (idiom) [on uh hwim] – to do something without careful
planning or thinking
Example: Traveling
on a whim excites me.
3. privilege (n.) [priv-uh-lij] – a special right or opportunity given to a
person because of his or her position or status in life
Example: Wealthy
people usually enjoy more privileges
than others.
4. meticulous (adj.) [muh-tik-yuh-luhs] – careful with details
Example: Surgeons
need to be meticulous during an
operation.
Article (10 minutes)
Read the text below.
The
first female pilot in the Philippines says that flying planes is the best job
in the world.
At
41, Brooke Castillo captains a mid-size commercial
plane for a large airline company. She became the first woman in the
Philippines to fly a commercial plane back in 1996, opening opportunities for
other female pilots to follow her example.
Ironically,
Brooke never dreamed of flying planes. Growing up in a wealthy family, she
trained to be a classical pianist and got involved in various sports. When she
was young, she represented the Philippines in bowling
and basketball tournaments and won for her country a silver medal in a
Southeast Asian Taekwondo match as an adult.
After
graduating with a business degree from the University of the Philippines,
Brooke took a pilot scholarship test on a whim when she accompanied
a friend who planned to take the test. She passed the test, but her friend did
not. Brooke accepted the challenge and got the training she needed to become a
pilot.
She
believes her background in music and sports, more than the college subjects she
took, helped her succeed in pilot school. She says hard work, not her
wealth and privilege, determined her success as a pilot.
She
also says that when airline chiefs choose the captain of a plane, the same
standards should be used for male and female pilots because people’s lives are
on the line. However, she claims that women might have an advantage over men
because they tend to be meticulous and good at
multi-tasking, two skills required of a pilot.
Today,
aside from flying planes, Brooke also trains young pilots and she intends to
continue doing so until she turns 65. During her free time, she continues to
play classical piano and is a rock band manager. She also dreams of
having a family of her own someday but with her busy schedule, she
says this is the last thing on her mind right now.
Viewpoint Discussion (7-8 minutes)
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
What makes a good pilot?
·
Why do you think there are more male
pilots than female ones?
Discussion B
·
Why are some jobs only for men?
·
What jobs are only for women?
