Word on the street: Education
Ashlie’s car has broken down… again! Rather than call out a mechanic, Ashlie and Stephen learn how to fix it themselves. But will Stephen’s new car be too difficult to fix? Wendy learns how a good education is not just about knowledge – but can be fashionable, too! Join her as she meets graduates from fashion courses, working together on a new range of clothes.
Education Scene 1
Stephen and Ashlie decide to take a course on basic car maintenance. Anxious to get his hands dirty, Stephen learns a lesson the hard way.
Audio
Transcript
Stephen: Come on, Ash! I'll drive. Give me the keys!
Ashlie: Err, why won't it start? Did you leave the lights on last night?
Stephen: No, I didn’t, Ashlie.
Ashlie: The car won't start. And Stephen was supposed to give me a lift to the shops.
Stephen: I think it might be the battery or maybe that petrol thingy.
Ashlie: OK, Stephen. Which one's the battery?
Stephen: Erm... is it that one?
Ashlie: Erm, that's the radiator.
Stephen: How old is this car anyway? It's always breaking down!
Ashlie: And we never know how to fix it. Come on. I'll see if I can find a mechanic and you can make us a nice cup of tea.
Ashlie: They say it's going to cost a hundred and forty pounds to send out a mechanic!
Stephen: A hundred and forty pounds?
Ashlie: That is it! We've got to learn how to fix that car ourselves. Oh, hey, have a look at this, Stephen: ‘This course is intended to help people who want to save money on car service and repair bills.’
Stephen: Let me have a look. Ah, ‘By the end of the course you will have a good understanding of car electrical systems, wheels, tyres and brakes.’ Hmm, sounds good!
Ashlie: Right. I'm going to call them to find out when the course starts.
Ashlie: This was such a good idea, Stephen. Think of all the money we're going to save on car repairs.
Stephen: Yes, but I didn't expect to be in a classroom. I wanted to get my hands dirty and work on real cars.
Ashlie: We will. But first we have to learn some theory. Theory, then practice.
Teacher: So, this is a standard four-stroke engine… So, when the piston, here, reaches the top, the spark plug, here, will ignite the fuel and push the piston back down and then...
Stephen: This is so boring. When do we start with the real work?
Ashlie: This is really useful. You have to know how it works before you can fix it.
Teacher: ...inside here – so this is a water jacket. So that’s what cools down as the piston’s moving up and down, it creates friction, which creates heat. OK. So, out of the exhaust, through the centre-box and then through the rear exhaust.
Stephen: I'm exhausted. When are we going to do some real repairs?
Ashlie: Shh.
Teacher: We're going to take a break now and then we're going to the workshop and we'll look at some brakes, OK?
Stephen: Ah! Finally!
Teacher: OK, we're going to start with some simple checks. They should only take a few minutes to do. I'll show you first and then you can have a go yourselves.
Ashlie: We should have done this course years ago. We're going to save so much money.
Stephen: Yeah, this is more like it.
Teacher: OK, well done everyone. Let's have a look at what we've learnt so far. So, who can show me how to check the oil? Ashlie?
Ashlie: Yeah.
Teacher: And how about radiators?
Stephen: Ooh yeah, me. I can do that.
Teacher: Be careful. Be careful!
Ashlie: Stephen! I told you you needed to listen to the theory!
Education Scene 2
"Stephen decides he’s going to fix up an old banger and gets Ashlie to help him. There’s just one small problem ..."
Audio
Transcript
Ashlie: That’s it. Just need to tighten that up a bit.
Stephen: I think I've found what the problem was. It should be as good as new now.
Ashlie: We’ve finished our car maintenance course and it's already paying off. The car is going better than ever.
Stephen: Which means you can give me a lift. Come on.
Ashlie: Where are we going?
Stephen: I'll give you directions.
Ashlie: Oh, my gosh, Stephen! What are we doing here?
Stephen: So, I was thinking. You know I keep asking if I can borrow your car?
Ashlie: Yeah, so?
Stephen: And you’re always giving me lifts?
Ashlie: Yeah.
Stephen: Well, I thought it would be a good idea to get my own car.
Ashlie: Stephen, you’re always having these brilliant ideas. Cars are so expensive and you haven't got any money.
Stephen: Exactly. Da da! This is where I’m going to find my car. Come on. I want to introduce you to Gavin.
Stephen: Hi, Gavin. Good to see you.
Gavin: Hi, guys.
Ashlie: So where do all these cars come from?
Gavin: Well, they're cars that have been in accidents or broken down.
Stephen: So, can we take a look around? Will that be OK?
Gavin: Sure. Let me know if you need any help.
Stephen: Thanks, Gavin.
Ashlie: Thanks.
Stephen: Hey, Ash. What about this one?
Ashlie: Stephen, that is such an old banger. It hasn’t even got a boot.
Stephen: What about this one?
Ashlie: Stephen, that’s so big. And it’s got a smashed bonnet.
Stephen: OK, this is it! This is the one.
Ashlie: Are you sure, Stephen?
Stephen: With our new skills, Ash, it won't take long to get it looking as good as new.
Ashlie: We only did a course for beginners. We're not experts. And this needs an expert!
Stephen: And that's what Gavin‘s here for. Gavin!
Stephen: So what do you think, Gavin?
Gavin: I think you must be crazy, Stephen. It’s such an old heap.
Stephen: Yeah, she’s great, isn't she? So where do we start?
Gavin: Let's take a look at the engine.
Ashlie: Err, maybe we should start on the outside first.
Gavin: No, Ash, we really should look at the engine.
Stephen: Gavin, the engine’s the easy part. Come on. Don’t be boring. Come on, Ashlie. Let’s get started!
Stephen: What do you think, Ash? It needs a few more finishing touches, but I think it’s really coming along.
Ashlie: I think it looks great. I can’t wait to take it for a drive. What do you think, Gavin?
Gavin: I think it might be time to take a look at the engine.
Ashlie: Oh, OK. I guess we should take a look. Maybe top up the oil and other stuff before we take it for a spin.
Stephen: But don’t take too long. I want to get it out on the road.
Gavin: Erm, guys…
Stephen: What’s up? Problem with the engine?
Gavin: You could say that, Stephen.
Stephen: Oh no!
Working in Fashion
Wendy is finding out about style on the set of a photo shoot. Watch as she finds out what you need to know to work in fashion.
Transcript
Wendy: The world of fashion never stays still. Styles, colours and combinations change along with every season, year after year. It may look glamorous and fun, but it takes hard work and dedication to make a career in fashion.
Many people now study fashion at college or university in the UK, where they’ll need to understand skills including design, materials, distribution, marketing – and have lots of creative flair. All the people at this fashion shoot have studied at college, but now they’re working, they’re still learning all the time.
Photographer: I went to the London College of Communication. The real training that I kind of got that helps me today is just from assisting photographers, working in studios and just, really, just shooting my own stuff.
Make-up artist: I think I’m still learning every day because there are new products, new people, different equipment…
Alex: I went to the Royal College of Arts, where I sort of learned more about textile design and fashion and a little bit more about the industry from a different perspective.
Wendy: Fashion designer Alex d’Arche is now putting that education to practical use.
Alex: I like that. That’s really nice.
Wendy: She now works in the family business, called Daisy Darche.
Alex: That’s really nice.
Wendy: Alex’s business is based in London, where she designs and manufactures her range of clothes.
So, show me some of your work.
Alex: Yes, this is some of my work. So these pieces are from the latest spring/summer collection, and here are some other pieces which are made to order.
Wendy: Where do you get your inspiration from for these textiles?
Alex: I like going to museums, a lot of travelling involved, so I went to India, China, Thailand… really anywhere, even going for a walk in the park, you never know what you can see.
Wendy: Alex hires in the photographer, model and make-up artist for her fashion shoots to show off her range of clothes in magazines and online. But what does it take to work in the fashion industry?
Make-up artist: To be a good make-up artist you need to be a good communicator, creative and tough-skinned for the industry.
Photographer: I couldn’t imagine myself working in an office, you know, 9 to 5. I just absolutely love photography and to make a living with, you know, through my work… it’s fun, yeah, I really, really enjoy it.
Alex: Definitely, you have to have a passion, and you just have to keep going.
Wendy: The training Alex has received has helped her create a successful business.
Do you think for you, you had to go to university to learn what you do now?
Alex: I think, erm, in any industry, I think it’s important to go to university. I think there’s no limit to what you can learn, and I think you can only make yourself better.
Wendy: So, now you’re in fashion, is it all glamour?
Alex: No… but it can be, it can be. It is what you make it.
Wendy: So, as I’ve discovered today, behind the glamour of the fashion world is a lot of hard work and a wide set of skills. The reward for designers like Alex is choosing the styles which people are wearing from season to season.