CPE Article on Gap Year

Hi Gustavo,
I hope you are doing fine! Could you please take a look at my article? I did not perform well in the last one so I expect to have learnt from my mistakes and do better in the present one 
You can find the task attached to this e-mail. 

RegardsAlicia

Writing task:

You have been asked to write an article for Job Prospects magazine, a publication for 18-30 year olds, on the following topic:

How taking a gap year*can enhance your career prospects. *A gap year is a break usually taken between leaving school/college and starting university, and is seen as a valuable way to gain work experience and life skills.

You should focus on the types of job and leisure opportunities for young people taking a gap year in your country (or a country that you know well), the types of skills that can be gained and the likely value of these to potential employers.

Write the article for the readers of the magazine (around 280 - 320 words).

TAKING A GAP YEAR: ONE STEP FORWARD TO BECOMING AN ADULT

Nowadays, taking a gap year is becoming a popular trend among young people. Not only does it constitute a way to escape from the daily routine, but also provides young people with a great opportunity to learn new skills in preparation for their future jobs.

The easiest option to gain experience and learn useful skills in a gap year is volunteering to do social work. Volunteers have the opportunity to gain a huge amount of valuable experiences, as helping other human or animal beings or animals is so an enriching experience. Also, they usually learn how to deal with different types of people soft skills, an ability which may be regarded as useful in jobs such as hotel receptionist or project manager, where social abilities and empathy are almost compulsory. Even so, volunteers should always bear in mind that volunteering is not paid, which would be its most discouraging feature. means thez will have to ask their parents for financial support.

Another option to consider is to travel abroad and engage in the Au Pair community. Au Pairs are usually hosted by foreign families in exchange of services, which often include looking after the family’s children. The Au Pair programme has the advantage that the applicants are paid for their services and have the chance to attend a language course. This way, Au Pairs can learn a foreign language as they are immersed in the target culture, broadening their horizons, learning about cultures other than theirs and boosting their own confidence. Being fluent in foreign languages and having a high self-steem are qualities which definitely will help these young people when looking for a job in the future.

Of course, taking a gap year is a personal decision. We should weigh its pros and cons at an individual level before making any decision, but in the light of its many personal and professional benefits, parents should encourage their children to take a gap year in order to take a step forward in their journey to maturity.