RKW Diploma Year 1 2010 Semester 1

Reading: Female Emirati Pilots

1. Female pilots in the world: internet reading
and discussion
Internet reading
Go to the website of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots at
http://www. iswap.org/html. Then go to Frequently asked Questions (FAQ ) on the
side menu.
Then, read the information and answer the questions.
1a.Who was the first woman to be employed as a pilot? ______________________
1b.When was she given this position as a pilot? ____________________________
2a. Approximately, how many pilots are there in the world? _________________
2b. How many of these pilots are women? ________________________________
2c. What is the percentage of female pilots, worldwide? ______________________

3a.What is the name of the airline that has the largest number of female pilots?
_______________________________________________________________
3b. How many female pilots does this airline have all together? ________________
Discussion

1. Would you like to work as a pilot for an airline? Why/ why not?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

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MOHAMMAD SAYS FEMALE PILOTS ARE PIONEERS

Al Ain: Yesterday, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the
graduation ceremony of pilot officer trainees, including the first female pilots from the
Khalifa Air College in Al Ain.
He presented certificates and prizes to the graduates, congratulated them and wished
them success. He told the female pilots to rise to the challenge, saying that they are
pioneers in their field among UAE women.
Salma said: "I was studying to be a nurse, but something just didn't feel right. I just could
not find real enthusiasm for what I was doing and that made studying to become better
hard work. It made me stop and look at life and I decided to follow my childhood dream of
becoming a pilot. I am confident and hard-working and I have found a passion in life
again."
Aisha wanted to become a pilot after being a passenger in a plane at the Al Ain air show.
She said: "I loved being up in the sky and knew instantly that I wanted to become a pilot.
My family is so proud of what I am doing."
To finish the Etihad pilot programme and become a first officer co-pilot, a student must
complete 930 hours in the classroom and 205 hours of flying.
Salma said: "It is going to be the best job in the world being on top of the world."

ADAPTED FROM Gulf News, October 28, 2007

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/01/17/10182559.html
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/10/28/10163355.html

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RKW Diploma Year 1 2010 Semester 1

Questions

Are the sentences true (T), false (F) or not given

(NG)?
1

Salma and Aisha have graduated as pilots.

T/F/NG

They will work for Air Arabia.

T/F/NG

The class did their studies in Dubai.

T/F/NG

Salma always wanted to be a pilot.

T/F/NG

Aisha became interested in flying after she went in an airplane.

T/F/NG

Salma will be the first qualified female pilot.

T/F/NG

Aishas family isnt happy about her career choice.

T/F/NG

Salma and Aishas course is 1000 hours.

T/F/NG

The trainees spent more time flying than in the classroom.

T/F/NG

Find words in the article which mean the same as:

1. to be the first person to do something (paragraph 2)

2. students who finish a college programme (paragraph 2)
3.

strong interest in something (paragraph 3)

4. immediately (paragraph 4)
5. two words that have the same meaning (paragraph 5)

Complete the following sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE words from
the text.
1. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum came to a
_____________________________ for women who have trained to be pilots.
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2. When she was a child, Salma wanted to become a _______________________.

3. Salma decided not to become a _________________________ because she
wanted to study to be a pilot.
4. To graduate from Khalifa Air College, students have to fly for _____________.
After reading: discussion
1. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages doing a job that in the
UAE, men usullay do ( e.g.female pilot, TV presenter, police officer or soldier)
Advantages

Disadvantages

Writing:Connecting your ideas

Read the essay below which a student has written on jobs in
the health industry. Complete the missing words with connectors from
your list.
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Although many Emirati women who graduate from college or university choose
to work in the banking or education industries, a small number of graduates
choose to do a job in the health sector.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in the health
industry? Do the benefits outweigh the problems?
A new Health Sciences university has recently opened in Ras Al Khaimah where
Emirati women can qualify to be doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
__________________________, many Emiratis do not want to work in hospitals.
Doing a job in the health sector has a number of advantages, _______________ it
can also have some drawbacks.
Working in the health industry has two main ______________. To begin with,
being employed as a health professional often gives a lot of job satisfaction. This is
_________________________ helping people is an important part of these jobs
and doctors and nurses often say that this one of the main reasons that they enjoy
their careers. ___________________________, experienced people working in
the health industry often receive very good salaries. ____________________, in
most countries, surgeons are very well paid since they need to be extremely skillful
and very well qualified.
_________________________________, these jobs may have some
disadvantages. Firstly, doctors and nurses usually have to work very long hours and
they might have to do night shifts. Unfortunately, this sometimes has a negative
_______________________on their own health because they may not get enough
sleep. __________________________, looking after people can also be quite
stressful because the lives of patients might depend on the skill and efficiency of
the medical staff who treat them.
_______________________, having looked at both sides of the question, in my
view, the benefits of working in the health industry are more important than the
disadvantages, ____________these jobs would be an excellent choice for many
Emirati women.
Writing Discussion Essay

These days, some young Emirati women do jobs which have in the past been only
jobs for men eg. police officers and pilots.

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of allowing

women to do the same jobs as men? Do the benefits
outweigh the problems?
Write at least 200 words and answer both parts of the
question.

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April 2010