Tuesday 7 December 2010

Amir From Pakistan

Amir is a student who studies English at AMES in Box Hill. He comes from Pakistan and he has been in Australia for four years now. Amir lived for a few years in Greece where he worked in a pizza shop. He liked Greece very much and had many friends there.


Amir went to Pakistan for a short visit to see his family and there he met a girl at his neighbour’s house. The girl was born in Australia. Her parents were Pakistani. Amir fell in love with the girl at first sight and after a few days, he asked her to marry him. Amir was tall and handsome and the girl agreed. She was happy to marry Amir. Amir rang his friends in Greece and told them he was not coming back because he got married. He also rang his boss at work and thanked him for the wonderful time he had had at work. The boss wished Amir the best of luck.


After they married, Amir and his wife came to live in Australia. Amir’s English was good enough but he was bored at home when he stayed for two weeks without work. His brother-in-law introduced him to one of his friends. They used to go to high school together. The friend was Greek. Amir spoke to the young man in Greek. The young man was surprised because Amir spoke Greek very well.


The young man turned on the radio. On the radio there were Greek songs and other programs. Amir started to listen to the Greek radio station quite often. One day there was an advertisement for a job at a factory. Amir wrote down the phone number and rang the factory.


One man answered the phone at the factory and Amir spoke to him in Greek. The man was surprised to find out that Amir didn’t have a Greek name. Amir explained that he was Pakistani. The man asked Amir to come the following day to meet the boss.


Amir went to the factory the following day and met the boss. The boss was happy to give him a job at his factory. He was very happy because not many people could speak Greek that well. After some time, Amir made many friends at his factory and he was very happy to come and live in Australia.

Answer these questions:
  1. What country does Amir come from?
  2. Where did he work when he was in Greece?
  3. Why did Amir go back to Pakistan?
  4. Who did he meet at his neighbour's house?
  5. Why did Amir telephone his friends and former boss in Greece?
  6. Why did Amir feel bored when he came to live in Australia?
  7. Do you think Amir was lucky to find work after a short time of coming to live in Australia?
  8. Where was Amir's wife born?
  9. Where do her parents come from?
  10. Do you think speaking Greek helped Amir get his first job in Australia?
  11. What did Amir hear on the radio?
  12. Where does Amir study English?
  13. Why was the friend surprised when he met Amir?
  14. What did Amir make when he got his job in Australia?
  15. Are there many people who were not born in Greece that can speak Greek?