Healthcare & Sports – B2 English Listening Exercise

9 public course 10 tournament fees 11 titanium driver 12 online auctions

13 shoulder injury 14 marketing agency 15 delivery driver

16 fitness coaches 17 charity tournament 18 mental toughness

Mark: Hi everyone, my name is Mark, and I’m an aspiring professional golfer. I want to talk to you today about the reality of trying to make it in a sport that is, quite frankly, incredibly expensive. People often assume that kids get into golf through an exclusive country club, or perhaps by attending a prestigious summer camp. In my case, however, I first picked up a club at a local public course where my grandfather used to maintain the greens. That’s where my passion was born.

As I got older and started competing at a higher level, the harsh financial reality of the sport hit me. Many people assume that travel costs—like flights and hotels—are the biggest drain on a young golfer’s wallet. While those certainly aren’t cheap, it was actually the tournament fees that completely drained my savings. Just entering a competition can cost a small fortune.

And then, of course, there’s the equipment. To compete with the best, you need the best gear. I’d love a new set of custom-fitted irons, and my putter could definitely do with an upgrade. But the one thing I genuinely can’t afford right now is a state-of-the-art titanium driver. The technology in those clubs adds crucial yards to your shot, but the price tags are just astronomical.

So, how do I manage? Some players on the tour take out massive bank loans, and others borrow cash from wealthy friends. I don’t have those luxuries, so instead, I spend hours scouring online auctions to find second-hand gear that’s still in decent condition. It’s a compromise, but it keeps me in the game.

Using older, ill-fitting gear isn’t just about missing out on distance or accuracy, though. It actually takes a physical toll. A few months ago, I was experiencing some severe back pain, which I thought was down to a poor swing technique. However, a specialist pointed out that the stiff, outdated shafts on my clubs were actually causing a recurrent shoulder injury. My body was overcompensating for the heavy equipment.

To buy the top-tier stuff, you really need corporate sponsors. I’ve sent countless emails. I approached major clothing brands and even pitched to a few local car dealerships. Ultimately, they all said no, but a small marketing agency recently agreed to help me with some basic funding. It’s not enough to buy the premium clubs just yet, but it covers my travel.

To make ends meet and save up for my gear, I had to find another source of income. I considered working as a caddie at a luxury resort, but the hours were far too unpredictable for my training schedule. So, I took a job as a delivery driver in the evenings. It’s exhausting, but it pays the bills and leaves my days free for practice.

It can be a tough, lonely journey. My parents are wonderfully supportive, but the people who really keep me going on a daily basis are my fitness coaches. They understand the biomechanics of my swing and help me strengthen my body to handle the sub-standard equipment I’m currently forced to use.

Looking ahead, I have a big opportunity next month. I’m not quite ready for the national championship yet, but I’ve qualified for a regional charity tournament which has a surprisingly large prize fund. If I can secure a win there, I’ll finally be able to purchase the premium clubs I desperately need.

People often ask what it takes to succeed in professional golf. Natural talent is obvious, and relentless hard work is a given. But honestly, more than anything else, you need incredible mental toughness to step onto the first tee and compete against guys whose golf bags cost more than my car. You just have to believe in yourself.

9 regional championship 10 physiotherapist 11 academic subjects 12 frustration

13 assistant coach 14 rehabilitation clinic 15 human anatomy

16 communication skills 17 sports science 18 inner drive

Liam: Hi everyone. My name is Liam, and I’m here today to talk about my journey as a young athlete trying to figure out my future career. I’ve been obsessed with the pool since I was a kid. A lot of people assume my primary motivation was watching the Olympics on television, or perhaps joining a competitive local swimming club, but actually, it was a regional championship when I was twelve that really ignited my passion for the sport. From that moment on, I spent every spare hour training.

As I got older and started thinking about my future, I realised I wanted a career that combined my love for sports with my desire to help others heal. I briefly considered becoming a nutritionist, and my parents naturally suggested I look into studying medicine. However, after doing some research, I eventually decided I wanted to train as a physiotherapist. It just seemed like the perfect fit for my interests.

I was quite excited about this decision and went to my school’s career advisor for some guidance. I fully expected her to give me brochures on healthcare programs or suggest specific university courses I could look into. Instead, she just told me to focus entirely on my academic subjects and essentially forget about athletics and sports-related fields. She said they weren’t secure career choices.

This lack of support from my teachers was incredibly hard to deal with. At first, I just felt a sense of sadness, but as time went on, this turned into deep frustration, because they simply didn’t see sports as a valid career path. It felt like my dedication to swimming was completely invisible to them.

I felt quite lost for a few months until I had a crucial conversation at my swimming club. I initially thought about asking the head manager for advice, but he was always rushing around and too busy to talk. Fortunately, an assistant coach noticed I was feeling down after practice one evening and offered me some brilliant guidance. He listened to my career ideas without dismissing them.

He suggested I get some relevant work experience to prove to my school—and myself—that I was serious about this path. I tried to get a placement at a local leisure centre, and I even applied to a large fitness gym in town. In the end, I managed to secure a few weeks volunteering at a rehabilitation clinic, which was absolutely amazing and incredibly relevant to my goals.

Working there really opened my eyes to the realities of healthcare. At school, I’d always thought chemistry would be the most vital science for my future, or perhaps psychology for dealing with athletes. Actually, I quickly realised that a solid understanding of human anatomy was what I really needed to master if I wanted to succeed in this industry.

The professionals at the clinic taught me so much. I had always assumed their job was purely about physical strength and possessing vast medical knowledge. While those things certainly matter, they emphasized that communication skills are actually the most important tool when you’re trying to help an injured athlete recover. You have to know how to listen and explain treatments clearly.

Armed with this practical experience, I felt much more confident. When it came time to apply for university, my teachers were still pushing me towards traditional degrees like law or history. But I ignored their pressure and applied for a degree in sports science, and I was absolutely thrilled when I was accepted by my top-choice university.

If I have a message for anyone in a similar position, it’s this: don’t let a lack of encouragement hold you back. You might hope for constant praise from your teachers or financial support from your school, but ultimately, it’s your inner drive that will get you where you want to be. Believe in your passions, even when others don’t.