🎯 Learning Objectives
- Read and understand a profile of TV news anchor Sahil De
- Learn vocabulary from the world of journalism
- Understand Walt Whitman's poem about workers
- Conduct an interview effectively
- Use PHRASAL VERBS correctly
3.1 Reading — Sahil De: A TV News Anchor
📺 Profile Background
Sahil De works as a Morning News Anchor and Field Reporter at CBRC TV in Jaipur City. He describes his job as 'Exhilarating and demanding.'
Qualifications: B.A. in Communications with emphasis in Broadcasting. Began as a sportscaster at a small TV station in college.
3:45 AM
At work — looks over scripts for the day
4:30–4:45 AM
15 minutes in the make-up room
4:45 AM
Begins newscast with a LIVE TEASER
5:00–7:00 AM
Broadcasts LIVE NEWS on air
7:00–9:00 AM
Goes out on assignment — reports LIVE STORIES from the field
| Aspect | What Sahil De Says |
|---|
| Advantages | "I get to go to cool places and meet politicians and celebrities that the general public doesn't usually get to see." |
| Downsides | "You don't have a normal life. Work weird hours, get up in the middle of the night, go to bed early, away from family a lot." |
| Personal interests | 2 young kids, great wife, likes checking out different restaurants, travel, plays volleyball |
| Advice for aspirants | "Get an internship, produce a video. Start at a small station — work your way up. The best broadcasters started small and didn't fizzle out." |
3.2 Vocabulary — World of Journalism
| Term | Meaning |
|---|
| News Anchor | The presenter who delivers news on TV, reading from a script or teleprompter |
| Reporter | Journalist who goes into the field to gather and report news stories live |
| Sportscaster | Journalist who specifically covers sports news and events |
| Newscast | A broadcast news programme on radio or television |
| Script | The written text of what a news anchor will read on air |
| Teaser | A short preview of a news story to be broadcast later |
| Assignment | A specific story or task given to a journalist to cover |
| Internship | Temporary, often unpaid, work experience to gain skills |
| Fizzle out | To gradually lose energy/enthusiasm and fail |
| Low profile | Not attracting much attention; unknown or unimportant |
3.3 Listening — Walt Whitman's Poem
📜 About the Poem
Poet: Walt Whitman (1819–1892) — famous American poet, called the 'Father of free verse'.
Poem: 'I Hear America Singing' — describes different kinds of American workers, each happy in their work.
Theme: Pride in honest labour. Every person's work is valuable and worthy of celebration.
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| List 5 workers in the poem | Mechanic, carpenter, mason, boatman, shoemaker, woodcutter, hatter, ploughboy, mother |
| Workers in a city? | Mechanic, carpenter, mason, shoemaker, boatman |
| Workers in rural areas? | Mechanic, carpenter, mason, woodcutter, ploughboy |
| Who does work in the home? | The mother, the young wife, and the girl washing or sewing |
| Why is mother's singing 'delicious'? | She is probably cooking something tasty as she sings, AND her singing expresses the joy a mother feels while doing things for her family. |
| Are the workmen happy? Why? | Yes — they seem to enjoy their work and are satisfied. The repetition of 'singing' throughout the poem expresses their joy and happiness. |
3.4 Grammar — Phrasal Verbs
📖 What are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs = basic verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs to create a
COMPLETELY NEW MEANING. Very common in spoken English.
Example: 'look over' = to read quickly (NOT 'look' + 'over' literally)
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| go off | To go away on a journey | Every summer I go off on a holiday to the hills. |
| check out | To investigate; to look at with interest | We checked out several hotels before deciding. |
| start out | To begin one's career or journey | I started out my career as a shop assistant. |
| take back | To retract or withdraw what was said | I wish I could take back the cruel words I said. |
| turn down | To refuse or reject | She turned down their offer of promotion. |
| catch up | To reach the same level after being behind | I have to catch up on all the news. |
| put off | To delay or postpone | He put off taking a decision for another week. |
| set up | To establish or start something | The bank helps women who want to set up a business. |
| look forward to | To anticipate with pleasure | I'm looking forward to starting work. |
| look up to | To admire and respect someone | He has always looked up to his elder brother. |
| look into | To investigate; to examine | The police are looking into the case. |
| look out | To be careful; watch for danger | If you don't look out, she'll take your job. |
| look up | To improve (for situations) | Business is looking up at last. |
Practice Questions & Answers
Q1. What is Sahil De's job? What are his qualifications?
Sahil De is a TV NEWS ANCHOR and FIELD REPORTER at CBRC TV in Jaipur City. He also does special investigative, consumer, and health reports.
Qualifications: B.A. in Communications with specialization in Broadcasting. Began as a sportscaster at a small TV station.
Q2. What does Sahil De like and not like about his job?
LIKES: Gets to go to interesting places and meet politicians and celebrities that the general public doesn't normally meet.
DISLIKES: Doesn't have a normal life; works weird hours; gets up in the middle of the night (3 AM); away from family a lot.
Q3. What advice does Sahil De give to aspiring TV journalists?
1. Get an INTERNSHIP (usually unpaid) to gain experience
2. Produce a VIDEO of your reporting to show potential employers
3. START AT A SMALL STATION — mistakes are expected; you're low profile
4. WORK YOUR WAY UP gradually
5. Don't get DISCOURAGED — the best broadcasters started small and didn't 'fizzle out'
Q4. What are phrasal verbs? Give 5 examples.
Phrasal verbs = basic verbs + prepositions/adverbs that together create a COMPLETELY NEW meaning.
1. look forward to = anticipate with pleasure: 'I'm looking forward to the trip'
2. look into = investigate: 'The police are looking into the case'
3. check out = investigate/examine: 'We checked out several hotels'
4. turn down = refuse: 'She turned down the offer'
5. set up = establish: 'He wants to set up a business'
Q5. Complete with 'look' phrasal verb: a) I'm ___ to starting work. b) He has always ___ his elder brother. c) Business is ___ at last.
a) I'm looking forward to starting work.
b) He has always looked up to his elder brother.
c) Business is looking up at last.
Q6. What is Walt Whitman's poem about? What is its theme?
Whitman's poem 'I Hear America Singing' describes different kinds of workers: mechanic, carpenter, mason, boatman, shoemaker, woodcutter, mother, young wife, girl washing/sewing.
THEME: Joy and pride in honest labour. Each worker sings 'what belongs to him or her and no one else' — showing individual dignity. The repetition of 'singing' symbolises happiness in one's work.
Q7. What is a 'word map' / 'mind map'? How does it help?
A WORD MAP is a visual/graphic tool that organises related vocabulary around a central topic.
Benefits:
• Helps structure information visually
• Easier to remember connected words
• Reveals relationships between words
• Aids comprehension, analysis, recall, and creative thinking
Q8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a TV journalist?
Advantages: Exciting, never boring; meet famous personalities; play important role informing public; chance for fame
Disadvantages: Abnormal working hours (often 3 AM start); away from family frequently; high stress and deadlines; tough competitive field; career starts with unpaid internships
Q9. Describe the life of a pilot (from the writing section).
Mr. Rustom Khaji is a pilot who flies the Airbus — a job he thoroughly enjoys. He doesn't follow a boring routine like office-goers. He has different reporting times and destinations every day. He needs quick reflexes — in case of emergency, action must be very fast with no room for error. Each flight is an experience in itself. His advice: 'Follow your dreams, persist, strive for excellence — and literally the sky is the limit.'
Q10. Explain these phrasal verbs: look out, look through, look for, look on.
look OUT = be careful, watch for danger. 'If you don't look out, you'll miss your train.'
look THROUGH = examine carefully. 'Please look through these documents before signing.'
look FOR = search for something. 'Could you help me look for my keys?'
look ON = watch as a bystander; regard/consider. 'She looked on helplessly as the argument developed.'
Let Us Sum Up — Quick Revision
- Sahil De: TV News Anchor — 3AM start, live broadcast 5-7AM, field reports 7-9AM, BA Communications
- Journalism Vocab: Anchor, reporter, sportscaster, newscast, script, teaser, field reporter, assignment
- Whitman's Poem: Workers singing = joy in labour. Every profession is valuable.
- Interview Tips: Pick right person, research, prepare questions, take notes, ask permission to record
- Phrasal Verbs: go off, check out, start out, take back, turn down, catch up, put off, set up, look over
- 'Look' Phrasal Verbs: forward to, up to, on, into, through, for, out, up — all have distinct meanings