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Anna's New Start · Episode 4: Anna's New Start — The Papers She Needs October 3, 2026 · 5:31 · With Narrator, Anna, Sam, and Rosa Alvarez
Anna and Sam prepare documents for Anna's resume workshop at a public library. A printing problem helps Anna notice one important paper is missing, so she makes a plan to contact her former supervisor.
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Narrator This is Anna’s New Start. Anna has just arrived in a new city and is looking for work. She has a room waiting for her at 18 Pine Street and a resume workshop on Wednesday. Today, she meets Sam at the public library to prepare the papers she will need. Anna Sam, thank you for meeting me here. I brought my papers, but I am not sure what the workshop needs. Sam You are welcome. Let’s look at the list again. It says education, skills, past jobs, and two people who can give references. Anna I understand the first three. But what is a reference? Sam A reference is someone who can talk about your work. A new employer may call that person and ask if you are reliable. Anna Oh. I have a supervisor from my old job. Her name is Lidia. But she lives in another country. Sam That may still be useful. Do you have her phone number or email address? Anna I have her email in my old notebook. I also have a letter from her, but it is not in English. Sam Bring both. The workshop leader can tell you what to use. First, we should make copies of your education papers. Anna I have my school certificate and a short computer course certificate. I do not have the original course paper with me. Sam That is okay. We can write the course name on your resume now. Later, you can ask the school for another copy. Anna Can we print everything here? I saw a printer near the computers. Sam Yes, but you need a library card or a guest pass. Let’s ask someone at the desk. Rosa Alvarez Hello. I’m Rosa. I can help you with the printer. Do you already have a library card? Anna No, I just arrived in the city. I only need to print a few pages today. Rosa Alvarez That’s fine. You can get a free guest pass with an ID. The first five pages are free. After that, each page costs ten cents. Sam Anna has her passport and room agreement. Will those be enough for the guest pass? Rosa Alvarez Her passport is enough. The room agreement is useful, too, but please keep it safe. It is an important paper. Anna I have six pages. I can pay for one page. I brought some coins. Rosa Alvarez You do not need to pay. I can show you how to print two pages on one sheet. Then you will only need three sheets. Sam That is helpful. Anna, your old job letter is two pages. Maybe we should not print it yet. Anna Why not? It shows that I worked at the hotel for three years. Sam It is in another language, and the letter does not have Lidia’s email. A resume with clear dates may be more useful today. Anna You are right. I can write the hotel name, my job, and the dates. Then I can contact Lidia before the workshop. Rosa Alvarez That sounds like a good plan. You can also save the documents to a library computer, but do not forget to sign out when you finish. Anna Thank you. I am not used to these computers, so I may need help with that. Rosa Alvarez Just ask me. Many people need help the first time. The computer will not judge your spelling or your work history. Sam And I can help you write the email to Lidia. It can be short: “Hello, I am looking for work in my new city. May I list you as a reference?” Anna That is easy to understand. I will send it tonight. I also want to ask if she can describe my work in English. Sam Good idea. You are not asking her to find you a job. You are only asking permission to give her name. Anna I feel better now. I came here with many papers, but I did not know which ones mattered. Now I have a small folder for the workshop. Rosa Alvarez Keep the folder together, and bring a pen on Wednesday. The job center has computers, but a pen is still useful. Anna I will bring a pen, my certificates, my dates, and Lidia’s email. Sam, can we meet at the job center at eight forty-five? Sam Yes. The workshop starts at nine, and arriving early will give you time to find a computer. Anna Then it is a plan. Today I printed my papers. Tonight I will write to Lidia. On Wednesday, I will be ready.
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