Visa English AcademyCreated by Briana Songer

2014

Speaking: Describing your Job

Listening: Attitudes Toward Work

Grammar: Present Simple and Continuous

Writing: Letter of Referral for a Colleague

Read the statements below. Which ones do you think are true and why?

People are naturally lazy and avoid work if they can

People find satisfaction in work

Everybody in an organization is capable of creativity

Work is a necessary evil

People prefer to follow orders and instructions

Work is as natural as play or rest

applicationreferencesinterviewsalaryqualifiedexperience

skillspart-timefull-timeovertimecommutefreelance

Fill in the sentences with the most appropriate word.

1. He is clearly __________________ for the job, but he wants a very high ___________________.

2. Scott put in an ____________________ for the sales assistant, and he has an _____________________ next Friday.

3. Although she had excellent _________________ from former employers and was offered the job, the company was over an hour from her house. She would have to ________________by the train or bus, so she didn’t take the job.

qualifiedsalary

application

interview

commute

references

4. The normal working hours for _________________are around 35 hours per week, while the average for _________________ is more like 20 hours per week.

5. If you work over 35 hours a week, it is considered _________________and you must be paid extra money per hour.

6. Nowadays, many designers or writers are ____________________which means they sell their work or services to other organizations.

7. Sheila has 9 years of ________________as an office assistant, but she wants to go back to school and change careers.

7. In order to get hired almost anywhere these days, one must have ________________in using technology, such as creating digital presentations.

full-timepart-time

over-time

freelance

skills

applicationreferencesinterviewsalaryqualifiedexperience

skillspart-timefull-timeovertimecommutefreelance

experience

1. How much experience do you have in your career? Do you

enjoy your job?

2. How far do you or would you commute in order to get to work?

3. What skills are needed for you to be successful in your job?

What do you still need to learn?

4. Do you work part-time or full-time? How often do you work

overtime?

5. If you were looking for a new job, who would you list as a

reference and why?

Interviewer: A new survey out today shows how young people’s attitudes towards work have changed. 10,000 people under the age of twenty-five were questioned. Here with me is Mandy Taylor, our Industry Correspondent, who’s going to tell us what it all means.

Mandy-Well, John, essentially the report shows that the young are turning their backs on traditional employment, you know, working for a wage, and becoming self-employed or going freelance.

Interviewer: And what’s made them do that?

Mandy-Basically seeing their parents’ generation struggle with unemployment and job insecurity. They’ve seen established firms lay off employees who’ve worked for them for years. Also, they’ve understood that benefits like cards, pensions, and so on, not to mention a fairly secure job in the longer term, are all disappearing fast. In their place you’ve got insecurity, part-time work, and short-term contracts. An ordinary job simply isn’t attractive any more.

Interviewer: So what are they doing instead, the young that is?

Mandy: Well, they’re using their qualifications, skills, and knowledge of things like computer games, to set up their own businesses. They are ready to work now if there is a good chance of being rewarded later. They aren’t interested in making other people rich but want to be rich themselves.

Interviewer: I see. And are there many examples of this happening?

Mandy: Oh yeah, lots. Two young men, who set up their own computer company, are now worth 13 million each, just wo years after leaving university!

Interviewer: Goodness, where did we go wrong? And so what does this mean for older, existing businesses then?

Mandy: Quite simply, they’re finding that the people they need to take on are using their skills to work for themselves.

Tense Used for Structure

Present Simple Expresses:-routines/habits-schedules/times-facts-general occurrences -present actions happening one after another

Infinitive(affirmative 3rd person singular: infinitive + 's‘; negative 3rd person singular: no‘s’)I writeyou writewe writethey write

he / she / it writes

Present Continuous

Expresses:-something happening right now or in progress-several actions happening at the same time-near future

form of 'be' and verb + ing

I am (I’m ) speaking

you are (You’re) speakingwe are (we’re ) speakingthey are (they’re) speaking

he / she / it is (he’s/she’s/it’s)speaking

How do you know which tense to use? These signal words describe the difference in time. Use a dictionary to look up words you don’t know.

Present Simple Signal Words Present Continuous Signal Words

Every Monday/month/year (or monthly/daily)Everyday/Daily (Monday-Sunday)Every weekend (Saturday-Sunday)Always (100%)Often (85%)normally (85%)Usually (85%)Sometimes (50%)Seldom /Almost never (25%)Never (0%)First, then, also, finally

CurrentlyRight nowAt the moment/In the momentTomorrow morning/afternoon/nightTonightLaterSoonCommands:Listen!Look!Help!

Fill in the sentences with present simple or present continuous. Pay attention to the signal words and context.

1. It ____________ (take) forever to finish this report!

2. Even though I _______________(earn) a great salary every month, I ___________________ (look for) another job that is more satisfying.

3. We _____________(drive) in a carpool to work everyday to save money on gas and help the environment.

4. Minimum wage ____________(go up) next month.

5. He _______________(have)problems with copy machine again. Please help him!

is (It’s)taking

am (I’m) looking

is going up

is (He’s) having

earn

drive

6. I _________ (do) the sales report every month.

7. He ___________(feel) tired because he __________(work)

everyday.

8. Currently, management ____________(think about)

downsizing staff due to budget cuts.

9. She really isn’t qualified and she never does her job

properly; she doesn’t ___________(belong) in this

company.

10. I am tired of my job, so tomorrow, I ______________(quit)!

is thinking

am (I’m) quitting

do

feels earns

belong

Answer the following questions orally, focusing on using present simple or present progressive correctly.

1. What do you do?

2. What time do you start/finish work?

3. Do you usually work on the weekends?

4. Are you currently working on any major projects?

5. What do you do in your free time?

6. What are you doing after class?

7. What are you doing tomorrow?

8. Do you get a paid vacation at your job?

You will write a reference letter for an employee that you work with.

Read the example referral letter first. Choose a colleague and include the following in your letter:

Open with a Greeting1. Describe your relationship with the person2. Describe the person’s role in the company and years of

experience3. Explain the person’s skills and qualifications4. Tell why you recommend the person5. Give your contact information ClosingTiming: 15 minutes to write a draft. 15 minutes to edit and finalize the letter. Email the final copy to your teacher within 24 hours.