Comprehension questions and tasks. 1. What do you know about human trafficking?

1. What do you know about human trafficking? What are the forms it exists in?

2. What makes the author think that human trafficking is “the hidden side of globalization”?

3. Is there any danger for the citizens of Belarus to appear in the situation like Elena’s? Have you heard of any such cases?

4. Speak on human trafficking. Find some more information on the issue.

Get in shape and look sharp, lecturers told

By Tony Halpin

College lecturers were told to cast off their crumpled corduroys and get into the gym yesterday to smarten up their public image.

Elbow pads, beer-stained ties, and unkempt hair sent all the wrong messages to students about the importance of appearance in the job market, an image consultant told more than 1, 400 college principals.

Mary Spillane, who has advised politicians and business leaders on their dress sense, said that people made snap judgements about others in just 15 seconds.

She told the annual conference of the Association of Colleges in Birmingham that first impressions could take a life-time to shake off.

Lecturers were stuck with a beard-and-sandals image because they paid little attention to their appearance. “Many lecturers look like they have slept in their clothes and they are certainly not role models for how you present yourself in business, ” Ms Spillane said.

“They need to get their act together because a qualification is just part of the knowledge students need now. They also have to look competitive and sound confident.

“But the lecturer is totally unconscious of the importance of this. They need to look like they are part of the 21st century as opposed to something caught in an 80s timewarp.”

Mr Spillane, founder of the image consultancy Colour Me Beautiful, said that lecturers should abandon outdated clothes, book a hair appointment, and work out in the gym to look better.

“It doesn’t take a lot of time or money. It’s a case of going through the wardrobe and getting rid of everything that doesn’t fit or is well past its sell-by date, ” she said.

“If they are not fit, they should get fit so that they are more energised and lose the beer gut. A modern haircut doesn’t cost a lot of money but can make a huge difference for both men and women.”

For men, the aim should be a “smart casual” look that was modern without turning them into “everybody’s sad dad”.

They should wear a sports jacket of some kind, decent trousers, casual shoes, like slip-ons, but not trainers.

“Shirts with a collar always, not collarless shirts, but not necessarily a tie, ” Ms Spillane said.

“A suit is out of place in a teaching environment – it’s too formal. You need a bit of flair to buy a modern suit with interest and most of the ones I saw today were grey Marks & Spencer numbers which are about as unimaginative as you can get.”

She added: “Beards and facial hair have really had their day. It’s too stereotypical of the college lecturer, that they can’t be fagged with grooming themselves. A clean face is much more sharp and professional.”

Women should go for the “pseudo-suit” look with layers of clothes to protect their dignity. The smarter they looked the more authority they would exude. It was also a fact of modern business life that women who wore make-up were promoted sooner and earned more.

“They have to avoid looking mumsy, that’s the worst thing, or trying to dress like Top Shop. No matter how cute you might be you don’t want to look like your daughter, ” she said.

“Black is always good and this season’s colour, plum, is a great look, as are rich blues. Pink is too girly and after you’ve worn it twice people notice that ‘oh you’re wearing that again’.”

Men should avoid loud and garish shirts while still injecting some colour into their appearance, she said.

Many of the four million people taking courses were returning to work or in search of improved job skills and needed to think about how they looked. It was part of lecturers’ jobs to demonstrate the skills their students would need to succeed in the workplace: charm, presence, eye-contact, strong handshakes, good posture, smart appearance, and a confident voice.

Lecturers’ unions gave her suggestions short shirts, however. The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education said that lecturers could not afford to set an example to style-conscious students in their classes.

Dan Taubman, the national officer for colleges, said: “I am sure lecturers are aware of the impression they make on students but it is the quality of the lessons they receive that is important. It would be difficult for lecturers to keep up with trends, particularly among their younger students.”

From The Times, November 2002