HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARYLIVING ENGLISH LESSONS

Working a Job

job description paycheck clock inclock out

maternity leaveparental leave responsibilities

W-2taxes benefits policies human resources manager

supervisor

promotionraise work from home time

management schedule networking

overtime latetardy

careerprofession

firedlaid off

injuryworker’s comp

VOCABULARY

Listen to the professionals on the video talk about their work. Try to guess what their job is.

Read the following paragraph then match the job to its description.Ana is a waitress at a restaurant. She serves food and drinks. While Ana is at work, she meets different people who work in different professions. She works with Wei, who is a baker at the restaurant. Wei makes bread and cookies.One day, a teacher named Joan ordered two dozen cookies for her class. A teacher helps students learn. Wei was happy to help Joan with her request. In that same day, Xavier and Liam came in to have lunch together. Xavier is a mechanic. He works in a garage and repairs cars. Liam is a fireman. Firemen put out fires and rescue people. Everybody enjoyed their lunch.Fraternity brothers Jayden, Caleb, and Brandon decided to have lunch at the restaurant. Jayden is an accountant. He keeps the financial records of a business. Caleb is a dentist. He treats people’s teeth. Brandon is a lawyer, He gives out legal advice and defends people in court. Ana was their server. All three men remarked on how friendly she was. It is amazing to see the different types of people who visit restaurants

GUESS THEIR JOB

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Professional #1

Name:

What is their job?

Professional #2

Name:

What is their job?

Professional #3

Name:

What is their job?

Professional #4

Name:

What is their job?

Professional #5

Name:

What is their job?

Professional #6

Name:

What is their job?

Accountant Treats people’s teeth.

Waitress Gives legal advice and defends people in court.

Lawyer Works in a garage and repairs cars.

Fireman Keeps the financial records of a business.

Mechanic Puts out fires and rescues people.

Dentist Makes bread and cookies.

Teacher Helps students learn.

Baker Serves food and drinks at a restaurant.

Choose which causative verb above fits each sentence best. Use simple past or present tense.

1. Can you _______________ me find my keys? 5. The police officer _______________ me drive away without a ticket.

2. My mom _______________ my brother clean his room.

6. I _______________ my new robot vacuum clean the floors because I hated doing it.

3. Jason _______________ his wife to wash the dishes by promising to bake her a cake.

7. Rania _______________ the waiter pick up the broken plates.

4. My boss _______________ me to send the email because she had to run to a meeting.

8. Leslie _______________ her dog run outside in the rain.

Choose a partner or discuss the questions together with the class.1. What was your first job?

2. What is the minimum wage in your country?

3. Does your job involve manual labor?

4. What job would you NOT want?

5. Have you had a really great boss?

6. What are the benefits (insurance, vacation, parental leave, etc.) like in your country?

7. Do you know what a W-2 is?

8. Can men and women do the same jobs in your country?

9. How many hours do people typically work in your country?

10. Do you think it is OK to talk about how much money you make?

Causative verbs “cause” another action to happen. The most common causative verbs are make, have, let, help, and get. A sentence with a causative verb will also have a second verb that does not change tense. Each causative verb changes the sentence structure differently and also changes the meaning.

TALKING ABOUT WORK

CAUSATIVE VERBS

Make Have Let Help Get

Force someone to do something

Give someone the responsibility to do something.

Allow something to happen.

Assist someone in doing something.

Convince someone to do something.

Make + Person + Verb

Have + Person + Verb OR Have +Thing + Past Participle

Let + Person/Thing + Verb

Help + Person + Verb OR Help + Person + To Verb

Get + Person + To Verb

05/04/20

NOTES

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HOMEWORK CHALLENGEMake a list of do’s and don’ts for professional behavior at your job. Examples: Don’t look at Facebook while operating a crane. Do wear the right shoes for the job.

Do’s Don’ts

20_LivingEnglish_WorkingJob

If you have a special physical or communication need that may impact your participation in any of these activities, please contact library staff prior to the program to discuss accommodations. We cannot ensure the ability of appropriate accommodations without prior notification of need.

If you have a special physical or communication need that may impact your participation in any of these activities, please contact the library sta� prior to the program to discuss accommodations. We cannot ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations without prior noti�cation of need.

Linking YOU to the Worldwww.houstonlibrary.orgThis program is generously sponsored by the Houston Public Library Foundation.