Jimmy Cooper, who is turning 80 in November, still works as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. He briefly retired when he was 69, but got bored and came back to nursing after four months. Jimmy really enjoys his job and doesn’t plan on quitting anytime soon.

Jimmy’s nursing career started when he met a matron and her deputy at a hospital near Brighton in the 1970s. He was interested in what they were talking about, so he left his contact information and later signed up for a training course. But during his training, he had some restrictions like not being allowed to learn about female patients or work on a female ward. It took two years before he saw his first female patient.

Throughout his career, Jimmy has taken care of many different patients, including politicians from the Conservative Party who were hurt in a bombing in 1984. He was the manager of the unit at the time and got a call about the bombing, but he thought it was a joke at first. Once he realized it was serious, he took care of the injured politicians.

Jimmy has been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years. His coworkers think he’s great and say he’s a fantastic teacher. They like having tea breaks with him and call him “Granda” affectionately. Dr. Brian McCloskey, a consultant on the ward, thinks Jimmy is caring and kind, and he knows a lot because he has so much experience.

Even though Jimmy has been working in healthcare for 50 years, he doesn’t want to retire. He wants to keep working for at least three more years. He thinks that keeping up with younger coworkers helps him stay fit and young. Jimmy’s dedication to nursing is really inspiring and shows that you can have a fulfilling career in healthcare no matter how old you are.

Original news source: Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital: I’m nearly 80 and still nursing (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be paired up and given a few minutes to read the article. After that, each student will have to summarize the article to their partner in two minutes, focusing on the main points and any interesting details. Partners will then provide feedback on the clarity and completeness of the summary.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a series of statements based on the article (e.g., “People should retire at 65,” “Experience is more valuable than youth in nursing,” “Returning to work after retirement can be beneficial”). Students will then stand on a line in the classroom where one end represents ‘strongly agree’ and the other ‘strongly disagree.’ For each statement, students will place themselves along the line according to their opinion, and then discuss their reasoning with the person next to them.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key terms from the article (e.g., intensive care unit, retire, consultant, politician, bombing). Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front and pick a word. They will then have to draw it on the board without speaking or writing letters or numbers, while their team tries to guess the word. Each correct guess earns a point.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students will work in small groups to discuss and predict the future of nursing based on Jimmy’s story. They should consider how things have changed since Jimmy started and what might happen in the next 50 years. Each group will then share their predictions with the class, and the class will vote on which scenario they think is most likely.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question to the class related to the article, such as “What motivates someone like Jimmy to continue working at 80?” or “What are the benefits and challenges of having older professionals in the workforce?” Students will first think about the question individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally share their conclusions with the class in a larger group discussion.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How old is Jimmy Cooper and where does he work as a nurse?
2. What caused Jimmy to return to nursing after his brief retirement?
3. Where did Jimmy’s nursing career begin and what piqued his interest in the field?
4. What were some of the limitations Jimmy faced during his nursing training?
5. Can you describe a significant event that Jimmy was involved in during his career?
6. For how long has Jimmy been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
7. What do Jimmy’s coworkers think of him and what nickname do they use to show their affection?
8. Despite his long career, how long does Jimmy want to continue working, and what does he believe are the benefits of working with younger coworkers?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Jimmy Cooper, who is turning 80 in (1)______, still works as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria (2)______ in Belfast. He briefly retired when he was 69, but got (3)______ and came back to nursing after four months. Jimmy really (4)______ his job and doesn’t plan on quitting anytime soon.

Jimmy’s nursing career started when he met a matron and her deputy at a hospital near Brighton in the 1970s. He was interested in what they were talking about, so he left his contact information and later signed up for a training course. But during his training, he had some restrictions like not being allowed to learn about female patients or work on a female ward. It took two (5)______ before he saw his first female patient.

Throughout his (6)______, Jimmy has (7)______ care of many different patients, including (8)______ from the Conservative Party who were hurt in a bombing in 1984. He was the manager of the unit at the time and got a call about the bombing, but he thought it was a joke at first. Once he realized it was (9)______, he took care of the injured politicians.

Jimmy has been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years. His coworkers (10)______ he’s great and say he’s a fantastic teacher. They like having tea breaks with him and call him “Granda” affectionately. Dr. (11)______ McCloskey, a (12)______ on the ward, thinks (13)______ is caring and kind, and he knows a lot because he has so much experience.

Even though Jimmy has been working in healthcare for 50 years, he doesn’t want to retire. He wants to keep working for at least three more years. He thinks that (14)______ up with younger (15)______ helps him stay fit and young. Jimmy’s (16)______ to nursing is really inspiring and shows that you can have a fulfilling career in healthcare no matter how old you are.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a job you would enjoy doing for many years, like Jimmy does with nursing?
2. How would you feel if you had to retire from a job you love?
3. Do you think it’s a good idea for people to keep working even when they’re old? Why or why not?
4. Do you like the idea of having a nickname at work, like how Jimmy’s coworkers call him “Granda”?
5. What do you think makes someone a fantastic teacher or mentor at work?
6. Have you ever met someone who is older but still very active in their job? What did you think about that?
7. Do you think working with younger people can help you stay young and fit? Why or why not?
8. What is something you’re passionate about, and do you think you’ll still be interested in it when you’re 80?
9. How would you feel if you were not allowed to learn something at work because of restrictions like Jimmy faced?
10. Do you think there are jobs that are better suited for older people than others? What are they?
11. If you were in charge of a team and a big emergency happened, like the bombing Jimmy dealt with, how do you think you would react?
12. Have you ever considered a career in healthcare? Why or why not?
13. What qualities do you think are important for someone who works in intensive care?
14. Can you think of any advantages or disadvantages of having an older coworker like Jimmy?
15. Do you believe that having a fulfilling career can contribute to a person’s happiness at an older age? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. nurse
2. retirement
3. career
4. restrictions
5. patients
6. coworkers
7. dedication
8. healthcare

Meanings:
(a) The act of stopping work because of old age
(b) People who are sick and need medical help
(c) The people you work with
(d) Rules or limitations that prevent someone from doing something
(e) The industry or field that involves taking care of people’s health
(f) The commitment and effort someone puts into their work
(g) Someone who takes care of sick people
(h) The job or profession someone has for a long time
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When is Jimmy Cooper turning 80?
(a) December
(b) November
(c) October
(d) September

2. How long did Jimmy retire for before coming back to nursing?
(a) One year
(b) Two weeks
(c) Three years
(d) Four months

3. How did Jimmy start his nursing career?
(a) He saw a job advertisement in the newspaper.
(b) He was inspired by a family member who was a nurse.
(c) He met a matron and her deputy at a hospital near Brighton.
(d) He randomly decided to become a nurse one day.

4. What restrictions did Jimmy have during his nursing training?
(a) He was not allowed to learn about female patients or work on a female ward.
(b) He could only work part-time.
(c) He had to wear a specific uniform.
(d) He had to study extra subjects related to nursing.

5. Who did Jimmy take care of after a bombing in 1984?
(a) Politicians from the Conservative Party
(b) Children injured in the bombing
(c) Patients from a different hospital
(d) His coworkers at the Royal Victoria Hospital

6. How long has Jimmy been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
(a) Less than 5 years
(b) More than 30 years
(c) Almost 20 years
(d) Exactly 10 years

7. What do Jimmy’s coworkers think of him?
(a) They think he’s too old to be working.
(b) They think he’s a fantastic teacher.
(c) They think he’s lazy and doesn’t do his job well.
(d) They think he’s unapproachable and unfriendly.

8. Why does Jimmy want to keep working for at least three more years?
(a) He wants to earn more money.
(b) He wants to prove to his coworkers that he is better than them.
(c) He wants to become a manager in the hospital.
(d) He thinks it helps him stay fit and young.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Jimmy has taken care of politicians from the Conservative Party who were injured in a bombing in 1984.
2. He has been working in the administrative department at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years.
3. Jimmy’s nursing career began in the 1970s when he met a matron and her deputy at a hospital near Brighton.
4. Jimmy plans to continue working for at least three more years because he believes it helps him stay fit and young.
5. During his training, Jimmy had no restrictions that prevented him from learning about female patients or working on a female ward.
6. He briefly retired at the age of 29 but returned to nursing after four months because he got bored.
7. Jimmy Cooper is an 80-year-old nurse who still works in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Belfast.
8. It took two days before Jimmy saw his first female patient.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How old is Jimmy Cooper, and what is his profession?
2. Why did Jimmy return to nursing after briefly retiring?
3. What were some of the restrictions Jimmy faced during his nursing training?
4. Can you describe an important event Jimmy dealt with in his nursing career?
5. What are Jimmy’s thoughts on retirement, and how does he believe his job affects his well-being?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How old is Jimmy Cooper and where does he work as a nurse?
Jimmy Cooper is 80 years old and works as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

2. What caused Jimmy to return to nursing after his brief retirement?
He got bored after retiring and decided to come back to nursing after only four months.

3. Where did Jimmy’s nursing career begin and what piqued his interest in the field?
Jimmy’s nursing career began near Brighton in the 1970s after he met a matron and her deputy at a hospital and became interested in their conversation.

4. What were some of the limitations Jimmy faced during his nursing training?
During his training, he was not allowed to learn about female patients or work on a female ward for the first two years.

5. Can you describe a significant event that Jimmy was involved in during his career?
Jimmy took care of politicians from the Conservative Party who were injured in a bombing in 1984. He was the manager of the unit at the time and initially thought the call about the bombing was a joke.

6. For how long has Jimmy been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
Jimmy has been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years.

7. What do Jimmy’s coworkers think of him and what nickname do they use to show their affection?
Jimmy’s coworkers think he is great, a fantastic teacher, and they affectionately call him “Granda.”

8. Despite his long career, how long does Jimmy want to continue working, and what does he believe are the benefits of working with younger coworkers?
Jimmy wants to continue working for at least three more years and believes that keeping up with younger coworkers helps him stay fit and young.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) November
(2) Hospital
(3) bored
(4) enjoys
(5) years
(6) career
(7) taken
(8) politicians
(9) serious
(10) think
(11) Brian
(12) consultant
(13) Jimmy
(14) keeping
(15) coworkers
(16) dedication
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. nurse
Answer: (g) Someone who takes care of sick people

2. retirement
Answer: (a) The act of stopping work because of old age

3. career
Answer: (h) The job or profession someone has for a long time

4. restrictions
Answer: (d) Rules or limitations that prevent someone from doing something

5. patients
Answer: (b) People who are sick and need medical help

6. coworkers
Answer: (c) The people you work with

7. dedication
Answer: (f) The commitment and effort someone puts into their work

8. healthcare
Answer: (e) The industry or field that involves taking care of people’s health
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When is Jimmy Cooper turning 80?
Answer: (b) November

2. How long did Jimmy retire for before coming back to nursing?
Answer: (d) Four months

3. How did Jimmy start his nursing career?
Answer: (c) He met a matron and her deputy at a hospital near Brighton.

4. What restrictions did Jimmy have during his nursing training?
Answer: (a) He was not allowed to learn about female patients or work on a female ward.

5. Who did Jimmy take care of after a bombing in 1984?
Answer: (a) Politicians from the Conservative Party

6. How long has Jimmy been working in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital?
Answer: (c) Almost 20 years

7. What do Jimmy’s coworkers think of him?
Answer: (b) They think he’s a fantastic teacher.

8. Why does Jimmy want to keep working for at least three more years?
Answer: (d) He thinks it helps him stay fit and young.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Jimmy has taken care of politicians from the Conservative Party who were injured in a bombing in 1984. (Answer: True)
2. He has been working in the administrative department at the Royal Victoria Hospital for almost 20 years. (Answer: False)
3. Jimmy’s nursing career began in the 1970s when he met a matron and her deputy at a hospital near Brighton. (Answer: True)
4. Jimmy plans to continue working for at least three more years because he believes it helps him stay fit and young. (Answer: True)
5. During his training, Jimmy had no restrictions that prevented him from learning about female patients or working on a female ward. (Answer: False)
6. He briefly retired at the age of 29 but returned to nursing after four months because he got bored. (Answer: False)
7. Jimmy Cooper is an 80-year-old nurse who still works in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Belfast. (Answer: True)
8. It took two days before Jimmy saw his first female patient. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧