unit 09- careers and studying
1. VOCABULARY
Working life. Let's see the most important vocabulary in this unit
Working life. Let's see the most important vocabulary in this unit
- To apply for
- To be a control freak
- To be bound to (being destined or to be legally obliged).
I'm bound to finish all those paperwork every day.
- To be menial (boring, simple)
Her job is pretty menial most of the time
- To be stretching oneself (expanding professionally, giving it your all)
It's very stimulating. I feel I'm stretching myself.
- To find something emotionally draining (tiring)
- To find something rewarding
- To quit a job
- To run something (a place)
IDIOMS
- If you want to learn new work-related idioms click here.
ec-idioms-intermediate-advanced.doc | |
File Size: | 114 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Working life
A
A
09_page_64_vocabulary_a_-_working_life_1.doc | |
File Size: | 1623 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Now that you've learnt the new words, let's review them by doing this activity.
09_vocabulary_test_-_chart.pdf | |
File Size: | 249 kb |
File Type: |
2. LISTENING
You're going to hear a conversation between two friends- Melissa and Richard. First, you'll meet Richard.
What kind of employee do you think he is? What's his job situation at the moment?
Listen to the conversation and check if you were right.
You're going to hear a conversation between two friends- Melissa and Richard. First, you'll meet Richard.
What kind of employee do you think he is? What's his job situation at the moment?
Listen to the conversation and check if you were right.
Now, you'll get the chance of meeting Richard. Ask him any questions you'd like to know about him.
Now listen to the conversation and check if you were right or wrong.
Some jokes about work
5. CONVERSATION PRACTICE
Student A
· Imagine you are working and your job is going really well. · Think of at least three reasons why. |
Student B
· Imagine your job is going really badly. · Think of at least three reasons why |
Greet each other and catch up with each other's news. Ask: So, how are you finding your job? Is everything OK? Try to use at least two conditional sentences with present tenses.
- If you can't come up with ideas that support your statements. Here are some:
Student A
· I got promoted. · I got a raise last month. · I'm getting on-the-job training. · I'm slowly getting the hang of everything. · I'm finding my job very rewarding. · It's really stimulating. I feel I'm stretching myself |
Student B
- I handed in my notice last week. · I got made redundant last week. · I'm struggling to cope. · My boss is a complete control freak. · I'm finding it emotionally draining. · The work is pretty menial most of the time. |
- Here are more examples for the discussion
Student A
If I get promoted, I'm going to do a Master's in Britain next month to improve my qualifications. · I will end up running the company if things continue like this. · I'm bound to get a lot of offers if I decide to move. |
Student B
- If everything fails, I can always look for another job. · I should talk to my boss to ask for a promotion. · If the situation continues this bad, I have to start looking for something else. · If things don't work out, I may call you. · My boss said he will sack me if I don't get better sales results |
6. LISTENING
Useful vocabulary
to be a dying breed- to be slowly disappearing.
to be down to- due to.
to grab- get something quickly.
income- money received on a regular basis, for work or through investments.
noughties- the beginning of the decade of 2000-2009 (2000-2003), nought = cero
to be character building- to shape someone's character.
Useful vocabulary
to be a dying breed- to be slowly disappearing.
to be down to- due to.
to grab- get something quickly.
income- money received on a regular basis, for work or through investments.
noughties- the beginning of the decade of 2000-2009 (2000-2003), nought = cero
to be character building- to shape someone's character.
Look at these two paperboys. As you can see they are not the same age.
Try to discuss in groups:
- the reasons why they are paperboys.
- how do they feel about their jobs (use the vocabulary learnt on page 64 from your book).
Now watch the videos. Imagine you want to become a paperboy, so listen to what you need to become one. Take notes.
Delivering newspapers safely (Part one)
Delivering newspapers safely (part two)
Now imagine that you have become a paperboy. you know what your job involves. This is Charlotte, she wants to become a papergirl so she's going to ask you questions. Later, you'll give her advice on what to do at her new job (first she's ask you). Answer to her questions providing full details.
Now Listen to Bob and two other paperboys. What other tips can you add? Take notes and give more advice to her.
Now, tell Charlotte all the information that you have about being a paperboy.
7. SPEAKING
- At what age do people usually begin to work in your country?
- At what age do people usually retire in your country?
- At what age would you like to retire?
- What do you think you will do after you retire?
- How much money do you think you need to retire with your lifestyle?
- Can you talk about what a typical day at your current job is like?
- Can you describe some of the people that you work with?
- Can you describe your current job?
- What was your first job?
- Do women usually work after they get married in your country?
- Do you ever work overtime?
- If so, do you get paid more for overtime work?
- Do you have a part-time job? If so, what do you do?
- Do you have to attend a lot of meetings for your job?
- Do you have to do a lot of paperwork?
- Do you have to work overtime?
- If so, how often?
- Do you have to work on Sundays?
- Do you know someone who has worked as an undertaker?
- What is the job of a an undertaker?
- Can women do this job or is it better for a man to be an undertaker?
- Do you like your boss? Why or why not?
- Do you like your job?
- Do you like your job? Why or why not?
- Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?
- Do you think it's acceptable for women to be in the military? Why/why not?
- Do you think people over 65 should be made to retire?
- Do you think women and men should be paid the same for the same job?
- Do you think women are good bosses?
- Are there women bosses in your country?
- Do you think your company is well run?
- Do you think that the place where you work is well run?
- Do you work on weekends?
- Do you work on Sundays?
- Does your mother work?
- Does your mother work outside of the house?
- Have you ever been promoted?
- Have you ever taken any courses that specifically help you with the job you are doing now?
- Have you ever worked on a farm?
- Did you like it?
- Would you like to go back on this farm job?
- If not , why?
- How do you like your work?
- How have working conditions changed in recent years?
- Do you think that working conditions have improved? If so, in what ways?
- How long do you plan to continue working where you are?
- How long have you been working at your present job?
- How many days a week do you work?
- How many hours a week do you work?
- How many times have you been promoted?
- When was the last time you were promoted?
- Did you get a large pay raise at that time?
- How old were you when you got your first job?
- How well do you get along with your boss?
- If you could own your own business, what would it be?
- If you had to choose between a satisfying job and a well-paid one, which would you choose?
- Is it common for men and women to have the same jobs in your country?
- Is it easy to find a job in Ceuta? How about in your country?
- Name three occupations that you could do. (For example, be a mortician)
- Name three occupations that you could never do?
- What are some common occupations in your country?
- What are some common jobs for men in your country?
- What are some common jobs for women in your country?
- What are some jobs that children do?
- What are some jobs that you think would be boring?
- What are some jobs that you think would be fun?
- What are some questions that are frequently asked in a job interview?
- What are you responsible for?
- What are you trying to do in order to find a job that you really like?
- What do you do?
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- What's your job?
- What do you like most about that job?
- What do you think is the best job? What do you think is the worst?
- What do you think would be the most interesting job? The most boring?
- What influenced your choice of job? (Why did you choose your job?)
- What job do you want to have in five years' time?
- What job would you most like to have, if social/cultural boundaries did not apply? (How different are they?)
- What job(s) do you wish to have in the future?
- What jobs in your country are considered to be good jobs? Why?
- What kind of volunteer work have you done?
- What kind of work do you do?
- What kind of work do you want to do in the future?
- What plans have you made for your retirement?
- What three adjectives would describe yourself as a worker?
- What time do you get home from work?
- Is it the same time every day?
- What time do your start and finish work?
- What would be your dream job?
- Do you think it would be possible for you to get this job?
- What's one job you wouldn't like to do? Why not?
- When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
- When you were a child, what job did you want to have when you grew up?
- Where do you work and what is your current job?
- Where do you work?
- Which job are you best at?
- Which job would you never do?
- Which jobs do you think are the most prestigious?
- Who among the people you know has the most interesting job? What is it?
- Why did you leave your last job - did you resign or were you sacked?
- Would you consider yourself to be an ambitious person at work?
- Would you describe yourself as a workaholic?
- Would you like a job in which you traveled a lot?
- Would you like a job that required you to sit at a computer all day?
- Would you like to do the same job for the rest of your life?
- Would you like to work in an office? Why or why not?
- Would you rather be a doctor or a banker?
- Would you rather work inside or outside?
- Getting a Job
- What is the difference between work and a job?
- Do you have a job?
- How did you get it?
- Did you have to go to university to get it?
- What is the name of your job?
- Is it a popular job?
- Is it a job mainly for men, or for women?
- Did you need any special training to get your job?
- What type of special training did you need?
- How long and where was the training?
- Is it an indoor, or outdoor job?
- Which do you think most people prefer, indoor or outdoor jobs?
- Does your job pay a good salary?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages to your job?
- Which do you think are some of the more demanding jobs?
- Which are the least demanding jobs?
- Which jobs are badly paid?
- Which jobs are over-paid?
- Which job are more popular than others, and why?
- Is your job competitive?
- What about promotions?
- Is it too competitive?
- How is your relationship with your co-workers?
- Why would I choose you instead of the 50 others wanting this position?
- These were submitted as possible job interview questions.
- What degrees do you have?
- How much experience do you have?
- Where have you worked?
- Why did you choose this employment?
- How much would you like to earn?
- Have you ever worked in this field?
- Where would you like to work? Why?
- Why do you find your job interesting?
8. READING
Vocabulary
to work solidly- work without stopping.
to pull my weight- do my part/task at a job.
to be pushed around a bit- being abused or discriminated (at work).
to get away with- to scape from something.
fair- the opposite of unfair.
Vocabulary
to work solidly- work without stopping.
to pull my weight- do my part/task at a job.
to be pushed around a bit- being abused or discriminated (at work).
to get away with- to scape from something.
fair- the opposite of unfair.
Remember that for this debate you should try to use conditionals, as well as useful expressions for agreeing and disagreeing you've learnt before.
Eg. If they introduce shorter degrees, they're going to have to make people redundant.
That's not a bad point, and anyway it'll be easier for them to find work in other countries under the new system.
Eg. If they introduce shorter degrees, they're going to have to make people redundant.
That's not a bad point, and anyway it'll be easier for them to find work in other countries under the new system.
WRITING
Write a complaint letter (about 225 words) to your boss about the current situation you're going through at work.
Don't forget to include:
- Formal structures
-Vocabulary related to the topic
- Appropriate grammar (Conditionals, modals, etc.)
Click here: A complaint letter
Write a complaint letter (about 225 words) to your boss about the current situation you're going through at work.
Don't forget to include:
- Formal structures
-Vocabulary related to the topic
- Appropriate grammar (Conditionals, modals, etc.)
Click here: A complaint letter
13. VOCABULARY
Click on Starting presentations
WRITING
A covering letter
A new company is recruiting young people for a new branch in Scotland. Write an email accompanying your CV in which you state what makes you the right person for the job (165 words)
A covering letter
A new company is recruiting young people for a new branch in Scotland. Write an email accompanying your CV in which you state what makes you the right person for the job (165 words)