VOCATION, VOCATION, VOCATION

PROGRAMME 2: CHRISTOPHER

ACTIVITIES

Guidance

This programme could be used in the first year of post-16 education to encourage students to start thinking about ideas for the future. Also, it could be used to demonstrate the value of work experience and/or work shadowing.

Any students who are considering performing arts as a career would benefit from watching this programme.

Before viewing

Discussion questions for small groups or pairs:

• Have you any interest in working in performing arts? What kind of lifestyle would this entail?
• If you couldn't decide what to choose out of two options, what would you do to help you decide?
• What is more important in your opinion – doing something you love or earning lots of money?

After/during viewing

Some or all of the following activities relate to specific clips from the programme. We regret that we cannot make these clips available on the website. Teachers and other users can access the programmes free of charge from the Channel 4 video on demand service, 4oD (PC only), or the programmes may be taped off air for use in the classroom (see TV listings for the current term's schedule). Please note that the clip times will vary on different viewing platforms and devices.

Activities linked to clips

Download activity sheet for clips 1-3 [Word doc, 41KB]

It's show time!
Clip 1: 04.43 – 09.16

• Opens with David saying, 'To get him started we have brought Christopher down to Scotland's biggest city – Glasgow.'
• Closes with David saying, 'But to be an actor, he still has to decide if he's happy with a bit of risk in his life.'

Complete the question sheet (included in the downloadable activity sheet) in pairs. Questions repeated below:

What do you think of Christopher's audition? Has he got the X-Factor? What did the tutors think?

Make a list of five key facts about being an actor.

What are his chances of getting into the featured college?

What does he learn from this experience?

Not just suits and numbers
Clip 2: 10.32 – 14.09

• Opens with Ann saying, 'It's time to see how his love of business matches up to his love of performing.'
• Closes with David saying, 'And that means that acting, even with all its risks, is looking more and more like his vocation.'

Complete the question sheet (included in the downloadable activity sheet) in pairs. Questions repeated below:

Christopher learns that there is a lot more to accountancy than just numbers. Make a list of the things an account actually does.

How does he feel about his day with the accountant? How did he look during this experience?

Why was Christopher attracted to the idea of being an accountant?

Why is being an accountant not a good idea for Christopher?

How important is it to get experience of trying a job like Christopher did?

What kind of vocation would you like to try out? How could you arrange this?

Murder mystery
Clip 3: 14.39 – 18.47

• Opens with Ann saying, 'It's time to bring Chris down to earth about acting.'
• Closes with Ann saying, 'We need to make sure he knows what he is taking on and give him one last reality check before he makes any final decisions.'

Complete the question sheet (included in the downloadable activity sheet) in pairs. Questions repeated below:

What does Ann want Christopher to learn from being part of the murder mystery performance? Does he learn this?

How does he get on?

How does he feel about this kind of work as an actor?

Compare working as an actor with working as an accountant in terms of the following:

• Pay
• Job security
• Lifestyle
• Love of job (for you or Christopher)
• Lifestyle (house/car/social life)
• Likely hours of work