Seeing is believing

What happens when three young girls meet the women doing their dream jobs? In this video, we see the importance of positive female role models.

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. You can also read the transcript.

Preparation

Transcript

Annika: I'm nine years old. I think it's the greatest year to be alive.

Director: So, Sierra, can you tell me what you want to be when you grow up?

Sierra: I want to be an author. Because it's a chance I get to use my imagination.

Annika: I want to be a marine biologist when I grow up. My two favourite animals is a turtle and a jellyfish.

Brianna: I'd like to be a helicopter doctor because I've always wanted to be a doctor and I really love helicopters.

Director: So, can you name some authors for me?

Sierra: David Walliams, Roald Dahl and um ...

Annika: I look up to Charles Darwin and Jacques Cousteau.

Director: Do you think there's more men or women who do that job?

Brianna: I don't think it's a job that women would be interested in.

Director: Why?

Brianna: Because I think women would be more into being a nurse.

(We tell children that they can do anything …)

Annika: There's more boys than girls that do it. Maybe girls aren't just interested in more of that stuff.

(… but how can we expect them to believe …)

Sierra: Girls – they like fairies and mermaids and stuff like that, but they're not really real.

(… what they can’t see?)

Director: We've got someone coming to meet you now.

Helicopter doctor: Hi, I'm Claire.

Brianna: Hi, Claire.

Helicopter doctor: I'm one of the helicopter doctors. Nice to meet you.

Brianna: Nice to meet you, too.

Helicopter doctor: How are you going?

Brianna: Good. I'm really excited!

Biologist: My name is Sam. I work here at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and I'm a marine biologist here.

Author: My name is Jacqueline Harvey. Do you know what I do for a job? What do I do?

Sierra: Write.

Author: I write books. Do you like reading? (Sierra nods.)

Helicopter doctor: Do you want to get in?

Brianna: Yes!

Helicopter doctor: Up you hop! Where you're sitting is exactly where I sit when we fly.

Brianna: Really?

Helicopter doctor: Yep! Exactly where I sit.

Biologist: I'm in charge of this team and I look after absolutely everything in here. So, we have two dugongs and we have a whole bunch of sharks and rays which are ...

Sierra: I wrote a book called The Old Woman Who Lived In A Tree.

Author: Oh! So why don't you read me the first page?

Sierra: Once upon a time, there was an old lady who lived in a tree. One day, the old lady went for a walk.

Helicopter doctor: So you can be an anaesthetic doctor, or you can be an intensive care doctor or an emergency doctor. There are so many different options.

Brianna: Cool!

Helicopter doctor: Yeah.

Sierra: There's not really a difference about 'boy' and 'girl' writing. So they can both become an author.

Annika: I was like 'Oh my gosh! I've only researched about the boy marine biologists. Now I've finally met a girl one!' Like ... just a dream!

Director: Is there anything a boy can do that a girl can't do?

Brianna: No. If you want to do something, you do it.

Helicopter doctor: Good look. Suits you.

Brianna: Thank you.

Annika: When I'm older, those little girls will have someone to look up to because that's going to be me.

© Sydney Opera House

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Submitted by Gus2019 on Sat, 09/03/2019 - 00:43

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In this world we have a good role models to follow around the world. I like the video because the third girls despite don't grow up as a adult, they know exactly what to do for their lives. As society we should incentivate to childs from first yeasr of learning and find out their habilities,passion for to do what they like.

Submitted by meriem kendouci on Sat, 16/02/2019 - 13:41

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nowadays women can compete with men in various fields, many jobs are no longer exclusive to men only. but in my personal opinion I see that some professions are not suitable for women because they affect heir femininity

Submitted by Nunu28 on Tue, 15/01/2019 - 17:28

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Ambitious can be described as a high desire to attain. It can be a thing or to do something or to be in a certain condition. I think there are many ways to make young girls feel ambitious, such as make them see increadible thing, make them meet someone famous, and tell them what possibility they can achieve when they are in certain condition. Good role for a models, especially for woman should be someone who is well educated, show a good respect to other and society, and has a passion for doing the right thing.
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Submitted by Shawn on Fri, 07/12/2018 - 20:42

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This material is really useful to learning English.
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Submitted by alita on Sun, 18/11/2018 - 22:27

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Inspiring article and video for girl. I have a little girl. I hope I can guide her and show her this video. Thanks BC, we're not only learning English here. KUDOS from Bali

Submitted by Alextall on Sun, 18/11/2018 - 08:36

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I think sometimes there isn't difference between men and women in profession. The most important thing is thing you more interested in.

Submitted by Alvaro A on Wed, 14/11/2018 - 14:00

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You could repeat this programme's example and show the women daily heroes like doctors, firefighters, scientists, teachers, politicians, police officers, drivers, chefs, roboticists, electrical engineers, electricians, plumbers etc. Therefore, Marie Curie is probably the famous woman that I remember now, but I can't believe that the girl don't know J. K. Rowling and Harry Potter.