Work and Careers Guided Discussion

1.

2.

Warm-up Questions
What do you do?
How long have you been working at your present job?
Can you describe a typical day in your current job?
How have your working conditions changed in recent years?

3.

Job Search
Put the following stages of a job search in the right order.
2
Apply for a job
4
Get a job/get hired
3
Go for an interview
1
Look for a job
Reveal answers

4.

Brainstorming
What are some typical jobs, careers and professions that come to mind?
Brainstorm as a class – you have 5 minutes!
accountant
engineer
architect
flight attendant
baker
journalist
butcher
secretary
chef
politician
Start counting!

5.

Would You Rather be… (1 of 2)
the fun person in the office, or well-respected by your co-workers?
a consultant who travels internationally, or someone who works in a local office?
an employee at a well-established company, or an entrepreneur at a new but
promising company?
asked to deliver a presentation in front of 2 or 50 people?
part of a team, or an employee who works on tasks completely independently?
awarded your annual bonus in cash or in extra holidays?

6.

Would You Rather be… (2 of 2)
an expert in a restricted field, or competent in many job skills?
an employee with challenging tasks, or one who does the same tasks every day?
offered a higher starting salary, or a lower one with the certainty of a promotion in
the first six months?
assigned a project you can work on with friends or with people you’re sure do their
jobs exceptionally?
reprimanded by your boss for your mistakes via email, text, or face-to-face?

7.

Adjectives
Reveal answers
badly-paid
Not enjoyable or causing discomfort
challenging
Causing mental or emotional strain
monotonous
Requiring a lot of effort and skill
responsible
Involving responsibilities or duties
satisfying
Providing a feeling of happiness or pleasure
stressful
Not paying enough money
tiring
Offering good financial compensation
unpleasant
Involving tasks that are the same every day
and become boring
well-paid
Causing fatigue

8.

Adjectives Guessing Game
1
Look at the adjectives from the previous exercise again.
2
Then, in pairs, take turns to use those adjectives and others you
already know to describe a job or profession.
3
Guess what job the other person is talking about based on the
adjectives used.

9.

There are many different ways to express leaving or losing a job.
Read the following sentences. Can you tell the difference in meaning?
I resigned/quit/
left my job
to give up a job or position by telling your employer
Suggested
that
you areanswer
leaving
I retired
to leave your job or stop working because of old age
Suggested answer
or ill health
I was dismissed
got fired/was sacked/
lost my job
to be asked to leave a job, usually because of having
answer
done somethingSuggested
wrong or badly,
or sometimes as a
way of saving the cost of employing someone
Reveal suggested answers

10.

Dialogue (Part 1 of 3)
Read the dialogue, paying particular attention to the expressions in bold, and
answer the following question: What are both Jolie and Alex considering?
Hi Alex! How have you been?
Hey Jolie! I’ve been good, just really busy with
work. How about you?
Same here. I’ve been thinking a lot about my career
lately. Have you ever considered changing jobs?
Jolie
Actually, yes. I’m planning to apply for a job at a new
company next month. I feel like I need a change.
That’s exciting!
What kind of job are you looking for?
I want something with better working hours. Right
now, I have to work shifts, and it’s really tiring.
Alex

11.

Dialogue (Part 2 of 3)
I understand. My friend’s just finished her
internship at a marketing firm and now she’s been
hired full-time. She said the training period was
really helpful.
That sounds great. I also want a job where I can
eventually get a pay rise. It’s been a while since I’ve
had one.
Jolie
Me too. I’ve been working overtime almost every
week, hoping to impress my boss. But it’s so
exhausting.
Overtime can be tough. Have you ever thought
about starting your own business?
Funny you should ask. I’ve actually been
considering setting up a company with a friend. We
want to run a business in event planning.
Alex

12.

Dialogue (Part 3 of 3)
That’s amazing! I’ve always wanted to go into
business for myself too, maybe start a tech firm.
You should totally do it! It’s a big step, but if you’re
passionate about it, it’s worth it.
Thanks for the encouragement! For now, I think I’ll
focus on finding a new job. I just need to take it one
step at a time.
Jolie
That sounds like a good plan. Who knows, maybe
in a few years we’ll both be successful
entrepreneurs!
Let’s hope so! Anyway, I need to get back to work.
Good luck with everything, Jolie!
Thanks, Alex! You too. Let’s catch up again soon.
Definitely. Take care!
Alex

13.

Speaking
Choose one of the icons below, and find out what questions await you in each category.
Career Choices
Future Plans
Work-Life Balance
Job Satisfaction
Education and Skills

14.

Bonus Debate
Instructions:
Choose one of the boxes below to reveal your debate statement.
Read the statement carefully, and decide whether you agree or disagree.
Find a partner who has the opposite opinion.
Begin your discussion, presenting your points clearly.
Try to convince your partner with strong arguments and examples.

15.

Bonus Debate
Remote work is better
than working in person.
Job satisfaction is more
important than a high
salary.
Having a university
degree is essential for
career success.
Job hopping (changing
jobs frequently) is
beneficial for career
growth.
Companies should offer
unlimited holidays.
Social media presence is
crucial for career
success.
Example:
If you choose the statement ‘Remote work is better than working in person.’, and you
agree with it, think about reasons why remote work might be beneficial, such as
flexibility, time saved on commuting, or a better work-life balance. Your partner will
think about reasons for the opposing view, perhaps arguing that in-person work
fosters better teamwork, communication or company culture. Discuss your points and
see who can present the most convincing argument!